With US President Trump's visit to South Korea imminent, the United Nations Command, which is responsible for Panmunjom, announced that it will suspend special visits to the Joint Security Area before the APEC summit this announcement has sparked speculation that this move is likely to be in preparation for the "Trump-Kim lightning meeting."

(Paris) The French government admitted that there were security lapses at the Louvre Museum, which was robbed on Sunday, and pledged to strengthen heritage protection. Authorities are hunting for four suspects involved in the case, which they initially determined was an organized crime operation.

On the eve of the prime ministerial election in Japan, Sanae Takaichi, president of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, and Hirofumi Yoshimura, leader of the Restoration Party, officially signed a document to form a coalition government. The document stipulates that the two parties will cooperate in the extraordinary prime ministerial election to be held on Tuesday (October 21st). Takaichi is expected to secure victory, and Japan will soon welcome a conservative female prime minister.

(Bloomberg, Washington) As China and the United States are about to return to the negotiating table, US President Trump has listed rare earths, fentanyl and soybeans as his top three concerns in trade with China.

WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. President Donald Trump met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the White House last Friday in a heated exchange, according to sources familiar with the matter. Trump demanded that Zelenskyy accept Russian President Vladimir Putin's demands for a ceasefire or face the destruction of Ukraine. While Trump ultimately agreed to support a ceasefire based on front lines, the meeting nonetheless revealed his erratic nature and willingness to support Putin's extreme demands.

(New Delhi Comprehensive News) Air pollution in India's capital New Delhi has worsened, and the entire city was shrouded in thick and toxic smog on Monday (October 20). The air pollution level soared to more than 16 times the daily maximum recommended by the World Health Organization.

(AFP, Tel Aviv) Relatives of the last group of Israeli hostages released after two years in Gaza have revealed that their loved ones were treated extremely cruelly by Hamas, with some allegedly being held in cages, pits or underground tunnels.

(Tokyo Comprehensive News) After Japan's conservative opposition Restoration Party suspended consultations with the Constitutional Democratic Party and the Democratic Party for the People on the nomination of prime minister, Liberal Democratic Party leader Sanae Takaichi is expected to win the prime minister election to be held next week.