Main news of November 23

RUSSIA

* The Russian and U.S. leaders agreed to continue cooperation in solving practical issues despite existing disagreements, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said

* Russia will make all efforts to settle unresolved problems with Japan, including the long-standing dispute between the two countries over the South Kuril Islands, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said

* Liquefied natural gas supplies to Japan under the Sakhalin-II oil and gas project off Russia's Pacific Coast will start in February next year, Russian energy giant Gazprom said

* Warships from all of the Russian Navy fleets will be involved in operations to fight piracy in the Horn of Africa region, Russia's Navy commander said

* Four policemen and one civilian were killed and another five policemen and two civilians were injured in militant attacks in the North Caucasus Republic of Chechnya, local police said

* Russia's Soccer Union rejected media reports that Guus Hiddink, the national side's Dutch trainer, had problems with salary payment

WORLD

* Leaders from the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) countries pledged measures to reform international financial institutions and liberalize trade in a bid to fight the ongoing global financial crisis

* Two U.S. astronauts completed without mishap the third spacewalk to perform maintenance on the International Space Station, NASA Mission Control announced