Peace process will prevail despite attacks

Local community leaders and peace advocates in the Philippines' restive south remain hopeful that the peace process will prevail despite the new challenge posed by twin bombings during a Sunday church service and a Wednesday explosion.

Palestinian president accepts resignation of consensus govt

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas accepted the resignation of Prime Minister Rami Hamdallah on Tuesday, a move that will further isolate the Hamas movement, according to experts.

Former WWII sex slave mourned in Seoul

SEOUL - A South Korean woman who was forced as a girl into a brothel and sexually enslaved by the Japanese military during World War II was mourned on Wednesday by hundreds of protesters who demanded reparations from Tokyo over wartime atrocities.

Family planning urged in Nigeria as population swells

LAGOS, Nigeria - Modupe Adegbite's grandfather had 22 children, while her father had nine. At the age of just 19, she has decided she wants no more than four.

IN BRIEF (Page 11)

University apologizes over email

Duke University has apologized to Chinese students after a professor sent an email saying they should speak English "100 percent of the time" in a "professional setting" on campus.

Strongest tornado in 8 decades hits Cuba, four dead, 195 injured

HAVANA - A rare and powerful tornado has devastated sections of Havana, killing four people and injuring 195, as it overturned cars, uprooted trees and destroyed dozens of homes. Officials called it the strongest tornado to hit the country in nearly 80 years.

The king of the Andes under threat

CERRITO, Colombia - By all accounts, Dasan and Illika should have died of poisoning.

The story of 'Chinese Schindler'

The organizer of an event to honor a Chinese diplomat who saved thousands of European Jews from the Holocaust hopes the "Oskar Schindler of China" could serve as a role model for today's generations.

Abe vows meeting with DPRK leader

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe vowed to meet with Kim Jong-un, top leader of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, and restore ties with the neighbor in a major policy speech on Monday, a move that analysts say contrasts sharply from the hardline approach he used to adopt toward Pyongyang.

'Agreements in principle' with Taliban

Negotiators from the United States and the Afghan Taliban have reached "agreements in principle" on key issues for a peace deal that would end 17 years of war in Afghanistan, the top US envoy said on Monday.

Xi'an kicks up its heels and celebrates in style

Xi'an, the capital of northwestern Shaanxi province, is sparing no effort to ring in the Chinese Lunar New Year - with a raft of activities showcasing the city's tourism attractions and latest achievements, further fostering its tourism industry.