US: Retailers Clutter Aisles to Raise Sales

Americans like stuff. That’s a given. But it turns out that lots and lots of stuff piled onto shelves or stacked in the middle of store aisles can coax a shopper to buy more.

Artist held for ‘economic crimes’ probe

The Chinese government Thursday confirmed it is holding the missing artist Ai Weiwei, who has been incommunicado since police seized him Sunday at Beijing’s airport while other officers raided his art studio.

Fast progress of N.Korea reactor alarms Seoul: media

North Korea is rapidly completing what it says will be a light water reactor despite growing concerns over safety following Japan’s quake-triggered nuclear disaster, news reports said Friday.

US: 3-Month Nightmare Emerges in Rape Inquiry

A year ago, the 11-year-old girl who the police say was the victim of repeated gang rapes in this East Texas town was an outgoing honor roll student, brimming with enthusiasm, who went on hikes and planted trees with a youth group here.

Obama cites ‘responsibility’ of U.S. in Libya intervention

President Obama cast U.S. military intervention in Libya in stark strategic and humanitarian terms Monday, saying he would not stand by while the democratic aspirations spreading across the Middle East were “eclipsed by the darkest form of dictatorship” at the hands of a murderous Moammar Gadhafi.

China detects more low level radiation from Japan

Authorities in large swathes of southeastern China have detected “extremely low levels” of radioactive material from Japan’s stricken nuclear plant in the air, the government said.

US apologizes for more Afghan ‘kill team’ photos

The US military apologized again Monday after Rolling Stone published more photos and videos of members of an alleged rogue army unit “kill team” accused of killing Afghan civilians for sport.

Egypt will lift emergency laws

Egypt’s military rulers announced yesterday that the country’s hated emergency laws will be lifted before parliamentary elections set for September, the latest move to ease harsh restrictions under the ousted regime of President Hosni Mubarak.

Bargain-minded Chinese embrace group-buying craze

Like millions of Chinese, Liu Wen has fallen in love with group buying, which has electrified e-commerce in a country where getting the best possible discount is virtually a national pastime.

N.Y. Budget Deal Cuts Aid to Schools and Health Care

Capping weeks of secretive negotiations and intense political jockeying, Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo and leaders of the Legislature on Sunday announced a $132.5 billion budget agreement that would cut overall spending, impose no major new taxes and begin a long-term overhaul of New York State’s bloated Medicaid programs.