Tokyo, 25 March, /AJMEDIA
G-7 to tackle Russia sanctions evasion as invasion marks 1 month
BRUSSELS – Leaders of the Group of Seven industrialized nations on Thursday vowed to keep close watch on any attempt to help Russia evade sanctions imposed over its invasion of Ukraine, in a possible warning to countries such as China that may seek to align with Moscow.
The announcement came as leaders from the United States, Japan and Europe gathered in Brussels for a series of summit meetings to affirm their resolve to stand with Ukraine and further pressure Russia to cease the military campaign it started a month ago.
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North Korea launched Hwasong-17 ICBM on March 24.: state-run media
BEIJING – North Korea confirmed it fired a new type of “Hwasong-17” intercontinental ballistic missile under the guidance of leader Kim Jong Un, state-run media reported Friday.
Thursday’s launch came at a time when the United States and its security allies have been occupied with Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and North Korea’s economy has been facing a severe economic downturn amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Figure skating: Shoma Uno leads Japan sweep at worlds’ short program
MONTPELLIER, France – Shoma Uno led the way Thursday as Japanese figure skaters swept the top three men’s short program spots at the world championships.
Uno, the bronze medalist at last month’s Beijing Olympics, flashed a pair of quad jumps before finishing with a stunning triple axel en route to a career-best 109.63 points at the Sud de France Arena, outside Montpellier, France.
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Football: Magical Mitoma seals win over Australia, World Cup berth
SYDNEY – Japan secured a berth at a seventh straight World Cup on Thursday after substitute Kaoru Mitoma struck a pair of late goals to deliver a 2-0 win over Australia in their penultimate Asian qualifying group match in Sydney.
The result means Hajime Moriyasu’s Samurai Blue squad will finish the final Asian qualifying phase no worse than second in Group B, ensuring direct qualification to the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
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Biden, Kishida agree to hold N. Korea “accountable” after ICBM test
BRUSSELS – U.S. President Joe Biden and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida on Thursday condemned North Korea’s apparent intercontinental ballistic missile test and agreed to work together to hold Pyongyang “accountable,” according to the White House.
The two leaders, who briefly talked on the sidelines of the Group of Seven summit meeting in Brussels, also affirmed their continued unity in dealing with Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, with Biden thanking Kishida for Japan’s “robust response,” it said.
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U.N. assembly calls for protection of civilians in war-torn Ukraine
NEW YORK – The U.N. General Assembly on Thursday adopted with overwhelming support a resolution calling for the protection of civilians in war-torn Ukraine and urging Russia to stop its aggression.
A total of 140 countries backed the document on the humanitarian consequences of Russia’s military campaign, with Russia and four other countries voting against it and 38 countries including China and India abstaining. The results followed a classic pattern of voting behavior in key resolutions drafted by Western countries.
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SMBC Nikko deputy president arrested for alleged market manipulation
TOKYO – SMBC Nikko Securities Inc. Deputy President Toshihiro Sato was arrested Thursday in the latest development in the investigation into alleged market manipulation by the major Japanese brokerage.
Sato, 59, who supervises its equity department, is suspected of placing large buy orders for an individual stock on April 8, 2021, to stabilize the price before selling it in violation of the financial instruments and exchange law, prosecutors said.
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Official Tokyo Olympics film to be released in 2 parts: director
TOKYO – The official film of the Tokyo Olympics will be released in two parts — one depicting the games from the eyes of the athletes and the other from staff and volunteers — its award-winning Japanese director Naomi Kawase said Thursday.
“I would be grateful to see future generations use this film as a textbook, including to study whether our choices were right or wrong,” Kawase said during a press conference in Tokyo.
