Republic of Korea

US aircraft carrier to join military drill

USS Carl Vinson, a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, was scheduled to enter ROK's port city Busan on March 15 for joint springtime war games, Yonhap news agency reported on Friday. The Foal Eagle field training exercises, which kicked off on March 1, were set to last by the end of next month, mobilizing multiple US strategic assets including the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier. About 10,000 US troops will be mobilized for the drill together with 290,000 ROK soldiers.

Court to begin trial of Samsung chief

Samsung Group leader Lee Jae-yong will go on trial for bribery and embezzlement on Thursday, a court said, amid a corruption scandal that has rocked the country and led to the impeachment of the president. Lee, the 48-year-old third-generation leader of the country's top conglomerate, was indicted on Tuesday on charges including pledging $37.2 million in payments to a confidant of President Park Geun-hye.

Syria

Army recaptures Palmyra from IS

The Syrian army said on Thursday it had recaptured the ancient city of Palmyra in central Syria from Islamic State militants for the second time in a year, with help from allied fighters and Russian warplanes. The victory proved that the government forces are capable of dealing defeats to the terror-labeled group in other areas in Syria, the army said in a statement.

Australia

Govt might tighten anti-terror laws

The Australian government is considering beefing up anti-terror laws aimed at stopping dual-national foreign fighters from returning to Australia, the nation's Immigration Minister said on Friday. Under current law, dual-national foreign fighters who return to Australia can have their citizenship scrapped. However, the government will need proof the fighters hold a second passport, requiring the cooperation from countries such as Iraq and Syria - something which has been hard to come by.

France

EU Parliament lifts Le Pen immunity

The European Parliament voted on Thursday to lift the immunity from prosecution for French far-right leader Marine Le Pen for tweeting gruesome images of Islamic State violence, a crime that carries up to three years in prison in France. The legislature voted by a broad majority in Brussels to clear the way for the possible prosecution of Le Pen over tweets she made in December 2015 showing executions, including the killing of US reporter James Foley by IS militants.

United States

Presley's legacy gets $45m boost

Nearly four decades after Elvis sang his last tune, his legacy got a $45 million boost with the Thursday opening of a major new attraction at his Graceland estate - an entertainment complex that his ex-wife Priscilla Presley said gives "the full gamut" of the King of Rock 'n' Roll. About 200 people streamed into "Elvis Presley's Memphis" after the late singer's wife cut a ribbon and allowed fans to see the $45 million complex for the first time.

Xinhua - Reuters - AP - AFP