April 13, Thursday, 2017 (2:00 p.m.) Read by Mr. Raja Pradan and Ms. Hiroko Kitadai

1. Russia has vetoed a U.N. Security Council draft resolution condemning the suspected use of chemical weapons in Syria.
2. Top diplomats of the United States and Russia have failed to narrow differences over Syria. But they have agreed to improve bilateral ties, which are described as being the worst since the Cold War.
3. China has been edged out by the U.S. as the world’s top trader of goods.