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.

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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.

British PM May to set out 'Road to Brexit' in series of govt speeches

LONDON - British Prime Minister Theresa May will make a speech on Brexit in the next three weeks, one of several planned addresses by senior ministers designed to set out the country's path to leaving the European Union, British media reported on Sunday.

Israeli raids hit 'Iranian targets'

JERUSALEM - The Israeli army launched a large-scale attack against the Syrian aerial defense system and Iranian targets in Syria after an Israeli F-16 fighter was hit by missiles from Syria and crashed on Saturday morning.

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