Tokyo, 04 March, /AJMEDIA/
Japan, Australia to tie up on hydrogen supply for zero emissions Asia
TOKYO – Japan on Saturday announced the launch of a hydrogen supply chain with Australia, as the two countries and Southeast Asian nations gathered for their first ministerial meeting on the reduction of carbon emissions in the fast-growing region.
In a video message for the meeting on the Asia Zero Emission Community framework, an initiative proposed by Japan, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said hydrogen could be a useful source of energy, especially in a region prone to natural disasters.
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Japan PM Kishida mulls India visit in March holding G-7 presidency
TOKYO – Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida is arranging to visit India later this month for talks with his counterpart Narendra Modi, a government source said Friday, as Tokyo holds the presidency of the Group of Seven nations this year.
Kishida’s trip to India, currently chair of the Group of 20 economies for 2023, would come weeks after his government did not send Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi to a meeting of the G-20 top diplomats, held for two days through Thursday in New Delhi.
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FOCUS: BOJ chief nominee sticking to familiar playbook, at least for now
TOKYO – Bank of Japan governor nominee Kazuo Ueda is signaling that financial markets should not expect big surprises or magical solutions, as he braces for the monumental challenges facing the central bank.
His carefully worded statements on monetary policy in his recent confirmation hearings in parliament suggest he will prioritize communication with financial markets and make his thinking behind policy decisions clear.
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Fire at Indonesia state oil firm depot leaves 16 dead, 50 injured
JAKARTA – At least 16 people, including two children, were killed and 50 others suffered burn injuries after a fire broke out at a depot of Indonesian state-run oil company PT Pertamina on Friday evening, causing some explosions, officials said.
In a press statement, Eko Kristiawan, an area manager for the company, said the fire at its depot in the densely-populated Plumpang area in North Jakarta occurred at 8:20 p.m.
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U.S. unveils additional $400 mil. in military aid to Ukraine
WASHINGTON – The United States said Friday it will provide additional military aid worth $400 million to Ukraine to help it defend its territorial integrity.
The new package, the 33rd drawdown of U.S. arms and equipment for Ukraine since August 2021, includes more ammunition for multiple-launch High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems, or HIMARS, and armored vehicles that can launch bridges, according to Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who authorized the provision.
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“Barefoot Gen” manga removal from Hiroshima program sparks backlash
HIROSHIMA – The education board of Hiroshima has decided to withdraw the famous “Hadashi no Gen” (Barefoot Gen) comic depicting the atomic bombing of the western Japan city from its peace curriculum for public schools, sparking a backlash from survivors groups and others.
The manga, which centers on the life of elementary schooler Gen, is based in part on the experiences of its late creator Keiji Nakazawa, who was exposed to the 1945 U.S. atomic bombing of Hiroshima at age 6.
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Baseball: Ohtani joins Japan as excitement builds ahead of WBC
NAGOYA – Fans flocked to see Shohei Ohtani on Friday when he joined up with Samurai Japan as the team enters the final days of its preparations ahead of the World Baseball Classic.
Having arrived in Japan on Wednesday, Ohtani joined the national team at Vantelin Dome Nagoya for practice before two warm-up games against the Chunichi Dragons through Saturday. WBC rules prohibit MLB players from playing in games prior to official pre-tournament exhibitions, which begin in Japan on Monday.
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Speed skating: Morishige 3rd as Stolz becomes youngest world champion
HEERENVEEN, Netherlands – Japan’s Wataru Morishige collected bronze Friday as 18-year-old American Jordan Stolz became speed skating’s youngest-ever world champion with victory in the men’s 500 meters.
Stolz clocked 34.10 seconds to upset the favorite, Canada’s all-around World Cup champion Laurent Dubreuil, by 0.36 at the Thialf speed skating arena in Heerenveen.
