Kyodo News Digest: September 16, 2021



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The following is the latest list of news summaries selected by Kyodo News.

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North Korea tested “rail-transported missile” on September 15 (KCNA)

BEIJING – North Korea tested an “on-board missile system,” the official Korean Central News Agency reported on Thursday, a day after Japanese officials said the nuclear-weapon nation had launched two ballistic missiles in defiance of UN Security Council resolutions.

The mission was to strike a target area 800 kilometers off the east coast of North Korea, according to the official Korean Central News Agency. Japan said the two missiles traveled about 750 km before falling into the sea within its exclusive economic zone, during North Korea’s first ballistic missile launches since March.

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Ruling party factions in Japan allow free vote in leadership elections

TOKYO – Almost all major factions of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party in Japan plan to allow members to vote for whomever they prefer in the upcoming party leadership elections, as candidates on Wednesday stepped up preparations for the race for choose the successor of Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga.

With six of the LDP’s seven main factions essentially allowing free voting, the September 29 poll will be different from typical elections to choose party leaders, who have won or lost thanks to the support of faction leaders.

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Taliban commitment to women’s rights must be monitored (UN official)

NEW YORK – The Taliban have pledged to respect women’s rights and allow humanitarian access to the Afghan people in written pledges with a UN relief office, but the international community must monitor whether the Islamist group will keep their word, the chief told the office.

In an exclusive interview with Kyodo News on Tuesday, Martin Griffiths, head of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, revealed that the Taliban have agreed to “not interfere with” humanitarian operations, including the recruitment of personnel. female, when they had interviews in early August in Kabul.

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US, UK, Australia Form Security Partnership Amid Rise of China

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The United States on Wednesday announced the launch of a new security partnership with Britain and Australia in an apparent effort to counter China’s assertion in the region, starting with the efforts to help Canberra acquire nuclear-powered submarines.

“Today, we are taking another historic step to deepen and formalize cooperation between our three nations because we all recognize the imperative to ensure long-term peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific,” said Biden said at the White House, joined in virtual format by his counterparts from both countries.

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Biden to host virtual climate meeting with world leaders on September 17

WASHINGTON – US President Joe Biden will convene a virtual meeting of world leaders from major economies and greenhouse gas emitters on Friday to galvanize efforts to tackle the climate crisis, the White House said on Wednesday.

The meeting will follow an online climate summit that Biden hosted in April as part of an attempt to demonstrate U.S. leadership on the issue unlike his predecessor Donald Trump, who pulled the country out of the country. Paris climate agreement.

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Japan records 635.4 billion. Trade deficit of goods in yen in August

TOKYO – Japan had a merchandise trade deficit of 635.4 billion. yen ($ 5.8 billion) in August, according to government data Thursday.

Exports increased 26.2% from the previous year and imports by 44.7%, the finance ministry said in a preliminary report.

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South Korea successfully tests submarine-launched ballistic missile

SEOUL – South Korea successfully tested its submarine-launched ballistic missile underwater on Wednesday, becoming the seventh country in the world to possess such weapons, the presidential office said, but the move quickly sparked a northern reaction.

The submarine launch took place at a local Defense Development Agency test center in the presence of top government officials, including President Moon Jae In, who praised the success following those of the United States, Russia, China, Great Britain, France and India.

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7 Hong Kong pro-democracy district councilors disqualified

HONG KONG – Seven pro-democracy district councilors were removed from their positions in the Hong Kong legislature on Wednesday after the government declared their oath of office invalid, local media reported.

The move comes after an oath-taking ceremony last Friday, in which district councilors were required to pledge allegiance to the government, as well as uphold the Basic Law, the territory’s mini-constitution. Those who had not taken the oath were disqualified.




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