South Korean President Moon Jae-In  will hold talks with his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping on the  sidelines of next week's APEC summit, Seoul said today, with  the neighbours' relationship strained by a US missile defence  system.
Beijing has slapped a series of measures on South Korean  firms and banned tour groups going to the country in moves  seen as economic retaliation for the deployment of the US  Terminal High Altitude Defense (THAAD) system.
China sees the installation, which Seoul and Washington  say is to defend against missile threats from nuclear-armed  North Korea, as a threat to its own military capabilities.
Xi and Moon will have a summit on the sidelines of the  APEC gathering in Danang, Vietnam, Seoul's presidential office  said.
"The agreement to hold the summit is the first step... to  restore bilateral cooperation and exchanges in all areas to a  normal path," said Nam Gwan-Pyo, a director of the  presidential National Security Office.
It follows a similar ...

South Korea, China to hold talks: Seoul

PTI Automatic

Iceland's president has launched  talks to determine who could form the next government after an  inconclusive general election in which a record eight  political parties won seats.
Prime Minister Bjarni Benediktsson called the snap  election a month ago after a junior member of his centre-right  coalition quit over a legal scandal involving Benediktsson's  father.
Growing public distrust of the elite in recent years has  spawned several anti-establishment parties, splintering the  political landscape and making it increasingly difficult to  form a stable government.
None of the record eight parties that won seats in  parliament in Saturday's vote came close to obtaining a  majority, and both the rightwing and the leftwing want a  chance to form the next government.
No statement was released after President Gudni  Johannesson wrapped individual talks with all the party  leaders around 1730 GMT, and no date was set as to when  Johannesson might announce his pick.
Benediktsson, whose ...

Iceland's president in talks with party leaders on new

Carles Puigdemont, who was removed  from office as Catalonia's president last week by Madrid's  central government, met with a lawyer in Belgium as Spanish  prosecutors sought rebellion charges against the region's  separatist leaders.
But Paul Bekaert, who specialises in asylum issues, said  "Puigdemont is not in Brussels to request asylum", only to  prepare a legal riposte to any eventual moves by Madrid.
"On this matter (asylum) nothing has yet been decided.
"I spoke with him personally in Belgium... and he  officially made me his lawyer.
"I have more than 30 years of experience with the  extradition and political asylum for Spanish Basques, and it's  probably because of this experience that he came to me," he  said.
Bekaert was one of the lawyers for Luis Maria  Zengotitabengoa, a suspected member of the armed Basque  separatist group ETA, whose extradition from Belgium to Spain  was authorised in 2010.
Spain's chief prosecutor Jose Manuel Maza said  Monday that he was seeking ...

Catalonia's ex-leader seeking legal advice in Belgium

The European Union is re-thinking  civil protection assistance, European Commission President  Jean-Claude Juncker has said, after a request from Portugal  which this year suffered several deadly forest fires.
"We will consider, at Portugal's request, the  reorganisation of civil protection in Europe," Juncker said at  a press conference alongside Portuguese President Marcelo  Rebelo de Sousa.
In the immediate aftermath of a tragedy, the EU can  deploy civil protection aid through either in-kind assistance,  with the deployment of specially equipped teams, or send  experts to the field to assess and coordinate with local  teams.
In mid-June, 64 people died when huge forest fires swept  the central Pedrao Grande region of Portugal. Those were  followed in the middle of October by new fires that killed 45  people, according to a toll by the country's civil protection  agency.
Nearly half of all forests burned in the European Union  in 2016 were in Portugal, where fire-prone eucalyptus ..

