PTI, Beijing
Chinese President Xi Jinping will meet with his US counterpart Barack Obama on the sidelines of the fourth Nuclear Security Summit in Washington next week to discuss several issues including increasing friction between the two countries over the disputed South China Sea.
Syria peace talks to resume April 9
AP, Geneva
The U.N.’s Syria envoy on Thursday set April 9 as a “target date” for indirect peace talks to resume in Geneva, saying he is encouraged by the fact that “no breakdowns, no walkouts” tripped up the latest and most substantial round of talks.
“I was quite impressed by the fact that both sides behaved very seriously,” Staffan de Mistura said at a press conference in Geneva wrapping up the talks that started March 14.
2 Turkish reporters go on trial
AFP, Istanbul
Two Turkish journalists went on trial in Istanbul Friday facing possible life in prison on charges of espionage, in a case seen as a test of rule of law and freedom of speech under President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.Can Dundar, editor-in-chief of leading opposition daily Cumhuriyet, and Erdem Gul, his Ankara bureau chief, are charged with revealing state secrets and espionage over a story accusing the government of seeking to illicitly deliver arms to rebels in Syria.
12 Portuguese killed in France
AFP, Lyon
Twelve Portuguese passengers, including a seven-year-old girl, died when their minibus collided with a heavy goods truck on a road in central France known locally as “the road of death”.
The crash occurred late Thursday as the minibus was travelling from Switzerland to Portugal, taking the passengers home for the Easter holidays.
“The twelve passengers of the minibus, who were all Portuguese, are dead,” said a statement from the local authority.
