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Walking on the Great Wall from Jinshanling to Simatai (Beijing): The Great Wall, winding snakelike through the mountains, was meant to be walked. This magnificent 3-hour hike follows China's greatest monument through various states of repair, from freshly restored to thoroughly crumbling, over steep peaks and gentle flats, and through patches of wilderness and rugged farmland, with over two dozen watchtowers along the way.

Getting Lost in the lanes around Beijing's Back Lakes: No other city in the world has anything quite like the hutong, narrow lanes once "as numberless as the hairs on an ox." Now rapidly vanishing, the best-preserved hutong are found around a pair of man-made lakes in the city center. This area is almost the last repository of Old Beijing's gritty, lowrise charm, dotted with tiny temples, hole-in-the-wall noodle shops, and quiet courtyard houses whose older residents still wear Mao suits.

Exploring the Forbidden City's Forgotten Corners (Beijing) : No one fails to be impressed by the grandeur of the Forbidden City's central axis, which is all most visitors see. But the quieter maze of pavilions, gardens, courtyards, and theaters to either side have the greater charm.

The Criminal Investigation Department in Bukit Aman is now heading the investigation into the "intrusion of Sulu terrorists" into Lahad Datu, CID director Datuk Seri Bakri Zinin said. He said the CID team was gathering evidence in Sabah. "Our investigation is exhaustive and covers all angles, even on how the terrorists obtained their weapons and received aid. We are focusing not only in Lahad Datu and Semporna but over a wider area," he told reporters at his office here. Bakri said the challenge the investigators faced in gathering evidence was made even more difficult by the decomposing bodies of the terrorists killed in the government offensive. "Sulu terrorists" from the southern Philippines who entered Sabah on Feb 12 killed eight policemen on March 1 and 2 after dismissing a government offer to lay down arms, Malaysian police said. A government offensive launched on March 5 resulted in the deaths of 62 terrorists. A soldier was also killed in...

UN secretary-general Ban Ki-moon called for an inclusive and sustainable human development that will bring happiness for people around the world, especially those who lack basic material well-being. "The pursuit of happiness lies at the core of human endeavors. People around the world aspire to lead happy and fulfilling lives free from fear and want, and in harmony with nature," Ban said in his message for marking the first ever International Day of Happiness that falls on Wednesday. "Yet, basic material well-being is still elusive for far too many living in extreme poverty," the UN chief noted. "For many more, recurring socio-economic crisis, violence and crime, environmental degradation and increasing threats of climate change are an ever-present threat." In July last year, the General Assembly proclaimed March 20 the International Day of Happiness, recognizing the relevance of happiness and well-being as universal goals and aspirations in people...

U.S. President Barack Obama said here Wednesday that he prefers to deal with the Iranian nuclear issue in a "diplomatic" manner, which is in the interests of Iran itself. At a joint press conference after meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the visiting U.S. president said that "all options remain on the table" and that he prefers a diplomatic solution. Obama said that a nuclear armed Iran would be a threat to the region, to the world, as well as to Israel, urging Iran to meet its obligations. The U.S. president reassured Israel with steady U.S. support over the Iranian nuclear issue. Israel and some Western countries have long accused Iran of secretly seeking the capability of making nuclear weapons, an accusation denied by Tehran. Iran insists its nuclear program is only for peaceful purposes. Israel has long threatened to launch pre-emptive strikes on Iran's nuclear facilities if diplomacy and sanctions fail to stop Iran's n...

The Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said Thursday that a low pressure area (LPA) will bring heavy rains over Visayas and Mindanao and residents are advised on possible flashfloods and landslides. PAGASA said as of 4 a.m. the LPA was spotted at 180 km southeast of Hinatuan, Surigao Del Sur (8.0°N, 128.0°E) but has a small chance to intensify into tropical cyclone. In case the LPA intensifies into a tropical depression, it will be named "Dante," the fourth tropical cyclone to enter the Philippine area of responsibility this year. PAGASA said the regions of Eastern and Central Visayas, Caraga and Davao will experience cloudy skies with moderate to occasionally heavy rainshowers and thunderstorms which may trigger flashfloods and landslides. The Bicol region and the rest of Visayas and Mindanao will be cloudy with light to moderate rainshowers. The weather agency said that Luzon including Metro Manila will continue to ...