Trump backs improved checks on US gun buys

WASHINGTON - US President Donald Trump signaled support on Monday for improving background gun checks amid mounting pressure for reform in the wake of the Florida school shooting, as the accused gunman appeared in court.

Iranian plane wreckage located near top of mountain

TEHERAN - Iranian search teams have located the wreckage of a passenger plane that crashed into western mountains at the weekend, official IRNA news agency reported on Tuesday.

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Iranian rescue teams find crash site

TEHERAN - Iranian search and rescue teams on Monday reached the site of a plane crash the previous day that authorities say killed all 65 people on board, Iran's Press TV reported.

Students plan protests, national walkout to demand gun control

PARKLAND, Florida - Stunned by the deadliest high school shooting in US history, students mobilized across the country to organize rallies and a national walkout in support of stronger gun laws, challenging politicians they say have failed to protect them.

Three Billboards wins, women make waves at film awards in the UK

LONDON - Ferocious female-led tragicomedy Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri was the big winner on Sunday at the British Academy Film Awards in London, where women demanding an end to harassment, abuse and inequality dominated the ceremony.

Ties among the EU, US, Russia in focus

MUNICH - The Munich Security Conference was and is a good platform for discussion of the relationship among the European Union, the United States and Russia.

Crowds expected at Sydney celebrations

SYDNEY - Twenty-two years ago a number of local businesses, tourists and expats in Sydney's Chinatown wanted to find a way to wish one another good fortune and celebrate the Lunar New Year. With a lot of help and hard work from community organizers, a very modest Sydney Spring Festival was born tucked away in one small street in the inner city suburb of Haymarket.

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Encouraging words

It is Wednesday evening and Sarah Evans' friends are enjoying a drink at a pub but the 25-year-old, who works for a hedge fund company in the City of London, does not join them because she is at her weekly Mandarin class.

It's a rap: Teacher finds method in music

Mandarin can be a massive challenge for people trying to pick it up as a second language, but a London teacher has introduced a novel way to teach it - by rapping in Chinese to make classes memorable and fun.

Children make early start on China classes as schools launch lessons

In a bright new classroom on the second floor of a West London building, Christie counts to 10 confidently and then identifies parts of the body when prompted by her teacher.