Video game shows vision of life after EU

LONDON - Set in a dystopian post-Brexit United Kingdom, a new video game follows the struggles of a bouncer of foreign ancestry in a world of xenophobia and immigrant camps, but gamers are divided over its message.

Row erupts over foreign aid for India

NEW DELHI - India will not accept relief assistance from foreign governments for the flood-ravaged state of Kerala, the government has said, following offers of aid from Qatar and the United Arab Emirates.

Ankara accuses Washington of waging 'economic war' as the lira falls further

ANKARA - Turkey has accused the United States of waging "economic war" and failing to respect its legal system over the fate of a US pastor whose 21-month-long detention on terrorism charges has roiled relations between the NATO allies.

Ospreys deployment raises safety concerns

TOKYO - The US Air Force will deploy five Osprey transport aircraft to Yokota Air Base in the suburbs of Tokyo in October as part of a wider plan to introduce 10 of the controversial tilt-rotor aircraft to the base in the coming years, the Defense Ministry said on Wednesday.

A German EU chief is priority for Merkel, newspaper says

BERLIN - Chancellor Angela Merkel is focusing on securing the European Commission presidency for a German candidate, rather than backing Bundesbank chief Jens Weidmann to succeed Mario Draghi at the helm of the European Central Bank, the Handelsblatt business daily reported.

Europe set to ban use of halogen light bulbs from Sept 1

The European Union is set to ban the use of halogen bulbs and households are expected to switch to more energy-efficient lights, starting next month.

Trump accuses Cohen of making up stories

US President Donald Trump has insisted he did nothing wrong after Michael Cohen implicated him in illicit hush payments made before the 2016 election, as experts warned the legal maelstrom swirling around the Republican leader could further threaten his presidency.

Defiant Australian PM Turnbull refuses to 'give in to bullies'

CANBERRA - Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull vowed not to "give in to bullies" on Thursday in the face of a new leadership challenge, but said he will quit politics if his party no longer supports him.

Putin calls US sanctions 'counterproductive'

SOCHI, Russia - Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday called US sanctions against Moscow "counterproductive and senseless" after Washington warned that more "economic pain" was to come.

Taliban heads to peace talks in Russia as Afghan govt declines

KABUL - The Taliban said on Wednesday it would send senior members to Russia for peace talks on Afghanistan, hours after the Afghan government declined the offer to attend.

IN BRIEF (Page 12)

US steps up pressure on Russia

WASHINGTON - US lawmakers have pushed for more aggressive steps to counteract the Russian "menace", despite the government insisting current sanctions were having an effect and vowing to impose more economic pain if Moscow does not change its behavior.