RUSSIA: Sochi 2014 Day 7 - Biathlon Men's Individual 20 km

(L-R) Silver medlaist Erik Lesser of Germany, gold medalist Martin Fourcade of France and bronze medalist Evgeniy Garanichev of Russia celebrate on the podium during the flower ceremony for the Men's Individual 20 km

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CHINA: Swelling Debt Spreads Among China's Local Governments

China's traditionally underdeveloped provinces have long faced debt pressures. Increasingly, though, they are being joined by more-developed provinces that overreached, betting on resources or property investment as their paths to prosperity.

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Picture CHINA: Lantern Festival, Catching Snowflakes, Post-Quake Medical Treatment

The day's China news in pictures: The country simultaneously celebrates Lantern Festival and Valentine's Day, a girl catches snowflakes with her tongue, residents get medical treatment after an earthquake and more.

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JAPAN: U.S.-Japan Joint Disaster Drill Without Osprey

Japanese and U.S. military forces held the joint Tomodachi Rescue Exercise without the Osprey tilt-rotor aircraft, which was grounded due to bad weather, on Feb. 7 in Kochi, western Japan.

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NE ASIA: Seven decades of bitterness

Why China and Japan are unable to move on from WW2

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SE ASIA: Eat Your Heart Out

From an elegant wine lounge to a historic church, some dining experiences in Southeast Asia not to be missed this Valentine's Day.

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NE ASIA: Kerry to Seek CHINA's Help on NORTH KOREA

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said he would appeal to Chinese leaders in talks on Friday to do more to pressure North Korea to ease tensions and give up its nuclear program.

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RUSSIA: Environmental Activist & Sochi Critic Yevgeny Vitishko Loses Appeal

RUSSIA: Yevgeny Vitishko, a Russian environmental activist who campaigned against ecological damage from construction in Sochi, will be jailed for three years after losing an appeal against his sentence on Wednesday.

http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/02/12/us-olympics-environmentalist-idUSBREA1B1YO20140212?feedType=RSS&feedName=sportsNews 

CHINA: Aiming to Reduce Air Pollution

China plans to establish a $1.65 billion fund to aid efforts to curb the use of fossil fuels and control coal consumption with the goal of reducing air pollution.

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-02-12/china-to-fight-air-pollution-with-1-65-billion-fund.html 

EAST ASIA: Kerry Visits Seoul to Ease Regional Tensions

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry began a trip to South Korea, China, and Indonesia on Thursday to ease tensions between China and its neighbors over territorial disputes and to explore ways to restart talks on eliminating North Korea's nuclear weapons.

http://www.star-telegram.com/2014/02/13/5564882/kerry-seeks-to-ease-tensions-in.html?rh=1