February 16, Friday, 2024

1. The White House official in charge of East Asia says the United States will support Japan’s efforts to hold a summit with North Korea.
2. Japan’s top government spokesperson says Pyongyang’s claim that the issue of abductions of Japanese nationals by North Korean agents is already settled is absolutely unacceptable.
3. The World Bank says 486 billion dollars will be needed over the next decade to fund the reconstruction and recovery of Ukraine. It says damage caused directly by Russia’s invasion nearly two years ago has reached almost 152 billion dollars. Housing, transport, commerce and agriculture are the most affected sectors.