5 mins read

Japanese woman who scaled the world’s 14 top peaks says she wants to share joy

TOKYO | The first woman to conquer the world’s second-highest peak, K2, three times has also summited all 14 of the world’s tallest mountains. But Naoko Watanabe, 44, says climbing is less about piling up records than enjoying an adventure, being happy and experiencing new people, food and culture. She’s planning to return in June […]

5 mins read

Scripps National Spelling Bee guide: How to watch, who the notable spellers are, rules and prizes

WASHINGTON | The best young spellers in the English language are competing at the Scripps National Spelling Bee this week, continuing a more than century-old tradition. The three-day competition began Tuesday and concludes Thursday night. The first bee was held in 1925, when the Louisville Courier-Journal invited other newspapers to host spelling bees and send […]

6 mins read

For one Ukrainian war amputee, rebuilding is painful after a Russian strike killed her husband

KRYVYI RIH, Ukraine | After Iryna Nakonechna lost her left leg last year in a Russian missile attack that also killed her husband, the Ukrainian woman decided everything tied to her former self had to go. She cut off her dark wavy hair and removed furniture, clothes, trinkets and photographs from her home. Just one […]

6 mins read

Muslims begin the annual Hajj in sweltering heat against a backdrop of war concerns

MECCA, Saudi Arabia | The annual Hajj pilgrimage, one of the Five Pillars of Islam, officially began Monday. More than 1.5 million pilgrims have arrived in Saudi Arabia from outside the country, Saleh bin Saad Al-Murabba, commander of the Hajj passport forces, said Friday. The faithful have been pouring into the country for the Hajj […]

5 mins read

You should be dancing, yeah. Moving to music offers all kinds of benefits as you age

TUCSON, Ariz. | Carol Ross can’t stop smiling at dance practice as she shouts out the steps of a routine to members of her tap and jazz troupe for women age 50 and older. “I’ve been dancing my whole life, it’s the best,” said Ross, who founded the Rodeo City Wreckettes group 23 years ago […]

4 mins read

What tastes like a Korean pancake and is purple all over? An Oreo inspired by K-pop group BTS

Oreo is teaming up with K-pop supergroup BTS for a bit of marketing dynamite that capitalizes on consumers’ growing interest in global flavors. Mondelez, Oreo’s parent company, said Tuesday that BTS-themed Oreos will go on sale June 1 online and June 8 in stores. The cookies, which feature purple wafers in a nod to the […]

2 mins read

Limoncello, coconut oil and tequila combine for a margarita with tropical notes

The classic margarita from my book “Freezer Door Cocktails” calls for four things — tequila, orange liqueur, sugar and lime. This variation, inspired by a cocktail at Bitter & Twisted in Phoenix, keeps the key flavors, but gets to the finish line a little differently. Italian limoncello — a sweet, boldly lemony Italian liqueur — […]

7 mins read

Plastic bags don’t go in the recycling bin. What should you do instead?

NEW YORK | Soft, stretchy plastics can make up grocery bags, bubble wrap and more. They’re impossible to avoid and harder still to properly dispose of. If thrown in the trash, they can take up to hundreds of years to degrade in landfills and release harmful microplastics into the environment. Over 3 million tons (2.7 […]

5 mins read

How to mulch your garden beds without harming plants

When you look at your garden beds and borders, do you see any bare soil? If so, mulch is in order. Mulch is defined as a protective layer applied over soil to retain moisture, suppress weeds and moderate soil temperature around plants, as well as in uncultivated areas. But if used incorrectly, mulch can cause […]

10 mins read

Tiny patients, big fight: NICU parents win leave in 2 states and push for more

NEW YORK | As his daughter Olivia was born, Marlon White felt his wife’s hand slacken as she fainted. The baby, born at 29 weeks and weighing about 2 pounds, wasn’t making a sound as she was rushed to the neonatal intensive care unit. Terrified, he waited in the hall while the doctors stabilized his […]