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The following is the latest list of selected news summaries by Kyodo News.
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Russia says some troops to pull back amid fears over Ukraine invasion
MOSCOW/WASHINGTON – Russia’s military said Tuesday some troops were returning to their bases following exercises near Ukraine, in a move that could lead to de-escalation amid fears of a Russian invasion of its neighbor country.
In another possible sign of easing tensions, Russian President Vladimir Putin said after a meeting with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz that Moscow is prepared to continue talks with the United States and NATO on measures to address their security concerns in Europe.
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Japan to ease COVID border controls, lift entry quarantine from March
TOKYO – Japan is planning to ease its cap on the number of daily new entrants from overseas, introduced to prevent the spread of the coronavirus, from the current 3,500 to 5,000 next month, while considering scrapping the strict quarantine requirement upon arrival, a government source said Tuesday.
The government is looking at eliminating the current seven-day quarantine period for nonresident entrants if they present certificates showing a negative COVID-19 test result and a third vaccine dose, the source said.
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Biden says agrees with Russia’s will to pursue diplomacy over Ukraine
WASHINGTON – U.S. President Joe Biden said Tuesday he agrees with Moscow’s desire to continue diplomacy over the Ukraine standoff, but noted that an invasion by Russia of its neighboring country remains “distinctly possible.”
While welcoming an announcement that some Russian troops were returning to their bases following exercises near Ukraine, Biden said the U.S. government has “not yet verified that” information.
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Japan ramps up diplomacy to help ease Ukraine-Russia tensions
TOKYO – Japan told Ukraine and Russia on Tuesday that diplomacy is the path toward defusing their escalating crisis amid fears that Moscow may invade the Eastern European nation.
Prime Minister Fumio Kishida spoke by phone with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to underscore Japan’s support for Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, saying that his country opposes the use of force to change the status quo.
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Japan, Cambodia seek to strengthen relations amid China’s rise
TOKYO – Japan’s Defense Minister Nobuo Kishi agreed with Hun Manet, the heir apparent of Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen, on Tuesday that the two countries will seek to deepen defense cooperation and exchanges, officials said, amid China’s growing assertiveness in the region.
Hun Manet, the 44-year-old commander of the Cambodian army, was invited to Japan by the Defense Ministry as this year marks the 30th anniversary of Tokyo’s dispatch of Self-Defense Forces personnel to Cambodia, the first time the SDF participated in a U.N. peacekeeping operation.
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Olympics: Akito Watabe’s tenacity bears fruit in Nordic combined bronze
ZHANGJIAKOU, China – Two-time silver medalist Akito Watabe won bronze in Tuesday’s Beijing Olympics large-hill individual Nordic combined, and said the podium finish was due to his tenacity.
Watabe finished 0.6 second behind the gold medalist Joergen Graabak of Norway. His countryman Jens Luraas Oftebro was 0.4 back for silver.
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TSMC to increase investment in chip plant in Japan’s Kumamoto
TAINAN, Taiwan – Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. said Tuesday that it will increase its capital spending for a plant to be built in Japan’s southwestern prefecture of Kumamoto by 20 percent to $8.6 billion to boost its production capacity.
The world’s largest contract chipmaker also said major Japanese auto parts maker Denso Corp. will invest $350 million in Japan Advanced Semiconductor Manufacturing Inc., its subsidiary founded with Sony Semiconductor Solutions Corp., for the chip-making venture.
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Governors seek full antivirus steps amid worries over medical crisis
TOKYO – Japanese prefectural governors called on the central government Tuesday to fully implement coronavirus infection control measures and facilitate the smooth rollout of booster shots amid worries over the medical crisis caused by the rapid spread of the highly contagious Omicron variant.
An urgent proposal to the state compiled by the National Governors’ Association said that many areas are “falling into a critical situation” with a heavy strain on the medical system.
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