NEW YORK (AP) ― For the first time since Rossini’s most famous work was given its Metropolitan Opera premiere in 1883, “The Barber of Seville’’ is being presented by the company in English rather than Italian, a shortened holiday version intended to entice families during school break.To cut “Il Barbiere di Siviglia’’ down to about 90 minutes around an intermission, the Met hired poet J.D. McClatchy to write a rhyme-filled libretto. For once there were giggles around the house Wednesday when Fig

LONDON (AP) ― Stella McCartney, who designed the uniforms worn by Britain’s record-smashing Olympic team, and Scottish physicist Peter Higgs, who gave his name to the so-called “God particle,” are among the hundreds being honored by Queen Elizabeth II this New Year.The list is particularly heavy with Britain’s Olympic heroes, but it also includes “Star Wars” actor Ewan McGregor, eccentric English singer Kate Bush, Roald Dahl illustrator Quentin Blake, and Jamie Lowther-Pinkerton, the royal aide

The Korea Tourism Organization is holding a ski festival for Russian tourists at Yong Pyong Resort and High 1 Resort in Gangwon Province in January. The “Ru-Ski Festival” will feature ski and snowboard lessons and competitions, traditional dance and music performances and entertainment activities to show diverse aspects of Korean culture to tourists. The festival will be held from Jan. 1-4 at High 1 Resort and from Jan. 4-7 at Yong Pyong Resort. According to the KTO, more than 2,000 tourists hav

The Shilla Seoul has been named the best hotel in Seoul by Travel and Leisure magazine. The hotel received the highest mark of 91.16 ever given to a local hotel in Korea. The magazine selects the 500 top-rated hotels around the world based on surveys by its readers. “The score proves our competitiveness in the global hotel industry and promotes the image of Korea, having our brand known to the world,” said a hotel official. The Shilla Seoul is scheduled to undergo renovation from Jan. 10 to July

The Korea Railroad Corporation named Yeonsan Station, Jeonchon Station, Yeosu Expo Station and Chuncheon Station as the best stations for the year 2012. The selections were made based on the revenues they earned and customer service. The small stations have attracted hundreds of visitors with unique activities. According to the KORAIL, Yeonsan Station became the most visited train station as a destination in itself thanks to various hands-on experiences created by its two staff. Jeonchon Station

CHICAGO (AP) ― Getting stranded at a U.S. airport once meant enduring hours of boredom in a kind of travel purgatory with nothing to eat but fast food. These days, it can seem more like passing through the gates of Shangri-la to find spas, yoga studios, luxury shopping and restaurant menus crafted by celebrity chefs in terminals with a calming, sleek design.Stung by airline bankruptcies and mergers, more U.S. airports are hunting for alternative revenue streams by hiring top design firms to tran