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The following is the latest list of selected news summaries by Kyodo News.
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U.S. finalizing exempting part of Japan’s steel imports from tariffs
TOKYO – Washington and Tokyo are in the final stage of talks to exempt a portion of U.S. imports of steel from Japan from extra tariffs imposed by former President Donald Trump, sources close to the matter said Saturday.
The two countries are discussing establishing a tariff-free import quota but its size and some other details have yet to be finalized, the sources said.
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Foreign ministers of Quad group to meet in Australia next week
WASHINGTON – The foreign ministers of the United States, Japan, Australia and India will meet next week in Australia to advance the “Quad” group’s cooperation in areas including the economy, security and the coronavirus pandemic, amid China’s growing assertiveness in the region, according to the State Department.
The meeting will be followed by a gathering of the foreign ministers of the United States, Japan and South Korea on Feb. 12 in Hawaii, with talks to focus on ways to address the threat posed by North Korea after its recent barrage of ballistic missile tests.
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U.S. says China should have urged Putin to ease Ukraine tensions
WASHINGTON – The United States indicated its disappointment at China for backing Russia in a standoff over Ukraine during a meeting between their leaders on Friday, saying that “responsible powers” should call for a de-escalation of tensions.
Referring to the talks between Chinese President Xi Jinping and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin just before the opening ceremony of the Beijing Winter Olympics, Daniel Kritenbrink, top U.S. diplomat for East Asia, said that it was “important to note” that the meeting came at a time when Moscow “directly threatens Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, with over 100,000 troops on its border.”
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FEATURE: American of Japan descent advances racial equity from White House
WASHINGTON – Erika Moritsugu, 49, is among the many Asian Americans in the United States who have experienced hate crimes since the coronavirus pandemic began two years ago.
She was waiting at a bus stop with her son after school when a man screamed threatening racist abuse and spat at her. Since the incident in March 2020, she has avoided using public transport, fearful of exposing her children to such incidents again.
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South Korea sees daily COVID cases exceed 30,000 for 1st time amid surge
SEOUL – South Korea said Saturday its daily coronavirus cases exceeded the 30,000 mark for the first time the previous day, as the highly transmissible Omicron variant continued to fuel the surge.
Health authorities reported 36,362 new cases for Friday, just days after the daily tally surpassed 20,000 for the first time.
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Hotel guests in Japan hit record low for 2nd year in 2021 amid pandemic
TOKYO – The number of people who stayed at hotels and other accommodation facilities in Japan hit a record low in 2021 for the second straight year, according to government data, as the coronavirus pandemic led to prolonged border controls and a slowdown in the recovery of domestic travel demand.
The cumulative total of guests at hotels and inns was 315.75 million, down 4.8 percent from 2020 and 47.0 percent from 2019, according to preliminary data recently released by the Japan Tourism Agency.
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House passes bill to shore up U.S. semiconductor manufacturing
WASHINGTON – The House of Representatives on Friday passed legislation aimed at bolstering U.S. economic competitiveness against China through measures including a $52 billion investment to support semiconductor manufacturing.
President Joe Biden said he expects the House and Senate to work together so that he can soon sign the bill into law, highlighting it as vital for stronger supply chains, more manufacturing jobs in the United States, and for “outcompeting” China.
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Olympics: Chinese Pres. Xi declares Beijing Games open
BEIJING – Following a buildup overshadowed by international politicking and the global coronavirus pandemic, Chinese President Xi Jinping on Friday officially opened the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympic Games.
The Olympic torch relay, which had a much-reduced route due to COVID-19 restrictions, culminated with Uyghur cross-country skier Dinigeer Yilamujiang and Nordic combined athlete Zhao Jiawen lighting a snowflake-shaped cauldron at the Bird’s Nest stadium made famous at the 2008 Summer Games.
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