Arrival and doorstep by #EU #HR @FedericaMog at the #ASEMSummit 2018 "We are focusing very much on increasing our partnership with #Asia on #connectivity, #security and #trade'' https://t.co/3nvOKOyAEp— EU Council TV News (@EUCouncilTVNews) October 18, 2018
DW: EU and Asia leaders reaffirm multilateralism at ASEM Summit in Brussels
'Global Partners for Global Challenges' is the theme of the two-day summit in Brussels. Ministers from China, Japan and Russia have made the trip to reaffirm support for multilateral cooperation.
The twelfth biennial ASEM meeting got underway in Brussels on Thursday.
The two-day conference has the EU, Switzerland and Norway hosting Asian officials — including Prime Ministers Li Keqiang of China, Shinzo Abe of Japan and Dmitry Medvedev of Russia.
Two days of talks on trade, cybersecurity, the fate of the Iran nuclear deal and the Paris climate agreement are on the agenda.
The EU sees the meeting as an opportunity to present itself as a counterbalance to both the US and China by offering Asian countries alternatives when it comes to trade, infrastructure and digitalization.
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MIDDLE EAST
US gives Saudis 'few more days' on disappeared journalist.
Jamal Khashoggi case: Fox and Mnuchin quit Saudi summit. Mnuchin says he won’t go to Saudi conference amid tension over Khashoggi disappearance.
Iraqi security: Camps for displaced are being closed.
Hamas pledges Gaza rocket fire probe as calm returns.
UN envoy warns Gaza is imploding.
US downgrades consulate for Palestinians into Israel embassy unit.
EU-Arab summit set for February 24-25 in Egypt.
ASIA
China shows what's inside its Muslim 'vocational training centres' after being accused of detaining and brainwashing ethnic minorities in internment camps in Xinjiang.
Afghan police chief killed in ambush; U.S. general escapes unharmed.
Bhutan votes in the country's third general polls.
Singapore charges suspects with smuggling luxury goods to North Korea.
Xinjiang camps: China takes its defence of ‘re-education centres’ overseas with Pakistan meeting.
Beijing expresses ‘solemn concerns’ after US navy research ship docks in Taiwan.
Hong Kong’s freedoms will not be curbed, but city cannot be used as anti-China base, top Beijing official says.
Malaysia arrests opposition leader Zahid.
Right-wing protesters attack women and block them from entering one of India's most sacred sites.
AFRICA
Abiy Ahmed: Protesting Ethiopian soldiers wanted to kill me. Ethiopia PM accuses 'plotters' over soldiers' protest.
Ivory Coast election results revealed.
Eritrea, Ethiopia foreign ministers in Somalia for high-level talks.
DR Congo presidential hopeful says she was barred from travel.
UN plea for release of '900 seized in South Sudan'.
Libyan eastern-based parliament condemns "soil violation" by Chadian opposition.
12 killed in fresh Mali violence.
EUROPE
Death toll from Crimea college attack climbs to 21.
EU summit: Theresa May says 'maybe' to transition period extension. Theresa May under pressure over EU concessions as no new progress has been made.
Putin affirmed that Moscow ready to improve relations with Washington "any moment".
Russia’s top diplomat warns Ukraine won’t be able to hold NATO drills in Azov Sea.
Jean-Luc Mélenchon: French left-wing leader quizzed over cash.
Court in Finland finds pro-Kremlin trolls guilty of harassing journalist.
Media investigation exposes scale of years-long European tax scam.
AMERICAS
Thousands of Honduran migrants arrive in Guatemala City.
Trump threatens military action if Mexico doesn't stop immigration 'onslaught'. Trump threatens to call US military to close southern border as 4,000-strong migrant caravan pushes north. Trump threatens to close US-Mexico border over Honduran migrant caravan.
Mexico sends federal police to intercept migrant caravan at Guatemala border.
Trump asks Cabinet secretaries for 5% budget cut.
Mueller assembles team of cooperators in Russian probe.
Coast Guard rounds up $47 million worth of cocaine, marijuana off Florida coast.
3 dead after explosion cuts power to Venezuela for 2 days.
Haiti protests over politicians' misuse of Petrocaribe Funds.
Nicaragua intensified crackdown on protesters: Amnesty.
Peru opposition leader Keiko Fujimori freed.
US threatens to stop Canadian pot businessmen at border.
TERRORISM/THE LONG WAR
AFRICOM kills 60 Shabaab fighters in largest strike in Somalia since 2017.
Foreign fighters still joining IS in Syria: US general.
German intelligence foiled 2016 Islamic State terror attack.
US offers reward for jihadist who urged attacks over Jerusalem.
ECONOMY/FINANCE/BUSINESS
Recession fears grip emerging markets amid currency crises.
eBay sues Amazon for allegedly poaching its sellers.
Donald Trump to pull US out of postal alliance in latest move targeting China.
Google to stop bundling apps on smartphones in EU nations.
