IN BRIEF (Page 12)

True friendship between sister cities

A friend in need is a friend indeed. And according to a South Korean mayor, this is an apt description of his city's relationship with South China's Guangzhou.

Abe set to visit Teheran on mediation mission

TOKYO - Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is expected to visit Iran this week on a rare diplomatic mission, hoping to ease tensions between Teheran and Tokyo's key ally Washington.

Trump defends Mexico deal over migrants as criticism continues

STERLING, Virginia - With his threatened Mexican tariffs now on the back burner, US President Donald Trump was looking to claim victory even as some of his Democratic presidential challengers criticized him for overselling a deal that mostly ramps up existing efforts.

More Sinabung eruptions possible

KARO, Indonesia - Indonesian officials warned on Monday that more eruptions from an active volcano on the island of Sumatra are possible after it emitted a huge column of ash, causing panic among residents.

Race to replace May gets underway

With British Prime Minister Theresa May having stepped down as Conservative Party leader on Friday, the race to be the United Kingdom's next leader began in earnest on Monday, with several of the main contenders launching their campaigns.

Xi greets new Kazakh leader

President Xi Jinping sent a congratulatory message on Monday to Kassym-Jomart Tokayev on his election as the president of Kazakhstan.

AstraZeneca publishes its first philanthropy white paper

AstraZeneca, a leading global biopharmaceutical company, published A Dream-Driven Journey of Public Welfare, its first China philanthropy white paper, at its annual volunteer meeting on Monday in Qingdao.

IN BRIEF (Page 12)

Remarks on annexing West Bank rejected

RAMALLAH/GAZA - Palestinians condemned on Saturday US ambassador to Israel David Friedman's remarks, which consider annexing parts of the West Bank an Israeli right.

Modi embarks on visits to Maldives and Sri Lanka

NEW DELHI - Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday left for his maiden overseas visit, after beginning his second consecutive term last month, to the Maldives and Sri Lanka.

Spain: Unfinished Gaudi church gets building permit after 137 years

BARCELONA, Spain - Property owners have a new yardstick by way of Spain for measuring frustration over building permit requests they suspect got lost in a local government bureaucracy.