Xinhua Asia-Pacific news summary at 1600 GMT, Aug. 15-Xinhua

Xinhua Asia-Pacific news summary at 1600 GMT, Aug. 15

Source: Xinhua

Editor: huaxia

2025-08-16 00:01:00

TOKYO -- Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba on Friday expressed "remorse" in his speech at the annual memorial ceremony for the war dead, as the country marked the 80th anniversary of its unconditional surrender in World War II, but the "remorse" was not on Japan's responsibility for aggression against Asian countries.

Speaking at the memorial in Tokyo, Ishiba said that Japan will never again take the path to war and stressed the need to pass down "painful" memories of the war to future generations as survivors continue to age, adding that "the remorse and lessons from that war should once again be engraved deeply in our hearts." (Japan-WW2)

- - - -

NEW DELHI -- India celebrated its 79th Independence Day on Friday, the highlight of which was a customary speech by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Modi referred to several issues, including safety and security of the country, welfare of farmers, tax reforms benefiting the public at large, indigenous semiconductor production, and a monetary incentive to first-time private-sector job seekers. (India-Independence Day)

- - - -

SEOUL -- South Korean President Lee Jae-myung on Friday vowed to take consistent measures to reduce tensions and restore trust with the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK).

"Our government will take consistent measures to substantially reduce tensions and restore trust (with the DPRK)," Lee said in his speech to mark the 80th anniversary of the Korean Peninsula's liberation from the 1910-45 Japanese colonial rule. (South Korea-DPRK-Relations)

- - - -

ISLAMABAD -- At least 194 people were killed and 28 others injured in rain-related accidents across Pakistan in the past 24 hours, the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) said Friday.

The northwest Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province was the worst hit, reporting 180 deaths, followed by Pakistan-controlled Kashmir with nine fatalities and the northern Gilgit-Baltistan region with five, according to the NDMA. (Pakistan-Rain-Death)