Artist defends sculpture after 'satanistic' claim

ATHENS - A sculpture by sculptor and painter Kostis Georgiou was placed on the beachfront avenue of the Athens Riviera on Dec 5.

US plans to reimpose sanctions on Iran

WASHINGTON - The United States is planning to reimpose sanctions on Iran, said US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin on Thursday, ahead of President Donald Trump's decision on whether to extend sanctions relief on Iran under terms of the 2015 nuclear deal.

Russia dismisses US report as 'unfounded'

MOSCOW - The Kremlin has dismissed a new report by US Senate Democrats describing Russian interference in the United States and throughout Europe as unfounded and President Vladimir Putin accused the United States of "aggressive" overreaction.

Private search launched to find missing MH370

A private US company will start a new search for the remains of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370, whose disappearance in 2014 remains one of aviation's biggest mysteries.

Dozens still unaccounted for in mudslides

LOS ANGELES - Authorities in southern California said on Thursday that dozens of residents were still unaccounted for after powerful mudslides that have killed 17 people, including four children, and destroyed homes in a region already pummeled by massive wildfires.

Ecuador grants citizenship to Assange, seeks end to embassy stay

QUITO/LONDON - Ecuador has granted citizenship to Julian Assange as part of its efforts to allow the Wiki-Leaks founder to leave the country's embassy in London, where he has been holed up for more than five years.

IN BRIEF (Page 8)

Excellent relations offer opportunities

PHNOM PENH - Chinese investors and tourists have greatly contributed to socioeconomic development and poverty reduction in Cambodia, local business leaders said, as China is both the largest source of foreign direct investment and tourists to its neighbor.

Martian ice deposits could sustain humans

WASHINGTON - Scientists using images from an orbiting NASA spacecraft have detected eight sites where huge ice deposits near the Martian surface are exposed on steep slopes, a potential source of water that could help sustain future human outposts.

Migrants risk death crossing Alps

BARDONECCHIA, Italy - It took Abdullhai almost three years to get from his home in Western Africa to a rocky, snow-covered Alpine mountain pass in the dead of winter, for what he hopes will be the final stage of his journey into France.

Chinese drama staged in NY

NEW YORK - The Chinese music drama Overlord was staged on Thursday at the Asia Society in New York.

Weather blowing hot and cold

SINGAPORE - Deep freeze, heatwave, flash floods: What on earth is going on with the weather?