From the Latest News 

West to cut some Russian banks off from Swift

BBC 3 hours ago

The EU, US and their allies have agreed to cut off a number of Russian banks from the main international payment system, Swift.

The assets of Russia's central bank will also be frozen, limiting Russia's ability to access its overseas reserves.

The intention is to "further isolate Russia from the international financial system", a joint statement said.

Russia is heavily reliant on the Swift system for its key oil and gas exports.

The joint sanctions are the harshest measures imposed to date on Russia over its invasion of Ukraine.

Swift, or the "Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication", is a secure messaging system that makes fast, cross-border payments possible, enabling international trade.

☆ The joint sanctions against a war criminal have started.

Breaking News 

BBC

Ukraine: Russia has launched 'full-scale invasion

Russian President Vladimir Putin announces a "military operation" in Ukraine's Donbas region

He urges Ukrainian soldiers in eastern Ukraine to lay down weapons and return to their homes

Putin warns that Moscow's response will be "instant" if anyone tries to take on Russia

Ukraine's foreign minister accuses Russia of starting a full-scale war, and urges the UN "to do everything possible" to stop it

US President Joe Biden vows that the world will hold Russia accountable, predicting major loss of life

Biden will address Americans on Thursday about the consequences he says Russia will face

Nato chief Jens Stoltenberg says the bloc stands with Ukraine at this terrible time, and will do all it takes to defend all allies

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky earlier said an invasion "could be the beginning of a big war on the European continent"

In a late-night address to the nation, he had vowed "we will defend ourselves" in the event of an attack

Ukraine entered a month-long state of emergency at midnight on Thursday local time (22:00 GMT)

英語で書きたい文学の言葉

Impressive Literary Words from the Latest News

「直木賞をいただいても小説の腕を磨くのに終わりはありません。」

-米澤穂信さん（小説家）

"I won the Naoki Award the other day, however, I will continue improving my writing skills."

-Honobu Yonezawa (Japanese novelist)

Scene of Japan Now 

(English version is by Tetsu Sunayama.) 

英語で書きたいアスリートの言葉

Impressive Words from Top Athletes 

「スノーボード競技のジャッジはもっとしっかりした評価基準で行ってほしいと思います。」

-平野歩夢さん（北京オリンピック・スノーボード金メダリスト)

“I hope the judgements on the snowboarding competitions should be made on more accurate criteria.”

-Ayumu Hirano (The snowboarding gold medalist of the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics )

☆平野選手の高さと技を見せる素晴らしい金メダルでした。

☆2回目の採点があまりにもおかしなものだったことに対する言及ですがスノーボード競技を愛するがための価値ある言葉だったと思います。

☆恣意的に高過ぎる点数や低過ぎる点数がつけられた場合､それらは排除されるべきだと思っていますが、そうなっていないのでしょうか。

☆金メダリストがここまで言及した以上、今後､議論が行われるべきことと思います。

Scene of Japan Now

(English version is by Tetsu Sunayama.)

英語で書きたい実業家の言葉

Impressive Words of Business Persons 

「何か一つ自分で作るものを見つけてください。きっと、消費ばかりで終わる奴隷のような生活から脱せられると思います。」

-西村博之さん

"Please find something you can produce by yourself. I'm sure you'll be able to escape from a slave-like life of consuming.“

-Hiroyuki Nishimura (The founder of Japanese message board, 2channel, current administrator of 4chan)

Scene of Japan Now 

(English version is by Tetsu Sunayama.)

英語で書きたいプロ棋士の言葉

Impressive Words from Professional Shogi Players

「藤井聡太さんがタイトル戦に登場する頃、私がその場所に居られるかどうかが問題です。」

-羽生善治九段

"When Sota Fujii appears in the title match, the important subject is whether I can be there or not.”

-Yoshiharu Habu (Professional Shogi Player)

☆藤井聡太四段（当時）が連勝を重ねていた頃の羽生さんの言葉です。

☆つい先ほど、羽生さんがA級から陥落との報道がありました。

Scene of Japan Now 

（English version is by Tetsu Sunayama )