All about Trump's assumption for North Korea, Kim's bullet train dream

U.S. President Donald Trump, just days after calling off a planned trip to North Korea by his top diplomat, said on Wednesday he thought the United States was "doing well" in its diplomatic efforts with Pyongyang.

Trump says he thinks the U.S. is doing well with North Korea

U.S. President Donald Trump, just days after calling off a planned trip to North Korea by his top diplomat, said on Wednesday he thought the United States was "doing well" in its diplomatic efforts with Pyongyang. "I think we're doing well with North Korea. We'll have to see," Trump told reporters at a White House event as he again pointed the finger at China for making the U.S. effort to get North Korea to denuclearize more difficult.

STATEMENT FROM THE WHITE HOUSEPresident Donald J. Trump feels strongly that North Korea is under tremendous pressure from China because of our major trade disputes with the Chinese Government. At the same time, we also know that China is providing North Korea with...

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 29, 2018

Aung San Suu Kyi won't be stripped of Nobel Peace Prize: committee

The Nobel Peace Prize to Aung San Suu Kyi will not be withdrawn in the light of a United Nations report that said Myanmar's military carried out mass killings of Muslim Rohingya, the Norwegian Nobel Committee said on Wednesday. On Monday, U.N. investigators said Myanmar's military carried out mass killings and gang rapes with "genocidal intent", and the commander-in-chief and five generals should be prosecuted for the gravest crimes under international law.

When I was growing up, Aung San Suu Kyi was like our Malala, a hero. To now read about her calling her genocidal generals "sweet" and praising the beaches in razed Rakhine State ... I'm old enough now to know there are no heroes. But I didn't expect this. https://t.co/l7Tp9qg6f1

— Molly Wood (@mollywood) August 25, 2018

Korea detente revives the North Korean leader's bullet train dreams

North Korea's ruling family has long dreamed of a state-of-the-art rail system linking its major cities with each other and the wider world. Now, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un is looking to capitalize on an easing in international tensions with his isolated regime to advance plans for a high-speed rail network to rival those in Europe and neighboring South Korea.

Iran's Khamenei says Europe cannot save nuclear deal, help economy

Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Wednesday cast doubt on the ability of European countries to save Iran's 2015 nuclear accord with world powers, now under threat following a U.S. withdrawal, and said Tehran might abandon the agreement. Khamenei cautioned President Hassan Rouhani not to rely too much on European support as he came under increased pressure at home over his handling of the economy in the face of U.S. sanctions, with key ministers under attack by parliament.

U.S. State Dept. spokeswoman says the report of Damascus meeting does not reflect reality

A U.S. State Department spokeswoman said on Wednesday that a report that U.S. officials visited Damascus in June to meet with Syrian officials did not reflect reality. "It doesn't reflect any reality that we are certainly aware of," said spokeswoman Heather Nauert. "We've seen that report. It doesn't reflect what the U.S. government is tracking at this point ... I am not aware of any meeting to that effect."

Pro-Macron author to get to Los Angeles diplomatic posting

A French author close to President Emmanuel Macron and his wife has landed a top diplomatic post in the United States, Le Monde reported on Wednesday, just weeks after several coveted foreign ministry positions were made available to non-diplomats. The appointment of Philippe Besson as Consul General in Los Angeles is likely to raise eyebrows given he wrote a book lauding Macron during the 2017 election campaign and has no particular background as a diplomat.

Trump sees no need for U.S.-South Korea war games at this time

U.S. President Donald Trump believes he has a good relationship with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and there is no reason to be spending large amounts money now on war games with South Korea, the White House said on Wednesday. The statement comes a day after the U.S. defense secretary hinted that the drills could resume.

Germany, seeking independence from the U.S., pushes cybersecurity research

Germany announced a new agency on Wednesday to fund research on cybersecurity and to end its reliance on digital technologies from the United States, China, and other countries. Interior Minister Horst Seehofer told reporters that Germany needed new tools to become a top player in cybersecurity and shore up European security and independence.

Ex-Scottish leader Salmond resigns from SNP amid misconduct allegations

Former Scottish first minister Alex Salmond said on Wednesday he has resigned from the Scottish National Party, which he led for two decades, days after allegations of sexual misconduct became publicly known. Salmond has denied the allegations and taken legal action against the SNP administration he once ran over the way it has handled the complaints against him.

Syrian army preparing phased Idlib assault: source

Syrian government forces are preparing a phased offensive in the northwestern province of Idlib and surrounding areas, the last big rebel enclave, a source close to Damascus said on Wednesday. Russia, President Bashar al-Assad's main backer from outside the region, said on Wednesday that militants there must be liquidated and Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov described them as "a festering abscess".

(With inputs from Reuters)