China's VP Set to Begin US Visit

China's Vice President Xi Jinping begins a four-day visit to the United States Monday amid major challenges in relations between the two countries.

White House officials say the visit by the man expected to become China's Communist Party chief later this year and the country's president in 2013 will cover a wide range of political, economic, security and human rights issues.

On Tuesday, Xi Jinping will begin a day of meetings, including two hours of discussions with his formal host, U.S. Vice President Joe Biden and an Oval Office talk with President Barack Obama.

Japan to open robot farm in tsunami disaster zone

The project, masterminded by the Ministry of Agriculture, will involve unmanned tractors working the fields of the farm on a disaster zone site spanning 600 acres.

Robots will then box produce grown on the farm, including rice, wheat, soybeans, fruit and vegetables as part of the “Dream Project” scheme, according to the Nikkei.

The growth of crops will also be boosted by recycled carbon dioxide generated by the operation of the machinery in a bid to reduce reliance on chemical fertilisers.

An expanse of farmland in Miyagi prefecture, northeast Japan, which was flooded in last year’s tsunami, has been earmarked by the government for the project.

Matt Roberts: 'Get Running'

We are born to run. You only have to watch a child sprint across a playground to understand it is a natural instinct. But in later life, it’s often more than you can bear to pull on your trainers and get outside. Half the battle is knowing how to tell yourself that you can do it.

Our natural reaction to pain is to avoid it. Hit your hand while hammering nails and you quickly adjust your approach to ensure that you are more careful next time. However, with running (and exercise, generally), our relationship with pain is more complex.

We know that the discomfort or “pain” is probably good for us so we endure the downside, to some degree, in order to reach the upside – we might lose weight, or run farther or faster, or perhaps win a race if we are prepared to put up with a degree of pain that in any other context might have us calling for a doctor.

Yet there are countless occasions where our bodies will try to convince us to stop. A few mental techniques are essential to getting us going.

Parenting in a Nutshell: Hanukkah celebrates tradition

Whether you spell it Hanukkah or Chanukah, pronounce it with or without a throaty sound, this minor winter holiday, celebrated by Jewish people the world over, is a commemoration of events that took place more than 2300 years ago. Celebrate it with family and friends this year from sundown Dec. 20 through Dec. 28 (unlike the Dec. 25 Christmas holiday, Hanukkah's start date varies in November or December each year):

How it began: In the country we now call Israel, the Syrian King Antiochus called upon the Jewish people to forsake their religion in favor of the Greek gods. Among those who resisted was Judah Maccabee, who, along with his brothers, fought the Syrians for the right to practice their religion. It took three years, but on the 25th day of the month of Kislev in the Jewish calendar, they were successful in returning their temple to the Jewish people. As part of the re-dedication of the temple (Hanukkah means re-dedication), they wanted to light an eternal lamp using traditional oil; however, there was only enough oil for one day of burning. Amazingly, the oil lasted eight days; it was a miracle. This miracle is symbolized during Hanukkah by lighting candles in a menorah for eight consecutive nights, creating the Festival of Lights.

'Skyfall': Daniel Craig's New Bond Film!

Daniel Craig suits up for a photo call for Skyfall, the 23rd James Bond movie, at Massimo’s Restaurant on Thursday (November 3) in London, England.

Joining the 43-year-old actor were co-stars Javier Bardem, Naomie Harris, and Berenice Marlohe.

While Sam Mendes, who’s directing the film, kept quiet about much of what to expect from the film, he did tell journalists to expect “a lot of action” in Skyfall.

The film will shoot in Whitehall, London, Pinewood Studios, China, Istanbul, Turkey, and Scotland, Variety reports.

Just Jared

Ryan Seacrest to Produce Romantic Comedy Film With Reese Witherspoon

Ryan Seacrest is set to make a producing debut in a big screen movie. The "American Idol" host has planned a romantic comedy project, in which he will serve as the producer along with Oscar-winning actress Reese Witherspoon.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Seacrest will produce the project through his Ryan Seacrest Productions banner in association with Universal Pictures. The untitled Ryan Seacrest/Reese Witherspoon Project has already tapped "Grey's Anatomy" scribe Krista Vernoff to serve as the screenwriter.

Before starting his big screen debut, Seacrest has already produced the Kardashians' reality show franchise as well as served as the host and managing editor for E! News. As for Witherspoon, she will be seen in 20th Century Fox's adult comedy "This Means War", where she plays opposite Chris Pine and Tom Hardy.

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