May 1, Wednesday, 2024

1. Former US President Donald Trump has been fined for repeatedly violating a gag order in relation to his hush money criminal trial. He also received a warning that he could be jailed if he does it again. Trump has been charged by New York prosecutors with falsifying business records. This was in relation to hush money paid to an adult film star during his 2016 presidential election campaign.
2. Relatives of Japanese nationals abducted by North Korea have asked senior US government officials for support to bring all the remaining abductees back. This should be done as early as possible, since not much time is left for their aged parents, the relatives added. The group included Yokota Takuya, whose sister Megumi was abducted in 1977 at the age of 13, and Iizuka Koichiro, whose mother Taguchi Yaeko was abducted when he was one year old. 3. Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has expressed his willingness to strengthen ties with Japan in the global transition to renewable energy. Lula spoke to NHK and other Japanese media outlets in the capital Brasilia on Tuesday, ahead of a summit with Japan’s Prime Minister Kishida Fumio later this week.