News on the go: April 15

Maura Zurick

The United States and Japan decided Sunday to begin new talks with North Korea concerning its nuclear threat. However the North Korea rejected South Korea’s latest offer of diplomacy. U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said North Korea and the U.S. could have friendlier relations if the Asian nation would abandon its nuclear program. Japan’s foreign minister also sided with Kerry and demanded a resolution to a dispute concerning Japanese citizens who were abducted decades ago by North Korean officials. (read full story here)

Two Muslim Brotherhood officials in Egypt have been ordered to stand trial for allegedly kidnapping and torturing at least three men. The victims are said to have been held at the Brotherhood’s headquarters in the city of Damanhour where they were tortured. The date for the trial will be announced this week. The referral was made on Saturday, but the two Brotherhood officials have not yet been detained. The accusations of the two officials stem from the November protests. (read full story here)

Jackie Robinson’s biopic “42” brought in $27.3 million in the weekend box office, according to studio estimates Sunday. The film has yet to open overseas, where baseball lacks in interest. However, Tom Cruise’s film “Oblivion” more than doubled weekend revenue bringing in $61.1 million during its international opening in 52 countries. “Oblivion” opens in the United States April 19.

Justin Bieber visited the Anne Frank House in Amsterdam. The Canadian pop star wrote in the museum’s guestbook that he hoped Frank “would have been a Belieber” if she had lived, according to museum officials. A Belieber is what Bieber fans call themselves. Bieber visited the house Friday evening. His full note in the book read: “Truly inspiring to be able to come here. Anne was a great girl. Hopefully she would have been a Belieber.”

Kobe Bryant vented on Facebook about his Achilles tendon injury that will most likely end his season. He said the “frustration is unbearable” but the injury will not end his career. The Lakers star felt a pop in his left foot during a game against Golden State on Friday night.

Contact Maura Zurick at [email protected].