Tencent to help restore museum

A deal was reached in Beijing on Friday to use Chinese digital technology in the restoration of the fire-damaged National Museum of Brazil.

Berkeley to drop name of school over racist connection

For more than 100 years the University of California, Berkeley School of Law has been known colloquially as Boalt Hall. Now its dean wants the name dropped because it honors a man known to have been an anti-Chinese racist.

US orders curbs on e-cigarette retailers

TAMPA, Florida - US regulators on Thursday ordered sharp restrictions on sales of e-cigarettes, as national data showed a 78 percent single-year surge in vaping among young people, with two-thirds using fruit and candy-flavored products.

Govt in turmoil as minister quits

JERUSALEM, Middle East - Israeli Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman has resigned to protest a new cease-fire with Hamas in Gaza, throwing the government into turmoil and pushing the country toward an early election.

Putin, Abe agree to peace treaty talks

The leaders of Russia and Japan agreed to accelerate talks on resolving a long-standing territorial dispute over four islands that has kept two countries from sealing a peace treaty since the World War II.

Flags and friendship: Brunei in preparation for Xi visit

In the capital city of Brunei, Awang Tikom Yapik was happy to see his handmade crafts displayed on Thursday at one of cultural events prior to Chinese President Xi Jinping's visit to the country.

US aircraft carriers conduct military drills in Asia

Two US aircraft carriers with around 150 fighter jets are staging warfare drills in west Pacific, the US Navy said on Thursday.

Fear of reprisals threatens Europe's Iran mechanism

A legal mechanism within the European Union to facilitate legitimate financial transactions with Iran may prove difficult to implement, especially in the short term, Chinese experts warned.

Resignations rock May's Brexit plans

British Prime Minister Theresa May's government was thrown into fresh turmoil on Thursday morning as Brexit Secretary Dominic Raab became the latest minister to resign from her cabinet over her handling of the issue.

IN BRIEF (Page 12)

Italy defies EU budget demands

The Italian government has decided not to change its budgetary targets despite the possibility of European Commission sanctions action against it.

Blaze devastation scars survivors

With the wounds of last year's devastating fires still raw, two catastrophic blazes in California have claimed 50 lives and counting.