February 9, Wednesday, 2022 (1:30 p.m.) Newsline

1.The presidents of France and Ukraine have agreed on the need to implement a ceasefire between Ukrainian forces and pro-Russian militants, as part of efforts to de-escalate tensions in the region. Emmanuel Macron held talks with his counterpart Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Kyiv on Tuesday, after a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow the previous day.
2.Japan’s Prime Minister Kishida Fumio and his Canadian counterpart, Justin Trudeau, have agreed to support Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity amid tensions between the country and Russia. They confirmed that Japan and Canada hare grave concerns over the security of Ukraine and agreed to monitor the situation and cooperate closely on it. Russia has amassed troops near its border with the country.
3.Japanese film “Drive My Car” has made history as the first movie from the country to be nominated for Best Picture at the US Academy Awards. The film directed by Hamaguchi Ryusuke gets four nominations at the 94th awards, whose shortlist was announced on Tuesday. He receives a nod for the best director Oscar, the first Japanese nominated since Kurosawa Akira in 1986.