Briefly

JAPAN

1 dead, 9 missing after cargo ship capsizes

One person was confirmed dead and nine others still missing after a Hong Kong-registered cargo ship capsized off Japan's Nagasaki prefecture, the Chinese Consulate-General in Nagasaki said on Wednesday. The ship,Jintian, sank in the morning off Danjo Islands, the consulate-general said,adding that 14 Chinese and eight crew members from Myanmar were on the vessel. Japan's Coast Guard said four Chinese and a sailor from Myanmar had been rescued, one crew member from Myanmar was confirmed dead while seven others were reported to be in a state of cardiopulmonary arrest.

NEW ZEALAND

New PM pledges focus on economy

Chris Hipkins was sworn in on Wednesday as New Zealand's 41st prime minister, following the unexpected resignation last week of Jacinda Ardern. Hipkins, 44, has promised a back-to-basics approach focusing on the economy and what he described as the "pandemic of inflation". Hipkins later chaired his first cabinet meeting. He will have less than nine months before contesting a tough general election, with opinion polls indicating his Labour Party is trailing its conservative opposition.

China Daily - Agencies