Tomoyasu Website 2026

1. Germany’s head of state says democracy is in unprecedented danger amid a “breach of values” by the US following the military operation in Venezuela and other actions by President Donald Trump’s administration.
2. US President Donald Trump has warned that the United States could take military action if Iranian authorities kill their citizens including those taking to the streets.
3. A bushfire has broken out on a mountain in Japan’s Yamanashi Prefecture, which is located west of Tokyo.

1. The US administration of President Donald Trump says it will indefinitely control sales of crude oil produced in Venezuela, which is said to have one of the world’s largest oil reserves. The Trump administration has made it clear that it will be involved in running Venezuela and managing its crude oil sales.
2. Chief Cabinet Secretary Kihara Minoru says Tokyo will closely examine the impact of an anti-dumping probe by China into imports of a chip-related chemical.
3. The White House says President Donald Trump has signed a memorandum that authorizes the withdrawal of the United States from 66 international organizations, conventions and treaties.

1. Cooking school students in central Japan’s Fukui Prefecture have learned how to make traditional Japanese rice porridge. The dish is eaten by people who want to have good health throughout the year. A culinary institute in the town of Eiheiji holds a class every year to teach students how to make the traditional Japanese dish. The class was held on Tuesday, one day ahead of “the feast of seven herbs of health.” The feast is held annually on January 7 in Japan.  The event is held on the belief that eating rice gruel cooked with seven spring herbs will ward off illnesses.
2. The foreign ministers of the Group of Seven nations have agreed to collaborate and maintain close communication after discussing the Venezuelan situation over the phone.
3. The US government has announced it will launch a joint mechanism with Israel and Syria to ease tensions between the two Middle Eastern countries.

1. Strong earthquakes struck western Japan Tuesday morning.  There is no tsunami threat.  Officials are calling on residents to stay alert for further possible earthquakes. The Japan Meteorological Agency says the first had a magnitude of 6.4. It occurred in Tottori and Shimane prefectures at 10:18 a.m. The epicenter was in eastern Shimane at a depth of 11 kilometers.
2. Japanese Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae stated that South Korean President Lee Jae-myung and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni plan to visit Japan in the near future. Disclosing the planned visits by the two foreign leaders, Takaichi said she wants to deepen trust in the relations between countries that share the values of freedom and democracy.
3. China’s Commerce Ministry announced on Tuesday that it will strengthen control over exports to Japan of dual-use items, which can serve both commercial and military needs. The ministry said it will ban exports to Japanese military users, for military purposes and for other end-user purposes that could enhance Japan’s military capabilities.  A ministry spokesperson explained that the ban, effective from Tuesday, aims to safeguard China’s national security and interests.

1. US President Donald Trump says the United States needs “total access” to Venezuela’s “oil and other things” to rebuild the South American country because “we’re in charge” right now. Trump made the remark to reporters on board Air Force One on Sunday, a day after the US carried out a military operation in Venezuela and captured President Nicolas Maduro.  Maduro was flown to the US and is expected to appear at a New York federal district court on Monday on charges including drug-trafficking.
2. A former presidential candidate in Venezuela is claiming that he is the legitimate leader of the South American country.  Edmundo Gonzalez said in a video posted on social media on Sunday that the US military operation and the capture of President Nicolas Maduro is an important step but not enough.  He stressed that the people’s will that was shown through the presidential election should be respected.
3. The Tokyo Stock Exchange marked the first trading day of 2026 with a traditional ceremony and prayers for a prosperous year ahead. Share prices heard the call and the benchmark Nikkei 225 index gained almost 3 percent in the morning session. “We expect the market to rise as Japan moves toward a stronger economy,” said Japan Exchange Group’s CEO, Yamaji Hiromi. “This should be backed by robust performances at Japanese companies, a recovery in private consumption, a rise in corporate investment and the government’s stimulus measures.”

1. Japan’s Emperor Naruhito said he was praying for the happiness of people in Japan and the world in his New Year’s greetings at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo.
2. Zohran Mamdani from the Democratic Party has become the mayor of New York City. At his inauguration ceremony on Thursday, the 34-year-old vowed to improve the lives of New York residents. Mamdani was born in Uganda. He is the first Muslim mayor of the city.
3. Swiss police say a fire at a bar in the southern ski resort of crans-Montana has left about 40 people dead. They add that more than 100 other individuals have been injured, many of them severely.

1. Japanese Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae has vowed in her New Year’s message to carry out necessary reforms and bring strength, prosperity and hope to Japan. The prime minister mentions that this year marks 100 years since the start of the Showa era, which spans from 1926 to 1989. Takaichi says Showa was “a time when Japan experienced changes at an unprecedented scale, including the war, the end of the war, reconstruction, and rapid economic growth.” She adds that both Japan and the world are going through significant changes in the current Reiwa era, which began in 2019.
2. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has stressed that he will only sign a peace deal when it guarantees Ukraine’s security after the end of fighting with Russia.
3. A record low number of New Year’s greeting cards were delivered in Japan on Thursday as 2026 began, the fewest since data became available in 2008.

1. People across Japan are slurping up soba buckwheat noodles on Wednesday, New Year’s Eve. Eating the noodles while wishing for longevity and happiness is a Japanese tradition on the final day of the year. Diners occupied all the tables immediately after the restaurant opened for the day. Most customers ordered soba in hot soup after arriving amid the winter cold with snow falling outside. Many bought noodles to take away and eat later at home.
2. The Tokyo Stock Exchange marked its last trading day of the year on Tuesday with a ceremony. This year saw the benchmark Nikkei Stock Average top the 50,000 mark for the first time, and participants prayed that stock prices will continue to rise next year. The Nikkei average ended the last session of 2025 at 50,339.
3. One of Japan’s largest events for lovers of manga and anime opened in Tokyo’s Koto Ward on Tuesday. The Comic Market, also known as Comiket, is marking its 50th anniversary after being launched in Tokyo’s Toranokomon in 1975. Visitors formed a long line at its venue Tokyo Big Sight before it opened at 10:30 a.m.

1. US President Donald Trump has spoken to Russian President Vladimir Putin over the phone following his meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Trump and Zelenskyy met in the southern US state of Florida on Sunday to discuss the 20-point proposal for ending the Russian invasion. Russian presidential aide Yury Ushakov says that Trump provided Putin with a detailed briefing on what was discussed in his meeting with Zelenskyy.
2. US President Donald Trump says he wants to implement the next phase of a peace plan in the Gaza Strip. He says Hamas should disarm quickly or “there’ll be hell to pay.” Trump spoke to reporters after meeting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday in Florida. The US president said that Hamas is “going to be given a very short period of time to disarm.”
3. US President Donald Trump says there was a major explosion at a dock area in Venezuela, which he claims is used to load boats with drugs. Trump said, “They load the boats up with drugs, so we hit all the boats and now we hit the area.” Trump did not say when or where the attack took place.

1. US President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy have discussed a proposal for ending Russia’s invasion. They reportedly made some headway on security guarantees for Kyiv, but had little success with questions over territory. President Trump said, “We have made a lot of progress on ending the war, which is really the most deadly war since World War II.” President Zelenskyy said, “We have great achievements, 20 points peace plan, 90 percent agreed.” He also suggested Ukrainian troops are prepared to withdraw from some areas.
2. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has reportedly overseen a drill involving long-range strategic cruise missiles. South Korean and US forces are on alert, and monitoring the situation. Troops reportedly practiced launching missiles and making reliability assessments.
3. A Japanese woman kidnapped by North Korea and repatriated years later has called on Japan’s Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae to realize a summit with North Korea as soon as possible. North Korean agents took Soga Hitomi and her mother Miyoshi from Sado Island in the Sea of Japan in 1978. Hitomi was returned with four other abductees in 2002. But Miyoshi is still unaccounted for.

1. Japan’s Cabinet has approved a draft budget for the next fiscal year starting April. It marks a record high of 122.3 trillion yen, or about 780 billion dollars.
2. A survey of survivors of the 2024 Noto Peninsula Earthquake in central Japan shows that two-thirds feel there has been little or no progress in recovery and reconstruction, a result similar to a survey conducted a year ago.
3. Pope Leo XIV has used his first Christmas message as the head of the Roman Catholic Church to call on “the parties involved” to advance dialogue on the situation in Ukraine.

1. Santa Claus has set off from Finland to deliver Christmas gifts to children across the globe. His journey started in his home village, which is located on the Arctic Circle in Finland. A video clip shows Santa Claus preparing to deliver gifts by reading letters he has received from children around the world.
2. Thailand and Cambodia have resumed ceasefire talks following a renewed outbreak of military clashes between the two countries this month. Clashes have continued along the border.
3. A Japanese government investigation team has published an interim report on a deadly collision between two aircraft at Tokyo’s Haneda Airport in 2024. The January 2, 2024 incident involved a Japan Coast Guard aircraft on a runway that was hit by a Japan Airlines passenger plane that had just landed.

1. NHK has learned that the Japanese government is in the final stage of compiling a draft budget worth about 122.3 trillion yen, or about 784 billion dollars, for the next fiscal year starting in April. The size is the largest ever in yen terms. That marks a rise from the initial budget for this fiscal year at about 115.2 trillion yen, which was a record high at the time.
2. NHK has learned that the Mie Prefectural government is considering halting the employment of foreign nationals as early as in fiscal 2026, which begins next April.
Sources say the prefecture in central Japan plans to conduct a survey of about 10,000 residents from January to gauge their opinions before making a formal decision.
3. NHK has found that the foreign population has risen in most municipalities across Japan over the past decade. The Immigration Services Agency says a record high of more than 3.95 million foreign nationals were living in the country as of the end of June.

1. Japanese nuclear regulation officials say water containing radioactive tritium has leaked during dismantling work at the Fugen advanced thermal reactor in Fukui Prefecture, central Japan. Officials say workers did not suffer internal radiation exposure caused by, for example, accidentally swallowing radioactive water. But detailed examinations are underway to check for possible external exposure caused by radioactive water splashing on the skin or through other ways.
2. Japan has decided to review its support for large-scale solar-power generation facilities, amid growing concerns about their impact on the environment. The government approved a package of measures to regulate solar-power plants at a Cabinet meeting on Tuesday. The package includes reviewing the scope of environmental assessments and expanding the area of the Kushiro wetland, a national park in the northernmost prefecture of Hokkaido.
3. Researchers in Japan will conduct a test to mine mud from the seabed that is known to contain rare earth elements, in waters near the Japanese island of Minamitorishima. Under a project led by Japan’s Cabinet Office, researchers will carry out the test for about a month starting in January, using the exploration vessel “Chikyu” operated by the Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology.

1. The Japan aerospace Exploration Agency, or JAXA, says the eighth launch of the H3 rocket has ended in failure due to a problem with the second stage engine. JAXA said the rocket’s second stage engine stopped burning earlier than planned and that the satellite could not be put into its planned orbit. It is investigating the cause of the problem.
2. Prices of used condominiums in central Tokyo continue to surge, with the average staying above 100 million yen for a seventh straight month. Real estate research firm Tokyo Kantei says the average price of a 70-square-meter unit in Tokyo’s 23 wards stood at nearly 115 million yen, or about 730,000 dollars, last month. That marks a 34.6 percent increase from the same month a year earlier.
3. Japan’s education ministry says 7,087 public school teachers took sick leave for depression and other mental health issues in the last academic year through March 2025. The number was down 32 from the previous year’s record high, but exceeded 7,000 for the second year in a row. Of teachers who took mental sick leave, 3,458 were working at elementary schools, 1,639 at junior high schools and 1,006 at senior high schools. As of April 2025, 1,458 of them, or 20 percent, had quit their teaching job.

1. The Bank of Japan says it will raise its benchmark interest rate to around 0.75 percent. That’s the highest level in 30 years.
2. The European Central Bank has left its key interest rate unchanged amid signs consumer price increases are likely to hold near its target. The ECB’s Governing Council on Thursday said it will keep its benchmark deposit facility rate at 2 percent.
3. A Shinto shrine in central Japan has put up a huge “hagoita” wooden paddle bearing a picture of a horse. The horse is next year’s zodiac sign.

1. The Bank of Japan kicked off its two-day policy meeting on Thursday. Policymakers are considering raising interest rates to a level not seen in 30 years. Analysts expect the central bank to raise the policy rate to around 0.75 percent. This would mark the highest level since September 1995.
2. Finland’s prime minister has apologized to countries in East Asia over online posts by the winner of the country’s beauty pageant and some members of parliament that drew accusations of racism. The development comes after this year’s Miss Finland posted a photo on a social media app of her pulling the corners of her eyes with a caption that translates as “eating with a Chinese person.” She was stripped of her crown last week following criticism that she was being discriminatory against Asians.
3. A procession of about 1,000 people dressed in traditional Japanese attire took place Wednesday in the ancient capital of Nara, western Japan. The parade is the highlight of the annual Kasuga Wakamiya Onmatsuri, a tradition that dates back to 12th century.

1. The Japanese box office sensation “Kokuho,” an epic drama about the life and career of a celebrated kabuki actor, has been shortlisted in two categories for next year’s Oscars. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced the shortlists for the 98th Academy Awards on Tuesday. “Kokuho,” directed by Lee Sang-il, was among the 15 films chosen in the International Feature Film category. It was also one of 10 films listed in the Makeup and Hairstyling category.
2. A top Japanese business association picked IBM Japan President Yamaguchi Akio as chairperson after his predecessor resigned. Yamaguchi is 61 years old and joined IBM Japan in 1987. Yamaguchi said: “I want to steadily proceed with passion about what I think is right. And also I want to attach my mind to the outcome.”
3. A hot spring spa in northern Japan has added yuzu citrus fruits to its bath in order to provide visitors with a special experience. The facility in Hokkaido’s Hokuto City began offering yuzu baths on Tuesday. It provides the special service every year before the winter solstice, which falls on December 22 this year.

1. Japan is moving to tighten its monitoring of residential real-estate purchases by non-residents. The decision reflects concern some buyers are acquiring such property for investment purposes rather than for living in the country.
2. European leaders have proposed creating a multinational force to guarantee Ukraine’s security once a ceasefire with Russia is in place. The joint statement released by leaders of Germany, France, the European Union and others says the multinational force would be led by Europe and supported by the United States. It would be launched with contributions from countries within the framework of the Europe-led “Coalition of the Willing.”
3. Children in western Japan took part in an annual kite flying event on Sunday. About 150 people, including children and their parents, gathered in the city of Hofu, Yamaguchi Prefecture, for the event. Helped by their parents, children pulled the lines of their kites in order to fly them as high as possible.

1. Sources say twin giant pandas at Tokyo’s Ueno Zoological Gardens are expected to be returned to China in late January. Japan will then be without the iconic bears for the first time in 53 years. The deadline for returning the four-year-old pandas Xiao Xiao and Lei Lei is February 20, 2026. The Tokyo Metropolitan Government has been discussing the timing of the move with China. The pair are the last two giant pandas left in Japan.
2. Japanese police have arrested a 30-year-old man on suspicion of attempted murder in connection with Sunday’s stabbing attack in the western city of Fukuoka, which injured two people. The police say the suspect, Yamaguchi Naoya, who lives in Itoshima City, Fukuoka Prefecture, hinted at his involvement in the case in interviews conducted before the arrest. They say the instrument believed to be used in the attack has already been found.
3. A closely-watched survey of business sentiment in Japan shows a slight improvement among major manufacturers cam in at plus 15 – up for the third straight quarter. That’s 1 point higher than in the previous poll. A positive number indicates there are more companies feeling optimistic about business conditions than pessimistic.

1. The Japan Meteorological Agency has lifted its tsunami advisory for northern Japan’s Pacific coast. The advisory was triggered after a quake hit the region late Friday morning.
2. A survey has found that more than half of Japanese manufacturers with overseas operations say their business has been negatively affected by the Trump administration’s tariffs.
3. China’s new vehicle sales rose in November on the back of robust demand for electric models and soaring exports.

1. Japanese Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae has come in third on the Forbes list of the World’s 100 Most Powerful Women of 2025. The US business magazine on Wednesday released its annual list of influential women in politics, business and other categories. It bases the ranking on marks such as the scale of countries or companies and media mentions.
2. Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado, the winner of this year’s Noble Peace Prize, greeted her supporters in Oslo shortly after she arrived in the Norwegian capital on Thursday. Machado missed Wednesday’s award ceremony. But before dawn on Thursday, she appeared on a hotel balcony in Oslo and spoke with her supporters.
3. Two Japanese winners of this year’s Nobel Prizes took part in the award ceremony in Sweden on Wednesday. Kitagawa Susumu, an executive vice-president of Kyoto University, is among the three winners of the Nobel Prize in chemistry.

1. The United States has criticized China after at least one of its fighter jets intermittently aimed its radar at Japanese Air Self-Defense Force aircraft. The incident took place on Saturday. A spokesperson for the US Defense Department commented on the issue on Tuesday, saying that that China’s actions are “not conducive to regional peace and stability.” The person added: “The US-Japan alliance is stronger and more united than ever. Our commitment to our ally Japan is unwavering, and we are in close contact on this and other issues.”
2. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says Ukraine will be ready to hold a presidential election in the next 60 to 90 days if the United States and Kyiv’s European allies can ensure the security of the vote.
3. France’s Renault Group and US auto giant Ford Motor have formed a strategic partnership to develop electric vehicles for the European market. The companies said on Tuesday that the partnership agreement is primarily aimed at producing two distinct Ford-branded EVs for European customers. The new models will be designed by Ford and produced by Renault in northern France.

1. Japan is on alert for a possible mega quake after a magnitude 7.5 tremor hit northern regions late on Monday, prompting tsunami warnings. Authorities say the next few days will be critical. The city of Hachinohe recorded tremors with an intensity of upper 6 on the Japanese intensity scale of 0 to 7. Authorities in Hokkaido, Aomori and Iwate prefectures have reported 33 people injured, as of 5 p.m. on Tuesday.
2. Syria’s interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa has called for national unity as the country marked a year since the fall of the autocratic regime of former President Bashar al-Assad. The Assad regime, which controlled Syria for more than half a century over two generations, collapsed on December 8, 2024. The country is trying to rebuild itself under Sharaa, who had been a leader of anti-government forces.
3. Group of Seven finance ministers say the nations will work together to diversify and derisk supply chains for critical minerals, including rare earths. They warned that export controls on the minerals used in a vast array of electronic devices are a threat to the global economy. The ministers issued a statement after an online meeting on Monday. The statement doesn’t mention any country by name, but China imposed export controls on rare earths this year.

1. A Tokyo court ruled Monday that a man who deceived a woman he met through a dating app must pay about 1.5 million yen, or nearly 10,000 dollars in damages. The married man had told the plaintiff, who lives in Kanagawa Prefecture neighboring Tokyo, that he was single, even though he was married. The woman sued and demanded about 50,000 dollars in damages after discovering he was a married father.
2. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said using search radar during training flights is normal to ensure safety. At a news conference Monday, Guo said Japanese fighter jets had entered the Chinese military’s training area without permission and had obstructed its activities. Guo also said Japan distorted the facts and blamed China. The spokesperson said China expressed strong dissatisfaction and firm opposition and lodged a strong protest.
3. This year’s two Japanese Nobel Prize winners spoke at separate venues in Stockholm ahead of Wednesday’s Nobel Prize award ceremony. Sakaguchi Shimon, a distinguished honorary professor of the University of Osaka, is one of the three winners of the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine. He gave a lecture at the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm on Sunday.

1. A German magazine has obtained the transcript of a phone call between the leaders of Europe and Ukraine. The transcript reportedly quotes Emmanual Macron as saying, “There is a possibility that the US will betray Ukraine on the issue of territory, without clarity on security guarantees.”
2. Japan has sent a second letter to UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres rebutting China’s assertions regarding remarks that Japanese Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae made about Taiwan. This comes after China sent Guterres a second letter about the issue. Takaichi told the Diet in November that a possible Taiwan emergency involving the use of force by China could be considered a situation that threatens Japan’s survival.
3. The governments of Japan and South Korea are making arrangements to hold a bilateral summit in Nara, western Japan, as early as mid-January. Nara is Japanese Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae’s home prefecture.

1. South Korean President Lee Jae-myung has stressed his intention to promote ties with Japan. He also expressed readiness to play a mediating role to ease tensions between Japan and China.
2. The United Nations General Assembly has adopted a resolution calling for the immediate return of Ukrainian children who were deported to Russia. The Ukrainian government says more than 19,000 children have been taken away from Russian-occupied areas and elsewhere since Moscow’s invasion began in February of 2022. The draft resolution submitted on Wednesday demands that Russia “ensure the immediate, safe and unconditional return” of the children.
3. NATO foreign ministers met in Brussels on Wednesday and reaffirmed their commitment to providing military support for Ukraine. Secretary General Mark Rutte said the alliance is “not going anywhere.” Rutte said NATO ministers “strongly welcome” the peace process that is being led by the US. However, he added that the success of the plan is not yet guaranteed.

1. The death toll from torrential rain, floods and mudslides has risen to 1,379 in Indonesia, Sri Lanka and Thailand. Evacuees living in shelters say they will not be able to return home anytime soon and they are worried about their children’s health.
2. Japan has signed a deal to give Ukraine an aid package worth about 26 million dollars to help the country clear away landmines. In October, the Japanese government hosted an international conference in Tokyo to discuss support for landmine removal efforts in Ukraine. The government decided to provide the nation with the financial aid package during that meeting. The money will be used to acquire mine clearing equipment and for other purposes.
3. Russian President Vladimir Putin has hosted US special envoy Steve Witkoff for talks on ending the fighting in Ukraine. They likely discussed a peace plan backed by the US and issues related to territory. However, Russia and Ukraine remain divided in their positions, and it is unclear if a breakthrough was reached.

1. The head of Japan’s technology and investment conglomerate SoftBank Group says artificial intelligence is set to make huge contributions to the global economy. Chairman and CEO Son Masayoshi dismissed concerns about overinvestment in the technology and said he is confident the company will recoup its massive spending on AI in a short period.
2. US President Donald Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff is heading to Moscow to meet with Russian leader Vladimir Putin. The visit comes soon after US-Ukraine talks in Florida over the weekend. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov confirmed Witkoff and Putin are expected to meet on Tuesday. Ahead of the talks in Moscow, Zelenskyy met with his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron on Monday. He stressed that the “territorial issue” is the most difficult.
3. The head of the International Criminal Court has urged members to stay unified in the face of pressure from the United States and Russia, saying “coercive measures” are clearly aimed at undermining the existence and reputation of the court. ICC President Akane Tomoko stressed: “The response of the Court has been absolutely unambiguous. Our independence and impartiality are our polar stars and remain unaffected. The ICC’s mandate is to try individuals charged with genocide, war crimes, crimes against humanity, and the crime of aggression.

1. Japan’s Princess Aiko, the daughter of Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako, has visited her grandparents, Emperor Emeritus Akihito and Empress Emerita Michiko, on the occasion of her 24th birthday.
2. Japan’s Tohoku University says it will raise master’s and undergraduate degree tuition for overseas students.
3. Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae’s vow to “work, work, work, work, work” and “female prime minister” have together won the award for Japan’s buzzword of the year for 2025.

1. Hong Kong media say the death toll from a massive fire at a high-rise residential complex has climbed to at least 94. More than 70 have been injured, with many others unaccounted for.
2. Pope Leo XIV has expressed a sense of alarm about the future of humanity during his first trip abroad as the leader of the Roman Catholic Church.
3. Tokyo’s consumer inflation remained flat in November as food prices continued to rise across the capital.

1. A massive fire at a high-rise residential complex in Hong Kong has so far left 55 people dead. The blaze erupted on Wednesday in seven residential buildings over 30 stories high in the northern district of Tai Po. The fires have been brought under control in four of the buildings, but firefighters are still battling the flames in the other three.
2. The Wall Street Journal says US President Donald Trump advised Japanese Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae during their recent phone talks not to provoke China over the issue of Taiwan’s sovereignty. The report said Trump suggested that Takaichi “temper the tone of her comments about Taiwan.”
3. An international conference on trade in endangered species held a vote Thursday on the protection of all types of eel. The European Union proposal that all kinds of eel, including Japanese eel, should be regulated, was rejected.

1. Ukrainian sumo wrestler Aonishiki has won promotion to the second-highest rank of Ozeki. The Japan Sumo Association made the decision at an extraordinary meeting of its board of directors on Wednesday. Aonishiki earned his first grand sumo tournament title in the Kyushu tourney that ended on Sunday. He has notched 34 wins over the past three tournaments, surpassing a benchmark for promotion.
2. The United Nations is beginning the process of selecting its next secretary-general, and member states are being encouraged to nominate women for the top post. The current secretary-general, Antonio Guterres, is due to step down at the end of 2026, when he completes his second five-year term.
3. A 380-kilogram brown bear was found in a box trap Tuesday morning in Hokkaido, the northernmost prefecture of Japan. Tuesday morning, the bear was found inside the trap. It filled the trap from side to side. The bear weighed 380 kilograms, was 1.9 meters in length, and had paws roughly 17 centimeters wide. It was later put down.

1. The Japanese government says there is no change to its existing position on what constitutes a “survival-threatening situation” for Japan. The government decided on a written reply at a Cabinet meeting on Tuesday. It was drawn up in response to an opposition lawmaker’s question regarding Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae’s recent remark on Taiwan.
2. Japan has sent a letter to the UN secretary-general to rebut China’s assertions over Japanese Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae’s remark on Taiwan. Takaichi told the Diet earlier this month that a possible Taiwan emergency involving the use of force by China could be considered a situation that threatens Japan’s survival.
3. Police in Thailand say they believe a woman who allegedly trafficked her 12-year-old daughter in Tokyo will be sent to Japan from Taiwan in one of two months for an investigation. The woman brought her daughter from Thailand to Japan where the mother allegedly made the girl provide sexual services at a so-called private-room massage parlor in Tokyo. The mother then left Japan and was later detained in Taiwan.

1. Aonishiki became the first sumo wrestler from Ukraine to win a grand tournament after he defeated Yokozuna Grand Champion Hoshoryu in a playoff on Sunday. Aonishiki beat Ozeki Kotozakura on the final day of the November Grand Sumo Tournament. He then faced off against Hoshoryu, as both had 12 wins and three losses. He won the match with a rear throw down. The 21-year-old, whose real name is Danylo Yavhusishyn, was promoted to the third-highest rank of Sekiwake for the Kyushu tournament. He rose to the position at a record pace, just after this 13th tournament.
2. The United States and Ukraine say they have drafted an “updated and refined” framework for a potential peace agreement, following high-level talks on Sunday. In a joint statement released after the meeting, both sides said they reaffirmed that any deal must “fully uphold Ukraine’s sovereignty and deliver a sustainable and just peace.”
3. The annual Tori-no-ichi festival got underway at Ootori Shrine in Tokyo’s Asakusa district on Monday, drawing crowds of business owners and tourists looking to buy a traditional “lucky rake.” The Tori-no-ichi festival dates back to the Edo period, which spanned the 17th to 19th centuries, and is held across Japan each November on the tori—or rooster – days determined by the zodiac and lunar calendar. The Asakusa event is one of the largest in the country, with lines of stalls selling ornate bamboo rakes called “kumade.”

1. Russia’s top military commander has reported to President Vladimir Putin that the country’s forces have captured a strategic hub in the Kharkiv region of eastern Ukraine.
2. Bargain hunters are flocking to an autumn ceramics festival that opened on Thursday in the town of Arita, southwestern Japan.
3. Ukraine’s presidential office said Thursday it received a new peace plan from the United Sates.

1. Fire officials in Oita City in southwestern Japan say they have brought under control a large fire that broke out in a coastal area on Tuesday evening. The head of the city’s fire department, Harada Koji, reported to a disaster taskforce meeting on Thursday afternoon that the fire was confirmed to be under control in the district of Saganoseki as of 11 a.m.
2. Taiwan’s President Lai Ching-te has posted a photo of himself eating a Japanese-sourced sushi lunch, amid increasing tensions between Tokyo and Beijing over Taiwan. In the photo posted on his social media on Thursday, Lai said both in Japanese and Chinese that “today’s lunch is sushi and miso soup.”
3. The view is growing in Japan that it could take a while to ease tensions with China. Their rift began after a comment by Japanese Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae about Taiwan earlier this month. Tokyo has indicated it is trying to maintain dialogue to keep the situation from escalating.

