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The following is the latest list of selected news summaries by Kyodo News.
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Biden says Russia beginning “invasion” of Ukraine, unveils sanctions
WASHINGTON – Russia is beginning an “invasion” of Ukraine, U.S. President Joe Biden said Tuesday, as he and other Western leaders moved ahead with imposing sanctions on Moscow in response to its ordering of troop deployments to two separatist-held regions in eastern Ukraine.
The situation over Ukraine escalated when Russia, which has been massing troops near Ukraine for months, recognized on Monday the two self-proclaimed republics of Donetsk and Luhansk as independent and ordered troops to be deployed there for “peacekeeping” missions.
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Japan emperor calls on people to keep “fire of hope” amid pandemic
TOKYO – Emperor Naruhito, on the occasion of his 62nd birthday on Wednesday, called on people in Japan to keep “a fire of hope” burning in their hearts and support each other in the face of challenges posed by the coronavirus pandemic.
The emperor also said he felt thankful to health care workers and the many people who have battled against the prolonged pandemic, while offering condolences for the losses suffered in the past year.
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Japan logs record daily COVID deaths at 319
TOKYO – Japan reported a record 319 daily coronavirus deaths on Tuesday, topping the 300 mark for the first time, while the number of new infections dropped from a week earlier.
According to prefectural data, Osaka marked a record 63 deaths while Tokyo logged 25. The daily death toll broke the previous record of 270 marked last Thursday.
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Japan condemns Russia’s move as violation of Ukraine sovereignty
TOKYO – Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida on Tuesday condemned Russia’s recognition of the independence of two pro-Russian separatist regions in eastern Ukraine as violating the nation’s sovereignty, as well as international law and a past peace agreement.
“Russia’s series of actions violate Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, which we never tolerate and strongly criticize,” Kishida told reporters.
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Multinational military exercise starts in Thailand
BANGKOK – A multinational military exercise dubbed Cobra Gold started in Thailand on Tuesday with about 3,500 personnel from around 20 countries participating, though the annual event was scaled down due to the coronavirus pandemic, the Thai military said.
Hosted by Thai and U.S. forces, one of the largest multinational military exercises in Southeast Asia will be held in locations across Thailand through March 5.
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Japan holds annual event to press claim to S. Korea-held islets
MATSUE, Japan – Japan on Tuesday held an annual ceremony to press its claim over a group of islets controlled by South Korea but also appealed for a solution, amid protracted disputes between the two countries over wartime history and territory.
The ceremony in Matsue has been held every Feb. 22 since 2006 after the Shimane prefectural government designated the day as “Takeshima Day” in 2005, a century after a Cabinet decision was issued placing the islets in the Sea of Japan under the western prefecture’s jurisdiction.
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Japan court orders damages over forced sterilization for 1st time
OSAKA – A Japanese court on Tuesday ordered the state to compensate three people with disabilities over forced sterilization under the now-defunct eugenics protection law, awarding damages for the first time among similar suits filed with nine courts and their branches across Japan.
The Osaka High Court told the central government to pay a total of 27.5 million yen ($239,660) in damages to the three in western Japan — a couple and a woman in their 70s and 80s — and recognized the eugenics law as unconstitutional.
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New Zealand quietly marks 11th anniversary of Christchurch quake
SYDNEY – New Zealand on Tuesday quietly marked the 11th anniversary of an earthquake that hit the South Island city of Christchurch in 2011, killing 185 people and injuring thousands.
Of the victims, 115 people were killed when the six-story Canterbury Television Building collapsed in the magnitude 6.3 temblor. Among them were 28 Japanese and others from Asian countries including China and Thailand who were studying English at a language school on the third floor.
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