News Headlines - 07 March 2019
▽Key index shows Japan economy may already be in recessionary phase - The Mainichi
The government on Thursday downgraded its assessment of a key indicator of economic trends, suggesting Japan may have already entered a recessionary phase rather than marking its longest growth streak since the end of World War II, as previously believed.
The Cabinet Office's coincident index of business conditions for January was down 2.7 points from the previous month at 97.9 against the 2015 base of 100. It was the index's third consecutive monthly decline, prompting the office to say that it was "signaling a possible turning point." Prior to that, it had said conditions were "weakening."
Toyota is teaming up with the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency on a planned mission to the moon, with the auto giant expected to develop a lunar rover, officials and local media said Wednesday... Details will be announced by JAXA and Toyota on Tuesday next week when the space agency hosts a symposium in Tokyo, the spokesman said.
▽China reveals case against two Canadians detained in wake of Huawei arrest - CNN
The case against the two Canadians detained in the wake of the controversial arrest of a Huawei executive was revealed by China's Central Political and Legal Affairs Commission on Monday.
In a statement, former diplomat Michael Kovrig was accused of spying by the Chinese government, including gathering and stealing "sensitive information and other intelligence" since 2017.
Businessman Michael Spavor is accused of providing intelligence to Kovrig, and is described as an "important contact" for the former diplomat.
▽Brian K. Vaughan To Pen ‘Gundam’ Live-Action Adaptation For Legendary | Deadline
Famed comic book creator and New York Times bestselling author Brian K. Vaughan has signed on to write the screenplay for Gundam, the first live-action film based on the popular mecha anime and science fiction media franchise created by Sunrise. The project hails from Legendary Entertainment, in a co-production with Sunrise. Vaughan, best known for creating comic book series like Y: The Last Man, Ex Machina and Runaways, will also serve as an executive producer on the pic.
Marcus Rashford's stoppage-time penalty secured injury-hit Manchester United an extraordinary victory against the odds at Paris St-Germain as Ole Gunnar Solskjaer steered his side into the Champions League quarter-finals.
Just 22 days after suffering his only defeat as caretaker manager in the first leg, United arrived in France looking to become the first side in the competition's history to progress after suffering a first-leg home loss by two goals.
The odds were stacked against them - but United turned the improbable into reality in an extraordinary Parc des Princes clash, securing a 3-1 victory and progress on away goals.
