TOKYO -- Japan on Friday started the fifth round of release of nuclear-contaminated wastewater from the crippled Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant into the Pacific Ocean.

Despite opposition among local fishermen, residents as well as backlash from the international community, Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO), the plant's operator, started discharging the radioactive wastewater in the morning, the first round in fiscal 2024.

Similar to the previous four rounds, about 7,800 tons of the wastewater, which still contains tritium, a radioactive substance, will be discharged until May 7. (Japan-Fukushima Nuclear Water)

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YANGON -- Four inmates were killed and eight others injured in a riot at a prison in Kachin state of northern Myanmar on Thursday, the Information Team of Myanmar's State Administration Council said in a statement on Friday.

The riot at Myitkyina prison in Myitkyina township of Kachin state that erupted at around 4:10 p.m. local time (0940 GMT) on Thursday was triggered by protests from some male inmates against the recent prisoner release granted on an amnesty on Myanmar's traditional New Year's Day on April 17, the statement said. (Myanmar-Prison Riot)

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TOKYO -- Japan's core consumer prices rose 2.6 percent in March from a year earlier, marking the 24th straight month the index has remained above the central bank's 2 percent inflation target, government data showed Friday.

According to the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, the nationwide core consumer price index (CPI), which excludes fresh food, dipped 0.2 percentage points from the reading in February, due to a slowdown in food price hikes. (Japan-CPI-Inflation)

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JAKARTA -- Seven people were killed in a fire at a frame shop house on Mampang Prapatan Raya Street in Indonesia's capital city Jakarta, according to police.

"There are five adults and two children who were found in a warehouse on the second floor," said Mampang Police Chief Commissioner David Kanitero, adding that all the bodies have been evacuated on Friday. (Indonesia-Fire)

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ISLAMABAD -- At least seven people were killed and 22 others injured when a van fell into a ditch in Muzaffarabad of Pakistan-controlled Kashmir, the rescue service reported on Friday.

The accident took place Thursday night in Garhi Dupatta area of Muzaffarabad when a passenger van went off the road in a mountainous terrain and fell on the roof of a house before eventually hitting the ditch, resulting in casualties, said the rescue service. (Pakistan-Road Accident)

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HONIARA -- Solomon Islands' Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare has secured his re-election as a member of parliament, national broadcaster SIBC reported on Friday.

The local returning officer has provisionally declared Sogavare as the winner, who garnered a majority of votes against four other candidates contending for the parliamentary seat for East Choiseul constituency.

Sogavare's re-election means he will continue to be the longest-serving member of parliament, having served for 27 years. His political journey commenced in 1997 when he triumphed in the East Choiseul constituency seat during the national general election. (Solomon Islands-Elections) Enditem

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