World News Roundup: Myanmar court frees journalists on bail; North and South Korea to scrap some border posts

Following is a summary of current world news briefs.

Myanmar court frees journalists on bail in incitement case

A Myanmar judge on Friday freed on bail three journalists from the country's largest private newspaper detained on incitement charges after publishing an article that raised questions over government spending. Eleven Media's chief reporter, Phyo Wai Win, and two editors, Kyaw Zaw Lin and Nayi Min, were arrested on Oct. 10 following a complaint by the regional government in the commercial capital of Yangon.

Man held after the attempted theft of Magna Carta from UK cathedral

A 45-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of trying to steal an original copy of the 1215 Magna Carta from Salisbury cathedral in southern England, police said on Friday. Alarms were activated when an attempt was made on Thursday evening to smash the glass box containing the priceless medieval charter.

North and South Korea agree to scrap 22 guard posts at border next month

North and South Korea agreed on Friday to "completely destroy" by next month 22 guard posts near their heavily fortified border, the latest advance in talks in the neighbours' effort to defuse military tension, Seoul's defence ministry said. It follows a military pact at a summit last month in the North Korean capital that called for a halt to "all hostile acts," a no-fly zone near the border and the gradual removal of guard posts, firearms and landmines from the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) separating the two.

China will prosecute graft, terror suspects even if they flee

China changed its law on Friday to allow judgments to be delivered in corruption and terror cases even when the suspects do not appear in court, as Beijing ramps up pressure on dozens of suspected criminals hiding overseas. Since taking office more than five years ago, President Xi Jinping has waged war on graft at all levels of the ruling Communist Party and has pledged that the fight must continue until corruption is impossible and unimaginable for officials.

Indonesian Muslims hold a protest to demand justice for flag burning

About 1,000 Indonesian Muslims held a rally in the capital, Jakarta, on Friday to protest against the burning by members of the country's biggest Muslim organization of a flag bearing an Islamic tenet. The protest comes after a video went viral in Indonesia this week showing members of the youth wing of Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) burning a rival group's flag with the Tauhid, an Islamic concept asserting that there is only one God.

Turkey's Erdogan urges Saudis to say who ordered Khashoggi's killing

Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan urged Saudi Arabia on Friday to disclose who ordered the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi in Istanbul, as well as the location of his body, heightening international pressure on the kingdom to come clean on the case. Erdogan said Turkey had more information than it had shared so far about the killing of Khashoggi, a prominent U.S.-based critic of powerful Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, that has pitched the world's top oil exporter and pivotal Middle East strategic partner of the West into a serious crisis.

Police evacuate Greek foreign ministry after suspect package found

Greek police evacuated the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Athens on Friday after a suspect package arrived by mail, police officials said. Police said a bomb squad was on its way to the area.

Turkey's Erdogan issues 'final warning' on Syria

Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan on Friday issued what he said was a "final warning" to those who would endanger Turkey's borders, saying Ankara was determined to focus its attention on Syrian Kurdish fighters east of the Euphrates. Erdogan, who was speaking to a group of provincial leaders of his AK Party in Ankara, said Turkey would focus its attention east of the Euphrates in Syria, rather than the Manbij area, citing the presence of the Syrian Kurdish YPG militia. Turkey regards the YPG as a terrorist group.

U.S. exit from nuclear arms pact increases risks of war: Gorbachev

Mikhail Gorbachev, the last Soviet leader, denounced on Friday a U.S. decision to leave an arms control treaty that helped end the Cold War, saying it heralded a new arms race which increased the risk of nuclear conflict. President Donald Trump has said Washington plans to quit the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) treaty which Gorbachev and Ronald Reagan signed in 1987. The pact eliminated all short- and intermediate-range land-based nuclear and conventional missiles held by both countries in Europe.

China, Japan to forge closer ties at 'historic turning point'

China and Japan on Friday pledged to forge closer ties as both countries stood together at a "historic turning point", signing a broad range of agreements including a $30 billion currency swap pact, amid rising trade tensions with Washington. Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and Chinese Premier Li Keqiang also agreed the two countries would work together to achieve denuclearization on the Korean Peninsula.