Merkel defends coalition deal against party criticism

BERLIN - German Chancellor Angela Merkel pushed back on Sunday against critics within her Christian Democratic Union party of the governing coalition deal reached with Germany's main center-left party.

Trump questions Israel's interest in peace with Palestinians

JERUSALEM - US President Donald Trump said in an interview published on Sunday that he was "not necessarily sure" Israel was seeking to reach a peace agreement with the Palestinians.

Disgraced film mogul hit with new allegations

NEW YORK - New York's attorney general on Sunday filed a lawsuit against disgraced Hollywood movie producer Harvey Weinstein and the Weinstein Co following an investigation into allegations of sexual misconduct.

Investigators begin grim crash search

President Xi Jinping sent a message of condolence on Monday to his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin after a passenger plane with 71 people on board crashed just outside Moscow on Sunday.

Trump to unveil budget plan as critics voice fears of high deficit spending

WASHINGTON - US President Donald Trump will unveil his second budget on Monday, seeking to make good on his promise to bolster military spending and requesting funds for infrastructure, construction of a wall along the border with Mexico and opioid treatment programs.

US, ROK pave way for talks with DPRK

SEOUL - The Republic of Korea said on Monday it will try to arrange more reunions for families divided by the Korean War and seek to lower military tensions with the Democratic People's Republic of Korea as the first steps towards establishing grounds for a rare summit between the two countries.

Leaders seek end to Northern Ireland stalemate

DUBLIN/LONDON - British Prime Minister Theresa May and Irish leader Leo Varadkar will meet with Northern Ireland's main political parties in Belfast on Monday to urge the restoration of the province's devolved administration.

IN BRIEF (Page 12)

Trump slams rivals over memo

WASHINGTON - President Donald Trump on Saturday accused the Democrats of playing politics with classified information, asserting that their memo countering GOP allegations about the conduct of the FBI's Russia probe was a trap meant to "blame the White House for lack of transparency".

Kicking gaming addiction with Vietnam's martial art

HO CHI MINH CITY - An's folly was League of Legends, a fantasy fight game that consumed her for 18 hours a day until she joined a school for troubled teens which features the real-world hard knocks of Vietnam's homegrown martial art.

Thousands march in anti-racism rallies after Italy migrant shootings

ROME - Marchers protested against racism on Saturday in several Italian cities and warned against a revival of neo-fascist sentiment amid the campaign for Italy's March 4 national election.

DPRK invitation to Moon offers rare opportunity

SEOUL - A highlight of the 23rd Winter Olympics happened outside the sports venue on Saturday, when the sister of the top leader of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea extended an invitation from her brother to the Republic of Korea president to visit Pyongyang.