January 11, Wednesday, 2023 (1:30 p.m.) Newsline

1.Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio and his Italian counterpart Giorgia Meloni have agreed to upgrade the two countries’ relationship to a strategi partnership. Italy is the second stop of Kishida’s trip to five of the Group of Seven nations. His trip comes ahead of May’s G7 summit, which Japan will host in Hiroshima.
2.The coronavirus is rapidly spreading in China. And, travelers from there are facing restrictions imposed by multiple countries. Those include Japan and South Korea. Beijing is now hitting back with its own. It has suspended issuing certain visas to people from both countries.
3.Japanese Defense officials say a Maritime Self-Defense Force destroyer that is stranded in western Japan may have struck rocks, noting shallow waters were spotted nearby.