NEW YORK (AFP) ― New York’s autumn art sales got off to a weak start Tuesday with a celebrated bronze sculpture by Degas, two important Picassos and a dreamy Matisse among works failing to sell at Christie’s. Only 51 of 82 lots sold, a total of 62 percent, possibly reflecting jitters among big collectors at a time of renewed anxiety over stock markets and the stability of the euro. “Petite dans...

WASHINGTON (AFP) ― People who took yoga classes for chronic lower back pain experienced more lifestyle improvements and better overall health than those who sought a doctor’s advice, said a study published Monday. The research in the U.S. journal the Annals of Internal Medicine, led by scientists at the University of York, included more than 300 people and was described as the largest of its kin...

TOKYO (AFP) ― After months of being told to strip off to keep cool for summer, Japanese workers were Tuesday being urged to wrap up for winter in an energy-saving “Warm Biz” campaign. As the nation continues to face possible electricity shortfalls in the wake of the Fukushima nuclear disaster that has left dozens of atomic reactors offline, the government is asking people to keep warm the old-fa...

BASEL, Switzerland (AP) ― Novak Djokovic made his return after missing six weeks with a back injury and defeated Xavier Malisse 6-2, 4-6, 7-5 in the first round of the Swiss Indoors on Tuesday. The top-ranked Serb overcame some difficult moments before improving his record this season to 65-3. Djokovic arrived on the court for the first time since Sept. 18 wearing a fright mask resembling rock ...

SHANGHAI (AP) ― Except for the red carpet in bunkers on the practice range, signs posted in English and Chinese, and bicycles competing with BMWs for space on the road, the HSBC Champions looks like any other World Golf Championship. Too bad the PGA Tour doesn’t see it that way. The tour opened itself to criticism ― and even silly whispers of a conspiracy ― by deciding to wait until after the H...

PITTSBURGH (AP) ― The Steelers’ injury-riddled linebacker corps already has forced coach Mike Tomlin to get creative. Inside linebacker Lawrence Timmons has moved outside. Young players like rookie Chris Carter and second-year man Stevenson Sylvester have been pushed into more prominent roles. And there’s a good chance Tomlin will need another brainstorming session. The coach said Tuesday he’s...

Group F leader Arsenal draws at home against Marseille Lionel Messi broke the 200-goal barrier for his Barcelona career with his second straight hat trick in a 4-0 win at Viktoria Plzen on Tuesday night that advanced the club to the Champions League knockout stage. AC Milan also advanced with a 1-1 tie at BATE Borisov, but Arsenal and Chelsea were held to draws and will have to wait until their...

One pilot was killed and another wounded after an Army 500MD combat helicopter made an emergency landing for an unverified reason in a mountain in Gangwon Province on Wednesday. The accident occurred at around 2:40 p.m. in Wonju of the province when the helicopter of the Army’s aerial operations command participated in the annual Hoguk Exercise. The 45-year-old warrant officer, the main pilot, ...

Ruling, opposition parties heading for showdown The ruling Grand National Party on Wednesday moved to ratify a free trade agreement with the U.S. on its own, submitting the bill for a committee-level vote, despite strong resistance from opposition members. Rep. Nam Kyung-pil, chair of the parliament’s foreign affairs and trade committee and GNP lawmaker, used his authority to put the bill to th...

The public’s approval rate for the ruling Grand National Party has fallen steadily over the past four years, recently hitting its lowest level ever, according to some local public polls. The rate as of Monday was 27.3 percent, a crash from the record high 57.4 percent scored in December 2008, showed a recent survey conducted by Munhwa Ilbo. The rates first took a downturn in the first half of 2...