Tokyo, 15 February, /AJMEDIA/
Japan’s Oct.-Dec. GDP grew annualized real 5.4%
TOKYO – Japan’s economy in the October-December period of 2021 grew a real 1.3 percent from the previous quarter, or by an annualized 5.4 percent, government data showed Tuesday.
It was the first increase in two quarters in real gross domestic product, or the total value of goods and services produced in the country adjusted for inflation, according to the preliminary data released by the Cabinet Office.
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U.S. to shut embassy in Kyiv amid fears of Russia invasion of Ukraine
WASHINGTON – The United States said Monday it is moving its embassy operations in Kyiv to a western city in Ukraine amid fears of a possibly imminent Russian invasion of the country.
As tensions soar over the continuing Russian military buildup on Ukraine’s border, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the same day that he will declare Wednesday a “Day of Unity” because “we are told that Feb. 16 will be the day of the attack.”
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G-7 warns Russia of economic sanctions if it invades Ukraine
TOKYO – The finance ministers from the Group of Seven industrialized nations on Monday warned Russia of economic sanctions that would have “massive and immediate” consequences if it invades Ukraine.
The ministers said in a statement that Russia’s military buildup at Ukraine’s borders is “a cause for grave concern” and the seven countries — Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and the United States — are “united in our resolve to protect the sovereignty, territorial integrity as well as economic and financial stability of Ukraine.”
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Japan’s COVID patients recovering at home top 500,000 for 1st time
TOKYO – The number of people in Japan recovering at home from the coronavirus has topped 500,000 for the first time as the recent surge in infections driven by the highly transmissible Omicron variant continued to put strain on the health care system across the country.
Authorities have been requesting those with milder symptoms to recover at home as concerns grow that hospitals will run out of beds for COVID-19 patients at a time when Japan’s booster shot program is still in the earlier stages.
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China has no plans to order embassy staff in Ukraine to evacuate
BEIJING – China indicated Monday that it has no plans to order its embassy staff and citizens in Ukraine to evacuate, despite growing tensions over a possible Russian invasion following Moscow’s military buildup near the border.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin said its embassy in Kiev has been operating “as normal” while urging the United States and its allies not to “hype the crisis.”
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Olympics: “Grateful” Hanyu leaves open chance of another games run
BEIJING – Four days after relinquishing his men’s figure skating crown at the Beijing Winter Games, two-time gold medalist Yuzuru Hanyu said Monday he was undecided about whether he would make another tilt at the Olympics.
Speaking at a packed press conference televised live in Japan, the 2014 and 2018 Olympic champion said his experience in Beijing had reminded him there was no other competition like the games, but he was still considering his next move.
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Bodies of 2 pilots of crashed F-15 found in Sea of Japan
TOKYO – The Japan Air Self-Defense Force said it has found the bodies of two pilots who were aboard an F-15 fighter that crashed into the Sea of Japan in late January.
The first body was discovered last Friday and the other one on Sunday in waters near the crash site about 5 kilometers west-northwest of the Komatsu Air Base in Ishikawa Prefecture, central Japan, according to the ASDF.
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Japan gov’t panel proposes to scrap 100-day remarriage ban for women
TOKYO – A Japanese government panel on Monday recommended abolishing the current 100-day remarriage ban for women after a divorce, in line with scrapping a century-old Civil Code provision that determines legal paternity.
Under existing law, only women face a 100-day waiting time to remarry after divorce. Critics have been seeking a review of what they say are outdated and discriminatory rules on remarriage and legal paternity.
