The FINANCIAL -- The number of victims of swine flu rose to 40 in Turkey with the latest deaths, the Health Ministry reported yesterday. According to a written statement released by the Ministry of Health, six people, two of them children and one an infant, died on November 9 from the H1N1 virus, while four more, aged 5, 13, 26 and another infant, have died since November 9.

The FINANCIAL -- According to RIA Novosti, North Korea said on November 12 that the recent exchange of gunfire between its patrol boat and a South Korean warship was not an accident but the result of a "conspiracy" in an attempt to escalate tension in the region.

The FINANCIAL -- According to RIA Novosti, South Korea has deployed a new destroyer to enhance the protection of its western sea border following a recent exchange of gunfire between one of its warships and a North Korean patrol boat, the Yonhap news agency reported.

The FINANCIAL -- GAZA, Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas reiterated his demand on November 11 for Israel to stop building settlements in the West Bank before the two conflicting sides can resume peace talks.

The FINANCIAL -- According to RIA Novosti, the European Union will hold a summit on November 19 to elect a president and a foreign policy chief, the Swedish presidency said on November 11.