Tokyo, 15 March, /AJMEDIA
U.S. warns China of “consequences” of aiding Russia on Ukraine war
ROME/WASHINGTON – U.S. National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan warned during talks with top Chinese diplomat Yang Jiechi on Monday that Beijing will face “consequences” if it provides Russia with military and other assistance over its invasion of Ukraine, U.S. officials said.
The meeting, which took place in Rome, was “intense” and lasted for seven hours, a senior U.S. official who spoke on condition of anonymity said, adding the U.S. side also touched on such issues as North Korea’s provocative missile tests and Beijing’s pressure on Taiwan.
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Japan ruling party to debate contentious nuclear sharing arrangement
TOKYO – Japan’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party is set to begin internal discussions on nuclear deterrence, taking up the controversial issue of nuclear sharing with the United States, party lawmakers said Monday despite the government’s stance against the option.
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and its threat of using nuclear weapons have prompted calls from conservative members including former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe for Japan to discuss the topic.
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Ukraine, Russia hold 4th round of cease-fire talks
LVIV, Ukraine – Ukraine and Russia have held their fourth round of negotiations for a cease-fire, an adviser to Ukraine’s president said Monday, as Moscow’s invasion of the East European country enters its third week with civilian casualties growing.
The talks paused later Monday and will continue Tuesday, Reuters reported, quoting Mykhailo Podolyak, adviser to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. The pause is for “additional work in the working subgroups and clarification of individual definitions. Negotiations continue,” he was quoted as saying.
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Japan asks crypto exchanges to halt deals subject to Russia sanctions
TOKYO – The Japanese government asked domestic cryptocurrency exchanges on Monday to halt transactions with Russian and Belarusian organizations and individuals sanctioned following Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine.
The request came after seven Russian banks were excluded Saturday from a key international payment network known as SWIFT. Since cryptocurrencies are not transferred via banks and restrictions vary in countries and exchanges, concerns have been growing that such currencies may be a loophole to sidestep some sanctions.
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Japan eyes lifting COVID quasi-emergency next week as infections fall
TOKYO – Japan is considering lifting the COVID-19 quasi-state of emergency for 18 prefectures upon its expiration next week as the number of infections in those areas has been decreasing, a government source said Monday.
Prime Minister Fumio Kishida’s government plans to make a final decision Wednesday on the possible lifting ahead of the emergency’s expiration on March 21, the source said.
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Dollar rises to 118 yen for 1st time since Jan. 2017
LONDON – The U.S. dollar rose against the yen during early European trading on Monday, reaching the 118 yen line for the first time since January 2017.
The U.S. currency was supported by expectations that the U.S. Federal Reserve will decide on an interest rate hike at a two-day meeting through Wednesday, while the Bank of Japan is widely expected to leave its easing policy unchanged at a two-day meeting through Friday.
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Japan’s Bridgestone to halt operations in Russia amid Ukraine crisis
TOKYO – Bridgestone Corp. said Monday it will suspend operations at a factory in Russia later this week while halting exports of tires to the country immediately as the situation remains uncertain following Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine last month.
The major Japanese tire maker said it will suspend production at its passenger car tire plant in Ulyanovsk in western Russia from Friday and freeze all new capital investment.
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34 people face charges over ex-minister’s vote-buying in Hiroshima
TOKYO – Prosecutors indicted Monday a total of 34 individuals, including local assembly members in western Japan’s Hiroshima Prefecture, over vote-buying by former Justice Minister Katsuyuki Kawai for his wife in the 2019 upper house election, reversing their initial decision.
Kawai has been convicted of handing out a total of 28.7 million yen ($244,600) to 100 local assembly members and supporters in his wife Anri’s constituency in Hiroshima in an attempt to buy votes.
