WASHINGTON -- U.S. President Donald Trump confirmed on Wednesday that Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan will visit Washington next week, ending the speculation that the Turkish president might call off the trip given the delicate bilateral ties.

Trump tweeted that he had "a very good call" with Erdogan, saying he looks forward to meeting his Turkish counterpart on Nov. 13 at the White House.

"Also talked about their Border with Syria, the eradication of terrorism, the ending of hostilities with the Kurds, and many other topics," Trump added.

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UNITED NATIONS -- The head of the UN relief agency for Palestine refugees (UNRWA), Pierre Krahenbuhl, who was under investigation, has resigned, said a spokesman for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Wednesday.

"A short while ago, UNRWA's Commissioner-General Pierre Krahenbuhl informed the secretary-general that he was resigning, effective immediately," Stephane Dujarric, the spokesman, told reporters.

The United Nations announced earlier Wednesday that Guterres had put Krahenbuhl "on administrative leave" after an internal oversight report found managerial issues against him.

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LONDON -- Prime Minister Boris Johnson warned Wednesday Britain faces a year-long "horror show" in 2020 if the impasse over Brexit is not resolved.

"We can leave the EU as one UK, whole and entire," he said, adding if Labour won the election Britain would spend the whole of 2020 in a horror show of dither and delay.

Johnson said: "Imagine waking up on Friday December 13 and finding (Labour leader Jeremy) Corbyn at the head of his technicolor yawn of a coalition. They would spend the whole of 2020 having two referendums. One on Scotland, and another referendum on Brexit, which is meant to happen in nine months time."

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MANILA -- Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte wants to ban single-use plastics in the country, his spokesman said on Thursday.

Spokesman Salvador Panelo said Duterte floated the idea during a cabinet meeting at the presidential palace on Wednesday night.

"The president floated the idea to ban the use of plastics, which according to him would require legislative action," Panelo said. Enditem

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