Iran says it wants 'fair agreement' as nuclear talks with US begin in Oman
Talks between the United States and Iran over Iran's nuclear programme have begun in Muscat, the capital of Oman.
Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi told Iranian state television his country wanted a "fair agreement", according to BBC.
In 2018, US President Donald Trump withdrew the US from a prior nuclear deal between Iran and international powers during the Obama administration, and he has often stated that he would negotiate a "better" deal.
Iran had so far refused to renegotiate the deal.
Although it's unclear if the two parties will meet in the same room, the discussions are regarded as a crucial first step in determining whether an agreement can be reached. The sessions on Saturday are anticipated to concentrate on creating a framework for the talks.
Witkoff meets Putin as Trump urges Russia to 'get moving' on Ukraine ceasefire
US envoy Steve Witkoff met Vladimir Putin in St Petersburg on Friday, as Donald Trump urged the Russian president to "get moving" on a ceasefire in Ukraine.
The Kremlin said the assembly endured for more than four hours and centered on "viewpoints of a Ukrainian settlement", according to BBC.
Trump has communicated disappointment with Putin over the state of talks.
On Friday, he composed on social media "Russia has to get moving. Too many people ere [sic] DYING, thousands a week, in a terrible and senseless war."BBC reported.
It comes as Trump's Ukraine envoy Keith Kellogg denied suggesting the country could be partitioned.
China files lawsuit with WTO following latest US tariff hikes
China has filed a lawsuit against the US with the WTO after the US issued an executive order on Thursday (US time), announcing a further increase in the so-called "reciprocal tariffs" imposed on Chinese products exported to the US, a spokesperson from China's Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) said Friday.
The spokesperson said that the US taxation measures are typical unilateral bullying and coercion practices, which seriously violate WTO rules and seriously undermine the rules-based multilateral trading system and international economic and trade order, according to the Global Times.
Tinkune incident premeditated: Home Minister
Minister for Home Affairs Ramesh Lekhak has said the arrests of those responsible for the violent demonstrations by pro-monarchists on March 28 continue to take place.
During a meeting of the Law, Justice and Human Rights Committee, the House of Representatives today, the Minister said the main accused in the demonstrations, Durga Prasai, has been apprehended.
He added that the Council of Ministers has already decided to ensure free treatment for those injured in the demonstrations. "The government will bear the cost if the need to buy medicines outside the hospital pharmacies," he said. "I have visited the injured at hospitals."
According to the Minister, the process has been initiated to provide compensation of Rs one million each to the families of two killed in the demonstrations. He described the Tinkune demonstrations as a violation of the Constitution.
He further asserted that there is a space for expressing dissatisfaction in the constitutional and democratic system, but there is no excuse for seeking an alternative to democracy and for the regression.
The government has taken the Tinkune incident seriously. Such incidents must not recur, he added. "We are clear that the incident was predetermined and is a crime capable of spreading terror and anarchy."
