The beginning of Ramadan means millions of Muslims around the world begin praying and fasting from dawn to dusk. But for many non-Muslims, the fasting practice may be the extent of what they know about Islam's holy month. Author Vali Nasr explains that it's also a time of consumerism and "political skulduggery."

The deaths of ten humanitarian workers this week in a remote region of Afghanistan underscore the unique but silent work done by American citizens not serving in government or military.

Gov. Linda Lingle says she'll likely travel to China in her final months of office to foster relations with tourism and government officials in the fast-developing Asian nation. In her final address as governor before the Hawaii Tourism Conference, Lingle said Tuesday she is committed to getting direct flights between Honolulu and China.

A view of various illuminated pavilions after dark at the 2010 Shanghai Expo.

The Great British Beer Festival is exactly what its name implies. It’s a festival, it’s great, there’s beer — enough of the stuff to soak an entire city — and it’s a proud celebration of brewing traditions that no one else upholds quite like the British...Except, it seems, the Americans.

Sushi's humble beginnings in Tokyo are of only passing interest to University of Wollongong academic Matt Allen and colleague Rumi Sakamoto...the academics' real interest lies in its culinary colonisation of the world in the past 20 or so years and how this has been influential back in Japan.

Seoul City’s internship program draws 45 students from 17 countries...the Global Internship Program, which was launched in 2008 as a government project to help foreign students understand Korea better while working as interns. The program is in its fifth year.

Youth exchanges between Russia and the USA in the field of sports are gaining speed. They are organized by the US-Russia Presidential Commission, Obama-Medvedev, as part of numerous programmes in the field of sports. This commission was set up by the presidents of the two countries on July 6th, 2009, during the visit of the US leader to Moscow and it is aimed at improving the relationships and cooperation between the governments of Russia and the USA.