1. NHK has learned that China has notified Japan that it is suspending imports of Japanese maritime products. This comes amid the ongoing fallout over Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae’s Taiwan comments. China’s notification does not reference her remarks. Instead, it reportedly cites concerns over treated and diluted water accumulated at the damaged Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant.
2. Senior Japanese and Chinese diplomats made little headway in easing tensions between their tow countries during talks in Beijing. The relationship has been strained after a comment by Japanese Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae about Taiwan earlier this month led to a sharp backlash from China. Kanai Masaaki is the head of the Japanese Foreign Ministry’s Asian and Oceanian Affairs Bureau. He met on Tuesday with his Chinese counterpart Liu Jinsong.
3. Workers are busy making roasted red sea bream in central Japan’s Mie Prefecture. Sea bream are a symbol of good fortune in Japan. People offer them as year-end gifts and they’re eaten during the New Year holidays.

1. Currency traders’ worries about Japan’s fiscal health sent the yen to the lowest level against the euro since the single currency’s 1999 debut. Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae’s economic package, likely to emerge as early as this week, is expected to be large in scale. The Japanese currency weakened overnight in New York, briefly hitting the 180-yen level against the euro. Market participants also expect no interest-rate hike in the Bank of Japan’s upcoming policy meeting in December.
2. A recent comment about Taiwan by Japanese Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae has strained relations with China. A senior Japanese diplomat headed to Beijing on Monday in what is believed to be a bid to ease tensions. Takaichi told Diet members earlier this month that a military emergency over Taiwan could be regarded as a situation that would threaten Japan’s survival. Her comment sparked an uproar in China.
3. The British government unveiled plans for major changes to tighten its asylum policy on Monday, amid mounting public frustration and concern over the increasing number of asylum seekers. People seeking asylum in the UK are currently allowed to stay in the country for five years once they are granted refugee status. At the end of the period, refugees can apply for the right to settle permanently.

1. A senior Japanese Foreign Ministry official has arrived in China amid a row over comments Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae made in relation to Taiwan. The director-general of the Japanese Foreign Ministry’s Asian and Oceanian Affairs Bureau, Kanai Masaaki, arrived in Beijing on Monday afternoon. It is believed Kanai intends to explain that Takaichi’s remark a bout a possible Taiwan emergency did not deviate from the Japanese government’s position regarding Taiwan.
2. Japanese and South Korean government sources have told NHK that Seoul notified Tokyo of its intention to call off a joint maritime drill scheduled for this month. The two countries were planning a search and rescue exercise of Japan’s Maritime Self-Defense Force and the South Korean Navy. But the sources say the South Korean side informed Japan this month that it will cancel the exercise. It is not clear why.
3. Japan’s Environment Ministry says 88 people were attacked by bears across nation in October alone, with seven of the victims dying. That’s the worst figure for any month in the past decade. The ministry also says that from April to the end of October, 12 people were killed and 184 were injured. Casualties were reported in 21 of the country’s 47 prefectures. Akita topped the list at 56, followed by 34 in Iwate, 20 in Fukushima, 15 in Nagano and 13 Niigata.

1. China’s Foreign Ministry has summoned the Japanese ambassador to China to demand a retraction of a remark by Japan’s Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae about a possible Taiwan contingency.
2. NHK has learned that a Japanese research institute believes the wild bear population in Akita Prefecture may be growing as a result of good beechnut yields becoming more frequent in recent years. The nut is a primary food source for the animals.
3. Major League Baseball superstar Ohtani Shihei of the Los Angeles Dodgers has won this season’s National League Most Valuable Player award.

1. Japanese police squads armed with rifles have begun a campaign to cull bears that appear in populated areas of northeastern Japan. Riot police personnel trained to use firearms to deal with terrorists have been sent there from other prefectures to work with local police.
2. US President Donald Trump on Wednesday signed a stoppage funding bill to reopen the federal government, ending the longest shutdown in US history. Trump signed the bill shortly after its passage in the US House of Representatives.
3. Investigative sources say police have referred actor Hirosue Ryoko to prosecutors over a traffic accident in April that injured a passenger in her car. Police say Hirosue rear-ended a large trailer truck while driving on an expressway in Shizuoka Prefecture, central Japan.

1. US state governors and other local government representatives have emphasized their intention to continue efforts to address climate change at the annual United Nations climate summit, known as COP30. * Conference of the Parties締約国会議
The event kicked off on Monday in the northern Brazilian city of Belem, but the Republican administration of US President Donald Trump has sent no high-ranking officials. The US is the second largest emitter of carbon dioxide. California Governor Gavin Newsom, who is a Democrat, said on Tuesday, “I do not want the United States of America to be a footnote on climate policy, and that’s exactly what Donald Trump is intending to do.”
2. The head of the International Criminal Court has called for cooperation from the international community in maintaining independence and impartiality among growing pressure from major powers. ICC President Akane Tomoko spoke at the United Nations General Assembly on Tuesday. The Japanese judge has been serving as president since last year.
3. Top diplomats from the Group of Seven nations have gathered in Canada’s Ontario Province for foreign ministerial talks. The group is expected to discuss ways to increase pressure on Russia in a bid to force a ceasefire with Ukraine.

1．A police squad inspected areas on Tuesday where bears have been spotted in Morioka City, Iwate Prefecture, in northeastern Japan. The move came ahead of a bear culling operation scheduled to start on Thursday.
2. A Japanese government council has been formed to bolster the country’s economic security. It has hammered out priority economic growth measures for 17 strategi fields, including artificial intelligence and semiconductors. The measures will be reflected in a new stimulus package ahead of schedule.
3. Japanese lawmakers are expected to discuss how to deal with the country’s departure tax as part of tax reforms for the next fiscal year. Travelers leaving Japan, including Japanese citizens, must pay 1,000 yen, or about 6 dollars and 50 cents, per person. The departure tax, formally called the International Tourist Tax, was introduced in 2019. It is collected as a free added to prices of tickets for airlines and other forms of transportation.

1. A recent spate of bear attacks in Japan has prompted some businesses to take action. Leading convenience-store chain Lawson has issued a safety manual for workers and customers. It tells store managers to switch their front doors from automatic to manual if bears are sighted nearby, so they can only be opened by hand. Workers are also told to clean outdoor garbage spaces more frequently, as the smell of food attracts the animals.
2. A summary of Bank of Japan policymakers’ opinions at their last meeting reflects a view that their time for another interest-rate hike is approaching. The summary released Monday shows policymakers decided to stand pat given the uncertainties in the global economy and the need to watch the momentum toward wage increases in Japan. But the document includes the opinion that even if no immediate action was required, “the Bank should not miss the timing to raise the policy interest rate.”
3. Flamed from torches illuminated the night sky of a city in northeastern Japan on Saturday during a traditional fire festival. The Taimatsu Akashi took place at Midorigaoka Park in Sukagawa City, Fukushima Prefecture. It is said to have originated more than 430 years ago to honor people who died defending Sukagawa Castle against Date Masamune during the Sengoku warring states period. Date was a feudal warlord in the region.

1. Japan’s leading business lobby is planning to propose changes to the country’s work-life balance system, including easing limits on working hours while considering employee health. But a major labor organization is against it.
2. World leaders gathered in Brazil on Thursday ahead of next week’s COP 30 climate summit. They are hoping to make headway in combating global warming.
3. Japanese Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae has fronted a third day of Diet debates as head of the minority government. Party leaders pressed her on issues including the soaring cost of living and policies on foreign nationals.

1. At least 12 people, including a young child, have been confirmed dead in a UPS cargo plane crash that happened in the US state of Kentucky. One of its engines reportedly fell off during takeoff. The McDonnel Douglas MD-11, carrying a crew of three, crashed immediately after taking off from an international airport in Louisville, Kentucky, on Tuesday.
2. Japan has raised the fishing quota for flying squid for the second time this season. But a ban on catches by small vessels remains in place, leading to growing frustration among some fishers. A government panel on Wednesday approved a plan to expand the quota by 6 percent to 27,600 tons. It is the first time the quota has been hiked twice in the middle of the fishing season.
3. Japan’s Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae has expressed readiness to continue implementing support for the recovery and reconstruction of Ukraine. The pledge came during her first phone talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Wednesday since assuming the prime ministerial post last month. Takaichi stressed that Japan’s stance that it stands with Ukraine remains unchanged.

1. US media outlets say Democratic nominee Zohran Mamdani is now projected to win the New York City mayoral election held on Tuesday. Mamdani, who is 34 years old, was born in Uganda with Indian ancestry He was first elected to the New York State Assembly in 2020 and is now serving his third term. He will become the first Muslim mayor of the city.
2. Britain’s Defense Ministry says about 1.14 million Russian military personnel have likely been killed or wounded since Moscow started its invasion of Ukraine in 2022. The ministry released the estimate on social media on Tuesday, adding that roughly 350,000 of the casualties occurred this year.
3. Former US Vice President Dick Cheney has died. He was 84 years old. His family said in a statement on Tuesday that Cheney died due to complications of pneumonia and cardiac and vascular disease. It said his wife, daughters and other family members were with him as he passed.

1. Japan’s Economic Security Minister Onoda Kimi, who is in charge of promoting coexistence with foreign nationals, outlined the issues on her agenda as she spoke to reporters after Tuesday’s Cabinet meeting. Onoda said she will consider optimizing controls on immigration and residency status, measures to deal with over-tourism and private lodgings, proper responses to crimes committed by foreigners, and grasping the extent of real estate ownership by foreign nationals and rules for property acquisition. The government plans to solicit opinions from experts in drawing up its basic ideas on policies related to foreign nationals.
2. Japan’s Defense Ministry is arranging to send Ground Self-Defense Force personnel to Akita Prefecture to assist in the capture of wild bears. Sources say the activities could start as early as Wednesday. The northern prefecture has seen a spate of bear attacks on humans, some of which have resulted in injuries and deaths. The prefecture has asked the SDF to help it capture the animals.
3. Plans to light up the fall foliage at a park in Hokkaido, northern Japan, have been canceled due to bear sightings in the area. Hachironuma Park in the city of Hokuto is known for its stunning fall leaves. The park is over 10 hectares and has about 2,000 trees, including maple and azalea.

1. The ceasefire in the Gaza Strip remains unstable as the Israeli military says it has conducted another attack on the enclave. The military continues to mount strikes even after the ceasefire came into force between Israel and the Palestinian group Hamas on October 10.
2. In Major League Baseball, the Los Angeles Dodgers beat the Toronto Blue Jays in Game 7 of the World Series to win the championship. The Dodgers won four games of the best-of-seven series. It is the first time in the team’s history to win the World Series two years in a row. Japanese players on the team include two-way star Ohtani Shohei, as well as pitchers Yamamoto Yoshinobu and Sasaki Roki. Yamamoto was named the Most Valuable Player of the World Series.
3. US Secretary of Energy Chris Wright says the nuclear weapons testing ordered by President Donald Trump will not involve nuclear explosions. Trump announced during his trip to Asia last week that he had instructed the Department of Defense to resume the testing. But he did not give the details. The United States has not conducted a nuclear test explosion since 1992.

1. US President Donald Trump’s summit on Thursday with his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping in South Korea capped the end of his Asia tour. They reached a truce on tariffs and rare earths.
2. Japanese Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae held her first summit with South Korean President Lee Jae-myung in Gyeongju, South Korea where the APEC summit will be held.
3. Romania says it has been informed that the United States will withdraw some troops deployed in the country on the NATO alliance’s eastern flank.

1. Japanese cabinet ministers have been given until mid-November to work out additional measures to deal with the growing threat posed by bears showing up in populated areas. Chief Cabinet Secretary Kihara Minoru said the country has seen a major increase in fatal bear attacks this year and that they are occurring over wider areas and under different circumstances. He said bears are posing a growing threat to people’s safety.
2. A drill for capturing bears has been held at a camp of Japan’s Ground Self-Defense
Force in Akita Prefecture. The northern prefecture has confirmed three deaths and 53 injuries in bear attacks from April 1 to Wednesday. Prefectural and GSDF officials are discussing details of how to work together.
3. The Akita Prefectural Government in northern Japan has more than doubled the number of employees assigned to deal with bears. This comes after a spate of attacks on humans. The prefectural government assigned 26 more workers to the nature conservation section on Thursday. The section now has 46 workers. Dealing with bears is one of its duties.

1. US President Donald Trump is now in South Korea for some high-profile summits, including with the country’s president Lee Jae-myung. US tariffs have been a major focus for the two countries. They had agreed that South Korea will invest 350 billion dollars in the US.
2. Japanese Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae is set to visit South Korea on Thursday to attend a summit of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation, or APEC. She plans to hold her first talks with South Korean President Lee Jae-myung, and is also arranging to meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping.
3. Japan’s Defense Minister Koizumi Shinjiro has told his US counterpart that Japan will further strengthen its defense capabilities. The remark followed a summit between Japanese Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae and US President Donald Trump in Tokyo on Tuesday. Koizumi and US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth met at the Japanese Defense Ministry in Tokyo on Wednesday morning for the first time since Koizumi assumed his post. The meeting lasted for approximately one hour.

1. Takaichi welcomed Trump at the State Guest House in Tokyo Tuesday morning. They received a salute from a ceremonial guard of honor with Japan’s Self-Defense Forces. Soon after, the two leaders sat down for their first face-to-face meeting.
2. The top finance officials of Japan and the United States have reaffirmed that the two countries will continue their close cooperation. Japanese Finance Minister Katayama Satsuki met US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent for the first time on Monday. Bessent is accompanying President Donald Trump on his visit to Japan. The meeting lasted for about an hour.
3. A Japanese government report says a record high number of people applied for workers’ compensation for mental-health disorders in fiscal 2024. This year’s white paper on “karoshi” – the Japanese term for death from work – was approved in a Cabinet meeting on Tuesday. The report says 3,780 people claimed that they developed mental-health issues due to job-related extreme stress and applied for workers’ compensation. It says 1,055 of those applicants, which is also an all-time high, were deemed eligible for compensation.

1. US President Donald Trump arrived at Tokyo’s Haneda Airport shortly after 5 p.m. on Monday. Trump met with Emperor Naruhito on Monday night. He will also meet with Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae on Tuesday. Takaichi posted a message on X welcoming him. She wrote, “Looking forward to seeing you tomorrow and having a fruitful discussion on how we can further strengthen our great Alliance.” She also posted photos of Tokyo Tower and Tokyo Skytree illuminated in the colors of the US national flag.
2. US President Donald Trump is in Tokyo to meet Japan’s new prime minister, Takaichi Sanae. They will be talking trade and defense, as well as trying to forge a stronger alliance, during his three-day visit.
3. Tokyo’s main stock index kicked off the week by hitting an all-time high, closing above the 50,000 mark for the first time. Investors welcomed the news of easing trade tensions between the United States and China. China is expected to postpone tighter export controls on rare earths for a year. In response, the US will hold off from raising tariffs on Chinese goods by 100 percent.

1. Lithuania has strongly condemned Russia for violating its airspace by flying two military aircraft. Moscow has denied the claim. Military officials from the Baltic country said the two Russian planes entered their airspace from Kaliningrad, a Russian exclave that borders Lithuania and faces the Baltic Sea.
2. A UN expert has expressed concerns about PFAS contamination at US bases in southwestern Japan’s Okinawa Prefecture and elsewhere. He said it poses a threat to human health.
3. The White House says US President Donald Trump will meet Chinese President Xi Jinping in South Korea next Thursday, two days after having talks with Japan’s new Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae.

1. Japan’s new Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae has pledged to make utmost efforts to resolve as soon as possible the issue of Japanese nationals abducted to North Korea.
Takaichi said she deeply regrets that no more Japanese abductees have been able to return to Japan since five were repatriated in 2002.
2. Twenty children and two teachers have been taken to hospital after they were stung by wasps at an elementary school in western Tokyo. The school says more than 30 first-graders were having a class outside the school building when some of them were stung by wasps about 2 centimeters long. The officials say the insects appear to be a type of hornet that makes nests in the ground.
3. Weather officials in Japan say Mount Fuji has been capped with snow for the first time this season. Officials at the Kofu Local Meteorological Office about 40 kilometers from the summit said they virtually confirmed snow coverage on Japan’s highest mountain on Thursday morning.

1. A planned summit between the United States and Russia in Hungary has apparently been put on hold. A White House official on Tuesday told NHK there are no plans to hold such a meeting “in the immediate future.”
2. European and Ukrainian leaders have expressed their opposition to changing borders by force, as US President Donald Trump calls for a ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine on present frontlines.
3. Japan’s new prime minister addressed the nation for the first time Tuesday night. Takaichi Sanae highlighted her priorities including the economy and working with the opposition. Takaichi said that she will create a strong Japanese economy and protect national interests through diplomacy and national security policies.

1. The Japanese Diet has elected the country’s next prime minister. Takaichi Sanae won the vote on Tuesday. It marks the first time in history that a woman will lead the country. She leads the ruling Liberal Democratic Party and will be launching a new coalition government with the Japan Innovation Party. Takaichi will take office after the Emperor appoints her Tuesday evening. Once that’s complete, she is expected to hold a news conference, which will be her first as prime minister.
2. Tokyo’s Nikkei 225 stock index continues its bullish run on expectations for the launch of a new coalition government. It set another intraday high in early Tuesday trading, nearing the 50,000 line. The Nikkei 225 gained more than 700 points, or 1.5 percent, at one stage from Monday’s close, which was an all-time high.
3. US President Donald Trump has officially announced a series of visits to Asia later this month. In Japan, he is scheduled to meet the new prime minister, who is set to be elected on Tuesday. After attending the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, or ASEAN, meeting in Malaysia, he is expected to stop in Japan on Monday for about three days. In addition to meeting with Japan’s new leader, he plans to give a speech to US service members at a US naval base in Yokosuka, near Tokyo.

1. Japan’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party has agreed to form a new coalition with the Japan Innovation Party, or JIP. It comes after the LDP’s longtime partner, Komeito, announced it was breaking ranks earlier this month. JIP Representative Yoshimura Hirofumi told reporters that he spoke with LDP leader Takaichi Sanae by phone Monday morning, and that’s when they made the deal. Yoshimura said, “This morning, I called LDP President Takaichi Sanae and said, “I agree to form a coalition. Let’s move Japan forward together.”
2. A five-day Grand Sumo Tournament in London has concluded in a victory for Yokozuna Grand Champion Hoshoryu. Hoshoryu faced Yokozuna Grand Champion Onosato on Sunday, the final day of the tournament at the Royal Albert Hall. Both had won four consecutive bouts. Hoshoryu triumphed over Onosato by okuridashi – or rear push out – prompting resounding applause from fans.
3. Japan’s Empress Emerita Michiko turned 91 years old on Monday. The Imperial Household Agency says the Empress Emerita has been recovering from a leg injury she suffered when she fell at her residence in October last year. The agency says she also carefully supports the daily life of Emperor Emeritus Akihito, who has chronic heart disease, and visited him every day when he was hospitalized.

1. Finance officials from the Group of 20 economies say that disruptions to global supply chains pose a potential risk to growth.
2. Japan’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party and the opposition Japan Innovation Party have held talks over forming a possible coalition government.
3. People in northeastern Japan are on the alert after a series of bear attacks. The incidents have occurred in places where people lead their daily lives or go to relax.

1. US news website Axios says Israel has warned the administration of US President Donald Trump that the Gaza peace plan could stall if Hamas does not return the remains of dead Israeli hostages. Axios quoted Israeli and US officials as saying Israel told Washington on Wednesday that the Islamic group is not doing enough to recover the bodies, and the Gaza deal cannot move into the next phase until that changes.
2. Sumo fans in Europe and elsewhere are gathering at the Royal Albert Hall in central London for a rare overseas tournament. Sumo rikishi, or wrestlers, have flown out of Japan for a tournament abroad for the first time in 20 years, while London is hosting a sumo tournament for the first time in 34 years. The five-day Grand Sumo Tournament kicked off on Wednesday.
3. Japan’s political maneuvering has intensified ahead of the Diet vote on the country’s next prime minister. The ruling Liberal Democratic Party has asked the opposition Japan Innovation Party, or JIP, to support its candidate and join the ruling coalition. Political party leaders have held a series of meetings since Komeito announced last week it was withdrawing from the ruling coalition. Noda Yoshihiko, the head of the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan, or CDP, met his opposition counterparts from the JIP and the Democratic Party for the People, to seek cooperation to field a unified opposition candidate.

1. A survey by Japan’s labor ministry has found that the increase in average wages hit a record high this year since record-keeping began in its current form in 1999.
2. In the latest NHK poll, 52 percent of respondents said they have expectations for the newly elected leader of Japan’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party, Takaichi Sanae, while 44 percent said they do not.
3. The International Monetary Fund raised its global economic growth forecast for this year, saying US import tariffs have had limited effect so far. But it warns the tariffs and resulting trade tensions still pose significant risks to overall economic stability.

1. The head of the United Nations refugee agency is hopeful that the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip will help to achieve a lasting peace. UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi spoke to NHK during his visit to Japan on Monday. He said that as the former head of the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, UNRWA, he was “very, very relieved and happy” about the ceasefire, which he called a “breakthrough.”
2. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has condemned the Chinese Communist Party for recently detaining dozens of leaders of the unrecognized Zion Church in China. In a statement issued on Sunday, Rubio called for the immediate release of the detained church leaders. According to Weiquanwang, a website that supports human rights activities in China, since October 9 about 30 members of the church have either been detained or gone missing.
3. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said he hopes to visit Washington for talks with US President Donald Trump on Friday. The topics at the summit are likely to include the possible provision of Tomahawk cruise missiles from the United States to Ukraine.

1. The Israeli government has announced that some of the living hostages held by Hamas in the Gaza Strip have been released and handed over to the International Committee of the Red Cross. The Israeli military says seven hostages have been freed on Monday. This follows a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas that took effect on Friday under a plan proposed by US President Donald Trump. More hostages are expected to be released later in the day. The freed hostages will later be reunited with their families.
2. The Smithsonian Institution has temporarily closed its museums in Washington DC amid the US government shutdown. The Smithsonian had used prior-year funds to remain open since the shutdown began on October 1. But it decided to temporarily close the museums from Sunday, as the shutdown drags on.
3. The 2025 World Expo in Osaka will close on Monday with a ceremony to be attended by Crown Prince and Princess Akishino, Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru and other dignitaries. The Expo opened in April, centering on the theme, “Designing Future Society for Our Lives.” A total of 158 countries and territories as well as seven international organizations have been taking part. The closing ceremony will begin at 2:00 p.m. at the exhibition’s venue on the artificial island of Yumeshima.

1. The US Geological Survey says a magnitude 7.4 earthquake has struck near the southern Philippine island of Mindanao. Officials say there is not longer a threat of tsunami.
2. Russian President Vladimir Putin said his country was responsible for shooting down an Azerbaijan Airlines plane that killed 38 people last year. He said the crash was a “tragedy,” and that technical failures in the Russian air defense system were to blame. Putin made the remark at a meeting with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev on Thursday.
3. Hungarian author Laszlo Krasznahorkai has been named the winner of this year’s Nobel Prize in Literature. The 71-year-old writer was born in Hungary and studied law and literature at university.

1. The Israeli government is expected to convene a Cabinet meeting on Thursday afternoon to formally approve a ceasefire and hostage release deal with the Islamic group Hamas. The two sides agreed to the first phase of the US-proposed peace plan for the Gaza Strip in the latest round of indirect talks that began in Egypt on Monday. Egypt is one of the mediators for the negotiations. US President Donald Trump announced on social media on Wednesday that Israel and Hamas had both signed off on the first phase of his peace plan.
2. Japanese scientist Kitagawa Susumu, one of the winners of this year’s Nobel Prize in Chemistry, says he hopes to tell people in an easy-to-understand way about the molecular materials he has created. Kitagawa and two other scientists were selected for the prize on Wednesday. They were recognized for developing “a new form of molecular architecture” by making new substances with extremely tiny holes. The substances are called metal-organic frameworks.
3. Real wages in Japan are down for the eighth straight month as price rises continue to outpace pay growth. Preliminary data released by the labor ministry on Wednesday show inflation-adjusted pay in August fell by 1.4 percent from the same month last year.

1. Japan posted a current account surplus for the seventh straight month in August. That’s largely due to a drop in prices for energy imports, such as crude oil and natural gas.
2. NHK has learned that a hacker group has claimed responsibility for the theft of data from Japanese beer and beverage giant Asahi Group Holdings. Asahi has been suffering a major system outage since September 29 due to a ransomware cyberattack. Its group companies in Japan became unable to process orders, ship their products or handle inquiries from customers.
3. Children on an island in Nagasaki Prefecture, southwestern Japan, have been going door to door collecting sweet potatoes and treats in a local custom to mark the mid-autumn harvest moon. The tradition has been passed down for many years in Tomiemachi in Goto City. Children visit homes chanting “Imowa-mandakana”, which means “Are the potatoes ready?”

1. Japanese scientist Sakaguchi Shimon has expressed hope that his winning of the Nobel Prize will lead to further progress in studies of the immune system. Sakaguchi and two American scientists were named winners of this year’s Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine on Monday. They were honored for their groundbreaking achievements in immunology, including the discovery of regulatory T cells that prevent immune cells from attacking the body.
2. Students and staff at the University of Osaka have celebrated the awarding of the Nobel Prize to scientist Sakaguchi Shimon, who serves there as a specially appointed professor.
3. A study by a global organization shows that elementary and junior high school teachers in Japan work the longest hours in the world. The Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development released the results of its 2024 survey on Tuesday. The study showed that while elementary school teachers around the world worked an average of 40.4 hours a week, those in Japan stayed on the job for 52.1 hours. That was followed by New Zealand at 50.6 hours and Australia at 46.3 hours.

1. US President Donald Trump has pressed the Islamic group Hamas to accept the 20-point ceasefire plan he announced last week. Trump replied “Complete obliteration!” when asked by CNN via text message on Saturday what would happen if Hamas insists on staying in power in the Gaza Strip.
2. There is just one week to go until the World Expo in Osaka draws to a close. Organizers are bracing for a surge in last-minute traffic. They are also looking ahead to preserve the legacy of the 6-month event.
3. The Nobel Prize winners for 2025 are set to be announced this week. The prizes were created by dynamite inventor Afred Nobel. They are awarded to people who have conferred the greatest benefit to humankind during the preceding year.

1. The US federal government shutdown has entered its second day while the Republicans and the opposition Democrats remain at odds over the budget for the new fiscal year.
2. European leaders have reaffirmed their commitment to work with Ukraine in countering Russian drone incursions.
3. Electric vehicle giant Tesla says its global deliveries hit a record high in the quarter ended September, driven by US orders before the expiry of EV tax credits last month.

1. The mother of a Japanese woman abducted to North Korea has urged the government to take action for the immediate return of all abduction victims, ahead of her daughter’s 61st birthday. Yokota Sakie spoke to reporters on Thursday three days before the birthday of Megumi. Megumi was kidnapped by North Korean agents on her way home from a junior high school in Niigata City on the coast of Sea of Japan on November 15, 1977. She was then 13 years old.
2. NHK has found that at least 100 fires in Japan in the roughly three and a half years to August are believed to have been caused by recalled products containing lithium-ion batteries.
3. The Tokyo Metropolitan Government is trying to expand the number of hunters, and help them improve their skills, in response to threats posed by bears. Multiple Asian black bear sightings have been reported in the Japanese capital this year, especially in the mountainous areas of western Tokyo.

1. The US government has entered a partial shutdown from early Wednesday as the federal budget expired without new legislation being passed. The partial closure is the first in about seven years since December 2018 during President Donald Trump’s first term. His Republican Party and the Democratic Party clashed over funding for the construction of a wall along the US-Mexico border.
2. Japanese retail giant Aeon is tapping technology to improve efficiency as labor costs rise. Japan’s minimum wage hikes for fiscal 2025 started to kick in on Wednesday, adding to the company’s overheads for its 400,000 part-time workers nationwide. Aeon’s supermarket subsidiary started use of a hand-held device in June to speed up restocking of shelves. The device reads bar codes to tell a staffer where a product is displayed in a store. The company says this assists workers who are unfamiliar with the floor layout. Aeon plans to introduce the device at all of its outlets in Japan next fiscal year. Officials say efficiency gains will give it room to further increase wages.
3. A closely-watched survey of business sentiment in Japan shows a slight improvement among major manufacturers for the second straight quarter. The Bank of Japa’s latest “Tankan” survey was released on Wednesday. The sentiment index for manufacturers came in at plus 14. That is 1 point higher than in the previous poll. A positive number indicates there are more companies feeling optimistic about business conditions than pessimistic. Sentiment improved at nine of the 16 manufacturing sectors monitored.

