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Observers hail Xi's Sochi trip

President Xi Jinping's attendance at the opening ceremony of the Winter Olympics in Sochi reflects China's strong support for the Olympics and shows that it attaches great importance to the strategic coordination partnership between the two nations, observers said.

Sino-Russian efforts on Syria issue praised

Xi, Putin encourage crews of warships escorting chemical weapons shipment

History supports China's maritime claims: expert

A Chinese expert has responded to statements from Washington and Manila that challenged Beijing's territorial sovereignty in the South China Sea, calling on the international community to respect historical evidence instead of adding to regional tensions.

Japan to extend 'territorial education'

Japanese Cabinet members have publicly confirmed that Tokyo will expand "territorial education" regarding disputed islands to include elementary schools.

DPRK may call off family reunions

Barely a day after the Democratic People's Republic of Korea and the Republic of Korea agreed to resume reunions for divided families, Pyongyang threatened on Thursday to drop out of the deal unless Seoul scraps planned military drills with the United States.

UN urges Vatican to act against child sex abuse

A damning report by the United Nations on the Vatican's handling of child sex abuse cases has increased pressure on the Catholic Church to convince a skeptical international community it has adopted a zero-tolerance approach.

Sisi announces bid for presidency

Egyptian army chief Field Marshal Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, who deposed the country's first freely elected leader, has said he will run for president, a Kuwaiti newspaper said on Thursday.

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Lessons in gift-giving

As one of millions of Chinese people studying or working abroad who meticulously selected presents before their trips home for the Chinese Lunar New Year, Cui Zishan, a young Chinese woman in Vancouver, Canada, had trouble picking out a suitable gift for her father.

Winter in Beijing

Many Chinese cities saw the warmest New Year holiday in six decades this year. In Beijing, the dry and rainless weather has lasted an unusually long time. As of Jan 28, China's capital saw nearly 100 days pass without rain, according to official statistics. The city's latest rainfall was on Oct 22 - and it was a light rain at that, with only 2.5 mm of precipitation. The irregular weather has not stopped people from stepping out to have fun this winter. Ski resorts in suburban Beijing are available for anyone who simply must have snow. The lakes in the downtown Shichahai scenic area are crowded with winter swimming enthusiasts. At Olympic Park, parents and children frequently can be observed flying kites. Or, closer to home, you can simply dress up your pet and go for a walk.

All is not rosy on China's silver screens

Large audience numbers at cinemas in both large and small cities show moviegoing is a popular pastime for people in China, now the world's second-largest film market.