Bloomberg US and Chinese officials cited “significant” progress on a new United Nations resolution targeting North Korea’s nuclear weapons program, while laying out continued differences over the contested South China Sea. Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Secretary of State John Kerry wouldn’t give details of any draft proposal, which would punish North Korea for its recent nuclear test and long-range …

Hong Kong / AFP Russia delivered 10,000 Kalashnikovs to the Afghan government on Wednesday, with officials saying they were for the fight “against terrorism”, a day after Kabul hosted talks on reviving the peace process with the Taliban. The assault rifles, delivered with pomp at a ceremony on the tarmac at Kabul’s military airport, will be directly transferred to security …

Vienna / AFP Austria warned on Wednesday that the EU’s future was at stake as it pressed Balkan states, in the absence of an effective common response by the bloc, to reduce the influx of migrants despite fears of a humanitarian crisis. Further undermining the European Union’s hopes to get a grip on the situation, Hungary meanwhile announced a referendum …