1. Some US government offices may close from Wednesday as Republicans and Democrats remain divided over federal funding. Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer said they made proposals to the president on health care, which they think the American people are for. He said if the president will accept some of the things they asked for, a shutdown can be avoided. He said, “but there are still large differences between us.”
2. The Bank of Japan left interest rates unchanged in September, but a summary of the meeting shows more policymakers are leaning toward a rate hike in the near future. Two policymakers at the meeting did propose raising the central bank’s policy rate, but they were overvoted. However, the summary shows other policymakers indicated the bank will need to soon consider hiking interest rates.
3. Japanese beverage maker Suntory Spirits says it will change its mainstay beer-like drinks to regular beer to tap demand for beer that is expected to grow thanks to a tax. Suntory announced on Monday that the change of its Kinmugi brand will take place in or after October 2026.

1. The organizer of the 2025 World Expo in Osaka says the number of visitors has exceeded the break-even point with 15 days remaining before the event closes. The organizer announced on Sunday that preliminary data shows that the number of ticketed visitors surpassed 22 million on Saturday. That figure has been seen as the number needed to avoid a loss.
2. Yokozuna Onosato clinched his fifth sumo title on Sunday after defeating fellow grand champion Hoshuryu in a playoff.
3. US Vice President JD Vance says the United States is considering supplying Ukraine with Tomahawk cruise missiles, which have a long-range capacity that can reach the Russian capital Moscow from Ukraine.

1. US President Donald Trump has held talks with Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and called on him to stop buying Russian oil. Trump appears to be aiming for a breakthrough in Russia’s invasion of Ukraine by obtaining Turkey’s cooperation. The country is a NATO member, but also geographically near Russia and Ukraine, and has close relations with both of them.
2. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has told an American news outlet he has received support from the US. He said President Donald Trump backs him up carrying out retaliatory strikes against Russian energy targets and arms factories. News site Axios released the interview on Thursday. In it, Zelenskyy said Ukrainian forces are seeking additional long-range weaponry from Washington and that, if they get it, they “will use it.” He added that this should serve as a warning to leaders in Moscow. Zelenskyy said, “They have to know where their bomb shelters are. If they will not stop the war, they will need it in any case.”
3. Ukrainian officials have appealed for Japanese investment in defense and other industries to help the country rebuild from the destruction caused by Russian attacks. Organizations including the Ukrainian Chamber of Commerce in Japan held an investment forum in Tokyo on Thursday. A senior official of the Ukrainian government’s investment promotion office outlined forms of preferential treatment, such as one related to corporate taxation. The deputy of Ukraine’s Sumy regional council stressed that investment will be needed in various fields to revitalize the economy after the fighting ends.

1. Syria’s interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa has called for the lifting of all sanctions to support the country’s reconstruction. He made the remarks at a speech Wednesday at the United Nations General Assembly. Syrian and other media say he is the first Syrian leader to address the assembly in 58 years.
2. The Japan International Cooperation Agency, or JICA, says it will withdraw an exchange program between Japanese municipalities and African nations due to a continuing backlash from misinformation. JICA officials told reporters that incorrect information is still circulating, and protest phone calls and emails are becoming an excessive burden for the municipalities.
3. An apartment fire in Tokyo has sent six people to hospitals. Police and firefighters believe the blaze was sparked by a mobile battery charger. Police and others say a resident of the five-story building in Suginami Ward reported that a battery charger erupted in flames, shortly before 2:00 a.m. on Thursday.

1. Japan’s Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru has called for a reform of the United Nations Security Council, and indicated Japan may recognize Palestinian statehood if Israel takes further actions to block a “two-state solution.”
2. US President Donald Trump said NATO countries should shoot down Russian aircraft if they violate NATO airspace. His comment came after Russian fighters and military drones have entered the NATO airspace in recent weeks.
3. Japan Air Self-Defense Force F-15 fighter jets have arrived at an air base in Germany for defense exchanges. F-15 fighter jets have been dispatched to the United States, Canada, Britain and Germany from September 14 to October 1. Germany is the last destination. The mission is designed to strengthen cooperation with the countries through defense exchanges.

1. Russia has been condemned at an emergency UN Security Council meeting for its alleged violation of Estonian airspace.
2. Japanese Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru is on his way to New York to attend the UN General Assembly.
3. French President Emmanuel Macron said that France recognizes Palestinian statehood during a speech at the United Nations in New York on Monday.

1. The race to lead Japan’s main ruling Liberal Democratic Party has officially kicked off. Five lawmakers filed their candidacy papers on Monday morning in the hopes of succeeding Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru. Here are the candidates: Former Economic Security Minister Kobayashi Takayuki, the party’s former Secretary-General Motegi Toshimitsu, Chief Cabinet Secretary Hayashi Yoshimasa, former Economic Security Minister Takaishi Sanae, and Agriculture Minister Koizumi Shinjiro.
2. US President Donald Trump has appealed to conservative supporters for solidarity at a memorial service for political activist Charlie Kirk. Kirk was shot and killed during a campus event at a university in the western state of Utah on September 10, allegedly by a 22-year-old male. Kirk was a leading inspiration for pro-Trump MAGA youth.
3. Britain, Canada, Australia and Portugal have officially recognized Palestine as a state. Their announcements on Sunday came while the humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip continues to further deteriorate.

1. The Bank of Japan says it will keep its benchmark interest rate unchanged at around half a percent.
2. The organizer of the 2025 World Expo in Osaka says the number of general visitors has surpassed 20 million. The Expo opened in April and runs until October 13.
3. US broadcaster ABC’s decision to suspend the late-night talk show “Jimmy Kimmel Live” for comments on the death of a political activist that has sparked a debate about government pressure on the media and free speech.

1. US President Donald Trump received the royal treatment on his trip to the United Kingdom on Wednesday. He is the only American president to be hosted for two state visits in modern history. Trump and First Lady Melania were welcomed by King Charles III and Queen Camilla at Windsor Castle. The king hosted a lavish state banquet for Trump at the ancient castle outside London.
2. Policymakers at the US Federal Reserve have cut their benchmark interest rate for the first time this year. They approved a cut of 0.25 percentage points on Wednesday following their two-day policy meeting. The Fed’s target rate range is now between 4 and 4.25 percent. It is the first time policymakers have lowered rates in President Donald Trump’s current term, and the decision comes after steady pressure from Trump for a cut.
3. Higher stock prices are driving up financial assets held by individuals in Japan. The Bank of Japan says the total value hit an all-time high at the end of June.

1. A senior official of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, or NATO, says the alliance is looking at ways to counter unmanned aircraft, other than shooting them down with fighter jets. The official made the plan known on Tuesday. On September 9 and 10, 19 unmanned Russian aircraft violated Poland’s airspace. Fighter jets from NATO member countries intercepted some of the drones.
2. A sustained rise in Japan’s land prices has started to attract younger buyers, with an increasing number of them looking to pick up condominiums as investment properties. A survey by the ministry of land shows average prices nationwide as of July 1st climbed 1.5 percent year on year. Gains accelerated in the Tokyo and Osaka metropolitan areas.
3. American actor and director Robert Redford has died. He was 89. US media say Redfort passed away at his home in the western state of Utah on Tuesday. Redford played a con man in “The Sting,” and went on to firmly establish himself as one of the finest actors of his time with his portrayal of a journalist in “All the President’s Men.”

1. Japan’s transport safety authority is looking into whether a false alarm caused a United Airlines plane to make an emergency landing last week. The US carrier’s Boeing 737 took off from Narita Airport near Tokyo and was heading for Cebu in the Philippines when the cockpit received a warning indicating a fire in the cargo hold. The plane made an emergency landing at Kansai International Airport in Osaka. Five passengers sustained minor injuries during evacuation.
2. The US will lower tariffs on cars imported from Japan to 15 percent starting on Tuesday. The US Commerce Department released a document on the change on Monday. The new rate was calculated by halving the current 25 percent tariff to 12.5 percent, and adding the existing 2.5 percent levy. The reduced amount matchers the baseline rate that will be applied to most other goods from Japan.
3. A traditional sumo dance dedicated to Shinto gods was performed at Suwa Taisha shrine in Nagano Prefecture, central Japan. Local residents stage the dance every year on September 15 at the shrine’s Kamisha site. On Monday, 11 men in their 20s through 40s sang a traditional sumo song and danced in the courtyard outside the Honmiya worship hall.

1. A hot spring in western Japan is marking Respect For the Aged Day on September 15 by floating wood boards in the baths that bear messages from children to seniors. The boards are about 9 centimeters in diameter. Ones with messages such as “stay fit forever” were put in the men’s open-air bath. Bathers were reading them, while taking in the aroma of cypress.
2. Senior government officials from the United States and China have begun a new round of trade talks in Spain with a focus on the sale of Tik Tok’s American operations. In previous rounds, the US and China slashed additional tariffs that they had imposed on each other, and suspended some of the tariffs until November while they continue talks.
3. A large-scale anti-immigration protest took place in London on Saturday, capping more than a week of demonstrations across Britain. According to British media, over 30,000 asylum seekers were being housed in around 200 hotels in England and Wales as of the end of March. Tensions escalated in July after an Ethiopian asylum seeker staying at a hotel in Essex, southeast England, was charged with sexual assault and other offences.

1. Japan’s Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru and Portuguese Prime Minister Luis Montenegro have pledged to further develop economic relations between the two countries.
2. Japan says it has compiled a joint statement on foreign exchange policy with the United States. It follows the signing of a document on US tariffs by the two countries. Japanese Finance Minister Kato Katsunobu announced on Friday that he and US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent reaffirmed that exchange rates should be determined by markets.
3. Brazil’s Supreme Court has sentenced former President Jair Bolsonaro to 27 years and three months in prison for plotting a coup to overturn the results of the 2022 presidential election.

1. A conservative political activist and influential ally of US President Donald Trump has been shot dead in the western state of Utah. Charlie Kirk was attending an event on a university campus when he was shot by an unidentified attacker at around noon on Wednesday. Kirk was taken to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
2. A former economic security minister of Japan’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party, Kobayashi Takayuki, has announced that he will run in the LDP’s leadership election. The race comes after Japan’s prime minister announced his decision to resign. Kobayashi held a policy study session on Thursday afternoon to exchange views on the party’s presidential election.
3. Atmospheric conditions have become extremely unstable in wide areas due mainly to an autumn rain front, bringing heavy rain to western Japan and the Kanto-Koshin region. Downpours also fell in Tokyo.

1. One person was confirmed dead on Tuesday in the wake of the intense tornado that struck central Japan’s Shizuoka Prefecture last week. More than 1,800 houses were damaged. Some were flooded by rain from the tropical storm that approached last Friday. Gusty winds and heavy rain were reported across a large swath of the prefecture.
2. The International Atomic Energy Agency and Iran have agreed on “practical modalities” for resuming inspections of nuclear facilities in the country. IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi and Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi met I Egypt on Tuesday.
3. French President Emmanuel Macron has appointed the former defense minister, Sebastien Lecornu, as the new prime minister following the resignation of the Cabinet. The previous prime minister, Francois Bayrou, and his Cabinet stepped down after he lost a confidence vote in the lower house of parliament.

1. Japan’s main ruling Liberal Democratic Party will hold its leadership election with voting open to both Diet lawmakers and rank-and-file members across the nation. The LDP’s General Council decided on this format on Tuesday. Calls had been raised within the party for the views of all members to be heard in order to revive the LDP.
2. Japan’s opposition parties have agreed to demand that an extraordinary session of the Diet be convened soon to avoid creating a political vacuum after Prime Minister and current LDP President Ishiba Shigeru announced his decision to step down as party president. The ruling Liberal Democratic Party is arranging a party leadership election to choose a new party president.
3. A research institute in Japan says the number of people infected so far this year with a disease transmitted mainly by ticks has reached a record high. Severe Fever with Thrombocytopenia Syndrome, or SFTS, can cause a reduction in blood platelets, hemorrhaging or unconsciousness. The health ministry says from 10 percent to 30 percent of cases are fatal.

1. Japan’s Prince Hisahito, the son of Crown Prince and Princess Akishino and the second in line to the throne, has visited Ise Jingu shrine in central Japan. He went to the shrine in Mie Prefecture on Monday to report that he had completed his coming-of-age ceremony at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo on Saturday.
2. Revised government data show Japan’s economy grew faster than initially estimated in the April-June quarter, thanks mainly to brisk private consumption. The Cabinet Office says inflation-adjusted gross domestic product rose 2.2 percent in annualized terms in the period, up from a preliminary reading of 1.0 percent. On a quarter-on-quarter basis, real GDP grew a revised 0.5 percent.
3. Japan’s main ruling Liberal Democratic Party plans to discuss how to choose its new leader after Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru announced his decision to step down. Former LDP Secretary-General Motegi Toshimitsu has announced to run in the leadership race. Ishiba said sat Sunday’s news conference he thought now is the right time for him to step aside as negotiations on US tariff measures have achieved a significant step, and it is time to pass the baton to his successor.

September 5, Friday, 2025
1. US President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Thursday to implement a trade deal with Japan that includes import tariffs. Japan’s trade negotiator Akazawa Ryosei and US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick signed documents the same day to formalize the agreement.
2. Washington D.C. has filed a lawsuit against US President Donald Trump’s administration over the deployment of National Guard Troops in the district.
3. Twenty-six countries have pledged to send troops to Ukraine as a “reassurance force” after the fighting with Russia is finished.

1. Japanese weather officials say a tropical storm is moving north over waters south of the Kyushu region and bringing intermittent heavy rain as it approaches southern Kyushu. Tropical Storm Peipah is expected to travel along the Pacific coast in western and eastern Japan through Friday. Rainfall may accumulate mainly in areas along the Pacific, raising the risk of mudslides and flooding in low-lying areas.
2. Japanese Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru has welcomed the recent moves by Armenia and Azelbaijan to end conflict and achieve peace. Ishiba met with Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan for about 40 minutes in Tokyo on Thursday. The meeting comes after Armenia and Azerbaijan signed a joint declaration for peace last month that was brokered by US President Donald Trump.
3. Police in Kanagawa Prefecture, south of Tokyo, have admitted mistakes in dealing with a stalking case that led to the murder of a 20-year-old woman. The Kanagawa Prefectural Police on Thursday released a report on its review of how officers responded to the complaints from the woman that she was being stalked. The report says the police systems for handling stalking cases had become a mere formality and failed to function.

1. Officials in Hokkaido, northern Japan, have called for a halt to the construction of a major solar-power generation project near the country’s biggest wetland. Prefectural officials notified the Osaka-based developer on Tuesday. They cited its failure to obtain approval from the governor of Hokkaido before starting the work.
2. The price of gold has reached record highs in Japan as investors turn to the precious metal amid speculation that the US Federal Reserve will soon cut interest rates. Gold futures for delivery in August 2026 reached an all-time high of 16,785 yen, or roughly 112 dollars, per gram at the Osaka Exchange on Tuesday.
3. Major mobile phone carriers in Japan are raising their basic fees to cover soaring electricity costs and other expenses, but they are also providing users with additional services at the same time.

1. The latest survey by Japan’s agriculture ministry shows rice prices fell for the first time in three weeks in August. The decline came as more supplies of lower-priced grain from government stockpiles reached store shelves.
2. Scorching heat gripped wide areas of Japan again on Tuesday. Weather officials warn that the mercury may approach 40 degrees Celsius in some inland areas of the Kanto region in the afternoon.
3. North Korean media say the nation’s leader Kim Jong Un has left the country and crossed the border into China. The Korean Central News Agency reported that Kim left North Korea on Monday on a special train to attend events including a large-scale military parade in Beijing. Chinese officials say the parade on Wednesday is to mark the 80th anniversary of China’s victory over Japan at the end of World War Two.

1. Monday is Disaster Prevention Day in Japan. The government staged an anti-disaster drill based on the scenario of a massive earthquake striking the Nankai Trough off Japan’s Pacific coast. September 1 commemorates the 1923 Great Kanto Earthquake, which left more than 100,000 people dead and missing in and around Tokyo. This year’s drill assumed a magnitude 9,1 quake had occurred off Wakayama Prefecture, western Japan. It supposed that violent jolts had struck many regions in western and eastern Japan with a major tsunami warning issued mainly for areas along the Pacific.
2. Weather officials in Japan are forecasting another sweltering day in much of the country in much of the country on Monday, with temperatures expected to soar to dangerous levels in the regions of Kanto-Koshin, Tokai, Hokuriku, and Kinki. The mercury rose to 40 degrees Celsius in Nagoya on Sunday. It was the ninth day this year that highs in the country have hit 40 degrees or more, and marks a new annual record.
3. Russia’s attacks on towns and cities across Ukraine have neighborhoods into rubble and left behind millions of tons of debris. One Japanese company sees reconstruction hopes in the devastation and has started a project to turn the war waste into materials to help rebuild Ukraine. Tagawa Sangyo in Fukuoka Prefecture specializes in making plaster and has teamed up with the UN Development Programme and a Turkish construction company.

1. Tokyo’s consumer inflation slowed in August, mainly due to resumption of government subsidies on household electricity and gas bills.
2. Four of Japan’s major automakers reported year-on-year increases in US sales in July, mostly led by demand for hybrid and plug-in models. Toyota says its sales jumped nearly 20 percent to more than 218,000 vehicles. Honda sold about 121,000 models, up 0.2 percent, while Subaru delivered 54,000 vehicles, a gain of about 4.5 percent. Mazda saw sales rise 13 percent to just above 45,000 units.
3. Police in the Philippines suspect that at least eight people were involved in the recent killings of two Japanese men in Manila.

1. The Motion Picture Producers Association of Japan has chosen a movie set in the world of kabuki, titled “Kokuho,” as Japan’s contender for the Best International Feature Film category at next year’s Academy Awards. “Kokuho,” which means national treasure, portrays the life and career of a kabuki performer. Born into a yakuza family and later adopted b a kabuki actor, he dedicates his life to the stage and ultimately achieves recognition as a living national treasure. The film is based on a novel by Yoshida Shuichi.
2. Tokyo police say a man riding in a Shinkansen bullet train sustained a slight burn on Thursday morning when he tried to stop smoke from spewing out of a battery charger that was in his suitcase.
3. China says 26 foreign leaders, including Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, are expected to attend the Victory Day military parade in Beijing next Wednesday.

1. Japanese weather officials say temperatures are expected to surge across much of the country on Wednesday, especially in inland areas north of Tokyo. They say people should take thorough precautions against heatstroke.
2. Suzuki Motor has started shipping its first fully electric sport-utility vehicle built in India. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke about the battery-powered model at the Japanese carmaker’s factory ceremony in the western state of Gujarat. “From today, electric vehicles made in India will be exported to 100 countries,” said Modi.
3. Arrangements are underway for Japan’s Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru and his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi to forge an agreement to aim for an exchange of more than 500,000 people between the two countries over the next five years. One of the major topics will likely be expanding people-to-people exchanges. Japan plans to accept 50,000 people from India. It expects that highly skilled personnel, particularly in science and engineering, will help promote Japana’s economic growth and regional revitalization.

1. Japan’s top government spokesperson has made clear that the designation of several Japanese cities as Africa “hometowns” is not aimed at promoting immigration from African countries. The Japan International Cooperation Agency, or JICA, designated four cities as Africa “hometowns” last week, while an African development conference was underway in Yokohama, near Tokyo.
2. United States Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick says a trade deal with Japan that includes a 550-billion-dollar investment in the US will be announced later this week. Lutnick said on Fox News on Monday that they need to make semiconductors and antibiotics in America and that they also need rare earths. He said President Donald Trump will have 550 billion dollars at hand and will be able to invest in those areas.
3. A city in central Japan has drafted an ordinance seeking to limit people’s use of smartphones and other devices to two hours a day outside their work and studies. The Toyoake City government in Aichi Prefecture submitted the proposal to a municipal assembly session on Monday. City officials say it is the first stature in Japan to suggest a screen time cap for all residents in the city.

1. The foreign ministers of the Group of Seven nations have discussed the situation in Ukraine and urged Russia to engage “sincerely and promptly” in peace negotiations without preconditions. Ukraine declared its independence from the former Soviet Union on August 24 in 1991. Sunday also marked three-and-a-half years since Russia began its invasion of Ukraine.
2. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has expressed support for security guarantees for Ukraine and indicated that Canada may send troops to the country after a ceasefire with Russia. Carney visited the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv, on Sunday, the anniversary of Ukraine’s 1991 independence from the former Soviet Union. Carney said Canada is working with its allies and Ukraine on “the modalities of those security guarantees on land, in the air and the sea.”
3. Russia’s top diplomat says a group of nations, including the permanent members of the United Nations Security Council, should guarantee Ukraine’s security after the current conflict ends. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov made the remark in an interview with US media outlet NBC News, broadcast on Sunday.

1. Tropical Storm Lingling has turned into a tropical depression, but the risk of landslides and flooding from heavy rainfall remains as the system is moving slowly.
2. The leaders of Japan and India are expected to agree to create a new economic security framework during their summit slated for next week.
3. The United States and Europe are taking steps to implement a new trade agreement. That comes after US President Donald Trump and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen reached a deal on tariffs last month.

1. Japanese weather officials say Tropical Storm Lingling has made landfall on the country’s southwestern region of Kyushu. They say southern parts of Kyushu are being hit by intermittent downpours. Officials warn that bands of heavy rainclouds could form over Kagoshima Prefecture, excluding the Amami region, from Thursday evening through Friday evening, sharply increasing the risks of disasters.
2. A Japanese government survey has shown that local authorities will request at least 520,000 people to evacuate for a week to brace for a potential tsunami if Nankai Trough Earthquake temporary information is issued for a possible mega-quake occurring along the Pacific. If an earthquake of magnitude 8 or stronger occurs in the Nankai Trough quake’s expected hypocenter areas, the government will issue a huge earthquake caution. Municipalities will then ask residents in areas designated as difficult-to-evacuate in time to take refuge for a week in advance.
3. As Japan faces a shrinking workforce, businesses and politicians are looking overseas for talent – and one of the regions they’re looking to is Africa. That’s been a topic of discussion at the three-day Tokyo International Conference on African Development, or TICAD, currently underway in Yokohama.

1. Researchers say climate change may be affecting the winter foraging behavior of wild snow monkeys in Japan. A team of researchers, including those from the University of Tsukuba, in Ibaraki Prefecture, and Shinshu University located in Nagano Prefecture, analyzed footage shot by NHK for a nature program, and DNA samples from the feces of Japanese macaques.
2. People in western Japan have reported seeing what appeared to be a ball of light falling from the sky on Tuesday night. One expert says it was an exceptionally bright meteor known as a fireball. Many people in Kagoshima and Miyazaki prefectures posted on social media that they had seen a ball of light in the sky at around 11 p.m.
3. US President Donald Trump has said the United States will not send ground troops to Ukraine for security guarantees after a ceasefire, but suggested a possibility of providing air support.

1. US President Donald Trump wrapped up meetings in Washington with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and his European counterparts. He said he will set up a meeting between the Ukrainian and Russian leaders. Trump posted on social media at the end of the meetings at the White House, saying, “I called President Putin, and began arrangements for a meeting, at a location to be determined, between President Putin and President Zelenskyy.” Trump also commented on the talks with European leaders and Zelenskyy. He said, “We discussed Security Guarantees for Ukraine, which Guarantees would be provided by the various Europeans countries, with a coordination with the United States of America.”
2. US President Donald Trump welcomed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to the White House for ceasefire talks with him and European leaders on Monday. They said security guarantees would be on the table. It was Zelenskyy’s first visit to the Oval Office since their February meeting, which devolved into a heated argument. The talks came on the heels of Trump’s Alaska summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday. Before beginning the bilateral meeting, Trump told reporters that the wanted to make sure there will be a lasting peace, and he hoped it will be “immediately.”
3. Police in the Philippines said on Monday that they had detained two suspects in connection with the recent fatal shooting of two Japanese men in Manila. The pair were shot by a man who approached them when they got out of a taxi on Friday night in the capital. Both of them died. The shooter reportedly took the victims’ belongings and fled on a motorcycle. The police say they are looking into the relationship between the two suspects and what motive they could have had.

1. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is in Washington for talks with US President Donald Trump and European leaders about ending Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
2. Police and Japan’s Coast Guard are tightening security at a distinct in Yokohama City, near Tokyo, where the Tokyo International Conference on African Development, or TICAD, is to be held later this week.
3. Two Japanese men were shot dead after getting out of a taxi in the Philippine capital Manila on Friday.

1. Japan’s economy grew at an annualized rate of 1.0 percent from April to June, marking the fifth straight quarterly expansion.
2. Worshipers lite about 100,000 candles to pray for their ancestors at a sacred mountain in Wakayama Prefecture, western Japan. Mount Koya, or Koyasan, is registered as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
3. A drill simulating shooting wild bears　that　have　appeared　in　populated　areas　was　held　in　Sapporo　City　in　the　northernmost　prefecture of Hokkaido on Thursday.

1. Renowned Japanese tea master Sen Genshitsu, who made a valuable contribution to the development of tea ceremony culture in Japan and overseas, died on Thursday. He was 102. Sen was born in Kyoto as the eldest son of the 14th head of the Urasenke School of tea ceremony. He headed the school for nearly 40 years from 1964 to 2002. Urasenke is one of Japan’s major schools for tea ceremony.
2. Japan’s Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru has called on the leaders of Western countries to unify in efforts to realize an early ceasefire and peace in Ukraine. During an online meeting on Wednesday night through Thursday morning Japan time, he expressed his renewed respect and solidarity for the Ukrainian people who are facing Russian attacks on a daily basis. He urged the other leaders to act in a unified manner to bring about an early and complete ceasefire as well as fair and lasting peace.
3. The only subway line serving the venue of the 2025 World Expo in Osaka was suspended due to a power outage late on Wednesday, stranding many visitors. The suspension forced the closure of Yumeshima Station, the nearest stop to the Expo venue, leaving large crowds unable to leave.

1. NHK’s latest poll shows that more people support than oppose Japanese Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru’s plan to remain in office despite the recent setback in the Upper House election. The poll found that 49 percent of respondents supported Ishiba’s plan, 40 percent opposed it, and 11 percent said they didn’t know or gave no answer.
2. Russian President Vladimir Putin has spoken by phone with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, ahead of a summit with US President Donald Trump. The Kremlin said on Tuesday that Putin shared information with Kim about the summit planned on Friday in Alaska.
3. The White House says Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy will not join the planned summit between the US and Russian presidents on Friday. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt described the summit as a “listening exercise” for Trump. She said the goal for the president is to “walk away with a better understanding of how we can end this war.”

1. August 12 marks the 40th anniversary of a Japan Airlines jumbo jet crash that claimed over 500 lives, making it the world’s deadliest single-plane accident. The flight took off from Tokyo’s Haneda Airport on August 12, 1985, bound for Osaka but crashed into a mountain in the village of Ueno in Gunma Prefecture. A total of 520 passengers and crew members died.
2. Authorities are warning people across Japan to brace for severe rain. Downpours have already battered Kyushu, leaving at least one dead and two with no vital signs. Meteorological Agency officials say torrential rain could hit a vast area stretching from the west to the north through Wednesday. They say the risk of disasters such as landslides is rising in northern Kyushu, as well as the Chugoku and Hokuriku regions.
3. The renowned Awa Odori summer dance festival opened in the city of Tokushima on Monday with a dazzling stage performance. The five-day event began with a ceremony at a local hall, followed by performances by about 600 dancers from top troupes.

1. US Vice President JD Vance says a ceasefire agreement between Russia and Ukraine is unlikely to satisfy either side. Vance said that the Trump administration is “going to try to find some negotiated settlement that the Ukrainians and the Russians can live with, where they can live in relative peace, where the killing stops.”
2. Sources at the US Treasury Department have told NHK that Washington may lower the tariff on Japanese vehicles and other products in mid-September to the level earlier agreed with Japan. The sources disclosed that a reference point for the tariff’s reduction is set at 50 days after the two countries reached an agreement in late July.
3. The Japan Meteorological Agency has downgraded the heavy rain emergency warning for seven municipalities in Kumamoto Prefecture to a heavy rain warning or advisory. But it’s still urging people to beware of landslides, flooding and swollen rivers.

1. A lantern festival is illuminating summer nights at a shrine in Kamakura City, near Tokyo. The annual Bonbori Festival is underway at the Tsurugaoka Hachimangu shrine.
2. Japan’s chief trade negotiator says the US has agreed to amend an executive order on import tariffs to correctly reflect what the two sides agreed in recent talks.
3. US tech firm OpenAI has released an upgraded version of its generative artificial intelligence model ChatGPT, which it says can provide more accurate answers.

