XICHANG, Sept. 19 (Xinhua) -- China on Wednesday evening successfully sent twin BeiDou-3 navigation satellites into space on a single carrier rocket.

The Long March-3B carrier rocket lifted off from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center at 10:07 p.m. It was the 285th mission of the Long March rocket series.

The twin satellites are the 37th and 38th editions of the BeiDou navigation system. After a series of tests and evaluations, they will work together with 12 BeiDou-3 satellites already in orbit.

WASHINGTON, Sept. 19 (Xinhua) -- U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said on Wednesday that the United States is ready to transform its relations with the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) immediately.

In a statement regarding the outcomes of an earlier summit between leaders of South Korea and the DPRK, Pompeo said that "the United States congratulates President Moon Jae-in and Chairman Kim Jong Un on the successful outcome of their summit meeting in Pyongyang."

PATRIOT PARK /Moscow region/, September 19. /TASS/. Russian Defense Ministry is making steps to upgrade security on Russian military bases in Syria and installation of automated control instruments is one of the technical solutions it is currently working at, Deputy Prime Minister Yuri Borisov told reporters on Wednesday.

by Raimundo Urrechaga

HAVANA, Sept. 19 (Xinhua) -- Cuba is working hard to boost the Caribbean island nation's tourism industry, with a focus on attracting more Chinese investment and tourists.

Cuban Tourism Minister Manuel Marrero said on Wednesday that this also comes as part of an effort to expand Cuba-China tourism cooperation.

He told Xinhua shortly after the inauguration of the 22nd edition of the Meetings and Incentives Travel Market (MITM) Americas business fair that one of the event's objectives is to get more Chinese people to learn more about Cuba.

SHANGHAI, September 20. /TASS/. The board of directors of BRICS’ New Development Bank (NDB) approved three infrastructure and sustainable development projects in India and Russia with loans aggregating $825 mln at its 16th meeting in Shanghai, NDB said in a statement.

Responding to Congress allegations about Rafale deal and NPA, Arun Jaitly said that Rahul Gandhi’s statements are incorrect, and he is a ‘clown prince’.

Jaitly inserted a detailed note on his facebook to refute allegations made by Rahul Gandhi about corruption in Rafale deal and Modi’s waving of loans of 15 businessmen.

You can’t limit public discourse by hugging and winking, said Jaitly.

New Delhi, Sep 20 (PTI) Several passengers on a Jet Airways flight from Mumbai to Jaipur suffered nose and ear bleeding Thursday after the crew "forgot" to turn on a switch that controls cabin air pressure, officials said.

"During climb, the crew forgot to select bleed switch due to which cabin pressurisation could not be maintained. As a result, oxygen masks got deployed," the official at aviation regulator, Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), said.

JERUSALEM, Sept. 18 (Xinhua) -- Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called Tuesday Russian President Vladimir Putin to convey Israel's condolences to the death of Russian aircrew shot down by Syrian forces during an Israeli airstrike.

The phone talk came after Syrian air defense missiles shot down a 15-crew Russian plane amidst an Israeli air raid on the Syrian city of Latakia, according to Israeli and Russian officials.

MOSCOW, September 19. /TASS/. The chief military investigation department of the Russian Investigative Committee has launched a criminal case into the crash of Russia’s Il-20 plane above the Mediterranean Sea, committee spokesperson Svetlana Petrenko told reporters.

"Russian Investigative Committee investigators and forensic experts work at the accident scene together with representatives of the Russian Defense Ministry," she said.

All circumstances surrounding the accident are being established.

Singer turned BJP leader and Union Minister Babul Supriyo threatened to “break a man’s leg” during an event in West Bengal’s Asansol.

Supriyo was invited at the Samajik Adhikarita Shivir to distribute aids to the disabled people.

Supriyo lost his temper when someone from the crowd interrupted his speech and said, “What happened to you? Any problem? I can break one of your legs and can give you a crutch”.

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP) — Malaysia’s anti-graft agency said it arrested former Prime Minister Najib Razak on Wednesday over the multimillion-dollar looting of a state investment fund and that he will face further charges in court.

The agency said Najib was detained at its office and will be taken to court on Thursday to face the charges.

Najib was earlier charged with multiple counts of criminal breach of trust, corruption and money laundering over the scandal at the 1MDB state fund. He has pleaded not guilty.

PYONGYANG/SEOUL, Sept. 19 (Xinhua) -- Kim Jong Un, top leader of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), and South Korean President Moon Jae-in on Wednesday signed a document after their second face-to-face dialogue in Pyongyang.

There is no immediate report about the content of the document, signed at the Baekhwawon State Guest House.

Witnessed by the two leaders, defense chiefs of the two countries also signed an agreement on reducing military tensions on the peninsula.

Kim and Moon are expected to hold a joint press conference before the luncheon.