US Congress votes to reopen govt

WASHINGTON - The House moved swiftly early on Friday to reopen the federal government and pass a $400 billion budget deal, overcoming opposition from both liberal Democrats and tea party conservatives to endorse enormous spending increases despite looming trillion-dollar deficits.

Precious chance to extend detentes

The warming ties between Seoul and Pyongyang seem to be thawing the freezing coldness in the Republic of Korea's county of Pyeongchang, where the Winter Olympics opened on Friday.

EU lawmakers urge review of summertime switch

BRUSSELS - EU lawmakers backed a motion on Thursday calling for an assessment of whether Europe should stop moving clocks forward and back between summer and winter time, following a call from Finland.

Chinese people in Maldives 'are safe'

A Maldivian president's envoy has pledged protection for Chinese people and institutions in the South Asian country after a state of emergency was declared there earlier this week.

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US backpedals on investment bill

US lawmakers may soften legislation that aims to heighten scrutiny of Chinese investment in the US technology sector.

Long-lost 'African Mona Lisa' found

LONDON - "I think of it as the African Mona Lisa," said award-winning novelist Ben Okri, gazing at the long-lost portrait of a Nigerian princess which recently turned up in a London flat.

Human eggs fully grown in lab for first time

LONDON - Scientists have succeeded for the first time in growing human eggs in a laboratory from the earliest stages in ovarian tissue all the way to full maturity - a scientific step that had previously been taken in mice. The eggs were grown to the point at which they could be fertilized.

Biotech billionaire buys LA Times for millions

Doctor Patrick Soon-Shiong, a California biotech billionaire and a minority owner of the Los Angeles Lakers basketball team, struck a big deal on Wednesday to buy Los Angeles Times from Chicago-based Tronc Inc.

Galapagos fights temptation of lucrative mass tourism

PUERTO AYORA, Ecuador - With its iconic giant tortoises, crested black iguanas, huge ocean manta rays and a veritable menagerie of other cool creatures, the Galapagos Islands are one of the most beautiful places you will probably never visit.

Chinese cultural event helps elderly cope with loneliness

KIEV, Ukraine - "I love this very much! My soul is singing," says Lucia Pavlovna, who is joining in with a Ukrainian folk song during the Spring Festival celebration in a nursing home on the outskirts of Kiev.

'Oldest Briton' had dark skin, blue eyes

New research suggests ancient Britons had dark-brown or black skin, dark wavy hair and blue eyes.