Norway to increase defense spending

OSLO - Norway on Saturday reconfirmed its commitment to gradually increase defense spending to 2 percent of GDP in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization during a visit by US Secretary of Defense James Mattis to the Nordic country.

Rouhani says US isolated on Iran sanctions and will 'fail'

TEHERAN - Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said on Saturday that the US hostilities toward the Islamic republic will fail.

Trump immigration remarks draw ire

WASHINGTON - US President Donald Trump's lament this week that immigration is "changing the culture" of Europe echoed rising anti-immigrant feelings on both sides of the Atlantic, where Europe and the US are going through a demographic transformation that makes some of the white majority uncomfortable.

Russia calls for cooperation on nerve agent case

LONDON - UK police said on Saturday that search teams have found over 400 items as part of the investigation into the poisoning of two Britons by the nerve agent Novichok but searches will likely take many more weeks as officers seek further evidence.

Military might marks Bastille Day

PARIS - Fighter jets streaked over Paris on Saturday as part of a massive military parade in a "demonstration of controlled force" on France's national day, due to be followed by a street party if "Les Bleus" win the World Cup.

DPRK, US in talks over remains

SEOUL - The Democratic People's Republic of Korea and the United States held talks on Sunday to discuss the repatriation of remains of US soldiers killed during the Korean War, Yonhap news agency said citing unnamed sources.

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Trump releases 'nice' letter from Kim

WASHINGTON - US President Donald Trump on Thursday revealed a letter from the top leader of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, in which Kim Jong-un expressed optimism for future DPRK-US relations.

UK govt unveils Brexit plan that sparked rebellion

LONDON - The British government on Thursday published its long-awaited Brexit blueprint aimed at restarting stalled talks with the European Union, only for it to be panned by euroskeptics and the City of London.

Jack Ma to co-chair new UN panel

UNITED NATIONS - The UN is establishing a high-level panel co-chaired by Chinese e-commerce billionaire Jack Ma and Melinda Gates of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to make recommendations on ensuring "a safe and inclusive digital future".

Nearly half of youngest children not rejoining families

WASHINGTON - The US government said on Thursday all eligible small children who were separated from their families as a result of its zero-tolerance immigration policy have been reunited with their parents.

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