News In Brief

Israel to join UN rights council
Afp, Jerusalem

Israel is to join a United Nations rights body with which it has been feuding for years, as a member of its European bloc, an Israeli official said yesterday.
Speaking to AFP on condition of anonymity, the official confirmed Israeli membership of the Western European and Others Group (WEOG) in the UN Human Rights Council had been approved and a formal invitation was expected shortly.

Japan royals in India on goodwill trip
Afp, New Delhi

Japan's imperial couple arrived in India on their first ever official visit on late Saturday, billed by New Delhi as a symbol of goodwill towards Asia's biggest democracy.
Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko will meet the Indian premier and other dignitaries during their six-day visit, the first by any Japanese emperor to India. The royal couple, who had visited India in early 1960s as crown prince and princess, were received by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on the airport tarmac in New Delhi.

Australia takes G20 chair
Afp, Sydney

Prime Minister Tony Abbott vowed to be "absolutely candid" with world leaders but sidestepped questions on spying as Australia assumed the leadership of the G20 for 2014 yesterday.
Abbott said the 2014 summit, to be held November in Brisbane, would be the "most significant meeting of world leaders ever hosted in Australia" and -- as the host government -- Canberra would also invite Singapore and New Zealand to attend.

UK PM heads to China
Afp, London

British Prime Minister David Cameron heads to China yesterday aiming at fostering ties with the new leadership of President Xi Jinping and boosting trade, with more than 100 business people set to accompany him.
Cameron last visited China in November 2010 and this will be his first trip there since Xi took office in March.