News

Defense ministers from Japan and the United States will attend a joint memorial service on Iwo Jima for the first time, marking 80 years since the end of World War II and symbolizing the strong alliance between the two nations. The meeting also serves as an opportunity to discuss further defense cooperation and increased spending by Japan.

Canadian convenience store giant Alimentation Couche-Tard is exploring the sale of its U.S. stores to facilitate regulatory approval for its proposed $47 billion acquisition of Japan's Seven & i Holdings, which operates the 7-Eleven chain. The deal faces significant antitrust concerns in the U.S., where the two companies are the top players in the convenience store market.

Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi met with Okinawa Governor Denny Tamaki to address concerns about sexual assaults by U.S. military personnel and the heavy burden Okinawa bears in hosting U.S. military bases. Hayashi pledged to work on preventative measures and land return, while Tamaki emphasized the need for a more equitable distribution of the burden.

Violence erupted in Nagpur, Maharashtra, with incidents of vandalism and stone-pelting reported, injuring several police personnel, including DCP Nagpur Archit Chandak. Union Minister Nitin Gadkari appealed for peace and urged citizens not to fall prey to rumors, assuring strict action against those involved in illegal activities.

Jamal Baloch, Media Coordinator of Paank, addressed the UN Human Rights Council, highlighting the ongoing human rights crisis in Balochistan, marked by enforced disappearances, extrajudicial killings, and mass displacements. He further raised concerns over China's involvement in the region through the CPEC project, which has exacerbated the exploitation of Balochistan's resources and fueled the ongoing conflict.