SAAR, Bahrain (AP) ― More than 4,000 years ago, Dilmun merchants traveled from Mesopotamia to the Indus River, titans of trade and culture before rise of the empires of the Persians or the Ottomans.Over a millennia, the civilization that Dilmun created on the back of trading in pearls, copper and dates as far as South Asia faded into the encroaching sands. It wasn’t until an excavation by Danish archaeologists in the 1950s that its past was rediscovered.Now, with Bahrain in a deepening political

TAOS, New Mexico (AP) ―Snow and frigid temperatures didn’t stop thousands of screaming teenagers from crowding into the Washington Coliseum in the nation’s capital for the Beatles first live concert on American soil.And not having a flash didn’t stop photographer Mike Mitchell, then just 18 years old, from using his unrestricted access to document that historic February night in 1964 using only the dim light in the arena.Ghostly shadows and streams of light filled some negatives. With the help o

NEW YORK (AP) ― Comic and daytime television host Ellen DeGeneres was picked to host the Academy Awards for the second time.Show producers Craig Zadan and Neil Meron announced DeGeneres’ selection Friday. The movie awards show will air on ABC on March 2.“There are few stars today who have Ellen’s gift for comedy, with her great warmth and humanity,” the producers said in a statement. “She is beloved everywhere.”DeGeneres quipped: “I am so excited to be hosting the Oscars for the second time. You

A pop concert to mark six decades since fighting stopped in the Korean War was held near the demilitarized zone on Saturday. Gyeonggi Province hosted the DMZ World Peace Concert on an outdoor stage specially built for the event at Imjingak, about 54 kilometers northwest of Seoul. The concert was broadcast live through YouTube. Kim Jang-hoon, a pop singer well known for holding concerts to promote Korea, directed the gig. BEAST, f(x), Girl’s Day, Ailee, K. Hunter and LUV took the stage. Actors Ah

Saneum Natural Recreational Forest promotes healing through ‘forest therapy’

ASEAN Recreational Forest to provide fun, relaxation for foreign workers, families

Life in Seoul can be draining, even for the most dedicated urbanites. Sooner or later it takes its toll on city dwellers. When that happens, one solution is a weekend getaway to relax and appreciate nature, yet not too much of a headache to reach. Jungmisan Natural Recreational Forest fulfills these conditions.Acclaimed for its hiking trails, scenery and serene view of the sunrise, Jungmisan Mountain is located in Yangpyeong-gun, Gyeonggi Province, and is 46 kilometers from East Seoul Bus Termin

For busy city dwellers, even thinking of wasting several hours in a car, train or bus during a short summer vacation is stressful. But just one hour’s drive east from Seoul is a marvelous driving course along Cheongpyeong Lake and through Cheongpyeong Dam. The road from Seorak-myeon all the way to Yumyeongsan National Recreational Forest immerses travelers in the lush greenery of the countryside. For those who enjoy hiking, the trail of flat and steep slopes along with the valley and rocky outcr

New sunscreen products are on store shelves every summer, confusing shoppers about what to pick for their vacations. Sunscreens come in various forms: lotion, spray, balm and stick. To protect every area of your skin from the sizzling sun, more than one type of sunscreen is needed. If you plan to hit the beach, sunscreen spray is useful in applying to areas that you find hard to reach such as the back; stick type for curvy areas; and balm as it provides full coverage on areas that may go unprote

From print dresses to cool blazers to sunscreen, things to get you vacation-ready

Pop music“2013 Incheon Pentaport Rock Festival”: The Incheon Pentaport Rock Festival is an annual three-day music festival that features some of the hottest acts in the international and local music scene. Since its inauguration year in 2006, the festival has been responsible for bringing in top acts such as Muse, The Black Eyed Peas, The Strokes, Korn, Hoobastank and many others. This year’s festival will be held at the Incheon Songdo 23 Geunrin Park from Aug. 2 to 4 and will feature headlining