February 4, Saturday, 2017 (2:00 p.m.) Read by Ms. Fumiko Konoe and Ms. Risa Shimizu

1. Japanese Defense Minister Tomomi Inada and U.S. Defense Secretary James Mattis have confirmed the importance of the bilateral alliance to peace and stability of the Asia-Pacific region.
2. A U.S. federal court in the state of Washington has placed a nationwide block on President Trump’s executive order banning the nationals from 7 countries from entering the country.
3. The Trump administration has announced new sanctions against Iran in response to its recent ballistic missile test.