Trump, Abe to work together on N Korea
Reuters. Tokyo
President Donald Trump and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe agreed to work together on steps to counter North Korea’s nuclear and missile development, ahead of the U.S. leader’s visit to Asia, the Japanese government said late on Monday.
In a 20-minute phone call, Trump and Abe discussed the schedule of the president’s coming visit, which includes a Nov. 5-7 stop in Japan, and agreed to remain in close contact over North Korea, Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Yasutoshi Nishimura told reporters.
China still wants US co-operation on climate change
AP, Beijing
A Chinese official says his country still wants to cooperate with the U.S. on climate change and hopes an upcoming meeting on the issue in Germany will produce a draft agreement on implementing the Paris climate accord.
China’s Special Representative on Climate Change Xie Zhenhua told reporters Tuesday that China wanted to boost joint efforts in clean energy, carbon capture and research.
Macron to visit Russia
Reuters, Moscow
French President Emmanuel Macron has accepted an invitation to visit Russia and may fly in next year for an economic forum, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Tuesday, the RIA news agency reported.
RIA cited Lavrov as saying Macron might attend the annual St Petersburg International Economic Forum.
California blazes toll rises to 43
Reuters, Los Angeles
The death toll from the deadliest rash of wildfires in California history has risen to 43, after a 17-year-old girl who was badly burned in the fires earlier this month died at a hospital, officials said on Monday.
The spate of wind-driven wildfires erupted on October 8 in the heart of California wine country and consumed at least 245,000 acres (99,148 hectares) across several counties north of the San Francisco Bay area.
Kurdish leader Barzani resigns
Reuters, Erbil
Iraqi Kurdish leader Masoud Barzani said he would give up his position as president on Nov. 1, after an independence referendum he championed backfired and triggered a regional crisis. There was high drama at the Kurdish parliament, which was stormed by armed protesters as it met to approve the veteran leader’s resignation as Kurdish president. Some MPs were barricaded in their offices on Sunday evening.
Kenyatta wins 98 pc of vote in poll
Reuters, Nairobi
Kenya’s incumbent President Uhuru Kenyatta won 98 percent of the vote in a repeated election in which an opposition boycott helped lower turnout to 39 percent, the electoral commission said on Monday.
The announcement touched off small protests in a few opposition strongholds but also celebrations in pro-Kenyatta areas. Veteran opposition leader Raila Odinga said the Oct. 26 election was a farce. Civil society groups also cited problems with the vote.
