Kennedy Center's honorees revealed

WASHINGTON - Rapper LL Cool J is set to become the first hip-hop artist to be celebrated at the Kennedy Center Honors, one of the top awards in the US arts that marks its 40th anniversary this year.

Families Cruising Along

A holiday on the ocean wave is growing in popularity, especially for parents. Bookings rose nearly 50 percent year-on-year in July. Yang Feiyue reports.

Sunken treasures give Albania's waters a sense of history

SARANDA, Albania - Descending beneath the waves, the cloudy first few meters quickly give way to clear waters and an astonishing sight - dozens, perhaps hundreds, of tightly packed ancient vases lie on the seabed, testament to some long-forgotten trader's unfortunate voyage more than 1,600 years ago.

What's in a name?

Before ready-to-wear became standard practice, made-tomeasure was a common choice when it came to getting a piece of clothing.

Recent convert

Sky-high shoes are lovely, but they can also cause a lot of pain after you've worn them for some time.

With Jimmy Choo, Michael Kors finds shoes to match its bags

In a bid to burnish its brand image, US bag and accessories maker Michael Kors is buying luxury shoemaker Jimmy Choo in a deal worth $1.35 billion (896 million pounds).

IN BRIEF (Page 14)

Finding The Inside Track

Colson Whitehead explains how New York, post-traumatic stress and a long gestation helped shape his latest award-winning novel. Mei Jia reports.

US editor, who rescued Anne Frank's diary, dies at 93

NEW YORK - Judith Jones, the legendary editor who rescued Anne Frank's diary from a US publisher's rejection pile, died on Wednesday. She was 93.

Celtic Legend

Richard Wagner's opera on tragic love set to win hearts in Beijing this month. Chen Nan reports.

Santana joins hands with Isley Brothers to break walls

NEW YORK - Teaming up with The Isley Brothers for a new album, Carlos Santana isn't just uniting two musical legends. He believes the sound can change the world.

China to play big role at UK fest

In August, the focus of the international arts world turns to Edinburgh, where Chinese acts will play a major role at the Edinburgh Festival.