World news

* 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

* 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

* The first day of the peace talks between the Myanmar government, the army and the 10 nationwide ceasefire accord (NCA)-signatory ethnic armed organizations (EAOs) worked on ways to attain basic principles in future 21st Century Panglong Peace Conference. * China and Pakistan agreed on October 15 to build closer ties and facilitate the construction of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). * The 14th Beijing-Tokyo Forum wrapped up Monday (October 15) in Tokyo, with experts, former officials and private sector representatives from China and Japan discussing key issues affecting bilateral relations in order to enhance ties. * Chinese Premier Li Keqiang met in The Hague on October 15 with Dutch King Willem-Alexander, urging the two countries to enhance cooperation in various areas and defend multilateralism and free trade. * The Republic of Korea 's Foreign Ministry said Tuesday that it has been closely consulting with the United States on cooperation projects with the Democratic … [Read more...] about World News in Brief: October 16