Xinhua world news summary at 0030 GMT, Nov. 7

Foreign ministers from Asian and European countries agreed to strengthen cooperation on climate change, connectivity at the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM), European Union (EU) foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini told a press conference here on Friday.

"Asia is really at the center of the EU's foreign policy and security policy," said Mogherini, adding that since the beginning the new leadership in the EU institutions was investing heavily and consistently in the relations with Asia. (EU-ASEM-Europe)

- - - -

WASHINGTON -- U.S. President Barack Obama on Friday rejected the proposed Keystone XL pipeline project that would bring Canada's oil sands to refineries in the United States.

"The State Department has decided that a Keystone XL pipeline would not serve the national interest of the United States. I agree with that decision," Obama said at the White House, adding that the project would not make a meaningful long-term contribution to the U.S. economy or lower gasoline prices. (US-Keystone)

- - - -

GABORONE -- Ministers of environment from Southern African Development Community (SADC) on Friday agreed on a common position for negotiations at the forthcoming UN climate change conference in Paris.

The ministers underscored the need for the region to speak with one voice on climate change. (Botswana-Climate change)

- - - -

SHARM AL-SHEIKH, Egypt -- Two British airplanes carrying some 360 British tourists left the Egyptian red sea resort of Sharm al-Sheikh on Friday.

Earlier reports said that eight flights, out of 29, were planned to depart from Sharm el-Sheikh for Britain on Friday. (Egypt-UK-Flights) Endi