French vacation specialist signs co-op agreement to develop tourism projects

France's largest vacation real estate company Pierre & Vacances-Center Parcs Group signed a strategic cooperation agreement to expand its business in China with its local business partners in Beijing on Jan 10.

Roundup

A culinary team from Lunar 8 at the Fairmont Beijing Hotel has begun preparing authentic Chinese cuisine to allow for top-class dining experiences. Its offerings includes fish in aged millet wine, stuffed lotus root with glutinous rice, sour and spicy seafood soup, stir-fried beef filet with BBQ sauce, spicy Sichuan wok-fried prawns with cashew nuts as well as other favorites. The hotel has also launched special room and family suite packages for the Chinese New Year holiday from Feb 15 to 23, with booking available through Feb 21.

Dialogue welcomed by the world

The Korean Peninsula has recently enjoyed a rare reconciliatory atmosphere. Less than a week after the reopening of a cross-border phonelink, the two neighbors held high-level talks on Tuesday, the first since December 2015, at the truce village of Panmunjom.

Trains resume in snowbound Swiss resort

ZERMATT, Switzerland - A train packed with tourists left from a snowbound resort town near Switzerland's famed Matterhorn peak on Wednesday, marking the resumption of railway service that had been halted for two days because of avalanche risks and had stranded 13,000 visitors.

Japan signals openness to Belt and Road

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has said his government will "properly respond to" individual cooperation programs related to the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative.

Hunt for thieves after Ritz robbery

PARIS - Police have recovered some jewels stolen from the Ritz Hotel in a dramatic heist, but are still searching on Thursday for two thieves and the rest of the missing luxury merchandise.

Trump vows to rewrite US libel laws after venting fury at tell-all

WASHINGTON - President Donald Trump on Tuesday vowed to rewrite United States libel law after an explosive book portrayed him as out of his depth in the White House.

Russia's 'werewolf ' killer cop on trial for 59 more murders

MOSCOW - A former Russian policeman convicted of killing 22 women went on trial on Wednesday for a further 59 murders in a case that could make him Russia's most prolific serial killer in recent history.

US could re-enter Paris accord

WASHINGTON - US President Donald Trump said on Wednesday that Washington could "conceivably" rejoin the global Paris climate agreement if a better deal could be reached, from which he announced the withdrawal last year.

IN BRIEF (Page 12)

Seoul is 'open' to inter-Korean summit

SEOUL - The Republic of Korea's President moon Jae-in said on Wednesday that he is open to meet with Kim Jongun, top leader of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, if it is necessary to improve inter-Korean relations.

Expert: US arms sale could change regional balance

The decision by the United States to sell Japan anti-ballistic missiles is aimed at changing military balance in the region, according to a Chinese expert.