Tokyo, 13 March, /AJMEDIA
Japan eyeing more sanctions on Russia, Kishida hints
TOKYO – Prime Minister Fumio Kishida indicated Saturday that Japan will consider concrete steps for additional sanctions on Russia in coordination with other Group of Seven members over its aggression in Ukraine.
“Each country is about to work on concrete steps now,” Kishida told reporters in Ishinomaki in Miyagi Prefecture, northeastern Japan. “We would like to take specific actions in partnership with other G-7 members.”
———-
G-7 to take steps to strip Russia of trade benefits as WTO member
WASHINGTON – The United States, Japan and other Group of Seven industrialized nations on Friday agreed to take steps to strip Russia of trade benefits it has enjoyed as a member of the World Trade Organization, ratcheting up pressure on Moscow following its invasion of Ukraine.
Ending benefits such as low tariffs and few trade barriers in unison with other nations that make up half of the global economy will be another “crushing blow to the Russian economy,” U.S. President Joe Biden said at the White House as he announced a fresh set of sanctions the G-7 leaders have agreed on.
———-
Gymnastics: Icon Uchimura retires after one-of-a-kind festive finale
TOKYO – Japanese artistic gymnastics great Kohei Uchimura had his last hurrah on Saturday, the 2012 and 2016 Olympic men’s all-around gold medalist retiring after performing at a packed Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium.
The winner of a staggering 40 straight tournaments in the all-around at home and abroad from 2008 through 2017, Uchimura made one last appearance in a unique event dubbed “Kohei Uchimura the Final,” joined by his Japan teammates.
———-
Speed skating: Olympic heroine Takagi goes unbeaten in Cup 1,500
HEERENVEEN, Netherlands – Japan’s Miho Takagi, who left last month’s Beijing Olympics with one gold medal and three silvers, wrapped up a perfect 4-0 season in women’s World Cup 1,500-meter races on Saturday.
Takagi, the Olympic 1,500 silver medalist, won the women’s race at the International Skate Union’s World Cup Speed Skating Final by more than a second in 1-minute, 53.324 seconds, over the Netherlands’ Antoinette de Jong.
———-
Kyiv citizens carry on as before with war on their doorstep
TOKYO – Many people living in Kyiv are choosing to stay in the city and refusing to yield to Russian threats, though the increased shelling of civilian targets has forced a significant number of residents to flee as Moscow’s troops close in on the capital, says a Ukrainian journalist.
“I am at home, and I can hear explosions frequently,” says freelance journalist Tetiana Druzhenko, 28, in a recent email interview with Kyodo News.
———-
Ex-PM Abe wants attempts to alter status quo in Asia quashed
TOKYO – Former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe urged other countries Saturday to join forces in dismissing attempts to alter the status quo in Asia by force, taking aim at China’s assertive territorial claims in the region.
During a visit to Malaysia, the former Japanese leader said in a speech that Russia’s aggression in Ukraine poses a “serious threat” to the international order.
———-
U.S. sanctions Russian firms after N. Korea found testing ICBM system
WASHINGTON – The U.S. Treasury Department on Friday announced sanctions on three Russian companies and two related individuals for allegedly supporting North Korea’s weapons development program, after Pyongyang was found to have recently tested a new intercontinental ballistic missile system.
“The DPRK continues to launch ballistic missiles in blatant violation of international law, posing a grave threat to global security,” Brian Nelson, undersecretary of the Treasury for terrorism and financial intelligence, said in a press release.
———-
Crisis drives Japan publishers to reprint books on Ukraine, Russia
TOKYO – Japanese publishing companies are increasingly reprinting books as well as giving free online access to manga on Ukraine and Russia amid heightened interest among readers following Moscow’s invasion of the Eastern European country.
But some firms are wary and rather low key in promoting the republished materials out of consideration for the victims, whose numbers continue to grow in the unfolding humanitarian crisis in Ukraine. “I feel guilty about the sales,” a publishing industry official said.
