Smoke from hookah pipes and the aroma of lamb skewers on the grill mix in the chilly autumn air as men talk loudly in Arabic over pulsating music beneath the neon glow of restaurant signs.
Ubisoft steps up videogame fitness with virtual coachFrench videogame powerhouse Ubisoft will have a virtual fitness coach whipping Wii users into shape starting Tuesday.
Rare Charles Darwin book in toilet in BritainA first edition of Charles Darwin's seminal "On the Origin of Species" will be sold this week after it was found in a family's toilet in southern Britain, an auction house said Sunday.
Beirut sets out to woo back shoppersBrimming with style, Beirut is regaining its reputation as a shoppers' paradise, with luxury labels such as Christian Dior and Louis Vuitton among a slew of shops opening in the city's renovated souks.
Pistols, Tasers, assault rifles sell fast at US showRecession-stoked fears of rising crime and tougher gun laws under a Democratic government are sending US gun sales sky high, and big crowds at the Chantilly Gun Show this weekend proved it once again.
Japanese temple resorts to manga to woo visitorsGirls clad in maids' outfits are not traditionally associated with Buddhism, but that has not stopped monks at a centuries-old temple using Japanese pop culture to woo visitors.
Taliban suffocate Pakistan Buddhist heritageArchaeologists warn that the Taliban are destroying Pakistan's ancient Gandhara heritage and rich Buddhist legacy as pilgrimage and foreign research dries up in the country's northwest.
Botswana tries spicy solution to keep elephants at bayTourists love to watch herds of elephants trekking across Botswana's famed Okavango Delta, but nearby farmers watch in dismay when the animals trample their crops, leaving them little to eat.
Desperate retailers seek holiday season rescueUS retailers are taking desperate measures to spark holiday sales in the face of what promises to be another troubled year-end shopping season.
Celebrity Style
Zac Efron's wet hair tip'High School Musical' star Zac Efron goes to bed with wet hair because it helps him achieve a dishevelled and ''messed up'' look the next day.
Pixie Lott's coconut bathBritish singer Pixie Lott has revealed the secret behind her smooth, moisturised skin is because she bathes in coconut oil.
Lindsay Lohan 'offends' store'Mean Girls' actress Lindsay Lohan has ''offended'' an exclusive Los Angeles boutique after demanding they gave her $15,000 of free clothes.
Risque Dita Von TeeseUS burlesque dancer Dita Von Teese thinks she's too risque for her home country.
Health
Swine flu: doctors blast anti-vaccination scepticsA leading association of clinicians on Monday accused an "anti-vaccination movement" of breeding suspicion about the (A)H1N1 swine flu vaccine in Europe and declared public health and lives were at risk.
Key senators seek changes on US health care billKey Democratic allies in the US health care battle warned that a Senate bill required major changes if it was to earn their support and give President Barack Obama a crucial victory on his top domestic priority.
- Obama faces tough Senate battle on health care
President Barack Obama's top domestic priority, remaking US health care, cleared a major Senate hurdle but strong opposition Sunday to key parts of the proposals augured a tough battle ahead.
Separated twins beat the oddsBangladeshi conjoined twins Trishna and Krishna appeared on Sunday to have beaten the odds with their miracle story of survival, both awaking from landmark separation surgery happy and well.
Forbes Features
Apple's RumorwareBURLINGAME - Dear Katie Cotton,
Most Effective Stress RelieversRising unemployment, falling property values and dwindling savings have scores of Americans on edge. How are they coping? Not well.
- America's Most Toxic Cities
In Atlanta, Ga., you'll find southern gentility, a world-class music scene--and 21,000 tons of environmental waste. In spite of its charms, the city's combination of air pollution, contaminated land and atmospheric chemicals makes it the most toxic city in the country.
Shop Smarter With Social MediaCharlie Graham, founder and CEO of Shop It To Me, an online sale-alert e-mail service and Web site, wants to help you make better use of your time, particularly time spent shopping online.
Celebrity Gossip
Action fan Sam Worthington Sam Worthington ''craved'' weapons when filming 'Last Night' with Keira Knightley.
Hugh Hefner's sex scareHugh Hefner spends nearly all his time in bed and almost died during sex.
Shakira's sexy world'She-Wolf' singer Shakira thinks sexual desire has more of an impact on the world than religion.
Zac Efron's Bond ambitionZac Efron's dream movies roles would either be in a remake of 'The Graduate' or as a villain in a James Bond movie.
A Boeing 747, one of four engines powered by a 50-percent biokerosene mix, circled the Netherlands for an hour on Monday for what airline KLM called the world's first passenger flight using biofuel.
Lebanon is to host its sixteenth annual European Film Festival from Thursday.