IN BRIEF (Page 11)

Ecuador

4 Chinese die in tunnel blast

Four Chinese workers died after an explosion at Ecuador's most important hydroelectric project, a construction company said. Hidropaute manager Tito Torres said on Wednesday the four explosives experts were in a tunnel at the Sopladora project when the blast occurred on Tuesday evening. He said the cause of the explosion is being investigated and that the men worked for the Gezhouba Group, based in China.

Algeria

Kerry says gap needs closing

Talks between Israeli and Palestinian negotiators are at a "critical moment" although progress was made in overnight discussions, US Secretary of State John Kerry said on Thursday. "The dialogue remains open. There was progress made in narrowing some of the questions that have arisen as a result of the last few days but there is still a gap and that gap will have to be closed and closed fairly soon," Kerry said during a visit to Algeria after US-backed direct peace negotiations appeared near to collapse.

United Kingdom

Drug firms pay doctors $64m

Doctors in Britain were paid 38.5 million pounds ($64 million) by drugmakers last year, slightly less than in 2012, according to new data underscoring the links between the pharmaceutical industry and prescribers. Industry payments to doctors have come under increased scrutiny following a number of scandals over sales practices, notably in the United States.

Turkey

Opposition hopeshinge on recount

Turkey's main opposition party is hopeful a recount of votes from Sunday's local polls will help reverse a victory for the ruling party in the capital, Ankara. However, a final verdict from electoral authorities is likely to take weeks. Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan's AK Party largely dominated the country's electoral map in local polls, keeping control of the main cities, including the financial center of Istanbul.

Guinea

Mining firms act as Ebola spreads

Foreign mining firms have locked down operations in Guinea and pulled out some international staff members, executives said on Wednesday as the death toll from suspected cases of Ebola reached 83. Five new suspected infections were reported in 24 hours, the World Health Organization said, bringing the total to 127.

France

Ferry port hit bywildcat strike

Angry dock workers staged a wildcat strike on Thursday at the French port of Calais, disrupting operations at the ferry gateway to Britain. Local officials said talks were under way to resolve the dispute that broke out overnight.

AP-Reuters-AFP

(China Daily 04/04/2014 page11)