Jailed missionary pleas for help

US missionary Kenneth Bae, imprisoned in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea for more than a year, said on Monday that he wants to return to his family as soon as possible and hopes the United States will help, Japan's Kyodo News Agency reported.

China urges dialogue to resolve Syrian issue

China called for all relevant parties on Monday to resolve conflicts in Syria through dialogue, after the political opposition threatened to withdraw from international peace talks.

Qingdao Special: Industrial area reborn as center for commerce, living

Leveraging the advantages brought by its new train station and the Jiaozhou Bay Bridge, Qingdao is planning to transform an old industrial area at its northwest end into a comprehensive high-end business area featuring modern services and headquarters facilities for enterprises.

Qingdao Special: New rail station strengthens Qingdao's role in region

The Qingdao North Railway Station, the largest transport hub in Shandong, officially started operation on Jan 10.

Mongolia seeks closer integration with China, Russia

Mongolian Foreign Minister Luvsanvandan Bold has called for further cooperation with China on infrastructure and manufacturing projects, with the aim of strengthening his country's integration with neighbors China and Russia.

Egypt approves Constitution by 98.1 percent

Egyptian voters have approved a new Constitution by 98.1 percent, the elections chief said on Saturday, in what the government declared a popular endorsement of the army's overthrow of Islamist president Mohammed Morsi.

Opposition to attend 'Geneva 2'

Syria's main political opposition group in exile agreed on Saturday to attend internationally sponsored peace talks, and said for the first time three rebel fighting forces also wanted to take part.

UN chief lauds deal

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Saturday welcomed the Syrian opposition's agreement to take part in next week's international conference in Switzerland to seek an end to the Syria conflict.

US spies to remain 'interested' in foreign affairs

Obama vows not to undermine German ties

Iran, Syria set to dominate Davos

The bloody civil war in Syria and Iran's efforts to come in from the diplomatic cold will drive the agenda next week as world leaders, business chiefs and celebrities gather in the Swiss resort of Davos.

IN BRIEF (Page 11)

Dropping 'no-war' pledge a part of Abe's strategy

A longtime no-war pledge has disappeared from Japan's Liberal Democratic Party's annual working policy revealed on Sunday, while the ruling party vowed to continue visits to the controversial Yasukuni Shrine and push ahead constitutional revision, in another move leading the country in a far-right direction, observers said.