Japan, China leaders to meet

Jakarta, Indonesia Japan said today that its Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi would meet with Chinese President Hu Jintao in an effort to settle an ongoing dispute over its handling of its wartime atrocities.

The meeting would take place along the sidelines of a summit for Asian and African leaders in Jakarta tonight. .

“The prime minister said they will talk about friendship and cooperation, which are the key to prosperity of the region,” said Akira Chiba, a spokesman for Koizumi’s delegation. “We were very eager to meet each other and we are happy that it’s happening.”

There was no immediate response from China.

Relations between the two Asian powers have plunged to a three-decade low, with massive anti-Japanese protests erupting in several Chinese cities in recent weeks over Tokyo’s handling of its wartime atrocities and its bid for a permanent seat on the U.N. Security Council.

At the start of the summit Friday, Koizumi apologized for his country’s World War II aggression in an apparent bid to defuse tensions with China, but Beijing urged Tokyo to back its words with action.

Bush names Pace to chair joint chiefs

Washington On the desk of Gen. Peter Pace is a photograph of the first Marine who died following Pace’s orders: Lance Cpl. Guido Farinaro, killed in combat in Vietnam in 1968 when the general was a lieutenant.

That photo is a sign of his devotion to the troops, President Bush said Friday, naming Pace to serve as the nation’s top military officer, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

“I’ve come to rely on Peter Pace’s wisdom, judgment and sense of humor,” said Bush, noting Pace’s tenure as the vice chairman. “We’ll need his wisdom and determination as we continue to transform our armed forces so we can defeat today’s enemies while preparing ourselves for military challenges we will face as this new century unfolds.”

Since becoming vice chairman on Oct. 1, 2001, Pace has quietly helped shape the Pentagon’s role in the global war on terrorism.

School apologizes for reworded pledge

Wheat Ridge, Colo. A school counselor leading the Pledge of Allegiance over the public address system substituted “one nation under your belief system” for “one nation under God.” The school apologized for the impromptu switch after students and parents complained.

Everitt Middle School counselor Margo Lucero said her change of words was “a spur-of-the-moment choice” meant to be more inclusive on the sixth anniversary of the Columbine High School shootings on Wednesday.

Principal Kathleen Norton, who was out of the building at the time, apologized to students Thursday and planned to send letters of apology to parents. Jefferson County School District Superintendent Cindy Stevenson called the change completely inappropriate.

Stevenson wouldn’t say if Lucero faces any discipline.

Colorado’s Legislature passed a law in 2003 requiring students to recite the pledge but a federal judge said the law was discriminatory. The current law requires schools to offer the opportunity to recite the pledge each day but does not require students to participate.