Russia gets backing for truce, talks

A cease-fire held across most of Syria on Saturday as Russia and Turkey secured unanimous passage of a United Nations resolution backing their efforts to "jumpstart" talks aimed at ending the nearly six-year conflict.

At least 23 killed after ferry catches fire

At least 23 people were killed and 17 others were missing after a ferry caught fire on Sunday off the coast of Indonesia's capital, officials said.

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Power of pictures drawn in sand

Liang Xianghua casts a fistful of sand on the backlit glass, and a waterfall comes alive beneath the nimble dance of her fingers.

'Preserving a magical world for posterity'

"A male Hainan gibbon sits alone on the branch of a tall tree, looking up to the sky with a melancholy look, as if meditating deeply on its future." Photographer Jiang Enyu wrote this sentence as the caption for a photo of a Hainan gibbon in his book entitled Tropical Rainforests of Hainan Island.

Putin: Moscow won't expel US diplomats

Russian President Vladimir Putin castigated the United States on Friday for bringing sanctions and expelling Russian diplomats amid allegations of Russian meddling in the US presidential election, but said no US diplomats will be ousted in reprisal for Washington's moves in the wake of hacking attacks.

'Mutual respect' key to ties

China said on Friday that it hopes the United States and Russia could properly solve their differences through friendly negotiations, and handle their relationship on the basis of mutual respect in order to realize its stable development.

Benefits of cash overhaul elusive

Fifty days ago, India yanked most of its currency from circulation without warning, jolting the economy and leaving most citizens scrambling for cash.

Residents surf web at home in Havana pilot project

Downtown Havana resident Margarita Marquez said she received a special Christmas gift this year: web access at home, a rarity in a country with one of the lowest internet penetration rates in the world.

'Pink taxis' challenge nation's social norms

Nisrin Akoubeh checks the oil and water before getting into her taxi and pulling into Amman's heavy traffic for another day of shuttling fellow women across the Jordanian capital.

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Mom, 64, gives birth after receiving IVF

A 64-year-old woman in Jilin province is believed to have become the oldest in China to give birth on Wednesday.