Briefly

JAPAN

Toxic water discharge continues despite flak

Tokyo Electric Power Company said on Tuesday it has completed the fifth round of discharge of nuclear-contaminated water from the crippled Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant into the ocean, amid strong protests and criticisms. About 7,800 metric tons of radioactive water was dumped in this round, the first in fiscal year 2024, it said. The operator plans to discharge a total of 54,600 tons of nuclear-contaminated water over seven rounds in the fiscal year ending March 2025, despite opposition from residents and the international community.

INDIA

Modi votes as giant election heats up

India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi cast his ballot in his home state of Gujarat on Tuesday in the third phase of a massive general election. The world's most populous country began voting on April 19 in a seven-phase election in which nearly 1 billion people are eligible to vote, with ballots set to be counted on June 4. Turnout so far has dropped significantly compared with the last national poll in 2019, with analysts blaming widespread expectations that Modi will easily win a third term and hotter-than-average temperatures heading into the summer.

China Daily - Agencies