New Zealand MMP Electoral System Faces Fresh Referendum Debate 
Trump Administration Plans $1 Billion Security Aid Package for Colombia 
Senate Majority Leader John Thune Moves to Advance Crypto Clarity Act 
Russian Strikes on Ukraine Kill Six, Wound Dozens in Balakliia and Sumy 
US Expects Iran-Oman Hormuz Shipping Deal Soon 
Joe Biden’s Prostate Cancer Has Spread Further, Hunter Biden Says 
Abdul El-Sayed Wins Michigan Democratic Senate Primary, Sets Up Key Midterm Showdown 
Taiwan President Lai Oversees Coastal Strike Drills in Han Kuang War Games 
US-Backed Venezuela Government, Opposition Talks Begin 
Canada, US Hold Constructive Trade Talks as Tariff Negotiations Continue 
US Continues Ukraine Patriot Missile Production Talks Despite Trump Doubts 
ICE to Complete Nationwide Body Camera Rollout by End of August 
Rubio, UK’s Miliband Stress Stronger European Security Role in Washington Talks 
SEC Moves to Dismiss Insider Trading Case Against Trump-Pardoned Terren Peizer 
Colombia President Abelardo De La Espriella Pledges Drug Crackdown, Economic Reforms 
Trump Faces Tough Choices as Iran War Drags On 
Tokyo has filed a protest with Russia over its military drills near the disputed islands. The military drills were taking place close to the disputed islands near Japan’s Hokkaido.
Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno said on Monday Tokyo filed a protest against Russia over the military drills its forces were carrying out near contested islands close to Japan’s Hokkaido region. Matsuno added that Moscow had informed Japan that would be carrying out missile exercises around the contested islands from April 18 to April 22.
Japan and Russia are in a dispute over islands in the North Pacific that date back to World War II. As part of the G7 countries, Japan has also adopted the West’s sanctions on Russia.
Moscow has since dismissed Japan’s criticism of the drills being conducted by the Russian Pacific Fleet. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said the drills were necessary for its fleet to be prepared for every possible threat while focusing on Ukraine. Peskov added that the naval drills were being done while adhering to international law.
Last month, two Russian strategic bomber planes were flying over the Sea of Japan for over seven hours. The transit by the Russian aircraft coincided with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida’s visit to Ukraine. The latest naval drills by Moscow coincided with a visit by Chinese defense minister Li Shangfu to Russia after having met with Russian leader Vladimir Putin on Sunday.
Meanwhile, the finance ministers of Japan and South Korea are set to have a bilateral meeting early in May, the first of such a meeting in seven years, as the two countries aim for closer cooperation on economic policy. South Korean finance minister Choo Kyung-ho told reporters during a visit to the United States that he has agreed to meet with his Japanese counterpart Shunichi Suzuki.
Choo said their bilateral meeting would take place on the sidelines of the Asian Development Bank annual meetings on May 2-5 in Incheon, South Korea. Their summit follows that of the meeting between Kishida and South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol last month, with both leaders agreeing to work together on shared regional security challenges.
