Tokyo, 28 February, /AJMEDIA/
G-7 vows to cooperate on sanctions on Russia, support for Ukraine
TOKYO – The foreign ministers from the Group of Seven major developed nations pledged Sunday to work together on further sanctions against Russia and support for Ukraine in response to Moscow’s invasion of the Eastern European country, the Japanese government said.
Strongly condemning Russia’s aggression, the G-7 foreign policy chiefs also underlined their backing for Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity during their two-hour online meeting, according to the Japanese Foreign Ministry.
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N. Korea says it conducted test for reconnaissance satellite on Sun.
BEIJING – North Korea carried out a test for developing a reconnaissance satellite system on Sunday, state-run media reported Monday following what its neighboring countries described as a ballistic missile launch toward the Sea of Japan.
The latest test of what appears to be military equipment suggests that North Korea plans to take advantage of the United States’ focus on Russia’s invasion of Ukraine to develop its weapons capability, some foreign affairs experts said.
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Japan to join U.S., EU in cutting Russian banks off int’l system
TOKYO – Japan will join efforts by the United States and the European Union in blocking access by some Russian banks to the international payment system SWIFT, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said Sunday, as Russia continued with its military attack on Ukraine.
On top of the sanctions already announced on Russia, Japan will freeze assets held by Russian President Vladimir Putin and other Russian government officials, Kishida said.
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Japan considering extending COVID quasi-emergency in Tokyo, 9 prefs.
TOKYO – Japan is considering extending the COVID-19 quasi-state of emergency once again for Tokyo and nine prefectures beyond the scheduled end date of March 6, government sources said Sunday.
With more than half of hospital beds for COVID-19 patients continuing to be filled in those areas, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida will ask prefectural governors about local pandemic situations and consult with health experts before making a decision on the extension by about two weeks, they said.
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Ex-PM Abe says Japan should discuss nuclear sharing arrangement
TOKYO – Former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said Sunday that Japan should start discussing whether to seek a nuclear sharing arrangement similar to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization’s nuclear deterrence policy.
“It is necessary to understand how the world’s security is maintained. We should not put a taboo on discussions about the reality we face,” he said on a television program about Japan’s security environment in the face of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
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Rakuten CEO Mikitani to donate 1 bil. yen to Ukraine
TOKYO – Hiroshi Mikitani, chairman and CEO of Japanese e-commerce giant Rakuten Group Inc., said Sunday he will donate 1 billion yen ($8.7 million) to the Ukrainian government for humanitarian assistance following Russia’s invasion of the country.
“I am deeply saddened by the news,” Mikitani said in an English letter to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy posted on Twitter, referring to Russia’s launch of a military attack Thursday. “My thoughts are with you and Ukraine people.”
