Tokyo, 30 April, /AJMEDIA/
Japan, Indonesia confirm cooperation toward free, open Indo-Pacific
JAKARTA – Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and Indonesian President Joko Widodo on Friday confirmed to strengthen cooperation toward realizing a free and open Indo-Pacific amid China’s growing assertiveness in the region and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Widodo said Indonesia and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations stand ready to build cooperation with their partners, and Kishida, who is on the first stop of his trip to Southeast Asia and Europe, underscored the importance of upholding the rules-based international order.
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Missing tourist boat found underwater off Hokkaido
SAPPORO – A tourist boat that went missing six days ago off Hokkaido was found underwater on Friday, the Japan Coast Guard said, as 12 of the 26 people aboard remained unaccounted for.
The coast guard will search inside the boat in the belief that some of those missing were trapped, while the government expressed hope that the vessel will be salvaged with its operator bearing the costs.
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No safety flaws found so far in Fukushima water discharge plan: IAEA
TOKYO – The International Atomic Energy Agency said Friday Japan’s preparations for the planned discharge of treated water from the crippled Fukushima nuclear power plant are proceeding largely in line with relevant international safety standards.
The IAEA task force, consisting of independent and highly recognized experts with diverse technical backgrounds from various countries, is reviewing the safety of the plan to enhance transparency and gain international understanding amid neighboring China and South Korea expressing concerns.
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Russia to attend G-20 summit, Ukraine also invited: Indonesia
JAKARTA – Indonesian President Joko Widodo said Friday that Russian President Vladimir Putin has expressed his intention to attend a Group of 20 summit on the resort island of Bali in November and that the host nation has also invited Ukraine’s leader to the gathering.
Widodo told a virtual press conference that Putin thanked him Thursday over the phone for Indonesia’s invitation to attend the G-20 summit and said he will come. Some G-20 members have been trying to block Moscow’s participation in the group following its invasion of Ukraine.
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U.S. sees no threat of Russia using nuclear arms despite rhetoric
WASHINGTON – The United States does not see an increased risk of Russia using nuclear weapons over its war in Ukraine even as Moscow has recently been escalating its rhetoric, a senior U.S. defense official said Friday.
“We continue to monitor their nuclear capabilities every day the best we can. And we do not assess that there is a threat of the use of nuclear weapons and no threat to NATO territory,” the official said.
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Swimming: Backstroker Irie wins 9th title at Japanese nationals
TOKYO – Japan’s Ryosuke Irie won his ninth consecutive men’s 100-meter backstroke title at the national swimming championships on Friday.
Irie clocked 52.88 seconds in the day’s final race at Yokohama International Swimming Pool, while Katsuhiro Matsumoto won the men’s 200 freestyle and Ageha Tanigawa the women’s 400 individual medley in the meet that doubles as an Asian Games qualifying event.
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Judo: Son of 2-time Olympic champ Saito wins Japan open-weight title
TOKYO – Twenty-year-old Tatsuru Saito beat reigning heavyweight world champion Kokoro Kageura for his maiden title at Japan’s national championship, an open-weight competition, on Friday.
Saito’s victory made him and his late father, Hitoshi, the first father and son to win the open-weight title. Tatsuru, the youngest of the 47 contestants, won all five of his bouts.
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China hints at ending crackdown on IT firms amid economic slowdown
BEIJING – China’s ruling Communist Party hinted Friday at terminating a crackdown on IT companies, as the world’s second-biggest economy has been slowing down under the radical “zero-COVID” policy.
The leadership of President Xi Jinping, who heads the party, announced at its key meeting that it will end “special adjustment measures” against the IT sector, prompting investors to buy back high-tech shares at the stock exchanges in Shanghai and Hong Kong.
