April 18, Wednesday, 2018 (2:00 p.m.) Read by Ms. Risa Shimizu and Ms. Mariko Kojima

  1. Japan and the U.S. have agreed to maintain maximum pressure on North Korea to make the country abandon its nuclear and missile programs in a complete, verifiable and irreversible manner.
  2. A defense personnel exchange program between Japan and China has resumed after a 6-year hiatus.
  3. Cuba will convene its parliament on Wednesday. Cuban President Raul Castro is expected to step aside as president, marking an end of nearly 6 decades of leadership under him and his brother Fidel.