1. Pope Leo XIV has condemned what he called the “illusionary security” of the global nuclear deterrence system as he addressed crowds at the Vatican on the 80th anniversary of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima. Speaking in Italian, the working language of the Vatican, Leo said, “Despite the passing of the years, those tragic devastation caused by wars and, in particular, by nuclear weapons.”
2. Multiple media outlets say US President Donald Trump intends to meet with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin as early as next week. The reports said Trump also seeks to hold three-way talks including Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy shortly after the meeting with Putin.
3. Paper lanterns bearing images of women and other designs are lighting up the night at a famed summer festival in Yuzawa City, Akita Prefecture, northern Japan. The Tanabata Edoro festival is said to date back around 300 years, when a daughter of a court noble from Kyoto who married into a local family wrote her nostalgic feelings for her home on paper strips and hung them on bamboo. In this year’s festival, which began on Tuesday, about 170 lanterns with drawings in a variety of styles, including ukiyo-e, were displayed along the city’s shopping streets.

1. Temperatures in Japan are rising on Wednesday, reaching over 41 degrees Celsius in central Japan. Officials are urging the public to take thorough measures against heatstroke. The Japan Meteorological Agency says the mercury reached 41.4 degrees Celsius in Shizuoka City at 12:05 p.m. on Wednesday. It is the 7th day this year with a temperature over 40 degrees in Japan, tying the record set in 2018.
2. Four people of Japanese descent who say they were left behind in the Philippines in the chaotic conclusion of World War Two have lodged citizenship claims with Japanese courts. Eighty years on from the end of the war, there are still about 50 such people in the Philippines pursuing citizenship claims in Japan.
3. Authorities have begun an investigation into a fire that broke out on two barges at a seaside fireworks festival in the city of Yokohama, near Tokyo. At the festival on Monday, two of the eight barges used to launch fireworks from the ocean caught fire, prompting fireworks to explode one after another on the barges. The fire was confirmed to have been extinguished about 15 hours after it started.

1. Japan’s agriculture minister says businesses have withdrawn applications to buy nearly 10 percent of the rice they had sought from government stockpiles in no-bid contracts. Koizumi Shinjiro, the minister, said on Tuesday that applications for about 29,000 tons of government reserves had been withdrawn as of August 1.
2. A traditional Japanese archery event was held in Nikko, a popular tourist destination north of Tokyo, to honor a legendary archer and feudal warrior. The late 12th-century warrior Nasu no Yoichi, who belonged to the Minamoto clan, is said to have shot an arrow at a fan placed on a small boat at sea in a battle with the rival Heike clan. The event is based on a legend that the warrior prayed to a shrine in what is now Nikko for success in hitting the target.
3. A seaside fireworks festival in the city of Yokohama, near Tokyo, was thrown into chaos on Monday evening after a fire broke out on launch barges. Police received calls from people saying the two barges used to launch fireworks were burning. The festival took place in the city’s Minatomirai district. Five workers jumped into the sea and were rescued. One of them sustained minor injuries.

1. Authorities have confirmed that dozens of people who died during June and July in the main 23 wards of Tokyo are suspected to have died from heatstroke. The Tokyo Metropolitan Medical Examiner’s Office released preliminary figures on Monday. Officials say 56 people are believed to have died from heat-related causes between June 16 and end of July. More than two-thirds of them were found to have refrained from using air condition, despite having such systems installed.
2. A police investigation suggests that the four workers who died after falling into a manhole in Saitama Prefecture, north of Tokyo, succumbed to hydrogen sulfide poisoning and asphyxiation. The male workers, all in their 50s, were inspecting a sewage pipe in Gyoda city on Saturday. Police say the believe one of them fell in first, and the rest followed while trying to recue him. All of them were later confirmed dead.
3. Japan’s Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru says he will do all he can to urge US President Donald Trump to quickly sign an executive order to cut auto tariffs, following last month’s agreement between the two countries.

1. Severe Tropical Storm Krosa could approach Japan’s Kanto region, including Tokyo on Saturday. Weather officials are warning of high waves and risks from heavy rain.
2. Japan’s Diet convened for an extraordinary session on Friday. Emperor Naruhito attended the opening ceremony which began at 2:00 p.m. at the Upper House. Lower House Speaker Nukaga Fukushiro said that an extraordinary session of the Diet has been convened, following the Upper House election, and lawmakers must respond to various situations in and out of the country with renewed determination.
3. US President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Thursday, increasing tariffs on imports from dozens of countries, including Japan. The administration says the new rates will go into effect from midnight August 7.

1. Japanese eel restaurants were busy on Thursday as it marked this year’s second midsummer Day of the Ox. Eating eel on the day is traditionally believed to help people overcome the summer heat. The Urawa district in Saitama City, north of Tokyo, is known as a place for good eel dishes as the area used to have marshes where eels were caught. The city designates the area’s eel cuisine as a traditional industry.
2. Scorching weather continues across Japan on Thursday, with life-threatening temperatures of over 40 degrees Celsius recorded in some places for a second day. The extreme heat is mainly affecting western Japan. The mercury hit 40.4 degrees in Takahashi City, Okayama Prefecture, on Thursday afternoon.
3. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney says his country will recognize the State of Palestine at the United Nations General Assembly in September if the Palestinian Authority commits to democratic reforms. Carney condemned the Israeli government at a news conference on Wednesday saying it “allowed a catastrophe to unfold in Gaza.”

1. A tsunami warning of up to 3 meters has been issued along Japan’s Pacific coast from Hokkaido to Wakayama. Officials are calling on people to stay evacuated until all alerts are lifted despite the hot weather. A magnitude 8.7 quake struck the east coast of Kamchatka, Russia on Wednesday morning.
2. The highest temperature ever recorded in Japan has been observed in the western prefecture of Hyogo. The Japan Meteorological Agency says a high-pressure system pushed up temperatures across the country on Wednesday. Tamba City in Hyogo Prefecture hit 41.2 degrees Celsius.
3. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has said the UK will recognize a Palestinian state in September unless Israel “takes substantive steps to end the appalling situation” in the Gaza Strip.

1. NHK has learned that work to remove molten fuel debris at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant is not likely to start until the late 2030s at the earliest. That’s behind a scheduled start of sometime in the early 2030s, as stated in a roadmap compiled by the government and the plant’s operator, Tokyo Electric Power Company.
2. Top officials of the United States and China have started trade talks in Stockholm, Sweden. China’s state-run Xinhua News Agency reported that the talks began on Monday. US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng, who oversees his country’s economic policy, are attending the talks.
3. A division within Japan’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party is deepening as its leader and Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru reiterated his intention to remain in office. The party suffered a bitter defeat in the recent Upper House election. The LDP held a meeting of lawmakers from both houses of the Diet on Monday, following the loss in the election earlier this month.

1. Thailand and Cambodia have agreed to a truce after days of clashes along their disputed border. Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, who mediated the peace talks, said Monday the countries agreed on an “immediate and unconditional ceasefire,” effective from midnight that day.
2. Former Japanese Major Leaguer Suzuki Ichiro said attending the National Baseball Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony in the US state of New York was “like a fantastic dream.”　Ichiro is the first Japanese to receive the honor.　　During his 19-year career in the United States, he set an MLB record of 262 hits in a season while playing for the Seattle Mariners.
3. US President Donald Trump says he has reached a tariff agreement with the European Union. He met European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen in Scotland on Sunday. Trump had said Washington would impose a 30 percent levy on goods from the EU starting on August 1. But he said the rate will be set at 15 percent. Trump explained that automobile and nearly everything else will be subject to that rate. But he said the 50 percent tariff on steel and aluminum imports will remain unchanged.

1. Scorching temperatures are expected to continue across Japan on Friday. People are advised to take measures to avoid heatstroke. Heatstroke alerts have been issued across the country. The Japan Meteorological Agency says the current high temperatures are life-threatening.
2. French President Emmanuel Macron says his country will recognize the State of Palestine at the United Nations General Assembly in September. The move would make France the first among Group of Seven nations to recognize Palestine. Macron announced his decision on social media on Thursday, saying “the French people want peace in the Middle East – as French citizens, alongside Israelis, Palestinians, and our European and international partners – to prove that peace is possible.”
3. Japan’s Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru has received a briefing from the country’s chief tariff negotiator over the term of a trade agreement reached with the United States earlier this week. Ishiba met Economic Revitalization Minister Akazawa Ryosei in Tokyo on Thursday. Akazawa held talks with US President Donald Trump and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent in Washington on Tuesdsay. Ishiba told reporters after the briefing that the outcome of the negotiations is in line with his idea that investment should come before tariffs. He said he first floated the proposal when he met President Trump at the White House in February.

1. Ornately decorated floats have paraded through the streets of Japan’s ancient capital of Kyoto in the annual Gion Festival. The parade of 11 floats began at 9:30 a.m. on Thursday. Leading the procession was one depicting a famous scene of fighting on bridge between the warrior monk Benkei and the young samurai Ushiwakamaru. Gion is one of Japan’s three biggest festivals. It is said to have originated more than 1,000 years ago to pray for an end to a plague.
2. A passenger plane carrying more than 4 people has crashed in Russia’s Far Eastern region of Amur. The state-run TASS news agency quotes an aviation official as saying there are no signs of survivors.
3. Japan’s police agency says it identified nearly 900 disturbing social media posts targeting lawmakers and election candidates over the recent Upper House election.
The National Police Agency says a total of 889 threatening posts related to the election were confirmed between June 16 and July 19. The agency also says most of the contents were threats to harm politicians and election contenders, such as, “I will shoot you if I find you” or “Watch your back.”

1. Japan and the United States say they have reached an agreement on trade and tariffs after months of negotiations. US President Donald Trump announced the deal on social media, calling it “massive” for both countries.
2. Japanese Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru has reiterated his intention to remain in office despite his ruling bloc’s defeat in Sunday’s Upper House election.
3. Japan’s weather officials say that temperatures across the country on Wednesday may reach record highs, posing a danger to people in eastern Hokkaido, including areas near the Sea of Okhotsk.

1. Japanese Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru has pledged to stay in office after his ruling coalition lost its majority in the Upper House in Sunday’s election. The disappointing results have stirred calls from inside Ishiba’s Liberal Democratic Party for him to step down as party leader. The LDP and its coalition partner Komeito lost their majority in the house, securing just 47 of the seats up for grabs. That was below the 50 they needed to maintain a majority. It’s the first time in the LDP’s 70-year history for it to lead a coalition that does not control either house.
2. Scorching heat gripped Japan with temperatures exceeding 38 degrees Celsius in wide areas from western to northern areas on Tuesday. High temperatures are expected to persist throughout much of the country.
3. Police in Tokyo say they have found that English proficiency test examinees involved in suspected group cheating had been given miniature earphones and other devices prior to the test. They suspect that there may be other collaborators in Japan in addition to a Chinese national arrested in relation to cheating on the Test of English for International Communication, or TOEIC.

1. More than 300 people of all ages took part in tug-of-war contests held on the sea in western Japan to mark the national holiday known as Marine Day.
2. Iranian state television reported on Monday that Tehran is scheduled to hold talks on its nuclear development program with Britain, France and Germany. It said the talks will be held in Istanbul, Turkey, on Friday.
3. Russia has shown a positive reaction to Ukraine’s proposal to hold a new round of direct talks on a ceasefire. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Saturday that his country had proposed a new meeting with Russia to be held this week. Russia’s state-run media have quoted informed sources as saying that the Kremlin will likely announce a date for the meeting soon, and that the Turkish city of Istanbul will likely remain the host city.

1. A Japanese high court has in a retrial acquitted a man who was convicted of killing a junior high school girl 39 years ago. He has already completed his prison term.
2. The British and German leaders have concluded a pact aimed at boosting their security, diplomacy and other collaboration in the face of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
3. The White House says US President Donald Trump has received a medical checkup, and that he has venous insufficiency, but remains in “excellent health.”

1. Syria has strongly condemned Israeli airstrikes on its military headquarters and other targets in the capital, Damascus, on Wednesday. In a televised speech on Thursday, the country’s interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa condemned the attacks, saying that Israel is once again seeking to transform Syria’s “pure land into an arena of endless chaos.”
2. The Ukrainian parliament on Wednesday approved by Majority vote Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal’s dismissal after he tendered his resignation. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy earlier tapped Deputy Prime Minister and Economy Minister Yulia Svyrydenko as the new prime minister. Local media reported that the parliament is expected to approve her appointment and the new cabinet will be launched soon.
3. Japanese weather officials say torrential downpours have hit the Tokai region in the central part of the country and warn of a heightened risk of landslides and flooding.
They say the Shikoku region, in western Japan, could also face an increased risk of rain-triggered disasters through late Thursday night.

1. US President Donald Trump came out with another criticism of Japan’s trade stance on Tuesday, claiming the country refuses to “open up.”　Trump has lately made a string of negative comments about Japan.
2. Some Japanese employers are offering higher pay and other financial rewards in a bid to retain staff amid a labor shortage and rising inflation. Nojima, a major electric-appliance retailer, says round 3,000 employees can expect a hike of 10,000 yen, a month in September. Another raise is slated for as early as January next year.
3. Japan’s government has set up a new office tasked with promoting measures to build what it calls a society of orderly coexistence between Japanese nationals and foreign residents.

1. A group of researchers in Japan says an experiment using mice has confirmed that a certain strain of gut bacteria improves the efficacy of cancer immunotherapy. Immunity- boosting cancer drugs are said to be sufficiently effective in less than half the subjects. The patients’ gut microbiome had been pointed out as a possible factor, but the mechanism remained unclear.
2. Torrential downpours are intermittently hitting the Tokai and Kanto-Koshin regions. Weather officials warn that bands of heavy rain clouds could develop in the Tokai region, and sharply raise the risk of rain-triggered disasters.
3. The average price of rice at supermarkets in Japan has fallen for a seventh straight week. Yet it remains higher than a year ago. Officials say consumers were buying more lower-priced grain from government stockpiles than before.

1. Children were brought to school in cars and buses in the wake of a fatal bear attack in a northern Japan town. Monday is the first school day at elementary and junior high schools in Fukushima Town, Hokkaido, since a man was killed by a bear in the area on Saturday. The victim was a 52-year-old newspaper delivery man. He was found in bushes with what appeared to be claw marks on his body. He was pronounced dead at the scene. The incident prompted police to begin around-the-clock patrols. They have not yet found the bear.
2. Japan’s government has designated a bird that caused a fatal airplane crash in South Korea in December as one of the most dangerous causes of collisions known as bird strikes. The Baikal teal is a migratory bird that breeds in Russia and migrates to the Korean Peninsula, China and Japan during winter. Feathers and blood of the bird were found in the two engines of the Jeju Air passenger flight, indicating that bird strikes played a role in the crash. One hundred-79 passengers and crew died when the jet landed on its belly and went up in flames at Muan International Airport in the country’s southwest. *The Baikal teal　トモエガモ
3. The chair of the Upper House Budget Committee has resigned from his post to take responsibility for a verbal gaffe about a powerful earthquake that hit the Noto Peninsula in central Japan last year. Committee chair Tsuruho Yosuke of the main ruling Liberal Democratic Party has come under fire for the remarks on July 8. He said, “Fortunately, there was an earthquake in the Noto Peninsula, which allows Wajima residents to get their residence certificates in Kanazawa City.” That is where they evacuated to at the time.

1. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has called for more international investment in his country’s defense to counter escalating Russian attacks. Zelenskyy said Russia is intensifying its drone offensive “every single night,” mainly targeting Kyiv. He said more investment in interceptor drones and air defense systems is needed.
2. US President Donald Trump says he is going to impose a 35-percent tariff on goods from Canada. On social media on Thursday, Trump posted a letter addressed to Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney. It says the new rate will take effect on August 1.
3. Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has indicated his country may retaliate against the 50-percent tariff that US President Donald Trump plans to impose on Brazilian imports starting on August 1.

1. A leading US newspaper says President Donald Trump extended the moratorium on what he calls “reciprocal tariffs” after Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent told him he could get multiple deals, but needed more time. The deadline was originally set for July 9, and Trump had indicated he would not extend the pause. On Monday, however, he signed an executive order delaying the imposition of the tariffs to August 1.
2. US media outlets say the death toll from last week’s flash floods in the state of Texas has risen to 120 and over 160 people remain unaccounted for. Heavy rain began in the early hours of last Friday, inundating communities along the Guadalupe River. The floods swept away many people, including children who were attending a summer camp along the river.
3. The tariffs already in place under US President Donald Trump are putting pressure on some Japanese companies. Firms at a manufacturing trade show in Tokyo say the outlook for businesses has worsened. An eyeglass frame maker from Fukui Prefecture in central Japan does business with a company exporting to the US. But the client told the manufacturer it would reevaluate production plans when the Trump administration introduced a 10-percent universal tariff in April.

1. A US media report says President Donald Trump has expressed frustration over poor coordination within his government of US weapons deliveries to Ukraine. On Monday, Trump said the US will have to send more defensive weapons to Ukraine, effectively reversing the move.
2. US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick says he and other top American trade officials may meet Chinese negotiators in early August. Attention is on whether any progress to improve relations between the two countries could come out of such talks.
3. French President Emmanuel Macron is on a state visit to the United Kingdom. The three-day trip is the first to the country by a leader of a member state of the European Union since Britain left the bloc in 2020. Macron indicated that France will work with Britain to keep supporting Ukraine in its defense against Russia’s invasion. He said, “We will fight till the very last minute in order to get this ceasefire, in order to start the negotiations to build this robust and sustainable peace.”

1. US President Donald Trump says he’ll slap a 25 percent tariff on goods from Japan next month if Tokyo doesn’t reach a trade deal with the US. Trump told reporters that the tariff letters he sent out on Monday were more or less a final offer, though there is room for some negotiation.
2. US President Donald Trump has welcomed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to the White House for talks on Iran and a ceasefire in Gaza.
3. The US administration has disclosed that it is planning to send Ukraine more “defensive weapons.” President Donald Trump told reporters on Monday that Ukraine has to be able to defend itself. He said, “They’re getting hit very hard now” and that the United States is going to have to send more weapons.

1. There has been a massive volcanic eruption in Indonesia. Japanese officials are determining if it could cause a tsunami. Indonesia’s volcano monitoring agency says Mount Lewotobi Laki Laki erupted at around 11 a.m. local time Monday. It says the ash cloud reached 18 kilometers above the summit.
2. Mongolian media outlets have given positive coverage to the ongoing visit by Japan’s Emperor and Empress. Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako flew into Mongolia on Sunday. After being given a traditional Mongolian welcome, they moved to the capital, Ulaanbaatar.
3. US President Donald Trump has slammed tech billionaire Elon Musk’s plan to form a new party as “ridiculous.” He says starting a third party just “adds to confusion.”
Trump made the remarks on Sunday when asked by reporters about Musk’s social media post the previous day, in which he wrote, “Today, the America Party is formed.”

1. A survey shows Japan’s growers and wholesalers expect rice prices to drop over the next three months as government stockpiles have been released into the market. The price outlook index as of June fell by the most on record. The Rice Stable Supply Support Organization released the findings of its June survey on Friday. The index on the outlook for the next three months dropped by 24 points from a month earlier to 35, on a zero to 100 scale. The margin of decline was the largest since the survey began in 2012.
2. Early voting began across Japan on Friday for the Upper House election on July 20. Official campaigning for the election kicked off on Thursday. A total of 522 people are running in the election – either those competing in electoral districts or running under the proportional representation system. Key election issues include how to tackle rising prices and the future of social security. Polling stations set up by municipalities are basically open from 8:30 a.m. to 8 p.m.
3. Residents of an island in Japan’s Kagoshima Prefecture have begun evacuating amid a series of earthquakes. The Japan Meteorological Agency sys Thursday’s lower-6 quake is the first with such an intensity to be recorded in the village of Toshima since comparable data became available in 1919.

1. The Wall Street Journal says that Japan-US trade talks have been stalled for more than a month due to disagreements over auto tariffs. The newspaper on Wednesday said top US officials told Japanese negotiators in late May time was running out to reach agreement.
2. US President Donald Trump has ramped up the pressure on Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell, calling on him to quit immediately. Trump posted on social media on Wednesday that “ ‘Too Late’ should resign immediately!” He also shared an article about a federal regulator who said Powell should be investigated over his Senate testimony.
3. A magnitude-5.5 earthquake has struck Kagoshima Prefecture in southwestern
Japan. The quake measured lower 6 on Japan’s seismic intensity scale of 0 to 7. The region has been hit by more than 1,000 tremors in almost two weeks.

1. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio says the US Agency for International Development, or USAID, is officially halting its foreign assistance programs. In a statement titled “Making Foreign Aid Great Again” released on Tuesday, Rubio said the change is effective as of July 1.
2. The mayor of Los Angeles has criticized the Trump administration’s lawsuit against the city over its immigration policies. She pledged to continue protecting the city’s immigrant community.
3. Thailand’s Constitutional Court suspended Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra from duty on Tuesday as it proceeds with a petition demanding her resignation over a leaked phone call. The court said it had accepted a petition from 36 senators accusing Paetongtarn of violating ethical standards stipulated in the constitution over the call. Her premiership is suspended pending the final ruling and a deputy prime minister is expected to step in as caretaker.

1. One side of Japan’s Mount Fuji has opened to climbers striking out for the peak from the mountain’s fifth stage in Yamanashi Prefecture. The mountain opened on Tuesday from the Yamanashi side for the summer climbing season. Past seasons have seen problems such as people attempting to reach the top of the mountain in
all-night so-called “bullet” climbs, with inconsiderate behavior and crowding near the summit also becoming issues.
2. Japan’s top trade negotiator has reiterated his stance that the country will not seek a trade agreement with the United States in which Japan’s farming industry is sacrificed. At a news conference on Tuesday, Economic Revitalization Minister Akazawa Ryosei was asked about a social media post by US President Donald Trump. The post in question read that Japan “won’t take our RICE, and yet they have a massive rice shortage.”
3. Shoppers in Japan are facing yet another expensive month at the supermarket. A survey has found that food and beverage makers plan to hike prices on over 2,000 items in July. Private research firm Teikoku Databank says it polled 195 domestic companies. It says prices will rise on 2,105 products in July. That’s about five times the figure for the same month last year.

1. A strong earthquake with an intensity of lower 5 on the Japanese scale of 0 to 7 was observed at around 6:33 p.m. on Monday in Toshima Village in Kagoshima Prefecture southwestern Japan. There is no tsunami threat. An intensity of lower 5 was observed in Akusekijima Island in Toshima Village and 3 in Amami City.
2. Japanese seafood exporters and government officials have reacted positively to China’s announcement it will resume imports of the country’s marine products.
3. Wild bears continue to be spotted in human inhabited areas across Japan. Two people sustained injuries in separate bear attacks on Monday.

1. The White House says it is in communication with Iran on holding more nuclear talks, while the Iranian foreign minister says no agreement has been made on the matter. The question now is whether the two countries will be able to agree on a resumption of talks.
2. Japan’s Supreme Court has ruled that the government’s decision to lower benefits for people on welfare was illegal, but denied state compensation for the plaintiffs. The court’s third petty bench rendered the decision on Friday. It nullified the benefit reductions that were in place in the three years from 2013.
3. About 3,000 visitors to a theme park in western Japan attended a farewell ceremony for four giant pandas on Friday, the day before their departure for China. The four female pandas – Rauhin and her daughters Yuihin, Saihin and Fuhin – are part of a joint conservation project with China that is set to expire. They are scheduled to be sent to China from the park in the town of Shirahama, Wakayama Prefecture.

1. A Ukrainian media outlet has reported the Russian military is expected to train about 600 Chinese troops at armed forces bases and military centers in Russia as early as this year. A source told the media, “The Kremlin has decided to allow Chinese military personnel to study and adopt the combat experience Russia has gained in its war against Ukraine.”
2. A research group in Japan has made a supercomputer simulation on how ancient people crossed the waters between Taiwan and the southwestern Japanese island of Yonaguni about 30,000 years ago. The simulation was a follow-up of a 2019 experimental dugout canoe voyage conducted at a strait between Taiwan and Yonaguni by a project team including researchers from Japan’s National Museum of Nature and Science and others.
3. No attacks were reported in either Israel or Iran on Thursday as people work to restore their daily lives. In the central part of Israel’s biggest commercial city, Tel Aviv, barbers were busy cleaning up broken glass after their shop was damaged by a missile attack.

1. The ceasefire between Israel and Iran appears to be holding, with no reports of major attacks or damage so far. US President Donald Trump announced on Monday that the two countries had agreed to a ceasefire. He wrote on his social media platform that “an official END to THE 12 DAY WAR will be saluted by the world” on Wednesday.
2. US Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell has reiterated his cautious stance on rushing to cut interest rates. He cited the need to assess how tariff measures by President Donald Trump’s administration will affect the economy. Powell told a House committee on Tuesday that “increases in tariffs this year are likely to push up prices and weigh on economic activity.”
3. Leaders of NATO member countries have gathered in the Netherlands for a summit meeting to discuss increasing defense spending, among other issues. The leaders, including US President Donald Trump, were Volodymyr Zelenskyy was also present. For NATO this is an opportunity to emphasize solidarity with Ukraine.

1. Iranian state-run television reports a ceasefire has begun. This comes hours after US President Donald Trump announced that Israel and Iran had agreed to a ceasefire. The Israeli side has not yet issued confirmation.
2. Leaders and top diplomats from around the world are calling for a return to diplomacy to deal with Iran’s nuclear programs. They are urging Tehran to come back to the table, and avoid further escalation following their missile launch against a US base in Qatar.
3. Convenience store operator Lawson is going digital to boost sales amid a severe labor shortage. It opened a next-generation outlet equipped with state-of-the-are technology with help from telecom giant KDDI. At the store, robots cook food and stack shelves. Electronic labels eliminate the need for manual price changes. Artificial intelligence analyzes customer behavior based on footage from over 20 cameras. The information is used to compile data on hot items and improve efficiency.

1. The United States has carried out a strike on Iranian nuclear facilities, in an operation codenamed “Midnight Hammar” – using one of the largest bombs in American military history. A fleet of seven B-2 Spirit stealth bombers played a central role in the strike. The aircraft are the only ones capable of carrying the GBU-57, a 13-ton bunker-busting bomb designed to destroy hardened underground facilities. It was the first time for the weapon to be used in combat.
2. Israeli military officials say Iran has fired multiple missiles toward their country. This is believed to be Tehran’s first military response since the United States struck three Iranian nuclear sites early Sunday local time.
3. Ukraine is planning to strengthen its air defense capabilities by accelerating the development and production of drones designed to intercept Russian drones.

1. The White House has quoted US President Donald Trump as saying he will decide within two weeks whether to take military action on Iran, while leaving the door open to negotiations. Trump has hinted at the possibility of US military intervention in the ongoing conflict between Israel and Iran, saying, “I may do it, I may not do it.”
2. Cherry growers in northeastern Japan are busy harvesting Yamagata Beniou cherries, a large-sized sweet variety that is well-suited for gift giving. Yamagata Prefecture
Developed the new variety and its commercial production began in earnest two years ago. The fruit is around 3 centimeters in diameter, and has high sugar content and low acidity. The number of registered producers in the prefecture was more than 3,080 as of the end of March this year, increasing year by year.
3. Tokyo-based commercial broadcaster Nippon TV says personality Kokubun Taichi will be removed from a popular weekly program due to multiple compliance-related problems. Kokubun is the keyboard player for the pop group TOKIO. He is a regular member of NTV’s weekly variety show “THE TETSUWAN DASH,” or “The Iron Dash.”

1. Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako have begun a two-day visit to the atomic-bombed city of Hiroshima to pay their respects to the war dead, s 2025 marks 80 years since the end of World War Two. The Imperial couple flew in to Hiroshima Airport before noon on Thursday. This is the first visit to the city since the Emperor ascended the throne in 2019.
2. A heatwave has continued to grip much of Japan. The mercury reached 35 degrees Celsius or higher on Thursday for the third consecutive day in some places. The Meteorological Agency says a high pressure system prevailed over a wide area.
3. NHK has obtained what is believed to be an operation manual written in the Russian language for a self-propelled artillery piece made in North Korea. Pyongyang continues to assist Russia’s invasion of Ukraine by providing Moscow with large amounts of weapons and ammunition.

1. Japanese Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru held a news conference before leaving the Group of 7 summit in Canada. He said the joint statement calling for de-escalation in the Middle East was significant.
2. An official of the Israeli military has indicated that its operation in Iran is expected to be completed within one to two weeks. Attention is now focused on how the United States will respond to the ongoing exchange of fire between the two countries, as President Donald Trump is urging Iran to surrender.
3. Japanese Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru and South Korean President Lee Jae-myung have agreed to communicate closely to further develop bilateral ties.

