Briefly

SOUTH KOREA

21 experts to visit Fukushima plant

South Korea will send a 21-member team of government experts to Japan next week to visit the Fukushima nuclear power plant where they will review contentious Japanese plans to release nuclear-contaminated water into the sea. The six-day visit will start on Sunday, officials said on Friday. The South Korean team will be led by Yoo Guk-hee, chairman of the Nuclear Safety and Security Commission. Ignoring opposition both at home and abroad, the Japanese government in January announced its controversial plan to release radioactive wastewater from the wrecked plant into the Pacific Ocean will be carried out "in the spring or summer".

THAILAND

Eight-party coalition announced to take power

Thailand's Move Forward Party has announced a multiparty coalition in a bid to form a government after emerging as the largest party of the lower house of the parliament in the country's general election. The coalition, comprised of eight parties, was led by the Move Forward Party and joined by Pheu Thai Party, with the second most seats in the lower house as well as several other smaller parties previously in the opposition, Move Forward leader Pita Limjaroenrat told a news conference, saying that the coalition has a projected 313 seats out of the total 500-seat House of Representative, the lower house of the parliament.

UNITED KINGDOM

Government unveils new semiconductor strategy

Britain announced 1 billion pounds ($1.26 billion) of investment for its semiconductor sector on Friday in a long-awaited strategy that aims to strengthen the domestic industry and chip supply chains. The strategy will focus on Britain's role in designing semiconductors, used in everything from cars to smartphones and washing machines, the government's newly formed department for science, innovation and technology said. The government will invest 200 million pounds in 2023-25, growing to up to 1 billion pounds in the next decade.

Xinhua - Agencies