1,700 plows mobilized

About 18 cm of snow fell at Washington's Dulles International Airport, according to AccuWeather, a private forecasting service.

State of emergency imposed in Thailand

Gunmen shot and wounded a top leader of a major pro-government movement in northern Thailand on Wednesday as demonstrators pushing to overthrow the prime minister defied the start of a state of emergency imposed in the capital to cope with the nation's increasingly bloody political crisis.

Tourism industry to suffer

The imposition of a 60-day state of emergency in Bangkok and adjacent provinces will undermine Thailand's image and its tourist industry, Thai Chamber of Commerce chairman Isara Wongkusolkij said on Wednesday.

VP calls for cooperation in ties with Washington

The principles of non-conflict, non-confrontation, mutual respect and win-win cooperation should be stressed when advancing Sino-US relations in 2014.

Washington offers envoy to help free Bae in DPRK

The United States has offered to send a special envoy to the Democratic People's Republic of Korea to win the release of a jailed US citizen, but signaled that any larger talks with Pyongyang will require it to give up its pursuit of nuclear weapons.

Wealth gap is global threat, report warns

The world's elite have rigged laws in their own favor undermining democracy and creating a chasm of inequality across the globe, charity Oxfam said in advance of the annual get-together of the world's most powerful at Davos, Switzerland.

Xi will not meet Abe at Sochi games

Beijing on Tuesday ruled out "any form of meeting" between President Xi Jinping and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe as the two leaders are bound for the opening ceremony of the Winter Olympic Games in Sochi, Russia, in February.

Anti-protest laws take effect in Ukraine as violence prevails

Controversial anti-protest laws that sparked unprecedented riots in Ukraine took effect on Tuesday as the latest standoff between thousands of protesters and anti-riot police in Kiev moved into a third day.

Syrians pray for 'miracle' at peace talks in Geneva

Exhausted by the devastating war that has asphyxiated Syria's capital, residents of Damascus pray that this week's Geneva 2 peace talks will produce a "miracle" that can silence the guns.

Iran deplores being jilted

Iran is criticizing the UN chief for rescinding his invitation to Teheran to attend the Syria peace talks in Geneva, calling the diplomatic about-face "deplorable".

IN BRIEF (Page 11)

Dolphin hunts continue in Japan

Japanese fishermen drove a large group of dolphins into shallow waters and killed at least 30 on Tuesday, hiding themselves behind a tarp, as the annual dolphin hunt that sparked protest in the West entered its final stages.