1. US President Donald Trump and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer signed a trade agreement at the Group of Seven summit in Canada on Monday. The deal was reached following bilateral negotiations on US tariffs in May. It includes increased access to British markets for US exports and the United Kingdom’s reduction or elimination of non-tariff barriers against the United States.
2. US media report the government’s “golden share” in US Steel after it’s acquired by Nippon Steel will give the White House significant sway over the company’s management. The New York Times and The Associated Press say the government will have the authority to appoint one of US Steel’s three independent board members. It will also have the right to approve or reject the other two appointments.
3. The Japanese government has set the details of a new system of fines for cyclists guilty of relatively minor traffic violations. The new regulations will come into effect on April 1 of next year. A revision to the Road Traffic Act enacted last year introduces so-called “blue ticket” fines for minor traffic violations. Cyclists issued such tickets by police can avoid indictment by paying a fine.

1. US President Donald Trump is to attend the Group of Seven summit in Kananaskis in western Canada. Trump, who has been pushing his “America First” policies, is expected to pursue his country’s interests in trade and other areas. A senior US official said on Friday that Trump will meet with other G7 leaders to make progress on economic and security issues of shared concern.
2. Former Taiwan President Ma Ying-jeou has attended a forum in China to expand cross-strait exchanges. China held the annual Straits Forum in Xiamen, Fujian Province, on Sunday. Xiamen is located west of Taiwan.
3. Media outlets in the United States report that President Donald Trump has opposed Israel’s plan to kill Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. The media on Sunday quoted US government officials as saying that the Israelis informed the Trump administration in recent days that they had developed a plan to kill Khamenei.

1. The Israel military said on Friday that it has struck dozens of military targets across Iran, including nuclear facilities central to Tehran’s uranium enrichment program. Iran launched more than 100 drones towards Israel, escalating a dangerous new phase of a long simmering conflict.
2. US President Donald Trump has reiterated his warning to Iran to make a nuclear deal. Trump strongly urged the country to make concessions on its nuclear development by warning, “No more death, no more destruction, JUST DO IT, BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE.”
3. Japanese shipping companies are mapping out possible responses to Israel’s attacks on Iran on Friday. Japan relies on the Middle East for over 90 percent of its crude oil imports.

1. Japan’s Princess Kako, who is on an official visit to Brazil, has paid a courtesy call on the country’s President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva. Lula visited Japan as a state guest and met with Emperor Naruhito in March.
2. US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has said that an extension of a 90-day pause on what the Trump administration calls “reciprocal” tariff is “highly likely.” The window is currently set to close on July 9 for most of the trading partners that were hit with the levies.
3. Japan remains 118th among 148 countries in a global ranking of gender equality, due partly to its performance in the field of politics. Japan is close to parity in education and healthcare, and recorded some progress in the economic field. However, its parity score declined in political participation, due to a reduction of women’s representation in ministerial positions.

1. The United States and China have wrapped up trade talks in London and agreed on a framework for easing trade tensions, building on a consensus reached in Geneva last month. The talks focused on export restrictions on rare earth metals by Beijing and on semiconductor-related items by Washington.
2. Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass has announced a curfew for the city’s downtown district, starting later on Tuesday. This follows protests against crackdowns on undocumented immigrants by the US government under President Donald Trump. The unrest spread across Los Angeles. Some of the demonstrators clashed with law enforcement. Businesses in the downtown area were looted and hit by vandalism on Monday night.
3. East Japan Railway says it will launch a new overnight express train connecting Tokyo with the northeastern Tohoku region in the spring of 2027. The new train will have private compartments with fully reclining seats for individuals or groups up to four. The service will depart Tokyo at 9 p.m. to arrive at Aomori Station at 9 a.m. the following morning. The company is converting an express train running on Tokyo’s Joban Line into the ten-car overnighter.

1. The US state of California says it filed a lawsuit on Monday against President Donald Trump’s administration for ordering the deployment of National Guard troops to Los Angeles, calling it illegal. The lawsuit follows Trump’s order to send the troops in a bid to quell protests that started on Frida over crackdowns on immigrants. The state said in a statement that the administration federalized the California National Guard without authorization from the governor and against the wishes of local law enforcement.
2. US and Chinese officials held trade talks in London on Monday. Beijing’s restrictions on rare earth exports are believed to have topped the agenda. The talks come after US President Donald Trump spoke with his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping on the phone last week.
3. Japan’s weather authorities are urging people in the northern part of the Kyushu region, southwestern Japan, to brace for torrential downpours. They say bands of heavy rainclouds may form over the area through Tuesday evening.

1. Israel says its forces have prevented a boat carrying Swedish environmental activist Greta Thunberg from reaching the Gaza Strip. The vessel operated by a human rights organization was aiming to deliver food, medicine and other aid supplies to the enclave. In a post on X, Israel’s Foreign Ministry said the boat “is safely making its way to the shores of Israel. The passengers are expected to return to their home countries.”
2. An explosion at a US military base in Okinawa Prefecture, southern Japan, has injured four members of Japan’s Self-Defense Forces. Police say fire officials informed them of the blast in Yomitan Village on Monday morning.
3. Japan’s Princess Kako has been welcomed by people of Japanese ancestry in an inland city in southern Brazil. The second daughter of Crown Prince and Princess Akishino is on an official visit to Brazil. On Sunday, she flew to Maringa in the state of Parana. The city is about 500 kilometers west of Sao Paulo, the largest city in the South American country.

1. Japan’s top tariff negotiator is in Washington for another round of trade talks. Economic Revitalization Minister Akazawa Ryosei and his US counterpart confirmed they will continue their utmost efforts to reach an agreement that benefits both nations.
2. US President Donald Trump has expressed his dissatisfaction with business tycoon Elon Musk, who is criticizing what Trump calls his “One Big Beautiful” spending bill. Trump has been pressuring Congress to pass the bill to implement his core policies, including tax cuts. Trump’s relationship with Musk has been rapidly deteriorating.
3. Japan’s Princess Kako, who is visiting Brazil, has prayed for the souls of Japanese immigrants who laid the foundations for the world’s largest overseas Japanese community. The second daughter of Crown Prince and Princess Akishino arrived in the city of Sao Paulo on Thursday morning.

1. US President Donald Trump has revealed he held talks over the phone with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday. Trump said, “It was a good conversation, but not a conversation that will lead to immediate Peace.”
2. Japan’s Emperor and Empress and their daughter have paid their respects to the victims of a ship that sank in a US attack while evacuating hundreds of children from Okinawa during World War Two.
3. Many convenience store chain operators in Japan have begun selling lower-priced rice released from national reserves. The cheaper grain was obtained from the government under its new system of no-bid contracts. Lawson and FamilyMart are offering the stockpiled rice in small packages at some of their outlets in Tokyo and Osaka.

1. Lee Jae-myung of South Korea’s Liberal Democratic Party has officially become his country’s 21st president. He will serve a five-year term. The election was called after former conservative leader Yoon Suk-yeol was ousted over his failed bid to impose martial law. There is no need for a transition period, as there is no outgoing president.
2. The United Nations has elected five non-permanent Security Council members, whose two-year terms start in January of next year. The Security Council has five permanent members, including the United States, and 10 non-permanent members representing geographic regions. The non-permanent members serve two years, with half of them replaced each year. On Tuesday, the General Assembly voted for the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Liberia, Latvia, Colombia and Bahrain to serve as non-permanent members of the council.
3. Japanese baseball legend Matsui Hideki has flown in from the United States to offer his condolences following the death of his mentor and fellow legend, Nagashima Shigeo. Nagashima, who died on Tuesday, was the Giants’ manager when Matsui joined the team.

1. One of the most beloved Japanese pro baseball legends, known as “Mr. Giants,” has died at the age of 89.　His former team the Yomiuri Giants announced early Tuesday morning that Nagashima Shigeo died from pneumonia. Nagashima, from Chiba Prefecture, became a star player as a member of the team of Rikkyo University. He joined professional baseball team the Giants in 1958. As both a clutch hitter and brilliant fielder, he entertained many fans with his skillful techniques. He won multiple batting awards including two homerun titles and was also nicknamed “Mister pro baseball.”
2. Top delegates from Russia and Ukraine wrapped up their ceasefire talks on Monday in Istanbul. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he expects the two sides will exchange more prisoners of war. Zelenskyy said, “If Russia turns the Istanbul meeting into an empty talk, there must be a new level of pressure, new sanctions, and not just from Europe.” 3. South Korean voters are heading to the polls Tuesday to elect a new president. The election comes after Yoon Suk-yeol was ousted from the post. The election is widely seen as a showdown between two candidates. Lee Jae-myung is representing the largest opposition Democratic Party. Kim Moon-soo is running with the conservative ruling People Power Party.

1. Former Yokozuna Grand Champion Hakuho will leave the world of sumo wrestling, more than a year after his stable was closed due to a scandal involving one of his wrestlers. The Japan Sumo Association accepted Hakuho’s resignation on Monday. He will retire from the sumo governing body on June 9.
2. Two leading contenders in South Korea’s presidential race staged their final push for votes on Monday, with the election just a day away. South Koreans will go to the polls on Tuesday to elect their new leader after former President Yoon Suk-yeol was ousted over his declaration of martial law.
3. Moderately powerful earthquakes have been hitting Japan’s northernmost prefecture of Hokkaido, but weather officials say they are unlikely to trigger larger quakes. The Meteorological Agency says a magnitude-6.3 tremor occurred early Monday morning, with its epicenter located off the coast of the Tokachi region. 　　

1. President Donald Trump has reacted to the US Court of International Trade’s decision to block some of his tariffs. The court ruled on Wednesday that the US president had exceeded his authority by using the International Emergency Economic Powers Act to impose the levies. 2. Japan’s Foreign Ministry says it has confirmed that the US Embassy in Japan has suspended new interview appointments for student visa applicants. The move came after an order issued earlier this month by the administration of US President Donald Trump. 3. The UNESCO World Heritage site of Shirakawa-go in central Japan has held a rice-planting festival against the backdrop of traditional houses with steep thatched roofs.

1. A US federal court on Wednesday blocked President Donald Trump’s sweeping global tariffs. The court ordered an injunction on tariffs that were based on the International Emergency Powers Act, or IEEPA. It said that the levies exceed any authority granted by the law to the president. The court order covers what Trump calls “reciprocal tariffs” on countries and regions that have large trade surpluses with the US. It also applies to a 10 percent universal levy. The White House says it has notified the court of its intention to appeal the ruling. 2. Billionaire Elon Musk has announced that he is leaving his government role. He noted that his time as the head of the Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE, is coming to an end. In a post on the social media platform X on Wednesday, Musk said that his “scheduled time as a Special Government Employee” is ending. He also thanked President Donald Trump for giving him the opportunity to reduce wasteful spending. 3. The University of Osaka in western Japan has announced that it will accept up to about 100 US-based researchers, regardless of nationality. The move comes in response to restrictive academic policies under President Donald Trump’s administration. 　　

1. Britain’s King Charles has opened Canada’s new session of parliament as the country’s head of state, saying the government will protect Canadians and their sovereign rights “from wherever challenges may come at home or abroad.” His speech follows repeated claims from US President Donald Trump that Canada should become the 51st US state. 2. American students at Harvard University have held a rally in support of their classmates, protesting the US administration’s move to prevent international students from enrolling. The government under President Donald Trump has revoked Harvard’s right to enroll foreign students, accusing its administrators of fostering violence and antisemitism. International students already enrolled have been told to transfer to a different university or lose their legal status in the United States.
3. The US state of Hawaii has decided to raise the tax on hotel and other accommodation stays to fund climate change measures. Starting in January next year, the state’s Transient Accommodation Tax will be raised from the current 10.25 percent to 11 percent. 　　

1. The Bank of Japan chief has suggested again that the bank will cautiously weigh a further rate hike amid extremely high uncertainty. BOJ Governor Ueda Kazuo said inflation in Japan has picked up again, driven primarily by higher prices of food, most notably rice. He said the bank will “adjust the degree of monetary easing” if incoming data provide a reason for greater confidence that economic activity and prices are improving. 2. Japan is trying to arrange another round of high-level negotiations with the US on Friday to seek a review of tariffs rolled out by President Donald Trump. If realized, it would be the second week in a row that Economic Revitalization Minister Akazawa Ryosei sits down for talks in Washington as Japan’s chief negotiator.
3. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has slammed Israel’s recent actions in Gaza. The military operations have been causing increasing numbers of civilian casualties. Merz said in a TV interview on Monday that he no longer understands why Israel is harming the civilian population.

1. US President Donald Trump says he has extended the deadline for imposing a 50-percent tariff on the European Union. He says the date will be moved back by more than a month to give more time to negotiators to work out a deal.
2. Japan’s agriculture ministry says it will start selling government stockpiles of rice directly to retailers, so the grain can reach consumers at lower prices. The plan follows a series of competitive auctions that failed to bring down soaring prices of the staple crop. 3.Police in Okinawa arrested a US Marine Monday on suspicion of drunk driving. One day earlier, a US military member was arrested in a hit-and-run case. Police identified the drunk driving suspect as Marine Corporal Adrian Xavier Sanchez, who resides at Camp Schwab.

1. The latest opinion poll shows that the gap between the two leading candidates in South Korea’s presidential election has narrowed significantly. The election is slated for June 3. The results released on Friday by Gallup Korea show that the candidate from South Korea’s largest opposition Democratic Party, Lee Jae-myung, is the frontrunner with 45 percent in favor. He is trailed by Kim Moon-soo, of the conservative ruling People Power Party, at 36 percent. The survey of 1,002 respondents was held from Tuesday through Thursday. In last week’s Gallup Korea poll, Lee garnered 51 percent and Kim 29 percent.
2. Japanese Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru spoke by phone with US President Donald Trump on Friday. Ishiba expressed his expectations for productive negotiations in the upcoming ministerial-level tariff talks in Washington. The call, requested by the US side, lasted 45 minutes. Ishiba said he is looking forward to meeting Trump at the G7 summit to be held in Canada in mid-June. Trump responded that he was too. The two leaders also discussed national security. Trump outlined his recent trip to the Middle East, and Ishiba responded that he appreciated the diplomatic efforts.
3. Japan’s new agriculture minister, Koizumi Shinjiro, says he will take steps so rice from government stockpiles can be sold at retail stores from early June in the 2,000 yen range, or about 14 to 21 dollars, per 5 kilograms. The ministry is releasing the reserve rice through auctions starting in March in an effort to stabilize distribution and lower prices. But rice prices have continued to soar. Koizumi is planning to use no-bid contracts to sell the stockpiled rice instead of auctioning it off to the highest bidders. He said at a news conference on Friday that the plan is to sell the reserve rice through discretionary contracts.

1. Japan’s Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru has met with relatives of Japanese citizens who were abducted by North Korea. He pledged to make his utmost efforts to resolve the issue as soon as possible while gaining cooperation from the international community. 2. Japan’s Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru has instructed his top tariff negotiator with the United States to be fully prepared for the possibility that a wider range of issues could be taken up in the next round of talks.
3. Japan’s new agriculture minister Koizumi Shinjiro has pledged to tackle soaring rice prices as he officially takes over from his predecessor Eto Taku.

1. People across much of Japan sweated through a second day of unseasonably hot weather on Wednesday.
2. Group of Seven finance officials are set to meet for discussions that are expected to be dominated by US tariffs and the impact on the global economy. The two-day gathering of G7 finance ministers and central bank governors will kick off on Wednesday in Banff, Canada. 3. Japan’s Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru had decided to appoint Koizumi Shinjiro, the former chairperson of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party’s Election Strategy Committee, to succeed Eto Taku as agriculture minister.

1. Japan’s top negotiator in tariff talks with the United States is scheduled to leave for Washington on Friday. Economic Revitalization Minister Akazawa Ryosei is expected to engage in a third round of ministerial discussions the following day. He said on Tuesday, “It’s important to achieve an agreement that’s a win for both countries. Japan’s national interests must not be damaged by prioritizing an early consensus.
2. NHK has learned that Japanese police have obtained arrest warrants for two Vietnamese nationals suspected of directing a shoplifting ring in Japan from their home country. Sources close to the investigation say a joint task force, including the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department, has secured warrants for Nguyen Ba Thanh and Nguyen Thu Huyen. 3. US President Donald Trump and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin discussed Ukraine over the phone on Monday. Both leaders said their conversation went well but no major progress was made on negotiations to reach peace. Putin stressed Moscow’s conventional claims, saying the main thing is to eliminate the root causes of the crisis.

1. US media are reporting that former US President Joe Biden has been diagnosed with an “aggressive form” of prostate cancer. According to CNN and others, Biden’s office released a statement on Sunday saying that the former president’s cancer had spread to his bones, but appeared to allow for “effective management.”
2. A pro-European candidate has declared victory in Romania’s presidential runoff on Sunday. The election authority says that with 99 percent of the votes counted, Bucharest Mayor Nicusor Dan was ahead with 53.83 percent, while his rival, George Simion, was trailing with 46.17 percent. Local media reported that Dan won the runoff.
3. Police in central Japan say a car that caused multiple accidents drove the wrong way for at least 10 kilometers on an expressway on Sunday. The river of the small car is still at large one day after the accidents on the Shin-Meishin Expressway. Police are looking for the car and its driver on suspicion of causing hit-and-run accidents.

1. A survey shows that the candidate from South Korea’s largest opposition Democratic Party, Lee Jae-myung, is the frontrunner with support of 51 percent in the country’s presidential election. 2. US President Donald Trump visited the United Arab Emirates on Thursday, the last stop on his deal-making swing through the Gulf states.
3. A Nobel Peace Prize laureate and a former United Nations chief have taken part in a symposium on how to renew multilateralism in a fragmented world. The laureate was former Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos.

1. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has arrived in Ankara for talks with his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Zelenskyy said he had not been officially informed of the level of the Russian delegation, but suspects it is more of a proxy.
2. Families of Japanese nationals abducted by North Korea have met with new US Ambassador to Japan George Glass. They urged his cooperation in realizing the swift return of the abductees. 3. A team from the University of Tokyo has begun a survey of wild bats in Vietnam to look for a virus with the potential to cause another pandemic. The COVID-19 pandemic is thought to have been caused by a virus that jumped from a wild animal to humans. Health experts have warned that another previously unknown virus could spread from wild animals to humans.

1. A bag containing flammable devices fell from a US Marine helicopter flying over Okinawa Prefecture in southern Japan on Tuesday. No injuries or damage have been reported so far. 2. Participants in a UN Security Council meeting have called on Israel to stop blocking aid to the Gaza Strip, while Israel and the United States said a new mechanism to deliver assistance to civilians is needed.
3. Uruguay’s former president Jose Mujica, known as “the world’s poorest president,” has died at the age of 89. Mujica was born to a poor family in 1935. He became an anti-government guerilla fighter in his 20s and was jailed for a total of more than 10 years under the military government. After Uruguay became democratic, he served as a leftist lawmaker from the 1990s. He became the country’s president in 2010 and stayed in office for five years. Mujica continued to live on a farm even during his tenure as president. His frugal lifestyle established his popularity in the country. His speech that criticized the global move toward mass consumption was transplanted in many countries and well received.

1. Retail giant Aeon says it will start selling rice from California to Japanese consumers, who face high prices and shortages of the staple grain. Rice prices at supermarkets in the country have doubled from a year ago. Aeon officials say they will begin releasing the variety, called Calrose, from June 6. Sales are scheduled to end around autumn when newly harvested Japan-grown rice reaches store shelves.
2. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese was inaugurated for a second term, along with his new government, on Tuesday. With vote counting still going on, Australia’s public news service ABC reported that the Labor Party is expected to win at least 93 seats in the 150-seat House of Representatives.
3. Pope Leo VIV has stressed that people must reject war in his address to journalists and other members of the media from around the world. The new head of the Roman Catholic Church said, “Peace begins with each one of us: in the way we look at others, listen to others and speak about others.” He said, “In this sense, the way we communicate is of fundamental importance.” He stressed, “We must say ‘no’ to the war of words and images, we must reject the paradigm of war.”

1. The political wrangling over the conflict in Ukraine is continuing. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says he wants to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin in Turkey on Thursday. That is his response to Putin’s proposal for direct negotiations between the two countries. Zelenskyy suggested in a social media post that he wants a full and lasting ceasefire to begin on Monday. He said there is no point in prolonging the killings. The president added that he hopes the Russians will not look for excuses. Putin said that direct talks need to restart. He stressed that there will be no preconditions. 2. US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent says negotiations from the United States and China have made “substantial progress” in their trade talks. He says details will be announced on Monday. Bessent made the remarks to reporters after two days of talks in Geneva, Switzerland, wrapped up on Sunday. Their participants included Bessent and US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer. China’s Vice Premier He Lifeng also attended. 3. Researchers say microplastics are spreading throughout oceans from surface levels to several-thousand-meter depths. Microplastics are particles 5 millimeters or smaller that mostly result from the breakdown of larger plastic waste. Fish and other creatures can easily swallow them, raising concerns over their influence on ecosystems.

1. An American has been chosen as pope for the first time in history. Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost will lead the Roman Catholic Church. He is the 267th pope, and has take the papal name Leo XIV. The new pontiff is 69 years old and was born in Chicago. He served as a bishop in Peru, and became cardinal in 2023.
2. Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates says he will give away more than 200 billion dollars, or virtually all his wealth, to help vulnerable people over the next 20 years.
3. US President Donald Trump has called on Russia and Ukraine to accept and observe a 30-day unconditional ceasefire. The president also threatened to impose new sanctions if a truce is not respected.

1. Russia’s President Vladimir Putin and China’s President Xi Jinping have met in Moscow. The leaders have expressed their intention to further enhance bilateral relations, with the US administration of President Donald Trump in mind. At the beginning of the meeting, Putin said the bilateral ties built during the harsh war is one of the foundations of the two countries’ current cooperation. He said the bilateral relations are equal and mutually beneficial, not the kind swayed by international affairs.
2. Black smoke billowed from a chimney on the Sistine Chapel in the Vatican on Thursday morning, signaling that a successor to the late Pope Francis has still not been found. A total of 133 Roman Catholic cardinals from around the world resumed voting on the second day of a conclave. They will continue to cast ballots until a candidate wins the two-thirds majority. Up to two rounds of voting will take place in the afternoon. If a new pope is elected, white smoke will billow from the chimney of the chapel. If not, black smoke will appear at the end of the afternoon votes.
3. Princess Aiko, the daughter of Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako, is visiting the 2025 World Expo in Osaka for the first time since the event started in mid-April. The princess visited the Japan Pavilion in the afternoon to start her planned two-day visit. Princess Aiko then went to the Skywalk deck on the roof of the Grand Ring, a huge structure built as the symbol of the expo.

1. In Germany, Friedrich Merz has been elected chancellor in a second round of parliamentary voting. He failed to secure a majority in the first vote earlier on Tuesday. Merz was the candidate for the alliance of the Christian Democratic Union and the Christian Social Union, which won the country’s general election in February.
2. India has launched military strikes against what it calls “terrorist infrastructure” in Pakistan and Pakistan-administered Kashmir. Islamabad is poised to retaliate. India’s defense ministry said its armed forces struck nine sites shortly after 1:30 a.m. on Wednesday, local time.
3. It’s earnings season on the Tokyo Stock Exchange and scores of companies are releasing results for the year ended in March and projections for the year ahead. The common theme is how new US import tariffs will hit operations.

1. US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has directed the Pentagon to reduce the number of four-star generals by at least 20 percent to streamline military leadership. Hegseth said in a video posted on social media on Monday that “this is not a slash and burn exercise meant to punish high ranking officers.” He said the aim is to maximize “strategic readiness and operational effectiveness by making prudent reductions.”
2. US automaker Ford is bracing for a major financial hit in the wake of tariffs imposed by President Donald Trump. Officials said on Monday earnings before interest and taxes this year will likely fall by about 1.5 billion dollars.
3. Two saplings grown from seeds that survived the 1945 atomic bombing of Hiroshima have been planted at the United Nations headquarters in New York, in the hope of realizing a world without nuclear weapons. The seeds were taken from a persimmon tree that was exposed to the intense blast and radiation about 500 meters from the hypocenter in the Japanese city. A tree-planting ceremony was held on Monday.

1. US President Donald Trump has announced a 100 percent tariff on movies produced outside the United States to protect what he called a “dying” film industry. Trump wrote in a social media post on Sunday: “The Movie Industry in America is DYING a very fast death. Other countries are offering all sorts of incentives to draw our filmmakers and studios away from the United States.”
2. A government survey shows many visitors to Japan are frustrated by congestion at tourist spots and long waits for immigration procedures. The survey by the Japan Tourist Agency asked over 4,000 foreign visitors what problems they had during their visits to Japan. Multiple answers were allowed. A little over 13 percent of the respondents chose congestion at tourist spots and other areas.
3. Former Japanese prime minister Kishida Fumio and Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto have agreed to push forward a concept laid out for the Asia region to achieve both carbon neutrality and economic growth at the same time. The concept called Asia Zero Emission Community, or AZEC, was proposed by the former Japanese prime minister while he was in office. It is an 11-member group including Japan, Southeast Asian Countries and Australia.

1. Japan’s top tariff negotiator says his team held a “constructive” second round of talks in the US on President Donald Trump’s trade and tariff policies. Economic Revitalization Minister Akazawa Ryosei says that he hopes the talks will advance so that Japanese and US leaders can reach a trade agreement next month.
2. Former South Korean Prime Minister and former acting President Han Duck-soo has announced that he intends to run in the country’s presidential election, which is scheduled to be held on June 3. Han has a certain level of support among conservatives. 3. A body has been recovered from the cabin of a truck that fell into a massive sinkhole that opened in the city of Yashio, north of Tokyo, in January. Police and other authorities believe it is the body of the missing driver.

1. Japan’s Imperial Household Agency says it has dismissed an aid to the Emperor’s family for stealing 3.6 million yen, or about 25,000 dollars, from an account for the family’s living expenses. The agency says it fired the unidentified chamberlain in his or her 20s on Thursday. 2. Police have arrested a man on suspicion that he had attempted to kill schoolchildren by driving into them in western Japan. Seven children of an elementary school in Nishinari Ward, Osaka, were hit by a car near the school at around 1:30 p.m. on Thursday on their way back home. The 28-year-old suspect, Yazawa Yuki, told investigators that he drove his car into the group of children in an attempt to kill them as he was fed up with everything in his life. 3. NHK has found that about one third of accommodation facilities in the Oku-Noto region in northern Ishikawa Prefecture remain closed after a massive earthquake struck the region on New Year’s Day last year.

１. Water gushing from a broken pipe has inundated a national highway in Kyoto City, western Japan. City officials suspect aging infrastructure is to blame. A passerby reported the incident at around 3:30 a.m. on Wednesday. The Takakura intersection in the city’s Shimogyo Ward was said to be under water.
2. Relatives of Japanese nationals abducted by North Korea met with a senior US State Department official to seek American support for the swift return of the abductees. The relatives and their supporters met Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau in Washington on Tuesday and held talks for about 30 minutes. The relatives are Yokota Takuya, who heads a group of abductees’ families, and Iizuka Koichiro.
3. A meeting of the BRICS emerging economies has ended with a presidential statement expressing serious concerns over “indiscriminate” tariffs, without naming the US administration of President Donald Trump. The foreign ministers of BRICS members, including China and Russia, wrapped up their meeting on Tuesday in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. A total of 20 nations took part, including the group’s partner countries.

1. A Spanish electricity operator says power has been restored after a massive outage hit Spain and Portugal, but traffic disruptions are continuing. The blackout started from around noon on Monday. The Spanish government declared a state of emergency and called on people to minimize travel and act calmly. Portugal’s government said on Tuesday that the country’s power supply has been normalized.
2. Canada’s ruling Liberal Party is set to win a general election, which will allow its leader and prime minister, Mark Carney, to focus on tackling tariffs and other threats from the US. The vote took place on Monday. Canada’s public broadcaster CBC reported at night that the Liberal Party had won more than 160 out of 343 seats allocated to each electoral district. This made it the leading force in the House of Commons. 3. Japan’s Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru has arrived in the Philippines on the second leg of a Southeast Asian trip. He will meet with Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and is likely to discuss security issues. Ishiba is first scheduled to meet with people of Japanese descent, whose fathers were Japanese and mothers were from the Philippines. Many of these people were left behind in the confusion of World War Two and have often been marginalized, including being stateless.

