Kyodo News reported that the Metropolitan Police Department of Japan has dismissed a Cabinet Information Research Officer on charges of taking bribes from a Russian diplomat, a second secretary at the Russian Embassy in Tokyo. He was accused of breaking the National Public Service Law by leaking information to him1.

Meanwhile, a Japanese maritime self-defence force destroyer left for the Indian Ocean where it will resume Japan’s refueling mission in support of U.S.-led anti-terrorism operations. The Japan Times reported that the 4,550-ton Murasame will rendezvous with the 13,500-ton support ship Oumi, which will leave the MSDF Sasebo base in Nagasaki Prefecture2.

• 1. “Cabinet official faces prosecutors in alleged spying for Russia,” The Japan Times, January 25, 2008, at http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/nn20080125a2.html
• 2. “MSDF destroyer departs on Indian Ocean mission,” The Japan Times, January 25, 2008, at http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/nn20080125a3.html