The Dalai Lama is a lot more playful than your average Harvard professor, which is one reason his appearance at a Harvard psychology conference on Friday was so entertaining. The Dalai Lama — who at 73 has an agile, mischievous mind and an abiding interest in psychology — accepted Harvard's invitation because he wanted a lively debate about the latest science on mental health. He wanted to play. What he got was an audience of earnest academic worshippers. He played ...

Sri Lankan military authorities predicted a swift end to the country's 25-year civil war after tens of thousands of civilians who had been trapped in a narrow combat zone in the country's north for over two months escaped the iron grip of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam on April 20. But more fighting is in store before that end can be reached. It will take weeks, if not longer, to capture or kill the over 500 hardcore Tigers ...

A second woman stepped forward Monday to say that Paraguayan President Fernando Lugo fathered a child out of wedlock when he was a Roman Catholic bishop. Benigna Leguizamon said Lugo fathered her son in 2002 in the city of San Pedro. She served notice that Lugo has 24 hours to acknowledge paternity or she will take legal action. "I am waiting in good will," she said in an interview on CNN affiliate Telefuturo TV. "But if they don't do something, ...

Hours after G-20 leaders agreed to a trillion-dollar bailout of the world economy in chilly London, one of the world's most flamboyant hoteliers opened his latest luxury hotel in sunny South Africa. Sol Kernzer admits opening an uber-luxury hotel in the current economic climate is not ideal, but he still firmly believes his latest venture -- One&Only -- in Cape Town's waterfront will be a success. Across his global hotel empire, from Atlantis in the Bahamas to the Royal Mirgae ...

Remember the dire predictions surrounding the 'millennium bug?' The doom-and-gloom scenarios bandied about by security analysts on how computers could act when their clocks turned to January 1, 2000? Well, researchers are hoping that a potential April Fool's time bomb -- the Conficker.c that is supposed to hit computers on April 1 -- turns out to be equally unfounded. But realizing that hope alone is not a prudent option, here is a primer on the worm so you can adequately ...

Mount Redoubt volcano in southern Alaska has erupted again, shooting ash as high as 45,000 feet in the air on Saturday, experts said. The eruption occurred at about 1:30 p.m. (5:30 p.m. ET), the U.S. Geological Survey told CNN. Some of the ash fell around Anchorage, resulting in the airport to close, the Federal Aviation Administration said. The volcano erupted three times Friday, at times shooting ash as high as 51,000 feet. The eruptions are the latest in a series ...

Nokia, the world's leading cellphone maker, announced Tuesday that it was cutting 1,700 further jobs globally due to falling demand. The Finland-based giant has already announced hundreds of lay-offs in response to the deepening recession. In a statement, the company said the latest cuts were part of its drive to increase "cost-efficiency and adapt to the market situation." The latest job losses would primarily be from its devices and markets units and in corporate development and global support, Nokia said. ...

A shooting rampage by a 17-year-old former student that has left at least 10 dead at a school in Winnenden, Germany is the latest in a series of attacks in education institutions. Here some of the major incidents. September 23, 2008: Seinajoki University of Applied Sciences, Kauhajoki, Finland. Student Matti Juhani Saari, 22, killed 10 people before shooting himself in the head. Saari, who had been armed with a semi-automatic pistol and Molotov cocktails, posted YouTube videos of himself firing ...

It's a good time to be British singer-songwriter Natasha Bedingfield. The U.S. has embraced her music (her latest album, "Pocketful of Sunshine," reached gold status). She's getting married in the next few months (to California businessman Matt Robinson). And major designers want to dress her (Vera Wang is making "the dress"). Add to that: She's gorgeous. And nice. So nice that you feel a little sad to see her leave when the interview is over. Bedingfield is ...

Global stock markets were reeling Monday as U.S. insurance giant AIG revealed losses of $62 billion -- the largest quarterly loss in corporate history. In a statement issued Sunday, the U.S. Treasury Department said it would provide $30 billion in extra funding for AIG to "help stabilize the company, and in doing so help stabilize the financial system." What does this all mean What are the implications if the insurance giant folds Financial expert David Buik, of BCG Partners, attempts ...