Tokyo, 14 March, /AJMEDIA
U.S. calls on China to rap North Korea over provocative missile tests
WASHINGTON – U.S. special envoy to North Korea Sung Kim has called on China to join the United States in censuring North Korea over its recent missile launches, which were found to have been tests involving a new intercontinental ballistic missile system, the State Department said Sunday.
The phone call with Kim’s Chinese counterpart Liu Xiaoming took place on Thursday, the same day the U.S. government announced its analysis that North Korea had tested the new ICBM system with its two most recent missile launches on Feb. 27 and March 5.
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Ex-U.S. President Obama tests positive for COVID, says “feeling fine”
WASHINGTON – Former U.S. President Barack Obama said Sunday he had tested positive for the novel coronavirus but did not have serious symptoms, apparently because of vaccination.
“I just tested positive for COVID. I’ve had a scratchy throat for a couple days, but am feeling fine otherwise,” the 60-year-old tweeted, adding his wife Michelle Obama had tested negative.
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“Peace” Paralympics close as Ukraine war looms large
BEIJING – The Beijing Paralympics closed Sunday after nine days of sport that focused the world’s attention on the plight of Ukraine’s athletes and their calls for peace in their homeland while putting the planet’s most accomplished disabled winter athletes at center stage.
The closing ceremony at the National Stadium in the Chinese capital marked the end of a Winter Games that featured more than 560 athletes from 46 countries and regions in 78 medal events across six sports.
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Beijing Paralympics fail to escape repercussions of Ukraine war
BEIJING – As the curtain closes on what has been heralded as another successful Paralympics, what has been made evident is that even the world’s premier sporting event for athletes with impairments is not immune from the ripple effects of the Ukraine war.
Even before the Beijing Paralympics officially opened on March 4, tensions were high as the International Paralympic Committee initially decided it would let athletes from Russia and Belarus participate as neutrals, then made a stunning about-face the next day following backlash from other countries.
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Ghibli’s Suzuki honored for work in animation at Annie Awards
LOS ANGELES – Toshio Suzuki, a producer and co-founder of Studio Ghibli, won one of the highest honors for his contributions to the art of animation at the 49th annual Annie Awards on Saturday.
The international animated film society ASIFA-Hollywood presented Suzuki with this year’s Winsor McCay Award alongside animator Ruben A. Aquino and artist Lillian Schwartz for their lifetime achievements.
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Kishida calls for unity at party convention to win upcoming election
TOKYO – Prime Minister Fumio Kishida on Sunday asked ruling party lawmakers to unite as one to clinch a victory in the upcoming House of Councillors election and ensure a stable coalition government as Japan confronts “history-making” challenges such as COVID-19 and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Kishida, who spoke as president of the Liberal Democratic Party at its convention, underscored the importance of its coalition with its junior partner Komeito, dismissing an emerging view that their relationship has become awkward over cooperation in the election, possibly in July.
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Tennis: Osaka crushed, heckled in 2nd-round Indian Wells defeat
INDIAN WELLS, California – Japan’s Naomi Osaka suffered a tearful BNP Paribas Open second-round loss on Saturday after being insulted by someone in the crowd.
The 78th-ranked Osaka, a four-time Grand Slam champion and former world No. 1 who has been open about her struggles with depression, lost 6-0, 6-4 to Russian 21st seed Veronika Kudermetova.
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Japan looking for a youth movement to power future Paralympic teams
TOKYO – With the Beijing Winter Games ending Sunday, Japan will turn its attention to discovering young athletes with disabilities who have the potential to become future Paralympic medalists.
But Japan is grappling with challenges in the talent identification process as it looks to help young athletes with impairments find a path into sport and then onwards to the Paralympic podium.
