The last remaining Siberian tigers living wild in Northeast China could disappear within decades, as poaching and illegal logging continue to take their toll, experts have warned.Research by Chinese authorities and the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) has discovered that the animal is already one of the planet’s most endangered species.In just the last 70 years, the estimated population of Siberian tigers, or Amur tigers, has plummeted from as many as 300 to just 18 to 22.“If the government fail

ST. LOUIS (AP) -- The memories that came flooding back were so horrific that Lisa Nasseff says she tried to kill herself: she had been raped several times, had multiple personalities and took part in satanic rituals involving unthinkable acts. She says she only got better when she realized they were

Creating one’s own ‘it-bag’ more popular among menWhile there are plenty of good things to say about leather crafting, the growing number of addicts of the hobby pick one above all others ― what you make is completely unique.“Regardless of the amount of money you pay for an expensive designer bag, someone else is bound to own the same one. I find pride in making something that only I can possess,” Kim Yu-ri, a blogger who started learning leather crafting four months ago, said.Although Korea is

A ‘great farewell’ to the Irish wonders’ 14 -year journey Westlife“Greatest Hits”(Sony Music)With boy bands appearing and disappearing at such speed these days, only Westlife -- the Irish wonders who have stayed with us for 14 faithful years -- could stretch the definition of greatest hits to its full potential.To the sadness of millions of fans all over the world, Westlife has announced the decision to disband with the release of their “new” and final album.Opening this final soiree with their

LOVELAND, Colorado (AP) ― If you’ve ever gone skiing at an unfamiliar resort without getting lost, chances are you have James Niehues to thank.Niehues, 65, is the man behind the trail map. His hand-painted panoramas have been reproduced into millions of pocket-sized maps handed out by ski resorts in North America, Japan, South Korea, China, New Zealand, Australia, Chile and Serbia.“His trail maps are as much a part of the sport as snow,’’ said Greg Ditrinco, executive editor of Ski Magazine.That

PRAGUE ― Unlike cities such as Salzburg, which are lucky to display the Baroque in small clusters, Prague opens the Baroque onto the visitor like the spread of an eagle’s wings. The Baroque and other architectural styles dating back through the centuries are everywhere in the Old Town of Prague because the city famously survived the cavalcade of European wars virtually intact. And it is a wonder to see ― as long as it isn’t raining cats and dogs, that is, which is precisely what was happening on

MJ book focuses on the musicMan in the Music: The Creative Life and Work of Michael JacksonBy Joseph Vogel(Sterling Publishing), by Joseph VogelWe get it already: Michael Jackson was kind of a weird dude.In the weeks, months and now years since the music icon‘s death, news consumers across the globe have been inundated with examinations of Jackson’s life. And frankly, too much of it has focused on the sensational aspects of his 50 years on Earth.Luckily, for those of us who prefer to remember Ja

Tongue: A NovelBy Jo Kyung-ran(Bloomsbury USA)Among the many female writers who broke into Korea’s literary scene in the 1990s, Jo Kyung-ran demonstrates distinctive flair. Known for her poetic prose and depiction of contemporary Korean life, Jo’s works have often dealt with human relationships and their implications. Her 2007 novel, “Tongue,” released in English in 2009, is filled with alluring danger and sensual pleasure, using the tongue as the ultimate symbol for human desire, affection and

Last summer, while browsing in a used bookstore in San Luis Obispo, Calif., I discovered something I thought no longer existed ― an Agatha Christie novel I had not read. Anyone monitoring my vital signs would have thought I had discovered the next Gnostic gospel or a lost play of Shakespeare’s. Clutching it tightly as if someone might snatch it from me, I quickly bought it. I promised myself I would take my time, savor the experience and read only a few pages at a time. Instead, I finished it th