Tokyo, 22 December, /AJMEDIA/
Ukraine’s Zelenskyy visits U.S., 1st foreign trip since invasion
WASHINGTON – Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy visited the United States on Wednesday in his first known overseas trip since Russia invaded his country, securing continued backing from President Joe Biden for the effort to repel Moscow, including a promise to supply a key U.S. missile defense system.
Marking the 300th day since the start of the attack in February, the Biden administration invited the Ukrainian leader to the White House and announced $1.85 billion in new security assistance that included the much-wanted Patriot air defense system.
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U.N. urges Myanmar to free Suu Kyi in 1st resolution since coup
NEW YORK – The U.N. Security Council on Wednesday urged Myanmar’s junta to release the country’s former leader Aung San Suu Kyi in the first resolution adopted over the situation in the Southeast Asian country since a coup occurred there in February last year.
The resolution expressed “deep concern at the ongoing state of emergency imposed by the military in Myanmar.” It was adopted with the backing of 12 of the 15 members, with Russia, China and India abstaining from the vote.
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Japan’s QAnon members convicted of trespassing COVID vaccination sites
TOKYO – A Tokyo court on Thursday found guilty five members of a group claiming to be the Japanese arm of U.S. conspiracy cult QAnon for forcing their way into local coronavirus vaccination sites earlier this year.
The Tokyo District Court sentenced Hiroyuki Kuraoka, 44, a member of YamatoQ, a group that strongly opposes COVID-19 vaccinations to 18 months in prison suspended for three years. Two were given one-year sentences and the other two were sentenced to 10 months, all with three-year suspensions.
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Football: Kyogo Furuhashi nets winner to keep Celtic 9 points clear
LONDON – Kyogo Furuhashi hit the winner as Celtic beat Livingston 2-1 at home on Wednesday to stay nine points clear at the top of the Scottish Premiership.
Celtic led through a 23rd-minute own goal and Furuhashi, who was not included in Japan’s World Cup squad in Qatar, doubled the lead in the 45th minute when he diverted home Liel Abada’s low right-wing cross from point-blank range.
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Judo: Japan’s Miku Takaichi wins women’s 63-kg title at World Masters
TOKYO – Japan’s Miku Takaichi claimed the women’s 63-kilogram division at the judo World Masters in Jerusalem on Wednesday, downing Laura Fazliu of Kosovo by ippon in the final.
Takaichi displayed fine foot-throwing and groundwork techniques throughout her five bouts and wrapped up the title with a big outer reap late on in the final.
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Japan planning visit by G-7 leaders to Hiroshima atomic bomb museum
TOKYO – Japan has started to arrange a visit by the leaders of the Group of Seven to the atomic bomb museum in Hiroshima in May 2023, government sources said Wednesday.
If realized, it would be the first time the G-7 leaders have visited the museum together, the sources said. Japan is scheduled to host the G-7 summit for three days through May 21 next year in the western city of Hiroshima, which was destroyed by a U.S. atomic bomb in August 1945.
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Japan ruling party lawmaker quits over funds underreporting scandal
TOKYO – Liberal Democratic Party lawmaker Kentaro Sonoura resigned on Wednesday after being accused of underreporting political funds, delivering a fresh blow to Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida ahead of a string of local elections next spring.
Sonoura voluntarily submitted to questioning by prosecutors after being suspected of underreporting some 40 million yen ($303,000) collected through fundraising parties, sources close to the matter said.
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Chinese fighters repeatedly take off, land on carrier near Okinawa
TOKYO – Japan said Wednesday it has seen Chinese fighter jets repeatedly taking off from and landing on an aircraft carrier near Okinawa islands earlier this month, as Tokyo has been wary of Beijing’s intensifying military activities in nearby waters.
The fighter jet activity involving the Chinese aircraft carrier Liaoning was witnessed about 60 times, while helicopters were seen executing the same maneuvers around 70 times over four days through Tuesday on the Pacific east and south of the southern island prefecture’s Okidaito and Kitadaito islands, according to the Defense Ministry.
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China’s Xi urges Russia to exercise restraint over Ukraine
BEIJING – Chinese President Xi Jinping on Wednesday told former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev that relevant parties to the Ukraine crisis should remain rational and exercise restraint, engage in comprehensive dialogue and address common security concerns through political means, state-run media said.
China “upholds objectivity and fairness” and actively promotes peace talks, Xi told Medvedev, currently deputy chairman of Russia’s Security Council, during their meeting in Beijing, according to the official Xinhua News Agency.
