City rivalries are an engine for development

China will be a responsible stakeholder in Arctic affairs

At a recent discussion on China's first official Arctic policy paper, Lawson Brigham, a professor of Arctic policy at the University of Alaska Fairbanks, said, "I did find it very interesting that the word 'military' is not mentioned once throughout the document, and that's maybe positive."

US, ROK to go ahead with delayed drills

SEOUL - The date for the annual Republic of Korea-United States war games, which were delayed for the Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, will be unveiled after the Paralympic Games end in mid-March, South Korea's defense chief said on Tuesday.

197 killed in bombing of rebel enclave

DAMASCUS - Intense shelling and airstrikes targeted the rebel-held Eastern Ghouta region east of the capital Damascus on Monday, as a prelude to a wide-scale offensive by the Syrian army on the key rebel bastion.

Father of 13 children granted custody

BANGKOK - A Thai court on Tuesday said it ruled in favor of a wealthy Japanese man who had fathered 13 surrogate children in Thailand, naming him their legal parent and sole guardian.

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.