IN BRIEF

China

Myanmar president, Norway PM to visit

Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang said on Friday that Myanmar's President U Htin Kyaw will pay a state visit to China on April 6-11. During the visit, he will meet with President Xi Jinping and exchange views over China-Myanmar relationship and other issues. U Htin Kyaw's visit to China is the first by a Myanmar head of state since the country's new government took office. He also said Norwegian Prime Minister Erna Solberg will take an official visit to China on April 7-11. During her visit, Solberg will meet with President Xi, Premier Li Keqiang and Zhang Dejiang, chairman of the National People's Committee Standing Committee.

Pakistan

Bomb near mosque kills at least 22

A bomb apparently targeting a mosque in Pakistan's northwestern city of Parachinar killed at least 22 people on Friday and wounded dozens in an attack claimed by the Pakistani Taliban. The explosion in a remote area bordering Afghanistan came as people gathered for Friday prayers near the women's entrance of a Shia mosque in the central bazaar, the latest in a series of attacks across Sunni-majority Pakistan this year.

Russia

Tanker forges path for Arctic shipping

An ice-breaking tanker docked for the first time at Russia's Arctic port of Sabetta to test a new route that could open the icebound Arctic Ocean to ships carrying oil and liquefied gas. The route is eagerly anticipated by energy firms that want to develop resources in the Arctic but face obstacles in getting oil and gas from remote and freezing fields to world markets.

China Daily-Xinhua-Reuters-AP