World news

* President Xi Jinping met with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in Beijing Friday, calling on both sides to cherish the good momentum in bilateral ties. * Cuba is set to use the celebrations of Havana's 500th anniversary to relaunch the capital city as a renewed world tourist destination, said Cuban Minister of Tourism Manuel Marrero on Friday. * India and Myanmar have agreed to act against insurgent groups operating on their soil during a two-day delegation-level meeting in Delhi that concluded Friday, October 26. * The US economy grew at an annual rate of 3.5 percent in the third quarter this year, down from 4.2 percent in the previous quarter, the US Commerce Department reported on Friday. * People in Afghanistan's southern province of Kandahar on October 27 started voting for their favorite candidates for parliament, after a week-long delay in the process. About 2,500 candidates contested in the elections to earn seats in the 249 Lower House of parliament. * UN Special Envoy for … [Read more...] about World News in Brief: October 27

* The European Union (EU) and Singapore on October 19 signed a free trade agreement at a two-day Asia-Europe meeting which brings over 50 leaders from European and Asian countries. * The United States has suspended another military exercise with the Republic of Korea (RoK) to give diplomatic maneuvers with the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) "every opportunity to continue," the US military said. * The Brazilian government Friday announced a decision to donate US$100,000 to a fund for the victims of the earthquake and tsunami which hit Indonesia late September. More than 2,000 were killed, 10,000 more seriously injured and 80,000 left homeless in the natural disaster in Indonesia. * Around 9 million Afghan voters went to the polls on October 20 for parliamentary elections in the militancy-plagued country amid tight security. More than 2,500 candidates are contesting for the 249-seat Wolesi Jirga, or lower house of the parliament, for the next five-year term. * Saudi King … [Read more...] about World News in Brief: October 20

* Australia's ruling Liberal-National Party coalition (LNP) has lost its governing majority in the nation's parliament. Independent Kerryn Phelps on October 21 claimed victory over the LNP's Dave Sharma in the Wentworth by-election, leaving the LNP with 75 of 150 seats in the House of Representatives. * The Republic of Korea (RoK) and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) agreed to hold general-grade military talks later this week at the border village of Panmunjom, Seoul's defense ministry said Monday, October 22. They will also discuss ways to form a joint military committee, which would consult on military affairs between the two Koreas. * Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on October 21 that he will make statements about murdered Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi during his party's parliamentary group meeting on October 23. * US lawmakers on October 21 voiced skepticism about the Saudi explanation of the death of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, calling on Washington … [Read more...] about World News in Brief: October 22

* China and Cambodia are ready to expand cooperation in areas including trade and investment, the two countries' leaders said Thursday. The message was sent from a meeting between Chinese Premier Li Keqiang and Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Techo Hun Sen. * Russian President Vladimir Putin said Thursday (October 18) that his country is ready to further strengthen coordination and cooperation with China to safeguard and promote common interests and global peace and development. * The United Nations Command said Friday that it has verified a mine clearance to disarm the Joint Security Area (JSA) in the border area between the Republic of Korea (RoK) and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK). * German Chancellor Angela Merkel will travel to Istanbul, Turkey, on October 27 for a summit with the presidents of France, Russia and Turkey on Syria issues, a government spokeswoman said Friday. * Russian President Vladimir Putin will attend a summit on Syria with leaders of Turkey, … [Read more...] about World News in Brief: October 19

* Austria and Singapore Wednesday signed an agreement to boost the exchange of ideas and know-how in the fields of digitalization and information and communications technology, local media reported. * Russian president Vladimir Putin on October 17 signed the Agreement on Comprehensive Partnership and Strategic Cooperation between Russia and Egypt with visiting Egyptian president Abdel Fattah al-Sisi in the Black Sea coastal city Sochi. * President Donald Trump said on October 17 the United States has asked Turkey for any audio or video evidence it may have related to the disappearance of US-based Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi but was not sure whether any such evidence exists. * British Prime Minister Theresa May assured EU leaders in Brussels on October 17 that she can still reach a Brexit deal, avoiding a showdown over stalled talks as Brussels stepped up planning for a failure of negotiations. * China is ready to work with Belgium to strength cooperation and exchanges at all … [Read more...] about World News in Brief: October 18