Harley-Davidsons Roar Into India

Harley-Davidson reuniting Japanese owner with hog

(NEWSER) - As more tsunami debris washes up in North America , more Japanese survivors may be reunited with lost items—but there'll probably be only one motorcycle. A Harley Davidson that had drifted thousands of miles across the Pacific in a container its owner had been using as a garage was found on a remote beach in British Columbia. Its maker tracked down the owner—who lost his home and three family members in the disaster—and they plan to restore the rusted cycle and return it to him, reports the CBC . More»

Trip drives $14.9B in trade deals, 50K US jobs

(NEWSER) - In a key diplomatic move, President Obama called for a permanent seat for India on the UN Security Council today. In a speech to the country’s Parliament, Obama fulfilled the country’s top wish for his visit, the AP reports, though it does not mean that India will join the five permanent Security Council members anytime soon. The US is backing India's membership only in the context of unspecified reforms to the council that could take years to bring about; still, the move demonstrates an effort to forge closer ties with India. More»

Specialty vacations offer chance to indulge motorbike, fashion and au naturale fantasies

(NEWSER) - Increasingly popular niche cruises offer seafarers a chance to indulge in all manner of hobbies, fantasies and obsessions on the high seas, reports Travel and Leisure: For instance:

• Star Trek/Buffy the Vampire Slayer: This week-long cruise offers fan conventions complete with autograph-signing celebs, star-studded karaoke and a chance to dine with a cast member and intermingle where no one has intermingled before.

Motorcycles catch on in Muslim country

(NEWSER) - In the eyes of religious conservatives, this Saudi motorcycle gang may as well be the Hell’s Angels. But the Muslim professionals in the Riyadh Harley Owners Club do pull over to pray, the Christian Science Monitor reports. Despite the region's religious taboos, strict laws, and stereotypes, motorcycle riding is growing in popularity. The club now counts 300 members who ride together weekly. More»

Lebanon bike tour celebrates iconic rides

(NEWSER) - It may seem incongruous, but in a region rife with anti-American sentiment, the all-American symbol has found a home: Harley-Davidsons are on the rise in the Middle East, even in conservative countries like Saudi Arabia. The hogs’ popularity was marked this month by Lebanon’s first-ever Harley-Davidson tour, which saw some 130 bikers from across the Mideast gather to cruise through the country—women and children included, the Los Angeles Times reports. More»