Tokyo, 16 November, /AJMEDIA/
G-20 at odds over war in Ukraine at 1st summit since Russia invasion
NUSA DUA, Indonesia – Leaders of the Group of 20 economies were at loggerheads Tuesday over Russia’s invasion of Ukraine on the opening day of their first summit since the war was launched in February, though most member states were eager to denounce Moscow in a statement.
Russian President Vladimir Putin skipped the meeting on the resort island of Bali, while the U.S. and Chinese leaders participated in the same face-to-face international gathering for the first time since President Joe Biden took office in January 2021.
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Japan’s daily COVID-19 cases top 100,000 for 1st time in 2 months
TOKYO – Japan’s daily COVID-19 cases topped 100,000 on Tuesday for the first time in two months after the government scrapped coronavirus border controls and implemented a domestic travel subsidy program in a bid to spur inbound and local tourism last month.
With the country bracing for its eighth wave of infections, Tuesday’s number of 105,184 topped the 100,000 mark for the first time since Sept. 14, when daily cases totaled 100,260.
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U.S., Japan, others to help Indonesia with $20 bil. climate financing
NUSA DUA – The United States, Japan and other countries on Tuesday announced a long-term energy transition partnership with Indonesia that aims to mobilize $20 billion in public and private financing to help the Southeast Asian country achieve its climate targets.
Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida welcomed the launch of the partnership, saying that his government hopes to help accelerate Indonesia’s “realistic but ambitious transition from coal to renewable alternatives” with further private-sector engagement.
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S. Korea expects China’s more active, constructive role on N. Korea
NUSA DUA, Indonesia – South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol told Chinese President Xi Jinping on Tuesday that he expects “more active and constructive” actions from China in addressing threats posed by North Korea.
In their first in-person talks held in Indonesia’s Bali, Xi said Beijing will actively support and cooperate if Pyongyang responds to what Seoul calls its “audacious” aid-for-development initiative, according to the South Korean presidential office.
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China, France seek respect for Ukraine’s territorial integrity
NUSA DUA, Indonesia – French President Emmanuel Macron tweeted Tuesday that he and Chinese leader Xi Jinping called for respecting Ukrainian territorial integrity and sovereignty and stopping escalation of the war in Ukraine as they met in Indonesia’s Bali.
In their first face-to-face meeting since the start of the COVID-19 outbreak, Xi said China “stands for cease-fire, cessation of the conflict and peace talks” and that the international community should create conditions for this to happen, according to the Chinese Foreign Ministry.
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Japan to send 1st moon lander, world’s smallest, to space on Nov. 16
TOKYO – The world’s smallest moon lander OMOTENASHI will be launched Wednesday afternoon by a U.S. rocket, Japan’s space agency said Tuesday, as it aims to successfully soft-land a craft on the lunar surface for the first time.
The CubeSat will travel to deep space with EQUULEUS, a Japanese nanosatellite heading to the Moon’s far side, on board the U.S.-led Artemis I mission, according to the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency.
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Tennis star Djokovic to be granted visa for Australian Open
SYDNEY – Tennis star Novak Djokovic is set to be granted a visa to compete in next year’s Australian Open, local media reported Tuesday.
Immigration Minister Andrew Giles has overturned the Serbian player’s three-year ban over his COVID-19 vaccination status and is set to grant him a visa to compete in the tournament next January, according to the Australian Broadcasting Corp.
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Japan’s Princess Nobuko diagnosed with early-stage breast cancer
TOKYO – Princess Nobuko, widow of Prince Tomohito of Mikasa, has been diagnosed with early-stage breast cancer and is scheduled to undergo surgery this weekend, the Imperial Household Agency said Tuesday.
The 67-year-old princess will be admitted to Keio University Hospital in Tokyo on Wednesday, with the operation to be performed on Saturday, according to the agency.