Changchun aims to become Northeast Asia pivot

As a national-level pilot zone, Changchun New Area in Jilin province, is leading the reforms and revitalization of China's northeastern regions, with its location, innovation and opening-up edges, local officials said at a forum held earlier this month in Beijing.

Supportive policies boost new area's growth trajectory

When Han Dan first launched his vegetarian food production business in Changchun New Area, he did not expect that the company would grow so quickly and receive such warm support from the local government.

What they say

Delegates at the Changchun New Area Opening-up and Development Forum shared their insights on new economic trends and the development of the emerging area

Maria wreaks deadly devastation

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico - Puerto Rico was on Friday battling dangerous flooding after Hurricane Maria ravaged the island, as the death toll there jumped to 13 and authorities rescued nearly 700 people from high waters.

World's richest woman Liliane Bettencourt dies aged 94

PARIS - Liliane Bettencourt, the L'Oreal cosmetics heiress and the world's richest woman, has died at her home in a chic Parisian suburb. She was 94.

Merkel takes on hard-right in final German vote push

BERLIN - German Chancellor Angela Merkel and her beleaguered rival Martin Schulz embarked on a final push for votes on Friday ahead of a weekend election, both seeking to beat back a challenge from the emboldened hard-right.

Thousands evacuated as Bali volcano rumbles

DENPASAR, Indonesia - Thousands of residents were evacuated from villages near an active volcano on the Indonesian island of Bali, officials said on Friday, as seismic tremors that began earlier this week rattled some areas and smoke rose above one of the world's most popular tourist spots.

IN BRIEF (Page 8)

Daring to turn heat up on the limits of human endurance

LONDON - What Christian Clot remembers most vividly from his days in Iran's boiling Dasht-e Lut Desert was having to stay completely still for 12 hours a day - or die.

S.Korea dogged by draft-dodging celebrities

SEOUL - Serving in the military is a duty that falls upon every able-bodied Korean male, but 73.9 percent of the country's entertainers have delayed enlistment, according to a lawmaker.

Simple lines that evolved into a universal language

TOKYO - The tiny smiley faces, hearts, knife-and-fork or clenched fist have become a global language for mobile phone messages. They are displayed in the Museum of Modern Art in New York. They star in a new Hollywood film.

Merry Cemetery offers visitors grave art, dark humor

SAPANTA, Romania - Death isn't always tragic, at least not in this Romanian cemetery, where the dead beguile visitors with tales of their lives.