World powers are meeting in Geneva on Saturday in the latest bid to end bloodshed in Syria. The meeting was called by international peace envoy Kofi Annan to try to find a solution to the crisis in Syria.
Representatives of the UN, the United States, China, the United Kingdom, Turkey, the European Union and the Arab League will take part in the international conference.
Arriving for the talks, British Foreign Secretary William Hague urged Russia and China to agree with Western powers on a political transition plan for Syria, although he said that will be difficult.
"The question on whether al-Assad leaves power as part of the transition process is complicating negotiations with Russia and China," he said.
Annan has called for a unity government in Syria. His plan does not explicitly say President Bashar al-Assad must give up power.
Throughout the Syrian crisis, Russia has refused to call for Assad to step down. The U.S. wants Assad to leave power.
Syrian opposition groups said no transition would be possible with al-Assad in power.
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Business News
June 12, 2026 17:14 ET Major central bank action was the focus this week in economic news. The European Central Bank became the first major central bank to move in response to the rising inflationary pressures in the backdrop of the conflict in the Middle East. In North America, the U.S. inflation and trade data as well as Canada’s central bank decision gained attention. The Chinese trade data was the main news in Asia.