IN BRIEF (Page 9)

Japan

Tokyo wants US chopper grounded

Japan urged the US military on Friday to suspend flights of its CH-53 helicopters until safety is guaranteed after one of them burst into flames in Okinawa. The US military had already grounded the helicopters for 96 hours after a CH-53 was destroyed by a major fire on Wednesday after landing in an empty field on the western Japanese island.

Russia

Moscow, Riyadh near missile deal

Russia and Saudi Arabia are on track to sign a contract on supplies of Russia's advanced S-400 air defense missiles to Riyadh, the Interfax news agency quoted an aide to Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday. "The talks are ongoing now, the terms are being agreed," the agency quoted Vladimir Kozhin as saying. He said the contract could be signed "in the nearest time", however gave no further detail.

Reuters - Afp

(China Daily 10/14/2017 page9)