World News Briefs -- October 29, 2015 (Evening Edition)

VOA: US, Russia, Iran Seek to Bridge Gaps on Syria

VIENNA - U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry is meeting separately with his Iranian and Russian counterparts in Vienna, before international talks on Syria the top U.S. diplomat has called "the most promising" opportunity in years to end the country's bloody conflict.

In addition to one-on-one talks with Iran's Mohammad Javad Zarif and Russia's Sergei Lavrov, Kerry is taking part in informal meetings Thursday on Syria with senior diplomats from Russia, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Austria and the EU.

“We’ll see what happens,” said Kerry, as he headed into a session with Austrian Foreign Minister Sebastian Kurtz.

MIDDLE EAST

Key Syria players seek path out of war. U.S. sticks to demand Assad leave power at first peace talks to include Iran. Despite disputes, key players meet to plot course for Syria.

UN chief urges 'flexibility' at multilateral Syria talks.

U.S.-backed Syrian rebel group says assault on Islamic State imminent.

Hundreds killed by Russian air strikes in Syria.

Syrian army rolls militants back to border of northern Idlib province.

Syria conflict: John Kerry seeks end to civil war 'hell'.

Russia says actively talking to Syrian opposition and Kurds: RIA. Russia talks to Syrian opposition & Kurds ‘on daily basis’ amid airstrikes against ISIS.

Members of Iraq's ruling coalition threaten to withdraw support for Abadi's reforms.

Yemen peace talks 'probably' mid-Nov in Geneva: UN.

Poll sees ruling AKP winning large majority in Turkish election.

Two more Palestinians are shot dead by security forces in the West Bank after separate knife attacks on Israeli soldiers as six-week wave of violence continues.

Arab states pose 'critical' risk of defence corruption.

Saudi blogger Raif Badawi awarded Sakharov human rights prize.

Death toll in Saudi haj disaster at least 2,070: Reuters tally.

ASIA

Hague court to take on South China Sea row.

U.S., Chinese navies agree to maintain dialogue to avoid clashes.

Afghan exodus grows as Taliban gains ground and hope for future diminishes.

Myanmar opposition candidate attacked with machetes.

Official: UN, N. Korea discuss possible Human Rights visit.

North Korea putting thousands into forced labour abroad, UN says.

North Korea's black market becoming the new normal.

China working to halt commercial cyberwar in deal with Germany.

China to end one-child policy.

In China, mixed reaction to two-child policy shift.

India seeks to deepen partnership with Africa.

AFRICA

Warplanes bomb Libya's Sirte, target Islamic State - eyewitness.

Anti-Boko Haram force set to begin joint raids, U.N. rep says.

Africa puts security hopes in foreign-funded, home-grown strike force.

Nigeria issues 'most-wanted' Boko Haram militant photos.

Mali's army says it kills five Islamists near Burkina border.

Rwandan parliament agrees to extend Kagame's rule.

Tanzania poll: John Magufuli of CCM defeats Edward Lowassa.

'Democracy in Zanzibar at stake', vote observers warn.

Rebels in South Sudan detain 16 UN peacekeepers on barges.

South Sudan: 'a level of human suffering I have never seen anywhere else'.

Four people lynched in Central African Republic's capital: sources.

Thousands homeless as El Niño floods sweep Somalia.

EUROPE

Sarkozy's Putin visit sparks controversy at home.

Ukraine rejects talks with Russia over flight ban.

Over 80% of asylum seekers in Germany unqualified - report.

At least 3 dead, 242 rescued when migrant boat capsizes off Greece. Migrant crisis: Ten dead in boat sinkings off Greece.

Inside Europe’s migrant-smuggling rings.

IMF to change its lending rules for Ukraine.

Moldova government dismissed by MPs amid bank scandal.

EU suspends Belarus sanctions for four months.

European Parliament demands an end to persecution of Snowden.

Victims of Soviet repressions remembered in memorial.

AMERICAS

US economic growth slows to 1.5 percent.

Cuba's Castro to travel to Mexico for state visit in November.

Brazil's Lula urges Workers' Party to back austerity.

Colombia killing rebels despite truce offer: FARC.

Colombia President Santos offers truce with Farc.

In Haiti, tire barricades burn as candidate alleges fraud.

Argentina's Massa to election rivals: Want my voters? Heed my ideas.

Venezuela is running out of cash and selling its gold.

Republican Paul Ryan elected as House speaker, replacing Boehner.

U.S. won't halt NSA phone spying program ahead of ban.

US House passes budget deal.

Record number of Americans renounce citizenship.

TERRORISM/THE LONG WAR

‘ISIS planning mass attack in UK’ MI5 chief warns ahead of surveillance bill debate.

Pentagon says Guantanamo detainee transferred to Mauritania.

Hekmatyar denies Hizb-i-Islami supports the Islamic State.

Meet the men fighting ISIS with hunting rifles and homemade mortars.

ECONOMY/FINANCE/BUSINESS

Apple opens first Arab world stores in Emirates.

Deutsche Bank to cut 15,000 jobs.

China signs $17 billion deal to buy 130 Airbus planes.

This map shows how the world’s richest people built their fortunes.