1. Japanese Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru met with his Vietnamese counterpart, Pham Minh Chinh, on Monday in Hanoi, where the pair discussed a wide range of issues including the impact of US tariffs on the global economy. The leaders discussed the impact of US tariffs and China’s countermeasures on the global economy and the multilateral free trade system. 2. US President Donald Trump says he believes his recent meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the Vatican went well. On Saturday, Trump and Zelenskyy held their first face-to-face talks at the Vatican since they met at the White House in February. The meeting ended in a heated argument.
3. About half of Japan’s rice wholesalers say there has been no change in the country’s rice shortage, even after the government began releasing national stockpiles in mid-March.

1. Japan’s Finance Minister Kato Katsunobu held talks with US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent in Wahington on Thursday. Kato told reporters that Bessent did not raise the issue of currency levels, targets or any framework for managing exchange rates. 2. Friday marks 20 years since a passenger train derailed in western Japan, killing more than 100 people. Families of victims, survivors and employees of the train’s operator visited the site of the tragedy.
3. South Korea says it has conveyed to China serious concerns that it has about Chinese structures in the Yellow Sea, where maritime boundaries between the two countries have not yet been determined.

1. Japanese police are preparing to enforce “blue ticket” fines that will be imposed on cyclists for relatively minor traffic violations, such as using phones while cycling, from April 1 next year. The new fine system for cyclists was included in a revision to the Road Traffic Act that passed the Diet last year in response to a rise in accidents involving bicycles. 2. A dozen US states have jointly sued President Donald Trump’s administration to block what they call illegal tariffs on trading partners. The states say the tariffs harm consumers by raising prices. The state of New York said on Wednesday that a coalition of 12 states filed the civil lawsuit with the US Court of International Trade. They are seeking a court order for the administration to stop enforcing the tariffs.
3. A theme park in the western Japanese prefecture of Wakayama says it will bid farewell to all four of its giant pandas in around late June. Adventure World in Shirahama Town announced on Thursday that all the pandas under its care will be transferred to China.

1. US President Donald Trump says he does not intend to fire Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell. He made the remark even though the two have different views on monetary policy. 2. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says the United States has not made an official proposal for a peace plan, despite media reports.
3. Thousands of swans have arrived at an internationally recognized wetland on Japan’s northern island of Hokkaido.

1. Japan’s Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru has told new US Ambassador to Japan George Glass that he hopes they can work hard in hand to strengthen the alliance between the two countries. Ishiba said that, while respecting the views of President Donald Trump, he wants Japan and the US to deepen dialogue on ways to strengthen their alliance and whatever they can do for world peace and stability. Glass responded that the two countries have a long history of relations, and he looks forward to working together with Japan to make their friendship stronger. 2. Harvard University has filed a lawsuit in the US to try to stop the administration of President Donald Trump from implementing a partial freeze on the institution’s federal funds. The administration announced that it was freezing billions of dollars in federal assistance last week, after the university rejected the conditions that were attached to the funds. One condition required the institution to strongly enforce rules regarding student behavior. 3. Japanese Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru is expected to visit Vietnam and the Philippines next week to exchange views with the countries’ leaders of the two Southeast Asian nations. The leaders are expected to exchange opinions on the Trump administration ‘s tariff measures. They will also discuss the ways in which the levies could affect the world’s economy and the free trade system.

1. Pope Francis died on Monday. He was 88 years old. The Vatican said his death was caused by a stroke and heart failure. People around the world mourned his passing. Pope Francis was born in Argentina. He became the first Jesuit and Latin American pontiff when he was elected in 2013.
2. US President Donald Trump has repeated his claim that Japan tests the body strength of foreign vehicles by using a bowling ball, citing this as an example of a non-tariff barrier. But Japan’s transport ministry says the country has no such national safety standards test. 3. The Dow Jones Industrial Average briefly shed more than 1,300 points in New York on Monday following a renewed call for interest rates cuts by President Donald Trump. The president posted the call on social media on Monday, saying that “preemptive cuts” are being called for by many. He urged Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell to lower the interest rates immediately.

1. Japan’s Economic Revitalization Minister Akazawa Ryouhei says he will continue arguing for Japan’s national interests in future talks with the US on its tariff policies. 2. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has indicated the possibility of President Donald Trump ending his efforts to broker a ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine, “If it’s not possible.” 3. India, a country whose shrimp farmers rely heavily on exports to the United States, has been rattled by the US tariffs. Frozen shrimp is a leading export item for India, generating about 4.9 billion dollars in fiscal 2023. And the US is its largest market.

1. Japan’s Economic Revitalization Minister Akazawa Ryosei has held a first round of trade negotiations with his US counterparts. The meeting took place on Wednesday in Washington. Akazawa, who heads the Japanese delegation, held talks with US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Trade Representative Jamieson Greer. The Japanese minister also met President Donald Trump at the White House ahead of the ministerial-level negotiations. 2. NHK has learned that personal information has unintentionally been made publicly available on a service operated by Google. The service started in the 2000s, but NHK found out this year that emails shared among users of certain groups, such as those set up by private businesses, labor unions and medical institutions, could be accessed by anyone on the web. 3. A survey by a US research firm shows that hotel room rates in Tokyo have been rising sharply since 2022, when the coronavirus pandemic started to ease. The firm said the 2024 price was the highest since 1996.

1. Japan’s Economic Revitalization Minister Akazawa Ryosei is leaving for the US for the first round of negotiations on tariff measures introduced by President Donald Trump’s administration. After arriving in Washington, he will begin talks with US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Trade Representative Jamieson Greer.
2. Former US President Joe Biden has strongly criticized President Donald Trump’s administration for causing extensive harm during its first few months. The former president noted that the Trump administration has laid off many workers at the Social Security Administration. Biden said, “Fewer than 100 days, this new administration has done so much damage and so much destruction.”
3. The US Transport Department says it has withdrawn a grant for a high-speed railway project in Texas, dashing hopes Japanese bullet train technology would be used. Surging costs led decision-makers to label the project “unrealistic,” leaving its future uncertain.

1. The US government is investigating whether the country’s reliance on imports for semiconductors and pharmaceuticals could hurt national security. The Commerce Department says the probes, launched on April 1, also cover imports of chip-making devices and pharmaceutical ingredients.
2. Tokyo police have arrested four people for allegedly selling obscene images generated by artificial intelligence. Police say the arrests are the first clampdown on sales of images of this kind created by generative AI. They say the suspects, in their 20s to 50s, are alleged to have sold posters featuring indecent images of women through online auction sites around October of last year.
3. The British government announced on Monday that it would take additional measures to help businesses amid tariffs imposed by US President Donald Trump. The measures are meant to help the several thousand companies that are impacted by the tariffs.

1. Japan’s Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru has indicated that he will not rush to conclude tariff talks with the United States. On Monday, Ishiba attended a Lower House committee held to mainly discuss the tariff measures of President Donald Trump’s administration. 2. US President Donald Trump has said he will announce tariff rates on semiconductors over the next week. He was speaking to reporters on Air Force One on Sunday. Trump said, “We’ll be doing that with semiconductors, with chips and numerous other things, and that’ll take place in the very near future.”
3. The World Expo in Osaka has opened in western Japan, with diverse exhibits highlighting the plight of war-torn Ukraine as well as the future of mobility. Ukraine’s deputy minister of economy Tetyana Berezhna and other government officials attended the opening of their country’s pavilion on Sunday. Berezhna said at the ceremony that her country’s message is short but very clear. She said she wants visitors to know about the values and thinking that Ukraine treasures.

1. US President Donald Trump is suspending most of the tariffs he calls “reciprocal” for three months, during which time they will be lowered to 10 percent. However, he is making an exception for imports from China. Trump explained his moves to reporters at Washington on Wednesday. He said: “They all want to make a deal. Somebody had to do what we did. And I did a 90-day pause for the people that didn’t retaliate.”
2. US President Donald Trump has again complained about his country’s security treaty with Japan. Speaking to reporters at the White House on Thursday, he noted, “We defend them, but they don’t have to defend us.” Trump suggested that when deals were made in the past, other countries took advantage of the United States.
3. US and Russian officials have met in Turkey to discuss ways of normalizing the operations of their countries’ embassies. The officials reportedly agreed to make it easier for diplomats to travel and receive visas.

1. Lee Jae-myung, former head of South Korea’s largest opposition party has announced he is running for president. South Korea is holding its presidential election on June 3 following the impeachment of former President Yoon Suk-yeol.
2. Japanese Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte have agreed to step up cooperation between their two sides in defense and other areas. In talks in Tokyo on Wednesday, Ishiba told Rutte the need for security cooperation among NATO and Indo-Pacific partners, including Japan, has increased even further. Rutte said he hopes to further strengthen Japan-NATO cooperation.
3. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says more than 150 Chinese citizens have joined Russian troops to fight against his country. Zelenskyy accused Russia of recruiting Chinese fighters via social media, and he said he believes Beijing is aware of this.

1. The United States has launched President Donald Trump’s “reciprocal tariffs” as scheduled. The measures are imposed on countries and regions with large trade surpluses with the United States. The levies came into force on Wednesday. Trump has already imposed a 10-percent baseline tariff worldwide from April 5. The rates will be raised for certain countries and regions based on the sizes of their respective trade surpluses with the US. The rate for Japan is 24 percent. 　　　　　　　　　　　　
2. Billionaire Elon Musk, who heads the US Department of Government Efficiency, and White House Senior Counselor for Trade and Manufacturing Peter Navarro have exchanged barbs over tariff policy.　
3. The US Senate has officially confirmed George Glass as the new ambassador to Japan. The Senate approved his nomination by a majority vote on Tuesday. The former investment banker was picked for the post by US President Donald Trump. Glass is known to have been a major donor to Trump. He served as ambassador to Portugal for more than three years during Trump’s first term.

1. The South Korean government has officially decided to hold the country’s presidential election on June 3, following the removal of former President Yoon Suk-yeol from office. The date was set at a Cabinet meeting on Tuesday. It came four days after the Constitutional Court upheld Yoon’s impeachment over his short-lived declaration of martial law in December. 2. Japanese actor Hirosue Ryoko has been arrested on suspicion of injuring a nurse at a hospital. Police say she was arrested in Shimada City, Shizuoka Prefecture, central Japan, early on Tuesday for allegedly kicking and scratching a female nurse. They have not said whether Hirosue has admitted to the charge.
3. Japan’s Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru has called on US President Donald Trump to drop a unilateral tariff policy and instead pursue a win-win approach for both countries. During a 25-minute phone call on Monday, Ishiba and Trump agreed that they will appoint ministers in charge of discussions and continue dialogue.

1. Japan’s Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru has expressed his intention to visit the United States if necessary at an early date amid rising concerns over the new US tariff policy.
2. Japan’s finance minister has urged investors to respond calmly to the ongoing stock market plunge. Kato Kastunobu was speaking to reporters after a brief halt in stock futures trading in Japan.
3. The Japan Coast Guard says an air ambulance may have ditched in waters off Nagasaki Prefecture, western Japan, as no major damage to the aircraft has ben detected. The helicopter is said to have lost contact with controllers about 10 minutes after leaving an airport on Tsushima Island for a hospital in Fukuoka Prefecture on Sunday. It was later found floating upside down.

1. US President Donald Trump’s reciprocal tariffs announced has sent global financial markets into freefall and weakened the dollar.
2. US President Donald Trump has indicated that Elon Musk will likely leave his administration in a few months. Musk heads the Department of Government Efficiency, known as DOGE. 3. NHK has learned that Japan’s antitrust watchdog has decided to impose fines on seven firms, including the advertising giant Dentsu Group, over suspected bid-rigging related to contracts for the Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics.

1. The Trump administration has now started charging an additional 25 percent tariff on all auto imports as scheduled. Trump insists that vehicles and parts have been imported at unfairly low prices, causing factories and jobs to flow out of the country. He’s suggested the new tariffs will be permanent.
2. Japan’s Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru has expressed regret over US President Donald Trump’s announcement to impose 24-percent reciprocal tariffs on imports from his country. Ishiba told reporters on Thursday that it is extremely regrettable and disappointing that the US government made the decision to impose the tariffs despite calls from Japan at various levels not to take the unilateral measure.
3. Japan’s Toyota Motor says it will not raise prices of its vehicles sold in the United States for now, despite US President Donald Trump’s additional 25 percent tariffs on auto imports.

1. Greenland’s public broadcaster issued a satirical report on April Fools’ Day claiming that the territory’s coalition government has decided to make Alaska a part of Greenland. The Greenlandic broadcasting corporation said satirically on Tuesday that the government of the autonomous territory, which belongs to Denmark, is planning to purchase the US state of Alaska. 2. US President Donald Trump is expected to reveal the details of his plan for reciprocal tariffs on Wednesday. The White House says they will go into effect immediately. Trump is scheduled to deliver remarks at an event called “Make America Wealth Again” at 4 p.m. in Washington.
3. An opinion poll in Ukraine finds that the percentage of people who think US President Donald Trump’s administration is bad for their country has more than tripled since December 2024. The survey made by the Kyiv International Institute of Sociology shows that 73 percent of respondents think it is bad for Ukraine that Trump became president.

1. A group of scientists has called on the US federal government to “cease its wholesale assault” on science. Roughly 2,000 leading researchers, mostly from the United States, published an open letter to the administration of US President Donald Trump on Monday. The letter says: “For over 80 years, wise investments by the US government have built up the nation’s research enterprise, making it the envy of the world. Astoundingly, the Trump administration is destabilizing this enterprise by gutting funding for research.” 2. The death toll in Myanmar following last week’s devastating earthquake has surpassed 2,000 people, with nearly 4,000 injured. The military says hundreds of others are unaccounted for. The magnitude 7.7 quake struck the central part of the country near Mandalay on Friday. Aftershocks are hindering rescue efforts, and badly damaged buildings are at risk of crashing down.
3. US President Donald Trump has indicated that he is planning to make a major announcement about details of reciprocal tariffs on Tuesday night on Wednesday. Trump told reporters at the White House on Monday that the announcement is going to bring “tremendous wealth” back to his country. He said other countries have been ripping off the United States and that the move will be “the liberation of America.”

1. US President Donald Trump has not ruled out the possibility of seeking a third term, saying in a media interview there are “methods” to make it possible. The US Constitution prohibits anyone from being elected to the office of the president more than twice. Amending the two-term limit requires overcoming significant hurdles.
2. Consumers in Japan reeling under food inflation will face even higher grocery bills in April. A private research firm says the number of items set for mark-ups will top 4,000 for the first time in 18 months. Teikoku Databank surveyed 195 major domestic food and beverage makers and says price hikes are planned for 4,225 items in April.
3. Japan’s industrial production grew for the first time in 4 months in February, partly due to increased output of chip-making devices for export to Taiwan and China.

1. Australia’s Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has called a general election for May 3. The focus is on whether his ruling Labor Party can retain power amid growing public discontent about its economic policies. Albanese said there has never been a more important time for Australia to stand on its own two feet. He added that only the Labor Party is building an economy where more things are made in the country.
2. US President Donald Trump’s plan to impose a 25 percent tariff on auto imports is sending shockwaves through global markets, rattling close allies, and could mark the unraveling of the era of post-war era of free trade. The Trump administration says the tariffs, set to take effect on April 3, are designed to reduce trade deficits and push foreign automakers to shift production to US soil.
3. French President Emmanuel Macron says his country and Britain will send a joint team to Ukraine in the next few days to plan for a proposed troop deployment to help secure a possible ceasefire in the country. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, as well as leaders of nearly 30 countries, NATO and the European Union, met in Paris earlier on Thursday. Macron said the participants unanimously agreed that the time was not right to lift sanctions on Russia. Russia says some of the sanctions must be removed for its agreement with the United States over safety in the Black Sea to take effect.

1. US President Donald Trump on Wednesday announced an additional 25 percent tariff on imported autos and some parts. Trump said: “We’ll effectively be charging a 25 percent tariff. But if you build your car in the United States, there is no tariff.”
2. The South Korean military says North Korea appears to have dispatched at least 3,000 additional troops to Russia in January and February to support the invasion of Ukraine. The South’s Joint Chiefs of Staff released its latest report on the North’s military activities on Thursday.
3. Japan’s government has compiled a plan to evacuate people from remote islands in the southwestern prefecture of Okinawa in the event of emergencies. The plan, the first of its kind, was released on Thursday. It would be used in cases such as a contingency involving Taiwan.

1. Village officials led a memorial service in Zamami, Okinawa on Wednesday to commemorate the beginning of ground battles there 80 years ago. US forces made their first landing there in1945. It was the first such remembrance ceremony in 10 years. Attendees mourned the victims and reaffirmed efforts for peace.
2. Wildfires continue to spread in western Japan, with no signs of being brought under control. The blazes are still expanding in Ehime and Okayama prefectures, while a new wildfire broke out in Miyazaki Prefecture on Tuesday.
3. Japan is providing medical equipment to a children’s hospital in the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv that was damaged by a Russian missile attack last July. The Okhmatdyt children’s hospital is the largest state-run medical institution for children in Ukraine, with a record of performing over 10,000 surgeries in 2023.

1. A Palestinian correspondent for Japanese newspaper The Asahi Shimbun has been killed in the Gaza Strip along with two members of his family, apparently by an Israeli attack. The newspaper says Mahammed Mansour, who was 29, died in the southern Gaza city of Khan Younis on Monday along with his wife and baby son. It says they appear to have been killed by a missile strike. 2. A court in Japan has ordered the group once called the Unification Church to disband as a religious corporation. The group is expected to appeal. The Tokyo District Court issued the order on Tuesday, as requested by the education and culture ministry. The ministry had filed the request in 2023 based on the Religious Corporations Act. It said the group solicited large donations from followers and induced them into buying expensive items by exploiting fears about their spiritual wellbeing.
3. Weather officials in Japan say yellow sand from China’s desert regions has reached the Japanese archipelago. The officials are warning that the airborne particles could worsen the symptoms of hay fever and asthma, reduce visibility and cause traffic disruptions.

1. Wildfires continue to spread in Okayama and Ehime Prefectures, prompting authorities to urge residents to evacuate.
2. Cherry trees started to bloom in the western Japanese cities of Kochi and Kumamoto on Sunday. 3. Ozeki champion Onosato has won the Spring Grand Sumo Tournament after a playoff. This is his first title since he was promoted to the sport’s second-highest rank, and the third in his career.

1. Russia and Ukraine are expected to hold separate talks with the United States in Saudi Arabia on Monday. The move comes after they agreed to a partial US-brokered ceasefire in Ukraine. The Kremlin said on Thursday that US and Russian officials will have working-level talks in Riyadh. 2. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has suggested that he is considering plans to provide air and sea defense as well as support on the ground to maintain peace in Ukraine, once a ceasefire takes effect. Military officials from Ukraine, European nations and Canada were among those taking part. They support the framework of a “coalition of the willing” to maintain peace in Ukraine.
3. Japan’s national soccer team has defeated Bahrain in Asian qualifiers, becoming the first non-host squad to clinch a slot at next year’s World Cup. It will be the Samurai Blue’s eighth straight appearance in the tournament.

1. The US White House announced that President Donald Trump and his Ukrainian counterpart, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, have agreed on a ceasefire regarding attacks on Russian energy facilities during their phone talks on Wednesday. The announcement comes as Moscow stated that Russian President Vladimir Putin and Trump had agreed on a 30-day halt to energy infrastructure attacks the day before.
2. Israel is ramping up military pressure on Hamas over the group’s refusal to free Israeli hostages, continuing airstrikes in the Gaza Strip on Wednesday and launching a partial ground operation in the enclave. A Hamas official, meanwhile, told France’s AFP news agency that the group remained open to talks, indicating it will seek to establish ceasefire through negotiations.
3. People in Japan are remembering the victims of the sarin gas attack on the Tokyo subway system on the 30th anniversary of the deadly incident on Thursday. Members of the Aum Shinrikyo cult released highly toxic nerve gas in packed rush-hour subway cars on three lines in central Tokyo on March 20, 1995.

1. A US federal court has ordered the Trump administration to pause any further attempts to shut down the United States Agency for International Development. The judge ruled that the dismantling of USAID by the Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE, likely violated the Constitution.
2. The White House says US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin spoke about Ukraine by phone on Tuesday and agreed that the movement to peace should “begin with an energy and infrastructure ceasefire.” But Russia did not accept a 30-day ceasefire that was proposed by the United States.
3. US Chief Justice John Roberts has rebuked President Donald Trump for urging the impeachment of a federal judge who moved to block the administration’s deportations of foreign nationals. US media reports say the developments laid bare an escalating showdown between the country’s executive and judicial branches.

1. The Israeli military says it carried out a new wave of airstrikes on the Gaza Strip on Tuesday morning. According to media reports, Gaza health authorities say more than 200 people have been killed, including many children.
2. Japan’s Foreign Minister has advised his Iranian counterpart to take constructive and concrete actions with the United States to peacefully resolve Tehran’s nuclear issue. Iwaya Takeshi spoke with Abbas Araghchi on the phone on Monday about Iran’s protests against US calls for a nuclear deal amid pressure for tighter sanctions.
3. The operator of a nuclear power plant in central Japan has begun dismantling a reactor unit that is being decommissioned. Chubu Electric Power Company says the work on the No.2 reactor began at the Hamaoka nuclear power plant in Shizuoka Prefecture on Monday.

1. US President Donald Trump says he will speak to Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday, apparently about the US’s proposal for a ceasefire with Ukraine. Trump said: “A lot of work’s been done over the weekend. We want to see if we can bring that war to an end. Maybe we can, maybe we can’t, but I think we have a very good chance.” 2. Japanese singer and actor Ishida Ayumi died of thyroid gland malfunction last Tuesday at a hospital in Tokyo. She was 76 years old. Known for hit songs including “Blue Light Yokohama,” Ishida was born in 1948 in the city of Ikeda, Osaka Prefecture. She marked her debut as an actor in the 1964 TV drama, “Shichinin no Mago.”
3. Japan’s convenience stores are responding to the rapid increase in rice prices by using different techniques to extend the shelf life of their products. The goal is to reduce costs by cutting back on waste.

1. Japanese Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru has admitted that his office gave gift certificates to the offices of more than a dozen new lawmakers of his main ruling Liberal Democratic Party earlier this month. But he denied the move would cause any legal problems. 2. Comments by the US White House press secretary criticizing Japan for its levies on rice imports have drawn a response from Japan’s agriculture minister. Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt accused Japan of imposing unfair tariffs on inbound shipments of the staple grain on Tuesday. She said: “Look at Japan, tariffing rice, 700 percent.” Agriculture minister Eto Taku responded to the claim on Friday. He said: “I want the US to understand that Japan has a mandatory tariff-free import quota. And imports outside this are subject to a levy of 341 yen per kilogram.”
3. Foreign ministers of the Group of Seven are set to wrap up their two-day meeting in Canada. Their talks have partly focused on a US proposal for a ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine. The ministers are trying to balance their own views while also presenting a united message.

1. US President Donald Trump says the ball is now in Russia’s court on the American-proposed ceasefire in Ukraine. And the White House has revealed its negotiator is talking with Moscow about the plan.
2. The administration of US President Donald Trump has imposed tariffs on steel and aluminum imports starting Wednesday. Canada and the European Union followed suit in what is becoming a global trade war.
3. US President Donald Trump’s 25-percent additional tariffs on steel and aluminum imports went into effect on Wednesday.

1. The White House press secretary has criticized Japan over a tariff it imposes on US rice imports. Karoline Leavitt said: “Look at Japan, tariffing rice, 700 percent. President Trump believes in reciprocity…”
2. US President Donald Trump has announced that he will nominate a former ambassador to Thailand as the next Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs. In a social media post on Tuesday, Trump said Michael DeSombre will be nominated to the State Department post. 3. Tensions between the US and Ukraine have been high ever since their leaders engaged in a shouting match last month. However, senior officials from both sides met in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday to continue dialogue. The two countries released a joint statement saying the US will resume military aid and intelligence sharing. The Ukrainian side says it is willing to enact an immediate 30-day ceasefire if the proposal is accepted by Russia.

1. People across Japan are remembering tens of thousands of lives lost 14 years ago. On March 11, 2011, a massive earthquake and tsunami hit Japan’s eastern Pacific coast, triggering a nuclear accident that continues to affect the region today.
2. Japan’s Trade Minister Muto Yoji says he requested exemptions from US tariffs on steel, aluminum and auto imports, but received no assurances during talks in Washington. The 25-percent tariffs on steel and aluminum imports are scheduled to kick in on Wednesday. President Donald Trump has said he plans to impose automobile tariffs in April. 3. The Philippines’ presidential office says former President Rodrigo Duterte was arrested by police as he arrived at an airport in Manila on Tuesday. During his term in office, Duterte led a crackdown on illegal drugs under what was called a “war on drugs.” He apparently allowed police officers to kill suspects under the campaign.

1. Mark Carney, a former governor of the Bank of Canada, has won an election to become the leader of Canada’s ruling Liberal Party. Vote-counting took place on Sunday to choose the successor to Justin Trudeau, who is also Canada’s prime minister. Trudeau has led the Canadian government since 2015. Carney will become the next prime minister after Trudeau officially steps down.
2. A Swedish think tank says Ukraine became the world’s biggest arms importer in the five years to 2024. Ukraine’s weapons imports have soared as a result of Russia’s continued invasion. The report released by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute says the volume of arms imported by Ukraine between 2020 and 2024 was nearly 100 times the figure for the preceding five years. It accounted for 8.8 percent of the global total. 3. South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff say North Korea has launched several ballistic missiles. South Korea says it happened around 1:50 p.m. on Monday.

1. The European Union has reached a broad agreement on a plan to build up its defenses at a summit in Brussels. The move comes in response to pressure from US President Donald Trump for the group to shoulder more of the costs of their own defense.
2.US President Donald Trump has delayed tariffs on many imports from Mexico and Canada just two days after they took effect. Levies on goods covered by the North American trade agreement known as the USMCA will be put on hold until April 2. 3. Diplomats from the US and Ukraine are trying to mend fences one week after US President Donald Trump got into a heated exchange with his Ukrainian counterpart, Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

1. Speaking to Fox Business Network on Wednesday, CIA Director John Ratcliffe referred to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s statement that he is ready for peace and wants Trump’s leadership to bring about that peace. Ratcliffe went on to say he thinks the pause on the military and intelligence fronts will “go away,” suggesting both military and intelligence assistance to Ukraine will be resumed.
2. Japan’s Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru and Italian President Sergio Mattarella have agreed to strengthen bilateral cooperation in a wide range of fields, including security and economic matters. At the beginning of the meeting, Ishiba told the president that Japan and Italy are strategic partners which share values and principles.
3. A senior official of Ukraine’s presidential office has told NHK that a peace that is not just cannot be lasting and that Russia must be held responsible for its aggression. Iryna Mudra, the Deputy Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine, gave an exclusive interview to NHK in Kyiv on Wednesday.

1. US President Donald Trump delivered an address to a joint session of Congress on Tuesday. Here are the key points. Trump began his speech saying, “Six weeks ago, I stood beneath the dome of this Capitol and proclaimed the dawn of the Golden Age of America.” 2. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum says she will announce retaliatory measures on Sunday against the latest tariff imposed by the United States on imports from her country. The 25 percent tariffs on imports from Mexico and Canada took effect on Tuesday. 3. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says his country will file a claim with the World Trade Organization protesting the US tariffs, in addition to imposing a retaliatory levy on American goods. His remarks come after the administration of US President Donald Trump imposed a 25 percent tariff on imports from Canada.

1. A senior White House official says President Donald Trump has ordered a temporary halt to US military aid for Ukraine. The official suggested on Monday that the pause is aimed at reviewing whether the assistance is helping bring an end to the conflict in Ukraine. 2. Japan was also in the firing line on Monday. The US president accused the country of currency manipulation, and hinted he might respond with tariffs. Trump said other countries are deliberately pushing down the value of their currencies to give their economies a competitive advantage. He singled out Japan and China.
3. US President Donald Trump has confirmed that his planned 25 percent tariffs on imports from Mexico and Canada will take effect on Tuesday. Trump had postponed the levies on the two neighbors for a month, saying they had promised to implement security measures along the border. But on Monday he said there was “no room left” for a deal to avert tariffs.