EU to re-think civil protection aid after Portugal fires

US President Donald Trump has  said that US special forces had captured a man linked to the  2012 attack on the American mission in the Libyan city of  Benghazi.
"Yesterday, on my orders, United States forces captured  Mustafa al-Imam in Libya," Trump said in a statement, which  came as the White House was rocked by the indictment of three  campaign aides.
Trump said "al-Imam will face justice in the United  States for his alleged role in the September 11, 2012 attacks  in Benghazi."
Attorney General Jeff Sessions confirmed that the suspect  "will face justice in federal court for his role in the  attack."
An alleged mastermind of the attack, 46-year-old Ahmed  Abu Khattala, is already on trial in the United States,  accused of being a commander of the Ansar al-Sharia militia.
The attack killed US ambassador Chris Stevens as well as  three other American personnel and became emblematic of  conservative opposition to then secretary of state Hillary  Clinton.
Several congressional ...

US says has captured suspect in 2012 Benghazi attack

SpaceX launched a Falcon 9 rocket  carrying a South Korean communications satellite to boost  broadband coverage for southeast Asia and the Middle East, and  stuck its 19th rocket landing in two years.
The tall, white rocket roared into the blue sky over Cape  Canaveral, Florida at 3:34 pm (1934 GMT), propelling  Koreasat-5A toward a geostationary orbit some 22,000 miles  (36,000 kilometres) from Earth.
The satellite is designed to replace an earlier version,  called Koreasat 5, which launched in 2006. The satellite was  successfully deployed, SpaceX confirmed about 45 minutes after  launch.
Minutes after launch, the rocket separated and the tall  portion, called the first stage, fired its engines and  manoeuvred its grid fins to guide itself back to an upright  landing on an ocean platform.
Less than nine minutes after takeoff, the scorched rocket  touched down on a droneship marked with an X and labelled "Of  Course I Still Love You."
"A little toasty but the Stage 1 is certainly ...

SpaceX launches Korean satellite, sticks rocket landing

Six Palestinians were killed  today as Israel blew up what it said was a tunnel stretching  from the Gaza Strip into its territory, a rare case of such an  incident since a devastating 2014 war.
Ashraf al-Qudra, spokesman for the Hamas-led Gazan health  ministry, confirmed six men had been killed.
One of the men came from Hamas' armed wing, the Ezzedine  al-Qassam Brigades confirmed, while at least some of the  others were believed to be from Islamic Jihad, an allied  militant group.
Their deaths were announced after Israel "neutralised a  terror tunnel leading into southern Israel," military  spokesman Jonathan Conricus told journalists.
"The tunnel was detonated from within Israel, close to  the security fence."
Tunnels dug by Gaza's Islamist rulers Hamas were a key  issue in the last war with Israel in 2014, but discoveries of  those stretching into the Jewish state have since been rare.
Islamic Jihad said in a statement that the tunnels were  "part of the policy of deterrence to ..

Six dead as Israel blows up tunnel from Gaza

A fresh round of peace talks seeking  to end Syria's war began in the Kazakh capital Astana today,  as part of a Moscow-led push supported by Iran and opposition  backer Turkey.
The latest round of talks began days after the Islamic  State jihadist group was forced out of its de facto capital  Raqa in northern Syria, in a major victory for the US-backed  Kurdish-Arab Syrian Democratic Forces.
Russia's military intervention in 2015 turned the tables  in Syrian president and Kremlin ally Bashar al-Assad's favour,  but the role of diplomatic arbiter in the complicated conflict  is a new one for Moscow.
Speaking to journalists after the first day of closed-  door talks, Russia's chief negotiator Alexander Lavrentyev  expressed confidence that a political settlement to the six-  year conflict was possible.
Assad "has confirmed his readiness for... the preparation  of a new constitution and the holding of new parliamentary and  presidential elections on this basis", Lavrentyev said ...

Fresh Syria peace talks open in Kazakhstan's capital

At least 16 people were killed in a  raid and suicide attack in Cameroon and Nigeria today, in the  latest violence blamed on Boko Haram Islamists.
A civilian militia member said 11 people had been  "slaughtered" overnight Sunday-Monday in the village of  Gouderi, in the Kolofata region of Cameroon's Far North.
"Boko Haram's incursion in Gouderi was an act of  revenge," said the militia member, who asked not to be  identified for security reasons.
"The jihadists acted after the arrest in the area of some  of their colleagues," he added.
Civilians were also the target of a suicide bomber at a  mosque in Ajiri Yala, 15 kilometres (10 miles) north of the  Borno state capital, Maiduguri, in northeast Nigeria.
The leader of the local Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF)  helping the military with security said the attack happened at  about 4:30 am (0330 GMT).
"A male suicide bomber disguised as a worshipper entered  the mosque while people were gathering for the morning  prayers," Modu Bukar ..

