Tokyo, 7 April, /AJMEDIA
U.S. announces ban on new investment in Russia, in alignment with G-7
WASHINGTON – The U.S. administration of President Joe Biden on Wednesday announced a fresh round of punitive steps against Russia over its continuing invasion of Ukraine, featuring a ban on new investment as well as sanctions on Russian President Vladimir Putin’s daughters.
The move will be taken in coordination with the Group of Seven industrialized nations whose members include Japan and Britain, a senior administration official said, as he slammed Moscow over the killings of civilians in the Ukrainian town of Bucha that have recently come to light following Russia’s troop withdrawal from the area.
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North Korea nuke test possible in connection with April 15 anniv.: U.S.
WASHINGTON – North Korea may conduct a nuclear test in connection with a key anniversary on April 15 to mark the birthday of the country’s late founder, U.S. special envoy to North Korea Sung Kim said Wednesday.
“I think it could be another missile launch, it could be a nuclear test,” Kim said in a phone briefing, while noting that he did not want to speculate too much over which provocative action to expect from Pyongyang.
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IMF cuts Japan’s 2022 growth outlook to 2.4%, warns of risks from war
WASHINGTON – The International Monetary Fund slashed Japan’s economic growth forecast for 2022 to 2.4 percent from its earlier estimate of 3.3 percent in a report released Wednesday, citing elevated uncertainty stemming from Russia’s war in Ukraine.
“Escalation of the Ukraine conflict poses significant downside risks to the Japanese economy through commodity prices, financial and trade spillovers, supply-chain disruptions” and other factors, the IMF said.
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Japan gives up plan for Biden’s visit in April: sources
TOKYO – The government has given up on its plan to have U.S. President Joe Biden visit Japan this month due to the crisis in Ukraine and is now aiming to realize it in late May, diplomatic sources said Wednesday.
Prime Minister Fumio Kishida proposed a visit in late April, which would have been Biden’s first trip to the country as president, when they held a brief conversation last month in Belgium where they attended a Group of Seven summit and an emergency meeting of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization.
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China’s new infection cases top 20,000 despite “zero COVID” policy
BEIJING – The number of new infection cases with the novel coronavirus in China hit a record high, exceeding 20,000, the health authorities said Wednesday, casting doubt on the effectiveness of the country’s radical “zero COVID” policy.
Across the mainland, 20,472 people, including asymptomatic ones, were confirmed to be infected with the virus on Tuesday, the highest in two years, according to the Chinese government.
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Over 70 Russian soldiers exposed to radiation at Chernobyl: Ukraine
WARSAW – About 75 Russian soldiers are receiving medical treatment in Belarus after being exposed to radiation during their temporary control of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant in Ukraine, according to Ukraine’s Energy Minister German Galushchenko.
Galushchenko said in an online interview Tuesday that the troops apparently suffered from radiation after digging around the grounds of the plant, the site of a 1986 disaster, to defend themselves from the Ukrainian military.
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Hong Kong’s No. 2 Lee resigns, announces bid for leadership election
HONG KONG – Hong Kong government’s No. 2, Chief Secretary for Administration John Lee, tendered his resignation Wednesday and announced his intention to run in the city’s leadership election slated for May 8.
Lee, who had directed the police response to large-scale protests during the 2019 anti-government movement as the top security official, told reporters that he would stand for the chief executive election once Beijing approves his resignation.
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“Developing Asia” to grow 5.2% in 2022 but Ukraine war looms, ADB says
MANILA – The Asian Development Bank said Wednesday that developing and newly industrialized Asian economies will grow 5.2 percent in 2022 as they continue to recover from the coronavirus pandemic, but warned of fallout from Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
In its Asian Development Outlook 2022 report, the Manila-based multilateral bank said growth in “developing Asia” — a grouping of 45 economies excluding Japan, Australia and New Zealand — is expected to remain strong and reach 5.3 percent in 2023, supported by a robust recovery in domestic demand and solid exports.
