Japan's Defense Minister Takeshi Iwaya has affirmed with his US and Australian counterparts that their countries will strengthen cooperation, and oppose any unilateral attempt to change the status quo in the South China Sea.

In tennis, Naomi Osaka's hope to win three straight Grand Slam singles titles has been dashed.

HE was sitting. He was sitting all alone by himself on the bench. “Who  will  go  to  Edinburgh,  please wait at platform 3”, it was  announced.  People  of  all  ages  were  rushing here and there. Young ones, old ones  and  several.  But  no  one  took  any  notice  of  him.  Alone,  sitting  with  a  pen  and a book and a luggage beside him. The seat was not full, though. However, nobody came to sit beside him. Will you call this loneliness?

HE was sitting. He was sitting all alone by himself on the bench. “Who  will  go  to  Edinburgh,  please wait at platform 3”, it was  announced.  People  of  all  ages  were  rushing here and there. Young ones, old ones  and  several.  But  no  one  took  any  notice  of  him.  Alone,  sitting  with  a  pen  and a book and a luggage beside him. The seat was not full, though. However, nobody came to sit beside him. Will you call this loneliness?

The Japanese and Russian foreign ministers on Friday ended their negotiations on a peace treaty and economic cooperation on the four Russian-held islands claimed by Japan.

The UN Higher Commission of Refugees (UNHCR) said on Thursday that 149 refugees were evacuated from Libya to Italy, in cooperation with Libyan and Italian authorities.