Boko Haram kills 16 in Cameroon, Nigeria

Millions of Yemenis face a  "desperate" health situation on top of the ravages of war, the  humanitarian group Doctors Without Borders (MSF) said today.
"Thirty months of war, high prices for consumer goods and  unemployment have had a massive impact on people," MSF said,  adding that a "great number of children" suffer from  malnutrition.
"Millions of Yemenis who cannot access primary health  care (are in a) desperate situation," Ghassan Abou Chaar, head  of the MSF mission in Yemen, said in the statement.
Health workers have not been paid for the past 13 months,  the organisation said.
Yemen was plunged into civil war in 2015, when a powerful  military coalition led by Saudi Arabia joined the government's  fight against Iran-backed Huthi rebels.
Mark Lowcock, head of the UN Office for the Coordination  of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), visited the Middle East's  poorest country last week.
"It has been shocking to see the terrible impact of this  man-made conflict," he said ...

Millions of Yemenis in 'desperate' health situation: MSF

The United States today  pledged USD 60 million to shore up a Sahel region counter-  terrorism force but rejected appeals from African leaders and  France to give the United Nations a supporting role.
US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson announced the  bilateral funding as the Security Council met to discuss how  to drum up international support to the force set up by  Burkina Faso, Chad, Mali, Mauritania and Niger, known as the  "G5".
"This is a fight we must win, and these funds will play a  key role in achieving that mission," Tillerson said in a  statement.
Washington has previously expressed support for the  force, and has troops and drone operators in the region  supporting operations against Islamist militants. But it  opposes United Nations involvement.
"We believe that the G5 force must be first and foremost  owned by the countries of the region themselves," US  Ambassador Nikki Haley told the council, adding that G5  members must take on "full regional ownership" of the ...

US pledges USD 60 million to Sahel force but opposes UN role

Zimbabwe legspinner Graeme Cremer  struck late on day two to end a turgid opening stand and keep  the West Indies in check in the second Test at Queens Sports  Club today.
A grinding partnership of 76 in almost 47 overs between  Kraigg Brathwaite and Kieran Powell had given the West Indies  a solid base in their reply to Zimbabwe's 326 all out, before  Cremer removed Brathwaite for 32 to send the visitors to  stumps on 78 for one.
"There are a lot of runs in that wicket," said West  Indian fast bowler Kemar Roach. "The new ball hasn't been  doing much - no major bounce or seam movement.
"Once the guys settle and put their heads down to bat, I  think we'll be fine."
Powell closed the day unbeaten on 43, while nightwatchman  Devendra Bishoo was yet to get off the mark.
While the second half of the day was attritional, the  first half had been entertaining as Hamilton Masakadza turned  his unbeaten 101 from Sunday into 147, and Sikandar Raza  scored a battling 80.
With the pair extending 

Gritty Windies dig in before Cremer strikes

The party of Catalonia's  dismissed president Carles Puigdemont will run in a December  regional election called by Spain's government in response to  a declaration of independence by Catalan leaders, a  spokeswoman said today.
"We will go to the polls on (December) 21. We will go  with conviction and with a commitment to letting the Catalan  people express themselves," Marta Pascal, spokeswoman for the  PDeCAT party, told reporters.
The Republican Left of Catalonia (ERC) party of  Puigdemont's equally deposed vice-president Oriol Junqueras  said it would "participate" in some fashion in the election  despite judging the poll "illegitimate" having been called by  Madrid.
"Catalans do not fear the ballot box ... and December 21  should be another opportunity to consolidate the republic,"  said ERC spokesman Sergi Sabria after a party meeting in  Barcelona.
"On December 21 we shall find a means of participating,  be it in standing or not," Sabria added.
He added that "our republic does .

