By Andrew Osborn and Christian Lowe MOSCOW (Reuters) - For all their mutual praise, Russian President Vladimir Putin and U.S. President-elect Donald Trump are likely to disagree on many things. But Trump's election win could hand Moscow an elusive prize - the lifting or easing of Western sanctions.

TOKYO (Reuters) - Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is planning to meet U.S. President-elect Donald Trump in New York on Nov. 17, a senior government official said on Thursday. The official said the pair had talked by telephone and confirmed close cooperation between their two nations, stressing the Japan-U.S. alliance is important for peace and stability in the Asia-Pacific region.

By William James LONDON (Reuters) - Britain will seek to rekindle its "Golden Era" of relations with China on Thursday in talks with Chinese Vice Premier Ma Kai focused on trade, infrastructure investment and closer financial cooperation.

MEXICO CITY (Reuters) - A Mexican congressional committee on Wednesday voted to reject a bid by President Enrique Pena Nieto to legalize gay marriage in the country, marking a setback for the president and gay rights in the traditionally conservative country.

BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Islamic State militants fighting to hold on to their Mosul stronghold have killed at least 20 people in the last two days for passing information to "the enemy" and are back on the city streets policing the length of men's beards, residents say.

BEIJING (Reuters) - A senior Chinese public security official has been elected as president of the global police cooperation agency Interpol, Chinese state media said on Thursday, in what could be a boost to Beijing's domestic anti-graft efforts.

SEOUL (Reuters) - U.S. President-elect Donald Trump pledged his commitment to defend South Korea under an existing security alliance during a phone call with South Korean President Park Geun-hye on Thursday, Yonhap news agency said, citing diplomatic sources.

TAIPEI (Reuters) - Taiwan's independence-leaning ruling party urged Beijing's leaders on Wednesday to listen to the democratic aspirations of people in Hong Kong and to respect the rights of pro-independence representatives.

By Michael Holden LONDON (Reuters) - London's police force was guilty of dozens of serious failings in investigations into alleged historical child sex abuse by high-profile figures based on claims that turned out to be not credible, a damning report said on Tuesday.

By William James LONDON (Reuters) - The British government on Wednesday pledged to share information with Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland as it tries to put together a common negotiating position for leaving the European Union while holding together a fraying United Kingdom.