World news

* Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on October 20 held talks with visiting Sri Lankan counterpart Ranil Wickremesinghe and the two leaders had a discussion on a wide range of issues, officials said. * Italy's ruling coalition has overcome divisions over a tax amnesty included in next year's budget, Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte said on October 20. * The next summit meeting between US President Donald Trump and the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea leader Kim Jong-un is likely to happen early next year, a senior administration official said on October 19. The two sides have been engaged in talks on the leaders' second meeting after the first, unprecedented, one in Singapore in June. * Independent political candidate Kerryn Phelps claimed victory in a crucial Australian by-election late on October 20, a major loss for the country's ruling coalition that will leave Prime Minister Scott Morrison without a parliamentary majority, local media reported. * German Chancellor Angela … [Read more...] about World News in Brief: October 21

* 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

* Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Techo Hun Sen left Phnom Penh early Wednesday (October 17) for a nine-day European tour that will take him to Belgium, Turkey and Switzerland. * Chinese President Xi Jinping on Tuesday reiterated China's commitment to free trade and economic globalization while meeting with Stephen Perry, chairman of Britain's 48 Group Club in Beijing. * Venezuela on October 16 said it would use the euro, yuan or other convertible currency instead of the US$ as the hard currency of choice for international and currency exchange transactions. * The state-owned Indian Railways will run as many as 40 special trains over the next one month to meet the passenger rush during the ongoing festive season in the country, officials said Wednesday. * The total death toll caused by Hurricane Michael has jumped to 26 after police in the US state of Florida said on October 16 that another 12 bodies have been discovered, with dozens still unaccounted for. Analysts have put the total … [Read more...] about World News in Brief: October 17

* 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

* 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