Tokyo, 27 April, /AJMEDIA
U.N. chief calls for humanitarian steps amid war in Ukraine
TOKYO – U.N. Secretary General Antonio Guterres on Tuesday called on Russia to address the humanitarian crisis in Ukraine amid the ongoing war in the East European country.
In a meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in Moscow, the U.N. chief proposed the launch of a Humanitarian Contact Group to ensure safe evacuation of civilians in war-affected areas.
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Chinese navy ship enters Japan waters near Kagoshima Pref. islands
TOKYO – A Chinese navy vessel has been spotted in Japan’s territorial waters near islands of the southwestern prefecture of Kagoshima, the Defense Ministry said Wednesday.
A survey ship entered Japanese waters from west of Kuchinoerabu Island at around 11 p.m. Tuesday and sailed out of the territorial waters south of Yakushima Island at around 2:10 a.m. Wednesday, the ministry said.
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U.N. adopts resolution seeking Security Council veto accountability
NEW YORK – The U.N. General Assembly on Tuesday adopted a resolution to seek accountability from veto-wielding members in the U.N. Security Council after Russia exercised the right to block a motion against its invasion of Ukraine.
According to Liechtenstein, which initiated the resolution, over 80 countries signed on as co-sponsors including three of the five permanent members of the Security Council — Britain, France and the United States — as well as Japan and Germany.
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U.S. VP Harris tests positive for COVID, no close contact with Biden
WASHINGTON – U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris on Tuesday tested positive for the novel coronavirus, but has exhibited no symptoms and has not been in close contact with President Joe Biden, the White House said.
The 57-year-old has become the highest-level U.S. government official to test positive for COVID-19 since Donald Trump contracted the virus when he was president in 2020.
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Object ruled out as sunken Hokkaido boat after diver checks
SAPPORO – Sonar readings have detected multiple objects on Tuesday in the search for the tour boat that disappeared off Hokkaido, with one near the scene already ruled out after diving investigations were curtailed by bad weather, the coast guard said.
As part of search operations for the 19-ton Kazu I that went missing on Saturday with 26 people aboard, a sonar reading from a depth of around 30 meters taken near where the boat issued its first rescue call showed an object.
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4 killed in suicide attack in Karachi, Pakistan
ISLAMABAD – At least four people, including three Chinese nationals, were killed on Tuesday in a suicide bomb attack at a university in the southern port city of Karachi in Pakistan.
The Baloch Liberation Army, an armed separatist group, claimed responsibility for the attack on the premises of the University of Karachi. The blast killed three Chinese teachers in a van as well as their driver and injured two others, according to the police.
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Human bones found near Japan campsite where girl disappeared in 2019
KOFU, Japan – Part of a human skull has been found near a mountainside campsite in Yamanashi Prefecture, west of Tokyo, where a 9-year-old girl went missing over two and a half years ago, investigative sources said Tuesday.
Police are working to determine if the remains belong to Misaki Ogura, from Narita, Chiba Prefecture, who disappeared shortly after arriving at the campsite in the village of Doshi with her family in September 2019.
