China

The OECD cut its world economic growth forecasts for 2015 and 2016 on Sept. 16, warning of a dramatic slowdown in Brazil and a global outlook clouded by uncertainty over China.

The policy analysis club of 34 advanced economies had already slashed its economic forecasts just three months ago because of U.S. weakness.

President Barack Obama will offer his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping a full state welcome at the White House on September 25, amid deep and growing tensions between the top economic and political powers.
 

Beijing may be building its third airstrip on artificial islands in the South China Sea, a US think-tank said, in a move likely to raise tensions with Washington ahead of a state visit by China's president.
 

 With fireworks and celebrations, the American English Academy (AEA) has marked the beginning of the new 2015/2016 school year for the 24th time to admit pupils aged between 3 and 18.

The 2015 ranking of global universities has just been published by QS World University Rankings.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) is the one which has taken again the top place for the fourth year running, whereas Harvard climbed two places and got the second place.

Thai authorities have not given any information over claims that a key suspect in the plotting of last month's deadly bombing in Bangkok was last tracked via multiple flights to Turkey, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Tanju Bilgiç said Sept. 15.

Turkey?s budget showed a strong performance in the first eight months of the year despite political uncertainty and market volatility, but budget discipline must be maintained, Finance Minister Mehmet ?im?ek stressed on Sept. 15.

Two Chinese port companies, China Merchants and China Ocean Shipping Company (COSCO), and the country?s largest state fund, China Investment Corp. (CIC), have signaled their intent to buy Turkey?s largest private port, Kumport, according to sources familiar with the issue. 

Former PM and radical leftist (SYRIZA) party leader Alexis Tsipras goes up against his main rival, conservative New Democracy (ND) leader Vangelis Meimarakis, live on Greek television on Monday evening. The debate’s two participants can also raise three “red cards”, meaning they can intervene after answers by the other. Here are the “blow-by-blow” highlights:

A key suspect in last month's bombing at a Bangkok shrine that killed 20 people has fled to Turkey, Thai police said on Sept. 14.