Scramble on for quake survivors

MEXICO CITY - When the earthquake hit, it sent panicked people running into the street but many weren't so lucky. The dust settled minutes later to reveal a landscape of flattened buildings and rubble in the heart of Mexico City.

Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands brace for Hurricane Maria

ST JOHN ISLAND, United States - Hurricane Maria closed in on the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico on Wednesday as forecasters warned of a "potentially catastrophic" storm that has already killed at least eight people in the Caribbean.

First refugees to be resettled in US from Australia under deal

SYDNEY - Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull said on Wednesday the first group of about 50 men and woman held in two controversial detention centers for asylum-seekers on remote Pacific islands will be resettled in the United States within weeks.

IN BRIEF (Page 12)

US military spending gets increase

WASHINGTON - The US Senate overwhelmingly authorized $700 billion in military spending on Monday, a substantial increase over 2017 funding and nearly 5 percent more than President Donald Trump had requested.

Pentagon will send 3,000 more troops to Afghanistan

US Defense Secretary Jim Mattis said on Monday that the United States would send more than 3,000 troops to Afghanistan. "It is exactly over 3,000 somewhat and frankly I haven't signed the last of the orders right now as we look at specific, small elements that are going," Mattis told reporters.

Hurricane Maria 'devastates' Dominica

ROSEAU, Dominica - Hurricane Maria battered the Caribbean island of Dominica on Tuesday, with its prime minister predicting potentially grave losses and mass destruction as winds and rain from the Category Five storm barreled into territories still reeling from Irma.

Canada, UK desire a post-Brexit trade deal

The United Kingdom and Canada said on Monday they hope to have a free-trade agreement modeled on Canada's deal with the European Union, once London leaves the bloc.

China's escort fleet leaves Belgium after visit

After a five-day stay in the port of Antwerp in northern Belgium, China's 26th convoy fleet left on the next stop of its European tour on Tuesday.

IN BRIEF (Page 11)

Japan has to 'truly reflect' upon history

TOKYO - Japan has to truly reflect upon its invasive history, otherwise "it won't be able to rebuild trust with its Asian neighbors", said Masahito Sato, founder of a civil group in Japan dedicated to studying the history of Japan's invasion of China's Hainan Island during World War II.

Trump's old home a showcase for refugees

NEW YORK - US President Donald Trump's childhood home in New York had some new occupants over the weekend - refugees who shared their stories as a way to draw attention to the migrant crisis as the United Nations General Assembly convenes this week with Trump in attendance.