The Christmas season brings a sense of joy and excitement every year for most.However, for a lot of expats looking to partake in a traditional Christmas dinner in the comfort of their homes, it can bring a sense of anxiety. Where to find the turkey? What stores sell ingredients for fruit cake or stuffing? What restaurants cater? And where, oh, where can one find eggnog? This year those looking to have the perfect Christmas dinner -- whether homemade or ordered in -- are in luck. Many businesses

CARACAS (AP) ― President Barack Obama’s sharp criticisms of Venezuela’s human rights record and its ties to Iran are heightening tensions with Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, who on Monday responded by calling Obama a “clown” and telling him to mind his own business.Obama appeared to stiffen his stance toward Chavez in his remarks, which were published Monday by the Venezuelan newspaper El Universal. Some of Obama’s Republican opponents have also been strongly critical of Chavez, and analysts

NEW YORK (AP) -- Paul McCartney is releasing an album of standards -- plus two new songs of his own.The former Beatle announced Monday that his new disc will be out Feb. 7. It doesn’t have a title yet. He‘s already streaming one song, ``My Valentine,’‘ on his website.McCartney says he and John Lennon were inspired in their own writing by some of the standards. Some of them he first heard when his father performed them at home on piano.Eric Clapton and Stevie Wonder make appearances on the disc,

STOCKHOLM (AP) ― The longtime partner of late Swedish crime writer Stieg Larsson says he wouldn’t have approved of merchandise being linked to this week’s release of a Hollywood adaptation of his bestselling novel, “The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo.’’Eva Gabrielsson said Monday that Larsson would have instead used the buzz around his work to call attention to violence and discrimination against women.“We would never have sold any rights for merchandising,’’ Gabrielsson said. “It has nothing to do

WASHINGTON (AFP) -- The White House said on Monday it hoped the new North Korean leadership would live up to its obligations to end the reclusive state‘s nuclear program, following the death of Kim Jong-il.“We hope that the new North Korean leadership will take the steps necessary to support peace, prosperity and a better future for the North Korean people including ... acting on its commitments to denuclearization,” said White House spokesman Jay Carney.Carney said in the aftermath of Kim’s dea

UNITED NATIONS (AFP) ― The U.N. General Assembly on Monday condemned human rights abuses in North Korea but U.N. leader Ban Ki-moon vowed to maintain international aid for the country after the death of Kim Jong-il.The 193-nation assembly passed the condemnation of the North by 123 votes to 16, with 51 abstentions. It was a record vote in favor but China, a key ally of the north, was among countries to oppose the resolution.A single North Korean diplomat was in the assembly and later refuted the

South Korea may have to reconsider its cross-border cooperation budget strategy following the sudden death of North Korean leader Kim Jong-il, sources said Tuesday.The reassessment is necessary because Seoul is financially unprepared to handle sudden developments in the North that could require the injection of substantial funds, according to the sources.In 2011, the government set aside a little over 1.01 trillion won ($861.5 million) to support inter-Korean cooperation, with slightly more than

Anti-Pyongyang activists in South Korea said Tuesday they would float leaflets denouncing North Korea’s late leader Kim Jong-Il across the tense border. The North Korean defectors and other activists will on Wednesday launch balloons carrying 200,000 leaflets lambasting the ruling Kim dynasty, Park Sang-hak, one of their leaders, told AFP.Park and others have regularly sent leaflets calling for the ousting of the Kim regime, sparking anger from Pyongyang.The reclusive communist state, which tigh

BEIJING (AFP) -- Villagers in southern China in a rare stand-off with local Communist authorities said Monday they were being bombarded with calls from officials to warn them not to take part in a planned protest march.The residents of Wukan, which has been under police blockade for over a week, say they will march on local government offices in a nearby town on Wednesday if their demands are not met.They want authorities to release three villagers detained on Dec. 9 for allegedly inciting riots

VENTURA, California (AP) ― A teen who fatally shot a gay classmate in the back of the head during a computer lab nearly four years ago was sentenced Monday to 21 years in state prison, capping an emotional case that focused attention on how schools deal with sexual identity.Brandon McInerney, 17, dressed in a white T-shirt and blue pants, didn’t speak at the hearing, but his lawyer said his client was sorry for killing 15-year-old Larry King.“He feels deeply remorseful and stated repeatedly if h

The National Police Agency has put provincial police agencies and stations with jurisdiction over areas near the border on high alert, officials announced Tuesday.The alert raises border security to a level similar to that during natural disasters and public disorder, putting 30 percent of the police force on standby. The move comes after North Korea’s state media announced Monday the death of its leader Kim Jong-il. The announcement has put the government and its citizens on alert for possible

Tokyo’s huge reliance on foreign oil lead to rare discord with Washington WASHINGTON (AFP) -- Japan‘s foreign minister said Monday that his country would not stop imports of Iranian oil, striking a rare note of divergence with the United States during a visit to Washington.After talks with Secretary of State Hillary Clinton that focused mostly on North Korea, Foreign Minister Koichiro Gemba highlighted Japan’s sanctions imposed on Iranian institutions due to concerns over its nuclear program.But