Trump rejects DPRK missile allegations

WASHINGTON - US President Donald Trump on Tuesday cast doubt on a US media report concerning the alleged development of missile bases in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.

Sri Lankan rival parties argue over result of no confidence vote

COLOMBO - Sri Lanka's sacked Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and his replacement Mahinda Rajapakse each claimed they were the rightful leaders following a no confidence vote against Rajapakse ended in chaos in the parliament on Wednesday.

Goldman 'cheated' Malaysia over 1MDB

KUALA LUMPUR/SINGAPORE - Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad said bankers at Goldman Sachs Group Inc "cheated" the country in dealings with state fund 1MDB and that US authorities have promised to help return the fees the Wall Street bank earned from the fund.

Macron blasted as US-French ties sour

US President Donald Trump unleashed a series of verbal attacks against France on Tuesday, taking aim at his counterpart Emmanuel Macron's approval rating, his vision for the military and French trade policies on wine.

Turkish pressure keeps up over killing

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has exerted further pressure on Saudi Arabia, by sharing with Western allies the recordings related to the killing of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi.

Cease-fire sets in after Gaza flare-up

JERUSALEM, Middle East - Children in Israel's south were heading to school early on Wednesday as an Egyptian-brokered cease-fire took effect, putting an end to a brief yet intense flare-up with Gaza.

Gas will be world's second largest energy source by 2030

LONDON - Natural gas is expected to overtake coal as the world's second largest energy source after oil by 2030 due to a drive to cut air pollution and the rise in liquefied natural gas (LNG) use, the International Energy Agency has said.

IN BRIEF (Page 12)

Fewer foreign students opting for US

Changes to visa and immigration policies blamed for the decline

Ex-Nazi guard, 94, to testify at trial in Germany

MSTER, Germany - A former guard charged with complicity in mass murder at a Nazi concentration camp will testify at his trial in Germany on Tuesday, making a rare statement in one of the last cases of its kind.

Irish backstop issue puts Brexit on hold

The prospect of a breakthrough in Brexit negotiations before the end of this month looks bleak as the British government and European Union remain as far apart as ever over the issue of a backstop agreement covering the Northern Ireland border.

Italy hosts Libya conference in fresh bid to solve crisis

PALERMO, Italy - A twoday conference on the future of Libya kicked off in Italy's southern city of Palermo on Monday, drawing key Libyan and international actors in an effort to support a fresh United Nations stabilization plan.