Mideast's top defense fair opens

The biennial International Defense Exhibition and Conference kicked off in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, on Sunday.

China named guest country at Cuba fair

China will be the guest country at the 2018 Cuba International Book Fair as a sign of historically friendly ties between the two nations and a way to expand cultural cooperation, a senior Cuban official said on Sunday. "Inviting China to be the guest country at next year's fair will be of great importance for our bilateral cultural relation because we have distinct historical ties," Abel Prieto, Cuban minister of culture, told Xinhua.

Mattis says no plan to seize Iraqi oil

The US military is not in Iraq "to seize anybody's oil", Defense Secretary Jim Mattis said, distancing himself from remarks by President Donald Trump at the start of a visit to Iraq on Monday.

Traffic study ranks Los Angeles as most clogged city

When it comes to getting stuck in traffic on the way to and from work, Los Angeles leads the world.

Protests target 'fake jobs' candidates

Thousands demonstrated in Paris and other French cities on Sunday to protest corruption, taking aim specifically at presidential candidates Francois Fillon and Marine Le Pen, both accused of misusing public funds.

Bali earns best island title for 12th consecutive year

Indonesia's resort island of Bali has earned the Best Island title awarded by Singapore's influential travel website DestinAsian through its recent 2017 Readers Choice Award. It was the 12th such title received by the island from the media consecutively.

IN BRIEF (Page 12)

Troops prepare for Mosul assault

Iraqi forces launched a large-scale military operation on Sunday to dislodge Islamic State militants from the western half of Mosul city, a battle that is expected to be prolonged and difficult due to a densely packed civilian population and narrower streets.

Rain eases but north faces renewed storm

A huge storm over Southern California that ravaged roads, opened sinkholes and led to the deaths of at least three people, eased off on Saturday. But it was only a temporary reprieve as new storms took aim farther north.

US pledges 'commitment' to Europe

US Vice-President Mike Pence on Saturday led a chorus of reassurance for allies rattled by Donald Trump's policy stance but European leaders gave the pledges a lukewarm welcome.

Lavrov calls for 'post-West' order

Russia wants pragmatic relations with the United States but also is hoping for the creation of a "post-West world order," the country's foreign minister said on Saturday, dismissing the NATO military alliance as a relic of the Cold War.

Trump reassures supporters at rally

US President Donald Trump turned back the clock on Saturday with a bold and aggressive Florida speech straight out of his 2016 campaign playbook, enthralling fans while insisting all is well in the White House despite weeks of turbulence.