SEOUL, South Korea (Reuters) – North Korea has no intention of meeting U.S officials during the Winter Olympics that start in South Korea on Friday, state media reported, dampening hopes the Games will help resolve a tense standoff over the North’s nuclear weapons program.

OTTAWA (Reuters) – Just one day after signing a $233 million agreement to sell 16 helicopters to the Philippines, the Canadian government on Wednesday ordered a review of the deal amid concerns the aircraft could be used to fight rebels.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – More than 100 fighters aligned with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad were killed after U.S.-led coalition and coalition-backed local forces thwarted a large, apparently coordinated attack late on Wednesday and early on Thursday, a U.S. official said.

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TOKYO (Reuters) – U.S. Vice President Mike Pence said on Thursday the United States wants to peacefully dismantle North Korea’s nuclear program but warned Pyongyang not to underestimate U.S. military strength or resolve.

PANMUNJOM, South Korea (Reuters) – Along the heavily fortified border between North and South Korea, the Olympic thaw in relations has led to more tourists and VIPs and fewer security incidents, tour operators and international soldiers stationed there say.

MANILA (Reuters) – The International Criminal Court (ICC) has informed the Philippines that it has begun a preliminary examination of a complaint against President Rodrigo Duterte that accuses him of crimes against humanity, his spokesman said on Thursday.

Critics say A$65bn tax cut would mainly benefit shareholders of foreign companies