WASHINGTON, May 18 (Xinhua) — Former U.S. President George W. Bush is expected to return to the White House for the unveiling of his official portrait honored by sitting President Barack Obama later this month, both Bush’s office and the White House confirmed Friday.

The White House said Bush and former first lady Laura Bush will return to the White House on May 31 for the release of their portraits.

Bush’s office spokesman Freddy …

This article titled “RIP Donna Summer – the accidental gay icon” was written by Paul Flynn, for guardian.co.uk on Friday 18th May 2012 10.26 UTCEarlier this year rumours began to spread that Donna Summer was in negotiation to take the Sunday headlining spot at the summer music festival, Lovebox. The potential signing was symbolic. Sunday at Lovebox is “gay day”. Donna Summer’s relationship with her fulsome gay fan-base …

The new Maserati Trofeo begins in Spain

Modena, 18 May 2012 – The 3850 metre-long Jarama circuit, in Spain, will stage the opening round of the 2012 Maserati Trofeo MC World Series. This year the calendar will include an event in the United States (Infineon, 23 September) and in China (Shanghai, 4 November). The six-race series will also include rounds at  Portimao (3 June), Imola (24 June) and Paul Ricard (22 July).

The series appeals to gentlemen drivers from all …

HARBIN, May 18 (Xinhua) — A teacher who risked her life to save two students from an oncoming bus in northeast China’s Heilongjiang province earlier this month has regained consciousness but must wait for the most opportune time to begin surgery, a doctor said Friday.

“We are making preparations for the surgery, but she is still in critical condition due to previous complications. We cannot be blindly optimistic,” said Dr. Zhao Mingyan, director of the intensive care …

ATLANTA,  Bounce TV (http://www.bouncetv.com), the nation’s first and only broadcast television network for African Americans, will pay tribute to the legendary Donna Summerwith ”Bounce TV Remembers Donna Summer,” featuring an episode of Soul Train and her film Thank God It’s Friday this Friday, May 18 beginning at 8:00 p.m. Eastern time.

“Bounce TV Remembers Donna Summer” will feature her memorable Soul Train episode from 1976 in which she performs ” Winter Melody” and ” Spring …

Priceline.com celebrates 10 years of publishing its Top 50 Memorial Day Destinations report

NORWALK, Conn.,– Las Vegas’s North Strip area is the top destination for travelers over Memorial Day 2012, according priceline.com’s (Nasdaq: PCLN) annual survey of the Top 50 destinations for the holiday that traditionally kicks off the summer travel season.  In second place on this year’s list is Chicago’s tony North Michigan Avenue.

Priceline.com has been publishing its annual Memorial Day list for a decade, making it one of the longest running prognosticators of travel trends.  …

NEW YORK, May 17 (Xinhua) Wall Street extended losses Thursday, with the Dow Jones industrial average suffering its 11th loss in last 12 trading sessions, amid intensified fears about European banking systems.

When the market closed, the Dow Jones industrial average fell 156.06 points, or 1.24 percent, at 12,442.49. The Standard & Poor’ s 500 was down 19.44 points, or 1.51 percent, to 1,304.86. The Nasdaq Composite Index …

The popular disco singer Donna Summer died this Thursday morning due to complications from the cancer that affected her for some time and that she had tried to keep secret, as reports the portal specializing in celebrity news TMZ.com.

At the time of her death, the singer whose real name is LaDonna Adrian Gaines, 63 years old, would be in Florida, United States, struggling to finish …

NEW YORK, May 17 (Xinhua) — Facebook on Thursday set the price for its highly-anticipated initial public offering (IPO) at 38 dollars per share, the high end of its expected range of 34 dollars to 38 dollars per share.

The price came one day before Facebook begins to trade on the Nasdaq stock exchange on Friday under the symbol “FB”.

At the price of 38 dollars a share, the world’s …

LONDON, May 17 (Xinhua) — International ratings agency Fitch announced Thursday to have cut Greece’s credit rating from B- to CCC, citing the “hightened risk” that Greece could leave the euro zone.
Recent Greek parliamentary elections and subsequent failure to form a government underscores the lack of public and political support for the austerity plans in Greece, Fitch said in a statement on its website, …