Allies defend military spending

BRUSSELS - NATO allies are pushing back against US criticism that they are not spending enough on defense as President Donald Trump ratchets up pressure ahead of a summit next week.

41 still missing after ferry tips over

JAKARTA - Passengers trapped for a night on a stricken ferry off the Indonesian island of Sulawesi were rescued early on Wednesday, an official said, as the death toll rose to 29.

Hard Brexit will make people worse off

Britain's Institute for Public Policy Research has found that a hard Brexit would have an adverse impact on lower-income groups and all those outside London, because household spending involved goods and services that will be hit by price rises.

No quick fix to Europe migration challenge

BRUSSELS - Planned new centers around the Mediterranean to handle migrants will be no silver-bullet solution to the European Union's immigration challenge, says a UN agency of the idea it will be asked to implement.

US allows colleges to leave race out of decisions

US President Donald Trump's administration said on Tuesday that the government would no longer encourage schools in the United States to use race as a factor in the admission process as the Department of Justice reversed a series of Barack Obama-era guidelines, claiming to offer equal opportunities for all students.

40 members object to US tariff plan at WTO

GENEVA - Major trading partners of the United States, including the European Union, China and Japan, voiced deep concern at the World Trade Organization on Tuesday about possible US measures imposing additional duties on imported autos and parts.

Najib charged with corruption

KUALA LUMPUR - Malaysia's former prime minister, Najib Razak, on Wednesday pleaded not guilty to abuse of power and other charges arising from an investigation into a scandal-plagued state fund, weeks after he was ousted in a stunning election defeat.

Mystery over 'unknown substance' scare in British town

Police in the British town of Amesbury have declared a major incident over fears that two people found unconscious were exposed to an unknown substance.

IN BRIEF (Page 12)

US will resume sanctions on Iran

WASHINGTON - A senior US official has said that the US sanctions on Iran will snap back, and Washington aims to cut the export of Iran's crude oil down to zero "as soon as possible".

Syria sees largest displacement since 2011

UNITED NATIONS - An estimated 270,000 people have been displaced as a result of military operations in Daraa province in southwestern Syria, the largest displacement in the area since 2011 when the conflict began, the UN said on Monday.

EU countries losing battle against water pollution

The vast majority of Europe's rivers, lakes and estuaries have failed to meet the European Union's minimum target for "good status", according to a new European Environment Agency "state of water" report.