China

Xi meets with Nepalese guest

Chinese President Xi Jinping met with Puspa Kamal Dahal Prachanda, chairman of the Unified Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist), on Thursday and pledged to boost cooperation. Xi said China attaches great importance to bilateral ties with Nepal, appreciates Nepal's adherence to the one-China policy and supports Nepal's efforts to achieve national progress and development.

Chile

97 Chinese saved from ship

A Chinese factory fishing ship caught fire on Wednesday just off the coast of Antarctica and 97 crew members were rescued by a Norwegian vessel as Chile's military mobilized to prevent any environmental damage. The crew abandoned the burning Kai Xin and were taken aboard the Juvel about 55 km from Chile's Bernardo O'Higgins research base near the northern tip of the Antarctic peninsula, Chilean officials said.

Dprk

Pyongyang sets talk conditions

The Democratic People's Republic of Korea offered talks on Thursday with the Republic of Korea and the United States, but laid out preconditions that Seoul dismissed as "absurd" and analysts said would do little to reduce soaring tensions. The demands laid out by the DPRK's main military body included the withdrawal of UN sanctions and a permanent end to ROK-US joint military drills.

Pakistan

Musharraf arrest ordered

A Pakistani court ordered the arrest on Thursday of former military ruler Pervez Musharraf, who immediately sped off to his villa on the edge of Islamabad, protected by barbed wire and armed police. Musharraf faced no resistance from scores of law enforcement agents when he left the Islamabad High Court after the judge ordered his arrest.

Egypt

Mubarak goes back to prison

Former Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak was transferred on Thursday from a military hospital back to prison to await a retrial in May over his role in the deaths of protesters in 2011, a security source said. Mubarak was taken by ambulance to Tora prison under heavy security escort, the source said.

United States

Obama slams reform defeat

Bristling with anger, President Barack Obama branded Wednesday's defeat of his gun reform drive in the US Senate as "shameful", and accused lawmakers of caving in to the powerful firearms lobby. A deeply emotional Obama lashed out after a bid to expand background checks for gun buyers failed to pass.

Xinhua-AFP -AP -Reuters

(China Daily 04/19/2013 page11)