1. Food and drink prices in Japan are rising at an accelerating pace, driven higher by the increasing cost of raw materials. Private research firm Teikoku Databank polled nearly 200 major domestic food and beverage makers. The survey found they are preparing to raise the prices on 2,343 items this month.
2. Japan’s Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru says he will make efforts to seek US involvement and Group of Seven unit in dealing with the conflict in Ukraine. He was commenting on the heated exchange between US President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the White House on Friday.
3. An iconic atomic bomb survivor has appealed for increased efforts for nuclear disarmament at an event in New York ahead of the third Meeting of States Parties to the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons. Setsuko Thurlow, who now lives in Canada, was 13 years old when an atomic bomb was dropped on Hiroshima. She has been working for nuclear disarmament for over half a century and helped create the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons.

1. Japan’s government has decided to provide additional funding to help the Noto region in central Japan recover from a powerful earthquake and torrential rains last year. Cabinet ministers decided on Friday to allocate nearly 107 billion yen, or about 710 million dollars, from the reserve funds in the current fiscal year’s budget.
2. Workers at the US Agency for International Development have packed up their belongings and left the headquarters in Washington. This comes after they were dismissed or placed on leave as part of a cost-cutting measure carried out by the Trump administration. 3. US President Donald Trump will soon meet Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in the United States, where the leaders are expected to sign an agreement on Ukraine’s mineral resources.

1. Operations to repatriate foreign nationals freed from scam centers in Myanmar continued on Thursday. Authorities have started to transport Indonesians to Thailand, and from there they will head home. Last week, hundreds of Chinese were repatriated. Thai authorities say they plan to move other foreign nationals in phrases.
2. Japan increased its cabbage imports in January by more than 40 times year-on-year as local harvests suffered from lack of rain. Ninety-five percent of the cabbage came from China. Imports of Chinese cabbage surged to 1,440 tons from almost zero a year earlier. And for lettuce, the amount was up by 80 percent.
3. The former chief treasurer of a faction of Japan’s main ruling Liberal Democratic Party has been questioned by a Diet committee about a political fund scandal. The faction was once led by the late Prime Minister Abe Shinzo. Members of the Lower House Budget Committee questioned Matsumoto Junichiro as an unsworn witness in a Tokyo hotel on Thursday. The close-door session continued for about 40 minutes.

1. US President Donald Trump has ordered the Commerce Department to investigate an increase in copper imports as a national security risk and may slap tariffs on the metal. Trump signed the order on Tuesday. The goal is to boost domestic production and reduce dependence on China and Latin American countries such as Chile.
2. South Korea’s fertility rate slightly increased in 2024 from the previous year, but it remains at one of the lowest levels globally, 0.75. Statistics Korea said on Wednesday that the figure, which represents the average number of children born per woman, was up 0.03 points from a record low of 0.72 in 2023.
3. Japan’s transport ministry says the country’s public pilot training college will introduce a special entrance quota for female applicants in fiscal 2027. This comes amid a pilot shortage and the low proportion of female pilots.

1. The United Nations General Assembly has adopted a resolution calling for an end to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the withdrawal of Russian troops from the country. The United States opposed the motion. Ninety-three member states voted in favor of it, but 18 others, including the US and Russia, voted against it. Sixty-five members abstained. 2. Leaders from European and other nations have met in Kyiv to mark the third anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. They have reaffirmed their solidarity as they aim for an end of the war. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called for support at the meeting for his efforts to bring an end to the war. He said, “we must achieve peace through force, wisdom and unity in our cooperation.”
3. Germany’s largest opposition alliance of the Christian Democratic Union and the Christian Social Union has won the most seats in Sunday’s general election. The bloc’s candidate for chancellor, Friedrich Merz expressed hope for launching a new government by around mid-April during a TV appearance on Sunday night. Merz is expected to become German chancellor.

1. Japan’s Emperor Naruhito turned 65 on Sunday. Ahead of his birthday, he spoke to reporters at the Imperial Palace in central Tokyo. As 2025 marks 80 years since the end of World War II, the Emperor said memories of the war might be about to fade. But he stressed the importance of remembering the accounts of harrowing experiences and history of those who went through the war, and passing them on to those who did not.
2. An ethnic minority militia guarding Myanmar’s border says it has raided one of the transnational scam centers in the east of the country, near Thailand. It’s believed that many people from around the world, including Japan, are being coerced into carrying out fraudulent activities at these facilities.
3. Germany’s largest opposition alliance of the Christian Democratic Union and the Christian Social Union has won the most seats in Sunday’s general election. The center-right bloc is on course to lead post-election coalition talks to form a government.

1. It has been one month since US President Donald Trump returned to the White House. In that time, he has signed executive orders at a faster pace than in his firs term and said things that have shocked the world. Experts say there is a strategy behind this flurry of activity, which is called “Flood the zone.”
2. Representatives of Ukrainian and Japanese firms have celebrated the opening of the Ukrainian Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Japan at an event in Tokyo. The Ukrainian chamber of commerce started operating in Japan in December with eight founding members, including Ukrainians who live in Japan.
3. The average price of new condominiums in Greater Tokyo fell in January, due to a decrease in the number of units offered for sale in more expensive central areas.

1. Thursday marks one month since US President Donald Trump returned to the White House. He has been shaking things up as he reverses the previous administration’s agenda and upends generations of US policies. This has spread confusion around the country and the globe. He has signed 70 executive orders in his first 30 days, which is more than he signed during his first year in office the last time.
2. US President Donald Trump’s administration has ordered the termination of the congestion toll that was introduced in New York City last month. The state governor strongly opposes the move. The toll was launched on January 5 to address the worsening traffic congestion in Manhattan’s central business district, which includes Times Square and Wall Street. Vehicles entering these and other designated areas of the city are charged a toll. 3. US President Donald Trump has repeatedly denounced Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy as a “dictator without elections” amid Russia’s ongoing invasion of Ukraine.

1.US President Donald Trump has expressed confidence in the progress of negotiations toward a possible Ukraine peace deal following talks between US and Russian senior officials. The two country’s top diplomats met in Riyadh, the capital of Saudi Arabia, on Tuesday and agreed to establish high-level teams to continue talks to end the fighting in Ukraine. 2. China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi says his country supports the United Nations’ central role in international affairs, and expressed Beijing’s endorsement of multilateralism at the world body.
3. US President Donald Trump says that the tariffs on imported automobiles that he plans to impose from early April will be set at around 25 percent. If tariffs are imposed on all countries, it will deal a blow to Japan as a major automobile exporter to the United States.

1. European leaders have gathered in France for emergency talks on Ukraine amid concerns over upcoming US-Russian negotiations on ending the war in the country. Participants likely discussed the current situation regarding Russia’s invasion of Ukraine amid media reports on possible talks between the US and Russia in Saudi Arabia. They also discussed their countries’ post-war plans, including whether to send peacekeeping troops to Ukraine. 2. Japan’s Environment Ministry has submitted to the United Nations its new target for reducing the country’s greenhouse gas emissions by 60 percent in fiscal 2035 from fiscal 2013 levels. Under the new targets, the country aims for a 73-percent reduction by fiscal 2040. 3. Japan’s government has approved a new basic energy plan for the country. It calls for wind, solar and other renewables to be the main national power source by fiscal 2040. Renewables are expected to account for 40 to 50 percent of the total energy mix by that time.

1. A cold wave is once again approaching Japan. Japanese weather officials say a strong winter pressure pattern is expected to bring heavy snow, mainly to areas along the Sea of Japan, from Monday to around Wednesday.
2. Japanese restaurants are reacting to spiraling prices for domestic rice by embracing cheaper imports instead. The Japanese government imports about 770,000 tons of tariff-free rice a year from countries such as the US and Thailand. It sells some of that to the private sector. 3. European leaders are to hold an emergency summit in France to discuss the situation in Ukraine and security challenges in Europe. Participants will include French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte will also attend.

1. Japan’s Agriculture Minister Eto Taku said the government will release 210,000 tons of rice from government stockpiles amid a surge in prices of the staple food. 2. US President Donald Trump and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi have agreed to start negotiations to reduce the US trade deficit with India. At a news conference after the summit, Trump said the US runs a huge trade deficit with India.
3.Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has suggested he is not pleased that US President Donald Trump spoke first with Russia’s president by phone before talking to him. Zelenskyy expressed concern that Russia may be trying to negotiate bilaterally with the United States in order to bring an end to the war in Ukraine.

1. The United Nations says the recovery and reconstruction of the Gaza Strip after devastation by Israeli attacks is estimated to require at least 53.1 billion dollars. The UN released a report on its interim assessment for the recovery and reconstruction needs for Gaza on Tuesday. The report says more than 60 percent of homes and over 65 percent of roads have been destroyed in the strip.
2. Authorities in Taiwan say an explosion at a department store in central Taiwan on Thursday has left four people dead and one without vital signs. Footage aired by Taiwanese TV station TVBS shows significant damage to the upper part of the building, with debris scattered on the ground nearby as emergency responders work at the scene.
3. Honda Motor and Nissan Motor have decided to terminate merger talks that would have created the world’s third-biggest automaker group. The companies say they are instead seeking to prioritize “the speed of decision-making” in a rapidly changing EV market. The Japanese automakers started the merger talks in the face of intense competition from US and Chinese rivals in EVs and software development. They originally planned to integrate operations under a holding company. But Honda then switched strategy and proposed acquiring Nissan to make it a wholly-owned subsidiary. Nissan President Uchida Makoto says that proposal was unacceptable.

1. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says the ceasefire with Hamas in the Gaza Strip will end, if the Islamic group does not release his country’s hostages. Hamas announced on Monday that it would postpone the sixth round of hostage releases.
2. US President Donald Trump has signed an executive order directing federal agencies to work with the Department of Government Efficiency, or DODE, to make drastic cuts to their workforces. The order, signed on Tuesday, requires each agency to “hire no more than one employee for every four employees that depart.”
3. The head of artificial intelligence developer OpenAI says his company is not for sale. The US-based OpenAI developed the ChatGPT generative artificial intelligence service.

1. US President Donald Trump has formally announced he will place a 25 percent tariff on steel and aluminum imports into the United States. Trump said the 25 percent tariff will be applied to all trading partners and that there will be no exceptions.
2. US President Donald Trump has signed an executive order banning the use of paper straws at federal agencies. He criticized his predecessor, Joe Biden, for promoting the use of paper straws instead of plastic ones.
3. French President Emmanuel Macron says a large artificial intelligence data center will be built in France with investments from foreign companies. Macron was speaking to attendees at the AI Action Summit that opened in Paris on Monday.

1. The latest NHK opinion poll shows the approval rate for Japanese Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru’s Cabinet is 44 percent. This is 5 points up from January. The disapproval rate is 35 percent, which is down 5 points. Ishiba is considering revising the budget bill for the new fiscal year by adopting views from the opposition parties. The ruling parties are a minority in the Lower House.
2. Japan’s Prime Minister Ishiba Sigeru gifted US President Donald Trump a golden samurai helmet and a Japanese vase when the two leaders met in Washington on Friday. Chief Cabinet Secretary Hayashi Yoshimasa told reporters on Monday that the helmet was presented with prayers for the health and well-being of President Trump’s family, especially his grandchildren, as the president cherishes his family.
3. China’s media say the country started countermeasures early on Monday against the additional tariffs placed on Chinese imports by the United States. The Chinese government had announced that it would put a 15-percent tariff on US coal and liquefied natural gas, and it would also impose a 10-percent levy on goods such as crude oil, agricultural machinery and large-engine automobiles. The measures are meant to counter the additional 10-percent tariffs placed on Chinese products by US President Donald Trump’s administration on February 4.

1. Another strong cold spell is likely to hit wide areas of Japan on Friday. Forecasters also report that heavy snow is expected, mainly along the Sea of Japan coast. Many areas have seen an unusually high buildup of snow for this time of the year. As of 11 a.m., Niigata Prefecture’s Uonuma City reported more than 3 meters’ worth. Heavy snow is expected in the flat areas of the Kinki and Tokai regions, where it usually does not snow much. 2. Nissan Motor and Honda Motor plan to make a final decision on their potential management integration next week. Their talks are expected to be terminated after Nissan rejected Honda’s proposal to make it a wholly owned subsidiary. The Japanese automakers have been in talks since December about a merger under a joint parent company. But Honda recently changed its strategy and proposed acquiring Nissan’s shares to make it a subsidiary, an offer Nissan has rebuffed. Honda has indicated that it is difficult to continue negotiations unless Nissan accepts. 3. Media reports say US President Donald Trump met US Steel CEO David Burritt at the White House on Thursday. They are likely to have discussed a Japanese steelmaker’s planned takeover of the US firm. Observers say Burritt may have explained Nippon Steel’s plan to buy US Steel and asked for the president’s cooperation to help the deal go through. In January, former President Joe Biden issued an order to block the Japanese steelmaker’s buyout, citing national security’s concerns.

1. The US State Department says the Panamanian government has agreed to no longer charge fees for US government vessels transiting the Panama Canal. But Panamanian authorities managing the canal deny the claim.
2. Nissan Motor has told Honda Motor that it is opposed to Honda’s offer to acquire all of Nissan shares and make it a wholly-owned subsidiary. Nissan President Uchida Makoto told Honda President Mibe Toshihiro that many Nissan board members had expressed their opposition to Honda’s offer. But Honda has already told Nissan that it will be difficult to continue merger talks unless Nissan agrees.
3. Japan’s Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru is on his way to the United States to meet President Donald Trump. He says he wants to establish mutual trust with his American counterpart. Ishiba spoke to reporters before his departure on Thursday. He said: “I’d like to confirm in my meeting with the president that Japan and the US will cooperate in the economic and security fields. That we will work together toward peace, and developing freedom and openness in the Indo-Pacific region and beyond.”

1. The International Atomic Energy Agency says that its director general will visit Japan this month to inspect the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant.
2. The coldest air mass of the season is dumping a blanket of snow in many areas, mainly along the Sea of Japan coast.
3. Starbucks Coffee Japan is introducing location-based pricing at select stores to manage rising material and labor costs.

1. US President Donald Trump says he has agreed to a one-month delay on the 25 percent tariffs originally set to be imposed against Mexico and Canada from Tuesday. He cited their willingness to fight drug trafficking and other border issues as a reason.
2. Elon Musk says US President Donald Trump has agreed to shut down the country’s USAID international development agency as part of efforts to cut government spending. The billionaire entrepreneur is now the head of the Department of Government Efficiency and charged with slashing costs.
3. Norway’s embassy in Japan has hosted a celebratory party for last year’s Nobel Peace Prize laureate Nihon Hidankyo, which represents survivors of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

1. US President Donald Trump says he will speak with Canada and Mexico on Monday before planned tariffs take effect on the two countries. The White House announced on Saturday that Trump would impose tariffs on Canada, Mexico and China. The president said that the countries owe the US a lot of money and “I’m sure they’re going to pay.”
2. Japanese Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru has said he does not expect any disagreement with US President Donald Trump over the importance of the rule of law at their summit later this week. 3. The strongest cold air mass of the season is likely to intensify snowfall and winds on the Sea of Japan coast from northern to western Japan from Tuesday. Officials from the Meteorological Agency and the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism have jointly issued an alert for heavy snow. They say the influx of cold air is expected to continue for several days and its impact could be prolonged.

1. Some Western countries have begun reacting cautiously to DeepSeek, a China-based developer of the generative AI model of the same name, out of privacy concerns.
2. Federal investigators in the United States are trying to determine the cause of a deadly plane crash over Washington DD. Officials have reportedly recovered the plane’s black boxes, which may offer some clues. The black boxes are to be analyzed at the National Transportation Safety Board lab.
3. Rescue officials have started laying a slope into an expanding sinkhole north of Tokyo as they prepare to launch a full-fledged search for a truck driver. The 74-year-old driver remains unaccounted for after his truck plunged into a hole.

1. NBC News reports that 64 people were on board a plane that crashed into the Potomac River near Ronald Reagan National Airport on the outskirts of the US capital Washington after colliding midair with a US military helicopter.
2. US President Donald Trump has announced a plan to prepare a facility to accommodate 30,000 undocumented immigrants at a US base in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, as part of measures to combat illegal immigration.
3. A Shinto shrine in Japan’s western prefecture of Fukuoka has held a traditional ritual of collecting seaweed from the ocean and offering it before an altar to pray for navigational safety and a large catch.

1. The United Nations says the United States has notified UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres of its withdrawal from the Paris Agreement – an international framework to fight global warming. 2. Members of a US nonprofit group warn that humanity is edging closer to catastrophe from dangers that include nuclear weapons and climate change. The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists told reporters in Washington on Tuesday that its Doomsday Clock was set at 89 seconds to midnight, one second forward from the previous two years and the closest it has ever been to catastrophe. The group has been using the clock since 1947 to symbolize how close the world is to destruction.
3. The head of the United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs has expressed a strong sense of crisis over US President Donald Trump’s “America First” policy and similar moves spreading across the globe. UN Under-Secretary-General and High Representative for Disarmament Affairs Nakamitsu Izumi made the remarks in an interview with NHK in Tokyo on Tuesday. She expressed concern that such a trend could result in the collapse of the international order.

1. US electric-vehicle giant Tesla is challenging additional European Union tariffs of up to 35.3 percent on EVs produced in China. Tesla has filed a lawsuit against the European Commission at the Court of Justice of the European Union, s these levies also apply to EVs built in China by Western automakers and shipped to the EU.
2. US President Donald Trump has moved quickly to crack down on what he calls “illegal immigration” since taking office, and the ripples of his policy are being felt in Mexico. 3. Japan’s sumo world will have its first new Yokozuna grand champion in three and a half years. Ozeki Champion Hoshoryu has been recommended for promotion to sumo’s top rank after winning its second grand tournament title in a three-way playoff on Sunday.

1. Fuji TV has announced the resignations of President Minato Koichi and Chairman Kanoh Shuji. The Japanese broadcaster has been implicated in a major scandal involving TV personality Nakai Masahiro. The scandal surfaced last month when weekly magazines reported that a Fuji TV employee was involved in trouble that occurred between Nakai and a woman. Nakai was a member of the now-disbanded pop idol group SMAP.
2. Japan department store sales exceeded pre-pandemic levels for the first time last year, helped by demand from a surge in overseas visitors. The Japan Department Stores Association says total sales for 2024 came in at more than 5.7 trillion yen, or about 37 billion dollars. That’s up 6.8 percent from the previous year in yen terms. It also exceeds the pre-COVID 2019 level by 3.6 percent.
3. An NHK survey shows a majority of major companies in Japan expect moderate growth in the economy in 2025. They cite a likely recovery in consumer spending on the back of wage increases. NHK conducted the survey of 100 businesses in December and January, with 95 responding. Most of those expecting growth pint to spending by individuals. This is based on the belief that spring wage talks between unions and companies will result in higher salaries, as they did last year.

1. US media outlet Fox News says more than 460 individuals have been arrested in a nationwide federal operation targeting undocumented immigrants with criminal records since the inauguration of Donald Trump as president on Monday.
2. US President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Thursday to promote the use of cryptocurrencies and other digital assets. The order states that the digital asset industry plays a crucial role in innovation and economic development in the United States. 3. The Bank of Japan has decided to raise its benchmark interest rate to around 0.5 percent from 0.25 percent. The hike in the short-term rate was the first since July last year. It is now at its highest level since October 2008. Financial markets have had a generally positive reaction to Trump’s inauguration.

1. An NHK survey shows that 30 percent of major Japanese companies expect the new US administration’s policies will negatively affect their business. Many cited President Donald Trump’s planned tariff hikes.
2. An NHK survey released to coincide with the start of annual wage negotiations in Japan, shows that over 90 percent of companies are ready to raise pay this year. NHK conducted the survey of 100 major companies from December 13 through January 15. 3. Japanese television personality Nakai Masahiro has announced he is retiring from show business in the wake of a scandal involving a woman. He said he is retiring as of this day, but does not believe he has fulfilled all his responsibilities.

1. US President Donald Trump says he has asked Chinese President Xi Jinping to play a role in resolving Russia’s ongoing invasion of Ukraine. On Tuesday, Trump was asked by a reporter whether he had discussed the war in Ukraine with Xi, who has close ties to Russian President Vladimir Putin.
2. US President Donald Trump said on Tuesday that he is considering imposing an additional 10 percent tariff on imports from China starting on February 1. That is the same date on which he is mulling slapping 25-percent tariffs on imports from Mexico and Canada. 3. US President Donald Trump has announced the launch of a joint venture dubbed Stargate that will invest hundreds of billions of dollars to build artificial intelligence infrastructure in the US. Trump said “A new American company that will invest 500 billion dollars at least in AI infrastructure in the United States, and very quickly moving, very rapidly, creating over 100,000 American jobs almost immediately.”

1. The yen saw a sharp price swing against the dollar on Tuesday following the latest tariff remarks by US President Donald Trump. During Tokyo trading, the Japanese currency briefly fell after Trump said he’s considering a 25-percent levy on imports from Canada and Mexico. He said he could introduce the change from February 1.
2. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has congratulated US President Donald Trump, saying he is sure “the best days of our alliance are yet to come.” Netanyahu thanked Trump for his efforts in helping free Israeli hostages in Gaza. Three hostages were released by Hamas a day earlier, under a six-week ceasefire deal brokered by the US and others. 3. The mother of a Japanese woman who was abducted by North Korea says she hopes new US President Donald Trump will rescue her daughter and other abductees from North Korea. Yokota Sakie, who is 88 years old, issued a statement after Trump was sworn in as the 47th president of the United States on Monday.

1. Israeli and Hamas leaders have marked the start of a six-week ceasefire in Gaza by releasing prisoners and hostages. Hamas returned three Israeli hostages and Israeli authorities freed 90 Palestinian prisoners. Hamas is expected to release 33 of the roughly 100 hostages held in Gaza. Israel is scheduled to release Palestinian prisoners and pull its forces from highly populated areas during the ceasefire.
2. South Korea’s President Yoon Suk-yeol has again refused to appear for questioning, despite a request by a joint team of investigators on Monday. The investigation team notified Yoon that he would be questioned at 10 a.m., but he refused. The president was arrested on Sunday on suspicion of orchestrating an insurrection by declaring martial law last month. 3. Foreign ministers of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations have discussed the situation in Myanmar where fighting continues after a military coup erupted four years ago. The ASEAN plans to send a special envoy to Myanmar to call for the immediate cessation of violence. The ministers exchanged views over ongoing fighting between Myanmar’s military and prodemocracy forces.

1. Japan marks 30 years since the Great Hanshin-Awayji Earthquake. The magnitude 7.3 tremor devastated the city of Kobe and surrounding areas.
2. The United Kingdom and Ukraine have concluded a long-term cooperation agreement. Under the accord, London will also provide Kyiv with military assistance.
3. Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen has told US President-elect Donald Trump that Denmark will not agree to sell Greenland to the United States.

1. An NHK survey found that more than 60 percent of the survivors of the 1995 Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake feel that memories of the disaster and lessons learned are fading. 2. US President Joe Biden has warned against a concentration of power by a few very wealthy people as he prepares to step down and hand power to Donald Trump. 3. Japan’s Chief Cabinet Secretary Hayashi Yoshimasa has described the Gaza ceasefire agreement as a crucial step toward Japan’s goal of improving the humanitarian situation in Gaza and easing tensions in the region.

1. South Korean investigators say they have detained President Yoon Suk-yeol. He faces charges of insurrection over his brief declaration of martial law in December. This is the first time in South Korean history that a sitting president has been detained. Yoon remained defiant as he was taken in for questioning. He said, “I cannot help but feel disappointed to see that the investigators are pushing ahead with an invalid detention warrant. But I have decided to accept the request, despite it being an illegal investigation, to prevent bloodshed as investigators forced their way into the residence. But I stand against this investigation. 2. NHK has learned that the Japanese government is arranging to offer aid worth 2 million dollars to the United States, in response to the raging wildfires in the Los Angeles area. The Japanese government officials hope the funds can be used to provide safe shelter, food, psychological care and other support that meet local needs.
3. Japan’s ancient city of Kyoto has officially announced it will raise the cap on its accommodation tax tenfold to 10,000 yen, or about 63 dollars, a night. The city started collecting the tax in 2018 from all guests at hotels, inns and other accommodation facilities, in principle.

1. US President Joe Biden has delivered a foreign policy speech ahead of the expiration of his term early next week. He stressed the importance of multinational cooperation, with an eye on the “America-first” approach of his successor, Donald Trump. Biden said: “America is stronger. Our alliances are stronger” compared with four years ago, while “our adversaries and competitors are weaker.”
2. A new takeover bid is reportedly in the works for US Steel to counter the offer made by Japan’s Nippon Steel. Media outlet CNBC says US steelmaker Cleveland-Cliffs is teaming up with local rival Nucor for the deal. The deal is reportedly structured to avoid violating anti-monopoly laws.
3. The prime minister of Greenland, an autonomous Danish territory, has reiterated his position of not agreeing with remarks made by US President-elect Donald Trump. Prime Minister Mute Egede, at the same time, expressed hope for the territory’s cooperation with the US and others in fields such as defense and the mining of its mineral resources.

1. US President-elect Donald Trump’s pick for national security advisor says he expects a telephone call between Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin to take place in coming weeks. Mike Waltz, a member of the House of Representatives, appeared on an ABC television program on Sunday. Trump said earlier that a meeting with Putin was being set up. 2. The father of a woman abducted by North Korean agents decades ago has again called for her return in a written comment released on her 65th birthday. Arimoto Keiko was 23 when she was abducted in 1983 while traveling in Europe after completing a study program in London. Her 96-year-old father Arimoto Akihiro celebrated her birthday on Sunday with cake and red bean rice at his home in the city of Kobe, western Japan. 3. Monday is Coming of Age Day, a national holiday that celebrates people reaching 20 years of age. In Osaka City, western Japan, young people climbed the stairs of one of Japan’s tallest buildings under the slogan “Let’s Step into Adulthood.” About 50 people wearing kimono and suits took part in the rite of passage at the 300-meter-tall Abeno Harukas skyscraper. In 2022, the country’s legal age of adulthood was lowered from 20 to 18, but many people still mark the milestone when they turn 20.

1. US President Joe Biden has pledged to do everything at a federal level to help contain the Los Angeles wildfires. He said, “The worst fire has ever hit Los Angeles, ever.”
2. Denmark’s Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen has suggested holding talks on Greenland with US President-elect Donald Trump. Frederiksen said she believes they will have a good dialogue about the Danish autonomous territory. Her remarks came after Trump called for the United States to acquire Greenland for purposes of national security. 3. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has downplayed US President-elect Donald Trump’s remarks on Greenland and the Panama Canal. Meloni said she would rule out the possibility of the US attempting to forcibly annex territories that interest the country in the next few years.

1. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum has suggested that North America, including the United States, could be called “Mexican America” as shown in an old map. The Mexican president floated her idea by showing reporters a map from the 17th century. It described North America as “America Mexicana” in Spanish, which means Mexican America. Sheinbaum said with a smile that the name “sounds nice, doesn’t it?”
2. Former Japanese Prime Minister Suga Yoshihide and US Senator Bill Hagerty have confirmed that they will work to uphold and bolster the bilateral alliance from their respective positions. Suga and Hagerty met for about 30 minutes in Washington on Wednesday. Hagerty was the US ambassador to Japan during the first Donald Trump administration. Suga will attend Thursday’s state funeral for former US President Jimmy Carter as a special envoy of Japan’s Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru.
3. Public health officials in Japan say the average weekly number of influenza patients per medical institution has hit a 26-year high. The National Institute of Infectious Diseases says a total of 317,812 cases were reported in the week to December 29, an increase of over 100,000 from the previous week.

1. US President-elect Donald Trump says NATO member countries should increase their defense spending to 5 percent of their GDP. Trump said defense spending by NATO members should be at 5 percent, not 2 percent, of GDP. He has been promoting his “America First” policy. He has repeatedly claimed that NATO member states are not paying their fair share on defense.
2. A new term started on Wednesday at an elementary school in Anamizu Town in central Japan’s Ishikawa Prefecture. The school building was severely damaged in the massive earthquake that struck the Noto Peninsula on New Year’s Day last year. About 130 children at Anamizu Elementary School exchanged greetings at the entrance of their temporary school building. 3. Sumitomo Mitsui Banking plans to raise its starting monthly salary to 300,000 yen, or nearly 1,900 dollars from April next year. The firm is the first among Japanese megabanks to offer wages at this level. A number of financial organizations are making plans to raise base pay for newcomers, amid Japan’s severe labor shortage.

