Merkel to affirm global system in Japan

Berlin and Tokyo will move closer to defend the "multilateral order", on which the two big exporters' fortunes rest when German Chancellor Angela Merkel kicks off her two-day visit to Japan on Monday, observers said.

Lawyers weigh H-1B visa changes

Changes announced to the H-1B work visa program will benefit graduates with master's degrees and keep highly skilled foreign workers in the United States, some immigration lawyers said.

IN BRIEF (Page 7)

UK a nation of young musicians, survey says

The United Kingdom is undergoing a resurgence in music-making among young people after a new survey revealed that more than two-thirds of British children are active musicians, a big rise compared to a decade ago, and especially among those from lower-income backgrounds.

Arctic cold takes hold of much of US

One of the coldest air masses in decades kept its icy grip on the US Midwest on Wednesday, breaking temperature records, causing several deaths and forcing hundreds of schools and businesses to close.

End of an era for artsy Philippine 'jeepney' bus

MANILA - Bernardo de la Cruz casts his eyes around the nearly silent workshop where he used to toil overtime hand-painting custom decor on jeepneys, the singularly Philippine minibuses facing the scrap heap.

Huawei gets support from UK universities

Several universities in the United Kingdom are standing by Chinese tech giant Huawei despite doubts raised by other Western bodies, including the United Nations and NATO over security concerns.

Scientists find early, unknown hominid

PARIS - A rare species of primitive human roamed the forests of Eurasia 200,000 years ago and may have made tools and even jewelry, according to a new research published on Wednesday.

Visa changes for students not attractive

The opportunity to work in a host country after completing their studies is an important factor for many international students when considering where to enroll and the government of the United Kingdom hopes to tap into the sentiment with changes to its immigration rules.

Intelligence chiefs at odds with Trump on DPRK, IS and Iran

WASHINGTON - US intelligence chiefs contradicted some of President Donald Trump's most fundamental foreign policy claims on Tuesday, underscoring a persistent division between his view of the world and theirs.

UK stores stocking up on bug delicacies

The British department store Selfridges has announced plans to start selling pasta, protein bars, and granola made from insect flour in a bid to highlight alternative proteins that could be included in mainstream diets, several media outlets reported on Tuesday.

Govt set to help England retain its teachers

Teachers in England will receive more support early in their careers, have the opportunity to work flexibly or part-time, and see reductions in their workload as part of a new government strategy aimed at boosting the number of teachers and ensuring they stay in the profession.