SOCIETY

As young Chinese become wealthier, there is one area where they are increasingly looking to make a big impression on their families and friends and create lifelong memories for themselves: weddings.

It's hard to know what Italian Welfare Minister Elsa Fornero is saying, unless you speak Italian, but in announcing pension reforms recently she got rather emotional.

Principal Sharron Smalls is under fire after students spread a sexy Facebook photo of her getting drenched in chocolate syrup by a shirtless man.

For instance, many among Facebook's 800 million users were interested in a dog mourning the death of a Navy SEAL killed in Afghanistan than they were in stories about troops being pulled out of Afghanistan. Anyway, here is the list from Facebook of its 40 most shared articles of 2011.

Turner Prize, one of the contemporary art world's biggest events is all set to take place on Dec.5, 2011 to honor the very best of the current British award.

The mastermind of the 9/11 attacks on the U.S., bin Laden managed to hide out for almost a decade despite the world's most aggressive global manhunt and a $25 million reward for information leading to his capture or killing. On May 1, U.S. President Barack Obama decided to send a small U.S. force into a compound where Obama was believed to be hiding in Pakistan. Osama bin Laden was killed in the raid, and after DNA confirmation was buried at sea. Obama announced bin Laden's killing i...

Mona Lisa's smile may not be the only enigmatic element to the iconic Leonardo da Vinci portrait.

Followers of Shia Islam known as Shia Muslims across the world took part in mourning processions on Sunday prior to observing Ashura; the Muslims flagellated themselves and walked on fire.

Eddie Long's spokesman, Art Franklin, said the leader of New Birth Missionary Baptist Church in Lithonia, Georgia told congregation members that he will take time off during church services Sunday. Franklin said Eddie Long plans to remain as senior pastor at the Atlanta-area church, but that he felt a break was needed. Franklin didn't give a timetable for Eddie Long's sabbatical. He said Long and his family are asking for privacy and sensitivity to their family.

A new reference book on the ill-fated passenger vessel Titanic that hit an iceberg and sank in the Atlantic Ocean in 1912 suggests that the iceberg was spotted well in time and that a mere delay of 30 seconds in averting the ship led to her fatal end.

Unfortunately, we humans have neither the extraterrestrial parentage of Superman nor are we entitled to such powers by any other means. However, 35-year-old Herbert Chavez of the Philippines didn't lose hope and made sure he was as the last son of Krypton, if not by birth then at least by appearance.

The Sports Ministry of India has asked the Indian Olympic Association to immediately raise the question of Dow Chemicals' sponsorship of the 2012 London Olympics, with the International Olympics Committee.

A 65-year-old woman was arrested for trying to cut off her husband's penis with a pair of large scissors, police said.

New Birth Missionary Baptist Church Bishop Eddie Long said on Sunday that he's taking a leave from the church to focus on his family after his wife filed for divorce on Friday, according to reports.

Two people were killed in a plane crash, one an executive at Amazon, on Saturday night in Michigan. The two men on board, Tom Phillips, a general manager at Amazon.com's Web Services, and the pilot Joe Pann, both died in the crash.

A seven year-old boy will attend a disciplinary hearing for sexual harassment Monday after he reportedly kicked a bully in the testicles in self-defense.

Tens of thousands of Southern California residents remained without power on Sunday as officials warned that dangerously high winds would return to the region in the evening.

High winds returned to the Los Angeles area early on Saturday as over 100,000 homes and businesses lost power, due to fallen trees and other damage from an ongoing windstorm.

Former Miss USA Rima Fakih was arrested on Saturday for DUI charges in Michigan.

KGO Radio, formerly “Newstalk 810,” will now tout itself as “KGO-810 - the Bay Area news and information station,” reported the San Francisco Chronicle.

Jonah Mowry's emotion-filled YouTube video title Whats goin on has gone viral after recognition from celebrity blogger Perez Hilton.

Bishop Eddie Long was not charged criminally in the church sex scandal involving the four young men because the age of consent in Georgia is 16 -- and the young men were 17 and 18 years old when the alleged sexual contact occurred. Still, Eddie Long faced heavy scrutiny from media and critics during the scandal since he's known for a strong anti-gay stance.

Diana Taylor, who is the girlfriend of New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg and is a Sotheby's board member, has threatened to resign if any demands of the auction house's art handlers are met.

Authorities from Manhattan federal court are investigating whether paintings and drawings sold by a 165-year old art gallery, Knoedler & Co., including purported works by Jackson Pollock and other Modernist masters, are nothing but expert forgeries.

Kim’s case is not an isolated one. Experts claim between 550 and 650 surgical fires occur a year, though very few cause critical damage.

Miss Alsace, Delphine Wespiser, was crowned Miss France 2012 on Saturday. She has become the 65th beauty queen of the pageant.

The U.N.'s climate chief said that she believes countries can snap the deadlock that has lasted for years and sign up to fresh and binding commitments to cut greenhouse gases.

Heavy Santa Ana winds returned to the Los Angeles area early on Saturday as over 100,000 homes and businesses lost power due to fallen trees and other damage from an ongoing windstorm.

Holiday gift ideas are necessary this time of year. Here are some shopping tips for him and her from just $30 to $1,725.