Damascus - The Syrian government Thursday hailed a visit from the European Union's chief diplomat as a sign that its foreign policy is reaping successes.

"With the visit of (EU foreign policy chief Javier) Solana, Europe has truly and officially announced that it wants to open up to Syria," said Buthaina Shaaban, spokeswoman for Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, after the meeting between the two men.

Shaaban went on to say that the EU's position was "only natural, given the positive and stable role that Syria is playing in the region."

Seoul- South Korean automaker Hyundai Motor Co on Thursday reported a 38-per-cent drop in third-quarter profits because of falling sales and strikes that caused drops in its production.

Net income fell to 264.8 billon won (187 million dollars) from 425.5 billion won in the same quarter in 2007.

Sales shrank 14.5 per cent to 6.1 trillion won.

Despite the decrease, the earnings were higher than analysts had expected, and Hyundai also held to its sales projection for the year of 33 trillion won.

Paris- The French government will establish an investment fund to support the country's strategic enterprises affected by the economic crisis, President Nicolas Sarkozy said on Thursday in the city of Annecy.

The fund will make available loans to struggling companies in exchange for shares, which will be sold, presumably at a profit, once the company has stabilized.

Islamabad- A suspected US missile strike Thursday killed 10 people and wounded four others in Pakistan's restive tribal region along the Afghan border, as the country reiterated that the frontiers would be defended "at all costs."

Two missiles targeted an Islamic seminary, Sirajul Uloom, in Dandai Darpakhel village, located some 3 kilometres from Miranshah, the main town in North Waziristan tribal district, at around 2:30 am (2030 GMT), security officials and residents said.

Bonn, Germ

Washington, Oct 23 : The US has warned Iraq of ending its military operations there if it rejects a newly negotiated security pact.

According to CBS News, the White House said the current legal basis for U. S. military operations in Iraq expires on December 31, and if the proposed security deal is not approved by that time, the United States would be forced to end its military operations there.

The White House also stated that Iraqi security forces are incapable of keeping the peace without U. S. troops.