Tokyo, 8 April, /AJMEDIA
Russia ousted from U.N. Human Rights Council over acts in Ukraine
NEW YORK – The United Nations on Thursday suspended Russia from the Human Rights Council amid international condemnation over the brutal killings of civilians in Ukraine by Russian soldiers, making Moscow the first among permanent members of the Security Council to be excluded from the panel.
During a special session of the General Assembly, a resolution demanding the suspension of Russia’s membership in the council was approved by majority vote.
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Japan to release 15 mil. barrels of oil reserves in IEA efforts
TOKYO – Japan will release an additional 15 million barrels of oil reserves in a coordinated effort by members of the International Energy Agency to stabilize the market amid Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the government said Thursday.
The release, tapping both private and state reserves, will be one of the largest by the country. The IEA, consisting of 31 members, is moving ahead with a collective oil stock release of 120 million barrels, led by the United States.
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Japan to take more sanctions against Russia over “war crimes”: PM
TOKYO – Japan plans to take additional sanctions against Russia over its “war crimes” following reports of civilians killed in Ukraine, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said Thursday, as Moscow faces renewed condemnation from global leaders.
The government is in consultation with other members of the Group of Seven advanced nations, and the specifics of new punitive steps will be announced possibly Friday, Kishida told reporters, hours after the United States slapped a new set of sanctions on Russia.
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G-7 condemns Russian “atrocities” in Ukraine, vows to up pressure
BRUSSELS – Foreign ministers from the Group of Seven industrialized countries on Thursday strongly condemned Russia for “atrocities” in Ukraine following reports that hundreds of civilian bodies have been found in the suburbs of the capital Kyiv.
In a statement issued after their meeting in Brussels, the top officials from Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and the United States, plus the European Union, agreed to “sustain and increase pressure on Russia by imposing coordinated additional restrictive measures” unless Moscow stops the invasion of its neighbor.
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U.S. House speaker postpones Asia trip after positive COVID test
TAIPEI/WASHINGTON – U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi will postpone her planned trip to Asia as she has tested positive for the novel coronavirus, her spokesman said Thursday.
Pelosi was expected to visit Tokyo later this week to meet Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida as part of efforts by the United States and Japan to affirm close cooperation amid Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Taiwan media said Pelosi was also planning to visit the self-ruled island from Sunday, in what would have been the first trip to Taiwan by a House speaker in 25 years.
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U.S. Senate confirms first black woman to serve on Supreme Court
WASHINGTON – Federal appellate judge Ketanji Brown Jackson’s nomination to the Supreme Court was confirmed Thursday, setting her up to become the first black woman justice on the top court in U.S. history.
The 51-year-old judge was selected by President Joe Biden, who has fulfilled one of his election campaign promises to pick a black woman as a Supreme Court justice. The post is a lifetime appointment.
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Yellen says central bank digital currency development takes years
WASHINGTON – A central bank digital currency would take years to develop if the United States decided to issue one, Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said Thursday, noting that she feels “urgency” in the need to push ahead with study on the issue.
Her remarks came as President Joe Biden signed an executive order last month that calls for a government study on the possibility of issuing such a currency, known as a CBDC, through an assessment of the risks and benefits of doing so.
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Pakistan PM to face no-confidence vote on Sat.
ISLAMABAD – Pakistan’s Supreme Court ordered voting on a no-confidence motion against Prime Minister Imran Khan to take place on Saturday, dismissing a move to dissolve the lower house of parliament.
With the top court’s decision, Khan’s removal from office now appears certain as more than 20 of his party’s legislators have defected to join opposition camps and all of his major allied parties have also ditched him.