Deposed Catalan leader's party will run in snap vote

Golf's Asian Tour will sanction  its first tournament in China for nine years in Xiamen next  month, officials said today.
The Asian Golf Championship will be the inaugural event  under the Tour's strategic partnership signed with the China  Golf Association in March.
The agreement is significant because the Asian Tour had  been largely shut out of the giant potential market since  China joined forces with the rival OneAsia tour in 2009.
The tournament at Xiamen's Kaikou Golf Club from November  30 to December 3 will have a purse of $350,000 and feature  both Asian Tour and China Tour professionals.
"A new chapter for Asian golf is ready to be written,"  said Asian Tour CEO Josh Burack in a statement.
China has long been hailed as an important future market  for golf and has produced players such as Zhang Lianwei, Liang  Wenchong, Wu Ashun and Li Haotong, who have all won on the  European Tour.

Golf: Asian Tour announces first China event since 2008

Scoreboard at stumps on day two of  the second Test between Zimbabwe and West Indies.
Zimbabwe 1st innings:
H Masakadza c Dowrich b Bishoo
147
S Mire c Dowrich b Roach
4
C Ervine b Gabriel
0
B Taylor b Roach
1
P Moor b Chase
52
Sikandar Raza c K Hope b Gabriel
80
M Waller b Brathwaite
0
R Chakabva b Bishoo
10
G Cremer run out
11
T Chisoro lbw b Roach
9
C Mpofu not out
4
Extras: (LB-6, NB-2)
8
Total: (all out, 109.1 overs)
326
Fall of wickets: 1-4, 2-11, 3-14, 4-156, 5-246, 6-248, 7  -267, 8-310, 9-319.
Bowling: Gabriel 22-4-64-2, Roach 18.1-5-44-3, Blackwood  4-1-8-0, Holder 16-2-49-0, Bishoo 25-2-82-2, Chase 14-1-50-1,  Brathwaite 10-0-23-1.
West Indies 1st innings:
K Brathwaite c Masakadza b Cremer
32
K Powell not out
43
D Bishoo not out
0
Extras: (B-2, LB-1)
3
Total: (For 1 wkt; 49 overs)
78
Fall of wickets: 1-76.
Bowling: Mpofu 11-5-17-0, Mire 4-2-2-0, Cremer 12-2-31-1,  Sikandar Raza 13-6-10-0, Chisoro 9-4-15-0.

Bulawayo, Oct 30 (AFP) Scoreboard at stumps on day two of

Azerbaijan, Georgia and  Turkey today launched a rail link between the countries aimed  at cutting total journey times from China to Western Europe  while bypassing Russia.
The 826-kilometre (500-mile) railroad runs from  Azerbaijan's capital Baku via the Georgian capital Tbilisi to  the city of Kars in Turkey.
It will help to reduce the journey time between China and  Europe, Azerbaijan's President Ilham Aliyev said at the launch  ceremony in the town of Alyat in the oil-rich Caucasus nation.
"The Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railroad is the shortest and most  reliable link between Asia and Europe," Aliyev said.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Georgian Prime  Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili also attended the opening.
After departing China, trains will cross Central Asian  country of Kazakhstan before being transported by ferry across  the Caspian Sea towards Baku and then heading to Western  Europe via Georgia and Turkey.
"The opening of the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway is a major  step ..

