Pompeo 'optimistic' about Syria's Kurds

ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates - Washington's top diplomat said on Saturday he was "optimistic" a way could be found to protect Syrian Kurds while allowing Turks to "defend their country from terrorists" following a US pullout from Syria.

Seoul, Tokyo at low point in relationship

After years of judicial wrangling and political intrigue, Seoul's court on Tuesday approved the seizure of local assets of a Japanese company after it refused to compensate several wartime forced labors.

Aleppo's yellow man is a minor fashion celebrity

ALEPPO, Syria - Abu Zakkour, a 68-year-old man in the Syrian northern city of Aleppo, has apparently become a symbol of peculiarity in the city with the yellow color he has been dressed in for the past 35 years.

Aussie politicians commit to saving national park

CANBERRA - Both of Australia's major political parties have pledged more than $144 million to breathe new life into Kakadu National Park.

IN BRIEF (Page 11)

Free trade zone sets out to boost Africa economy

Chinese entrepreneur He Liehui boarded a flight to Ghana and visited Africa for the first time 18 years ago. Now his businesses have landed on more than 20 African countries, after knocking on the door of each market one by one.

'Yellow vests' protester numbers on rise once again

PARIS - The number of protesters in the latest "yellow vests" rallies across France surged on Saturday, but there was a marked decline in violence despite hundreds of arrests and clashes with police in Paris and other cities.

Trump tweets into the void as shutdown breaks record

WASHINGTON - As the US partial government shutdown slipped into the record books on Saturday, members of Congress had left town, no negotiations were scheduled and President Donald Trump tweeted into the void.

Autonomous driving has bold vision

Autonomous driving remains more a popular concept than a reality, as demonstrated at the annual Consumer Electronics Show.

New dog museum unleashed in NY

NEW YORK - It's a museum that invites visitors to come! Sit! And stay.

Intelligent males may make female birds swoon

WASHINGTON - Male birds are often the ones with the most vibrant feathers, or the most elaborate songs, but researchers said on Thursday that what female birds could really appreciate is a male who shows his intelligence.

Trump cancels trip to Davos over shutdown

US President Donald Trump on Thursday canceled a planned visit later this month to the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, signaling he was prepared for the political showdown over the partial federal government shutdown due to stretch into late January.