US, Mexico reach new trade deal

WASHINGTON - The United States and Mexico agreed on Monday to overhaul the North American Free Trade Agreement (known as NAFTA), putting pressure on Canada to agree to new terms on auto trade and dispute settlement rules to remain part of the three-nation pact.

German govt condemns far-right riots

CHEMNITZ, Germany - Far-right demonstrators clashed with leftist protesters in the eastern German city of Chemnitz on Monday after an Iraqi and a Syrian were arrested over a fatal stabbing that triggered violent demonstrations.

Russia slams sanctions, mulls response

WASHINGTON - Russia has blasted new US sanctions for an alleged poison attack on a former Russian spy, saying Moscow will "withstand" and respond to Washington's "brute pressure".

Pompeo 'consulted with foreign ministers' on next DPRK step

WASHINGTON - The US State Department said Secretary of State Mike Pompeo spoke on the phone with the foreign ministers of the Republic of Korea and Japan to discuss the next step on engagement with the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.

IN BRIEF (Page 12)

Chinese special envoy commends Mnangagwa

Zimbabwe president says he looks forward to attending FOCAC

Macron to tackle welfare spending

PARIS - French President Emmanuel Macron's government will tackle social spending in the next wave of its reforms as weaker than expected growth puts pressure on the budget deficit, the prime minister said on Sunday.

Laos remains target for money laundering

VIENTIANE - Laos continues to face a high risk of money laundering despite the country graduating from the "gray list" of the Financial Action Task Force in 2017, local daily Vientiane Times on Monday quoted Laos' National Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing Risk Assessment as saying.

Assad highlights cooperation with Iran

DAMASCUS - Syrian President Bashar al-Assad on Sunday underscored the importance of placing long-term cooperation plans between Iran and Syria in the face of the challenges, according to the state news agency SANA.

IS chief killed in missile strike

JALALABAD, Afghanistan - The top leader of the Islamic State group outfit in Afghanistan has been killed by long-range missiles fired by US-led NATO coalition forces that struck IS hideouts in Afghanistan's eastern province of Nangarhar, said a statement on Monday.

Florida gunman may have been disgruntled gamer

FLORIDA - Police searched on Monday for a motive in the third mass shooting in the US state of Florida in two years, which left two people dead and 11 wounded in Jacksonville, before the gunman killed himself at a video game tournament.

Lawmakers propose national service for Germans, migrants

Angela Merkel's Christian Democratic Union (known as CDU) has proposed a new form of compulsory national service in Germany for all young people and migrants, though the leader has rejected the idea.