'Shortest Asia-Europe rail link' launched in Azerbaijan

Boko Haram fighters killed 11  civilians in Cameroon's far north overnight, targetting a  village where several members of the Islamist group were  recently arrested, officials said today.
The Boko Haram attack in the village of Gouderi was "an  act of reprisal. The jihadists acted after the arrest of a  number of their comrades there," a local self-defence group  official told AFP.
"Boko Haram slaughtered 11 people," added the official  who requested anonymity.
The attack and the death toll were confirmed by a  security services source.
Since 2014, when Cameroon entered the war against Boko  Haram, the Islamist fighters have killed 2,000 civilians and  military personnel in the far north of the country, and  kidnapped a thousand more,  according to International Crisis  Group (ICG) figures.
Across the Nigerian border a suicide attack at a mosque  left five people dead.
Boko Haram typically never claims responsibility but has  used suicide bombing as a frequent tactic in its ...

Boko Haram 'slaughter' 11 people in north Cameroon: officials

Britain's Prince Charles and his  wife Camilla arrived in Singapore today to kick off an Asian  tour aimed at cementing relations ahead of a meeting of  Commonwealth states next year.
The heir to the British throne and Camilla are  undertaking an 11-day trip that will also include stops in  Malaysia and India.
British media had said the Foreign Office was originally  considering including Myanmar on the tour, despite a military  crackdown against the Muslim Rohingya minority, but in the end  it was omitted from the couple's itinerary.
After arriving, Charles, wearing a suit in the tropical  heat, and Camilla met Singapore athletes who were taking part  in the Queen's Baton Relay, which travels around the world  ahead of the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games.
Tomorrow Charles and Camilla will receive a ceremonial  welcome at the presidential palace, and meet President Halimah  Yacob and Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong.
They will lay a wreath at the city's Cenotaph, which  honours ...

Prince Charles begins Asia tour in Singapore

The wife of Israeli Prime  Minister Benjamin Netanyahu faced new scrutiny today over  accusations of poor treatment of employees following a lawsuit  and a related complaint filed with police.
Police confirmed that a complaint had been submitted  by a woman saying she faced threats and harassment after she  filed a lawsuit against Sara Netanyahu last week alleging  mistreatment while working as a cleaner at the prime minster's  residence.
She has asked for 225,000 shekels (USD 64,000) in  compensation in the lawsuit, which Israeli media have reported  alleges Sara Netanyahu humiliated and harassed her.
A spokesman for the Netanyahu family did not  immediately respond to a request from AFP, but told Israeli  media that the allegations were baseless and a further attempt  to smear them.
The lawsuit is the latest in a string of allegations  involving the Netanyahus, leading to speculation over whether  the premier will eventually be forced to resign.
Sara Netanyahu faces a possible trial 

Israel PM's wife faces new scrutiny over treatment of workers

Xi Jinping Thought will now be  taught, researched and promoted in universities across China,  ensuring that the leader's eponymous philosophy is implanted  into students' hearts and minds.
At least twenty  universities have established research  institutes for Xi's ideology, which was enshrined in the  Communist Party's constitution during its 19th national  congress this month.
The distinction places Xi on a par with Mao Zedong and  Deng Xiaoping. It means that his dogma -- "Xi Jinping Thought  on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era" --  will become a mantra for a new generation.
According to media reports Sunday, the research  institutes will not "hide in the ivory tower" but advocate the  incorporation of Xi thought in all aspects of daily life.
"We will gather many experts and professors to  disseminate and preach Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with  Chinese Characteristics for a New Era in businesses,  neighbourhoods and villages," Jiang Hongxin, head of Hunan  

Chinese universities start 'Xi Thought' institutes

The party of Catalonia's  dismissed president Carles Puigdemont will run in a December  regional election called by Spain's government in response to  a declaration of independence by Catalan leaders, a  spokeswoman said today.
"We will go to the polls on (December) 21. We will go  with conviction and with a commitment to letting the Catalan  people express themselves," Marta Pascal, spokeswoman for the  PDeCAT party, told reporters.
On Friday, Spain's Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy said he  had dissolved the Catalan parliament and called a snap vote  for the region under sweeping powers approved by the Senate to  stop the secessionist movement.
Separatist parties of all political stripes, from  Puigdemont's conservatives to the far-left, have dominated the  Catalan parliament since the last election in 2015, holding 72  seats out of 135.

AFP

AFP

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