1. The historical TV series “Shogun” has triumphed at the 2025 Golden Globes, taking Best Television Series –Drama and three other awards. Lead actor Sanada Hiroyuki, who also produced the series, won Best Performance by an actor in the TV drama category. “Shogun” was produced by the US pay TV channel FX. Set during Japan’s Sengoku Warring States period, it features a samurai warrior and a British navigator who became his subordinate. Dialogue in the 10-episode drama is mostly in Japanese, which is unusual for a US production. 2. Japanese Foreign Minister Iwaya Takeshi and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken have wrapped up their meeting in Tokyo. The two top diplomats met over lunch at a Tokyo hotel on Tuesday. At the start of their talks, Iwaya expressed hope for thorough discussions on regional affairs and the state of bilateral relations to elevate the Japna-US alliance to new heights. 3. The Canadian prime minister announced on Monday that he will resign, after leading the country for almost a decade. Justin Trudeau said he is stepping down as head of the Liberal Party and prime minister at a press conference in the capital of Ottawa.

1. Japanese golfer Matsuyama Hideki clinched his 11th career PGA Tour victory at the season-opening event on Sunday in the US state of Hawaii. Matsuyama finished with a PGA Tour record total of 35-under par. The season opener featured 59 players, including Matsuyama, who won two PGA events last year and a bronze medal at the Paris Olympics. 2. A ceremony to distribute traditional round rice cakes was held on Monday at Hikone Castle in Shiga Prefecture, western Japan. The castle is designated as a national treasure. Eleven members of the castle’s management center gathered in the morning to divide the two glutinous rice cakes, called “kagami mochi.” The cakes were displayed over the New Year holidays at the castle museum and gardens.
3. Economists predict that Japan’s economy will grow more than 1 percent in inflation-adjusted terms in fiscal 2025. They see wage increases giving a boost to consumer spending.

1. South Korean investigators have halted their attempts to execute a detention warrant for President Yoon Suk-yeol. They earlier entered the grounds of the presidential residence to detain Yoon, but were blocked by his security personnel.
2. Multiple US media outlets say President Joe Biden has decided to officially block Japan’s Nippon Steel from purchasing US Steel.
3. A traditional New Year’s event to ward off evil has been held in the city of Wajima in central Japan for the first time in two years. The city was hit hard by the massive Noto Peninsula earthquake and heavy rain last year. The folk ritual called “Amamehagi” features people wearing masks of legendary creatures and monkeys.

1. The death toll from a New Year’s Day vehicle attack in the southern US city of New Orleans has risen to at least 15. The suspect was killed in a shootout with police. The Federal Bureau of Investigation is investigating the incident as an act of terrorism. The FBI identified the suspect who was driving the vehicle as 42-year-old Shamsud-Din Jabbar, from Texas.
2. One person died and seven others were injured when a vehicle exploded and caught fire Wednesday morning outside one of President-elect Donald Trump’s hotels in Las Vegas in the western US state of Nevada. The car was made by Tesla, where Elon Musk, a businessman who is close to Trump, serves as CEO. The explosion happened outside the Trump International Hotel at around 8:40 a.m. on Wednesday. One person died inside the vehicle. 3. People in Syria are voicing their expectations for the interim government to build a better future, as the country ushers in the New Year. On New Year’s Day, people in the capital Damascus expressed hope for stable security and the recovery of the economy battered by civil war.

1. Japan’s Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru has delivered his New Year’s message in which he vowed to help a diverse public realize happiness by revitalizing regional communities, that are facing serious population declines. In the message, Ishiba says the drop in population has resulted in diminishing vitality for both regions and the economy. He says he is determined to set his regional revitalization policy in motion and rectify the excessive concentration in Tokyo to build a Japan that fulfills his pledge.
2. In the wee hours of Wednesday, New Year’s Day worshippers packed the grounds of Meiji Jingu, a major Shinto shrine in central Tokyo, praying that good luck will come their way in 2025. They began forming queues late at night on New Year’s Eve along the approach to the shrine in Shibuya Ward. With the sound of a beating drum at midnight signaling the arrival of the New Year, visitors began throwing monetary offerings into a wide fenced-in area, and then made their wishes.
3. A record low number of New Year’s greeting cards were delivered in Japan on Wednesday as 2025 began, the fewest since data became available on them in 2008. A ceremony was held to mark the start of delivery at a post office in Tokyo’s Shinjuku district. After the ceremony, postal workers in traditional costumes left for their assigned areas to make deliveries.

1. Officials from the United States have joined the investigation into Sunday’s deadly crash of a passenger jet in South Korea. The Boeing 737 operated by South Korean low-cost carrier Jeju Air belly-landed and smashed into a barrier at Muan International Airport in the country’s southwest. The crash killed 179 of the 181 people aboard.
2. Russia and Ukraine have exchanged more than 300 prisoners of war in the latest such swap. Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on social media on Monday that his team managed to bring 189 Ukrainians back home. Zelenskyy thanked the United Arab Emirates and other partners for mediating the swap.
3. A Ukrainian delegation including Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha has visited Syria and expressed its desire to remove Russia’s influence from the Middle Eastern country. The Ukrainian officials said that as relief supply, 500 tons of wheat flour are scheduled to arrive in Syria on Tuesday. They also said they are ready to cooperate with Syria in probing war crimes.

1. Former US President Jimmy Carter, a recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize, has died at the age of 100. Carter was a peanut farmer in the southern state of Georgia before he turned into a politician and became the governor of the state. Carter, a Democrat, won the presidential election in 1976 and served as the 39th US president between 1977 and 1981.
2. Azerbaijani President IIham Aliyev wants to hold Russia accountable for the recent crash of an Azerbaijan Airlines plane. The incident in Kazakhstan last Wednesday left 38 people dead. Aliyev said the facts indicate that the Azerbaijani civilian plane was damaged from the outside over Russian territory and almost lost control. He added that the tail of the plane was also severely damaged, as a result of fire from the ground.
3. Major League Baseball star Ohtani Shohei of the Los Angeles Dodgers says he and his wife Mamiko are expecting a baby. The 30-year-old player wrote on his Instagram account that he “can’t wait for the little rookie to join our family soon!”

1. Overseas-bound travelers are crowding an international airport in the central Japanese prefecture of Aichi, ahead of the year-end and New Year holidays. Airport officials say that on Friday more than 8,200 people had booked departures from the Chubu Centrair International Airport. Outbound travel is expected to peak on Saturday, with nearly 9,000 bookings.
2. Japan’s government has approved a draft budget for the next fiscal year starting in April, 2025. It is the largest-ever initial draft budget in yen terms and is worth about 115.5 trillion yen, or 732 billion dollars. Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru’s Cabinet approved the bill on Friday. The draft budget has exceeded the 110 trillion yen-mark for the third consecutive year.
3. Multiple media outlets say an Azerbaijan Airlines passenger plane that crashed in Kazakhstan on Wednesday was downed by a Russian air defense system. Reuters and other media outlets broke the news on Thursday. They quoted sources in Azerbaijan.

1. Japan Airlines says its systems have been restored following a glitch caused a cyberattack on Thursday morning. It adds that sales of tickets for Thursday flights have resumed. JAL says the systems were back and running by 2:20 p.m. on Thursday.
2. Japanese Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru has told Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy that Japan will continue working with Ukraine to realize a just and lasting peace as soon as possible. The two leaders talked by phone for over half an hour on Wednesday. Ishiba expressed his respect for Zelenskyy, saying he is fighting for his country. Ishiba stressed that Japan will never waver in its position of standing with Ukraine. 3. Authorities in Kazakhstan say 38 people have died in the crash of an Azerbaijan Airlines passenger jet in the country’s west on Wednesday. Officials at the Azerbaijani foreign ministry and others said the aircraft went down and burst into flames near an airport in Aktau on the eastern shore of the Caspian Sea. They added that the plane was carrying 62 passengers and five crewmembers.

1. Japan is set to shoulder over 6.9 percent of the total financial contributions by member countries to support the United Nations from 2025 to 2027. It remains the third largest contributor following the United States and China, with the latter’s share rising to almost on par with the US.
2. The busiest person during this holiday season has set off on a reindeer-driven sleigh for a global tour to deliver Christmas presents. Santa Claus appeared before children at his home village on the Arctic Circle in Finland on Monday. He told them that “it might be impossible to be good and nice all the time,” but they should do their best.
3. The Japan External Trade Organization, or JETRO, says it is likely that global GDP will be pushed down by 0.3 percent, if US President-elect Donald Trump goes ahead with his plan to levy tariffs on Mexico, Canada and China.

1. Japan’s Nippon Steel says a US government panel has decided to let President Joe Biden decide whether it can buy US Steel. Biden has repeatedly expressed his opposition to the deal, but he is now expected to announce his decision within 15 days after receiving the committee’s report.
2. Japan’s Environment Ministry has decided to require regular testing of tap water and set a legal standard for the concentration of PFAS chemicals, a group of organic fluorine compounds. PFAS include PFOS and PFOA, which are considered potentially harmful.
3. Seeing a loved one with dementia can be painful. Confidence gives way to confusion. And dementia sufferers sometimes forget the impossible: basic tasks. Even the name of a child or spouse. But many sufferers become more than lost psychologically. Last year, over 19,000 people diagnosed or showing signs of dementia in Japan went missing. The figure is a record. About 500 were discovered dead. 250 still had not been found.

1. US President-elect Donald Trump has suggested he could demand the return of the Panama Canal after he takes office next month. He says Panama is charging US naval and commercial ships “exorbitant” rates to pass through the waterway. Trump spoke to supporters at a conservative conference in the western state of Arizona on Sunday. He said the US is “the number one user” of the waterway and that Panama is charging “ridiculous” and “highly unfair” fees, calling them a “complete rip-off.”
2. Honda Motor and Nissan Motor have decided to hold talks on management integration. Mitsubishi Motors is also expected to join the talks. Sources say the Japanese firms are aiming to finalize a deal in June. Honda and Nissan each held board meetings about the merger. The integrated auto group would be the world’s third-largest in terms of vehicle units sold.
3. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says 2025 will be a “decisive” year to bring peace to his country. Zelenskyy said, “We all understand that in January – after the change of administration in the United States – many changes will occur in international affairs.”

1. A South Korean joint investigation team including police has issued a summons to impeached President Yoon Suk-yeol to appear for questioning next week over the short-lived martial law he declared earlier this month. 2. Japan’s core consumer price index climbed 2.7 percent in November from a year earlier as prices for rice soared to a record. The internal affairs ministry also reported a 0.4 percentage point increase in CPI from October. That’s the first such gain since August. 3. Japanese government sources say the team of US President-elect Donald Trump has proposed a meeting with Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru in the United States in mid-January before his return to the White House. Ishiba is expected to decide whether to attend after considering his planned visit to Southeast Asia from early January and the opening of an ordinary session of the Diet.

1. Police in western Japan have arrested a 43-year-old man in connection with the stabbings of two teenagers at a fast-food restaurant in Kitakyushu City on Saturday. A 15-year-old girl, Nakashima Saaya, died in the attack and a boy, also 15, was seriously injured. Police said on Thursday that they arrested local resident Hirabaru Masanori on suspicion of attempted murder of the boy. They said the suspect had admitted to the allegation. The two third-year junior high school students were stabbed at the restaurant around 8:30 p.m. on Saturday on their way home from a cram school.
2. Japan’s Yomiuri Shimbun says the newspaper group’s top executive, Watanabe Tsuneo, has died. Watanabe was an influential figure in the country’s political circles and professional sports for decades. The Yomiuri Shimbun says the group’s representative director and editor-in-chief died of pneumonia at a Tokyo hospital early on Thursday. He was 98. Born in 1926 in Tokyo, Watanabe joined The Yomiuri Shimbun, one of Japan’s most widely circulated newspapers, in 1950.
3. Trekkers will have to pay a toll of 4,000 yen, or about 26 dollars, to climb Mount Fuji from the Yamanashi Prefecture side starting next summer. The current fee is 2,000 yen, or about 13 dollars. Yamanashi officials also plan to close the toll gate two hours earlier at 2 p.m. to discourage people from climbing Japan’s highest peak overnight.

1. Sources say Honda Motor and Nissan Motor are expected to sign a basic merger agreement soon. Japan’s second-and third-largest automakers are considering forming a holding company to improve competitiveness by sharing technologies and costs.
2. A Japanese venture firm failed in its efforts to launch a small rocket on Wednesday. This was the Tokyo-based company’s second attempt. In March, the firm’s first rocket exploded soon after liftoff. 3. Ukraine’s First Deputy Prime Minister and Economy Minister Yulia Svyrydenko has called for more investment and business involvement by Japanese companies in Ukraine amid Russia’s continued invasion of her country.

1. US President-elect Donald Trump has saic that a meeting with Japan’s Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru could take place before his inauguration if that is the wish of the Japanese side. Trump spoke to reporters at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida on Monday. It was his first news conference since the November presidential election. 2. US President-elect Donald Trump announced on social media on Monday that he has picked George Glass to be the next US ambassador to Japan. Trump said that as a former investment bank president, Glass will bring his business acumen to the ambassadorial role. Trump also introduced Glass as having been the US ambassador to Portugal during his first term.
3. US President-elect Donald Trump has announced that Japanese tech conglomerate SoftBank Group will invest $100 billion to boost the economy and create at least 100,000 jobs. Trump made the announcement at a news conference at his Mar-a-Lago estate on Monday. He was joined by SoftBank CEO Son Masayoshi.

1. US President Donald Trump has met with Abe Akie, the widow of former Japanese Prime Minister Abe Shinzo, at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida. Her visit has gained attention as world leaders seek meetings with Trump. US media outlet CNN reports that Trump and Akie have stayed in touch since her husband’s assassination two years ago. The visit was reportedly arranged in one of their conversations, and not through a diplomatic channel. 2. South Korea’s joint investigation unit says it will ask President Yoon Suk-yeol to appear for questioning over his short-lived declaration of martial law. South Korea’s Yonhap News Agency reports that the team will ask Yoon to appear at 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday. It says Yoon will be questioned on suspicions of internal insurrection and abuse of power.
3. Post offices across Japan started accepting New Year’s greeting cards on Sunday and many people are now dropping them off. But the custom is threatened by online communication and higher card prices. Japan Post says it has issued just over a billion cards so far. That’s a 25 percent decline from a year earlier and the lowest number since 2004, when comparable data became available.

1. US President Joe Biden has pardoned 39 people convicted of non-violent crimes, and commuted the sentences of nearly 1,500 others. Biden announced on Thursday that he was granting pardons to the 39 who have shown successful rehabilitation, as well as 1,499 commutations. The White House says these actions represent the largest single-day grant of clemency in modern history.
2. A high court in Fukuoka Prefecture, southwestern Japan, has ruled that not allowing same-sex marriage is unconstitutional. The Fukuoka High Court handed down the decision on Friday on lawsuits filed by three couples in Fukuoka and Kumamoto prefectures. The plaintiffs sued the state, claiming the ban on same-sex marriage is unconstitutional. Six similar lawsuits have been filed in five locations in Japan. The Fukuoka High Court became the third high court to rule that the ban is unconstitutional. It dismissed the plaintiffs’ claims for damages. 3. A closely watched survey on business sentiment in Japan shows an improvement among major manufacturers for the first time in two quarters. The Bank of Japan’s “Tankan” survey puts the index at plus 14. The reading released Friday was 1 point better than the previous poll. A positive number indicates that more companies are optimistic about recent business conditions than those feeling pessimistic. Much of the positive sentiment came from the auto sector, which is seeing a recovery in production.

1. A Japanese court has handed down a not-guilty verdict to a 28-year-old woman who was charged with the murder of her wealthy elderly husband six years ago. The Wakayama District Court in western Japan handed the ruling on the widow, Sudo Saki, on Thursday.
2. People in Japan have chosen the Chinese character meaning “gold” or “money” as the kanji that best symbolizes this year. Chief priest Mori Seihan of Kiyomizu-dera temple in Kyoto City wrote the kanji “Kin,” which can also be read as “kane,” with a brush on a large sheet of paper.
3. Japanese beverage giant Suntory Holdings has picked the great-grandson of its founder to be its new president. Torii Nobuhiro will be the first person from the founding family to assume the top post in about 10 years.

1. Syria’s newly appointed interim prime minister says he held a Cabinet meeting days after the ouster of President Bashar al-Assad. Mohammed al-Bashir told Syrian state-run media and other outlets that the meeting was joined by ministers from the Assad administration.
2. US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin stressed the importance of joint efforts among Japan, the United States and Australia to upgrade the operational capabilities of their forces. 3. Nippon Life Insurance says it will acquire Resolution Life Group Holdings for 8.2 billion dollars. It’s the largest takeover by a Japanese insurer. Bermuda-based Resolution runs insurance businesses globally, including the US, Europe and Australia.

1. Delegates of Nihon Hidankyo, the winner of this year’s Nobel Peace Prize, have entered their hope of a world without nuclear weapons into a guest book in Oslo, Norway. Tanaka Terumi, Mimaki Toshiyuki and Tanaka Shigemitsu, are the three co-chairs of the Japanese organization made up of survivors of the 1945 atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
2. Some Volkswagen employees worked shortened hours under a warning strike as union and management remain apart on proposed steps to slash costs. Talks over planned plant closures by the German carmaker are expected to continue this month. Union and management representatives held a fourth round of talks on Monday in Wolfsburg, the northern German city where the firm is headquartered.
3. Japan’s largest power generator Jera and major British oil firm BP have announced they are to combine their offshore wind power businesses. They are teaming up for greater efficiency in procurement and investment as development costs soar.

1. US President-elect Donald Trump has suggested that the United States may reduce assistance to Ukraine after he launches his new administration in January. Trump spoke about his views on major domestic and international issues in an interview with NBC television aired on Sunday. Trump said that he is trying to end the fighting between Russia and Ukraine, referring to “the people that are being killed, hundreds of thousands on both sides.” 2. The government of Syria has collapsed following the capture of the capital, Damascus, by anti-government forces on Sunday. Ousted President Bashar al-Assad has reportedly arrived in Moscow with his family. Syrian refugees in neighboring Lebanon expressed the hope to return to their country. Many gathered in an eastern Lebanon border town from Sunday morning. Some held the flags of anti-government forces and said they hoped to rebuild their country.
3. South Korean prosecutors say they are investigating President Yoon Suk-yeol for alleged treason and abuse of power. They are also questioning Former Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun, who they suspect advised Yoon to declare martial law.

1. The leader of South Korea’s ruling People Power Party says President Yoon Suk-yeol should be suspended from office immediately. The country’s media say his remarks effectively indicated support for the impeachment bill. Han Dong-hoon said it has been confirmed that when Yoon declared emergency martial law, he ordered the arrest of prominent politicians.
2. Anti-government forces in Syria say they have advanced into one of the major cities in the central part of the country, amid continuing fighting with government troops. The rebels claimed on social media on Thursday that they had entered the city of Hama and taken control of a prison. 3. A researcher at a Ukrainian institute says North Korean short-range ballistic missiles that Russia is using in its invasion of Ukraine are more powerful than Russian missiles.

1. The fate of South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol hangs in the balance, as lawmakers are poised to vote on an impeachment motion against him on Saturday night. The ruling People Power Party says it will unite against the motion, while the main opposition Democratic Party is pushing to remove Yoon from the presidency.
2. Mexico’s government has announced the country’s largest-ever seizure of the synthetic opioid drug fentanyl. President Claudia Sheinbaum told reporters on Wednesday that soldiers found a total of 1,100 kilograms of fentanyl pills in a house and vehicle in the northwestern state of Sinaloa. Sheinbaum said the amount totals more than 20 million doses, and stressed that the seizure resulted from a long-term investigation. 3. Foreign ministers from NATO member states have affirmed they will speed up the provision of air defense systems and ammunition to Ukraine as Russia steps up its offensive. Speaking at a news conference, Secretary General Mark Rutte noted that the increasing alignment of Russia, China, North Korea and Iran highlights the global nature of existing threats, including the escalating dangers of the ongoing war in Ukraine. He added: “We must do more than just keep Ukraine in the fight. We must provide enough support to change the trajectory of this conflict once and for all.”

1. Multiple South Korean media outlets have reported that opposition parties have submitted a bill to the National Assembly to impeach President Yoon Suk-yeol. Yoon is under growing criticism over his declaration of emergency martial law, just hours before reversing course and lifting the decree. 2. Opposition supporters in the former Soviet republic of Georgia have continued to clash with police following the government’s announcement that it is suspending talks on joining the European Union. Mass demonstrations by people supporting EU membership continued for five days.
3. China’s foreign ministry says Chinese researchers are analyzing samples of seawater collected near Japan’s damaged Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant. The ministry’s spokesperson Lin Jian told said that their results will be announced soon if there is any progress.

1. US President-elect Donald Trump has called for the release of the hostages being held in the Gaza Strip. He has also suggested that the people involved in their capture will pay a heavy price, if the hostages are not freed before he is inaugurated in January.
2. US President-elect Donald Trump reiterated that he will block the planned takeover of US Steel by Japan’s Nippon Steel. Trump said in a post on his Truth Social site on Monday that he is totally against “the once great and powerful US Steel” being bought by a foreign company. He also said he will make the American company strong and great again through a series of tax incentives and tariffs. Trump added that it will happen fast. 3. Two Japanese – a comedian and a plaintiff in a forced sterilization lawsuit – have made the BBC 100 Women 2024 list. The British public broadcaster describes comedian Watanabe Naomi as “one of Japan’s most famous influencers.” Suzuki Yumi, one of the plaintiffs who sued the Japanese government over forced sterilizations performed under the now-defunct Eugenic Protection Law, is also on the list.

1. Princess Aiko, the daughter of Japanese Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako, turned 23 on Sunday. The Princess graduated from Gakushuin University this spring. She has been working for the Japanese Red Cross Society. She also performs duties as a member of the Imperial family. 2. Consumers in Japan are set to be hit by another wave of price hikes on food that will drive up grocery bills. A research firm says food makers are set to raise prices on almost 4,000 items between January and April next year. The companies blame higher raw material costs.
3. The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency says astronaut Onish Takuya will become the commander of the International Space Station during his mission scheduled for next year. Onishi will be the third Japanese ISS commander, following Wakata Koichi in 2014 and Hoshide Akihiko in 2021. The ISS commander is tasked with ensuring the safety of the crew and exercising leadership to accomplish their mission.

1. Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip continued on Thursday as a ceasefire took effect in Lebanon between Israel and the Shia Muslim group Hezbollah. The Israeli military said on Thursday it continued ground operations in northern Gaza.
2. The upper house of Australia’s parliament has passed legislation that bans the use of social media by children under the age of 16. The government says the measure is necessary to protect their mental health and wellbeing. 3. A fire at a Tokyo condominium unit occupied by Inoguchi Kuniko, a Japanese lawmaker has killed two people. The victims are believed to be family members of the politician. The lawmaker and the younger daughter were not at home at the time of the fire. Her husband, Inoguchi Takashi, professor emeritus at the University of Tokyo, and the older daughter remain unaccounted for.

1. Japan’s Diet convened for an extraordinary session on Thursday. Key issues for debate are political funds reform and a draft supplementary budget for a new economic stimulus package. The session will be the first full-fledged debate since the governing coalition of the Liberal Democratic Party and Komeito lost their majority in last month’s Lower House election. Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru told reporters that taking into account the Lower House election results, he will manage Diet proceedings by listening more carefully than before to the opinions of other parties.
2. US President-elect Donald Trump and Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum have both stressed on social media that they had a positive conversation on pending issues, including immigration. 3. European leaders have announced their plans to ramp up support for Ukraine ahead of US President-elect Donald Trump taking power in Washington. The two-day Nordic-Baltic Summit began in Sweden on Wednesday. Heads of government from countries that border Russia, including Finland, Latvia and Estonia, are taking part. They said in a joint statement that their “transatlantic bond is indispensable” and that they will supply more ammunition for Ukraine.

1. US President-elect Donald Trump’s pick for “border czar” in the coming administration has visited the southern border with Mexico and vowed to carry out a mass deportation of undocumented immigrants. Tom Homan will be responsible for securing the national borders under Trump, who puts border security among his top priorities. 2. A ceasefire between Israeli forces and Hezbollah militants has taken effect. The deal arranged between the governments of Israel and Lebanon comes after more than a year of clashes. But it is unclear the agreement will be respected. US President Joe Biden announced it on Tuesday, hailing the efforts of Israel and Lebanon, and saying the United States and France will work with them to make sure it is enforced.
3. A strong earthquake hit Ishikawa Prefecture, central Japan, at around 10:47 p.m. on Tuesday. The quake registered an intensity of lower 5 on the Japanese seismic scale of 0 to 7. No tsunami was observed. There are no reports of damage caused by the earthquake.

1. A funeral and entombment ceremony, called Renso-no-gi, for late Princess Mikasa began at a burial ground in Tokyo on Tuesday morning. The Princess passed away due to old age at a Tokyo hospital on November 15. She was 101 years old. A vehicle carrying the Princess’ coffin left her residence at the Akasaka Estate in central Tokyo at around 9 a.m. with her employees and servants looking on.
2. US President-elect Donald Trump says he will impose a 25 percent tariff on all products from Canada and Mexico, and an additional 10 percent tariff on goods from China. Trump said on social media on Monday that “thousands of people are pouring through Mexico and Canada, bringing crime and drugs at levels never seen before. He added that the tariff will remain in effect until crime and drugs from the two countries stop coming into the US.
3. An explosion and fire have halted a combustion test of Japan’s new Epsilon S solid-fuel rocket at the Tanegashima Space Center in the southwestern prefecture of Kagoshima. The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, which conducted the test, said a combustion abnormality occurred at around 8:30 a.m. on Tuesday, 49 seconds after testing of the second stage of the rocket began. Epsilon S is one of Japan’s mainstay rockets being developed by JAXA and others.

1. A candidate supported by the Conservative Party of Japan, Hirosawa Ichiro, won the mayoral election in the city of Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture, on Sunday. The city’s former deputy mayor was also supported by a regional party, GenzeiNippon. The 60-year-old ran in Sunday’s election as Kawamura Takashi’s successor. 2. A memorial ceremony has been held to honor all those who worked at Japanese gold mines on Niigata Prefecture’s Sado Island. The Sato Island Gold Mines gained UNESCO World Heritage status in July. 3. In the Kyushu Grand Sumo Tournament, Ozeki Kotozakura has won his first top-division title. On the final day of the 15th-day tourney on Sunday, Kotozakura beat Ozeki Hoshoryu to clinch the championship with 14 wins and one loss.

1. Justices on the International Criminal Court in The Hague have issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, his former defense chief and the military head of Hamas. 2. Japanese baseball superstar Ohtani Shohei has received his third MVP award in Major League Baseball and his first in the National League.
3. An international team led by a Japanese researcher says it has developed a new type of plastic that is durable but breaks down in seawater. It says the new plastic is recyclable and will help reduce environmental pollution and the accumulation of microplastics in the oceans.

1. When Japan’s Liberal Democratic Party and partner Komeito lost their combined majority in the Lower House of the Diet in October’s general election, it pushed them into cooperating with the opposition. The ruling coalition and the Democratic Party for the People have agreed on a draft revision of a new economic stimulus package that includes the DPEP’s ideas to raise individuals’ minimum annual income that is subject to taxation—the typical worker’s tax-free allowance. However, skeptics say the reforms could end up costing central and local governments tax revenues of more than 7 trillion yen every year.
2. The Ukrainian Air Force says Russia launched an intercontinental ballistic missile in an attack on eastern Ukraine on Thursday. Reuters news agency reports this is the first time Russia has used an ICBM against Ukraine since the invasion began in 2022.
3. Japanese semiconductor maker Kioxia Holdings is expected to be listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange next month after years of postponement.

1. Chinese President Xi Jinping has held summits separately with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and French President Emmanuel Macron. The meetings apparently reflect Xi’s aim to strengthen economic ties with major EU members at a time when potential trade frictions are looming between China and the United States. 2. Japan’s Foreign Ministry says China has blamed an intrusion by one of its military planes into Japanese airspace in August on “force majeure”—or unanticipated circumstances beyond the control of the crew. The Japanese government lodged a strong protest after the Chinese military intelligence-gathering aircraft flew over waters off Nagasaki Prefecture, southwestern Japan. It has repeatedly demanded a swift and sufficient explanation.
3. Japanese Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru has expressed his eagerness to build a cooperative relationship with US President-elect Donald Trump by analyzing what the incoming administration’s policies will likely be. The prime minister said it is not confrontation but mutual cooperation between Japan and the United States that benefits both countries as well as contributes to the peace and stability of the Indo-Pacific region.

1. Japan and Britain have agreed to launch an economic version of the so-called “two-plus-two” talks, involving their foreign, economy and trade ministers. The agreement came in a meeting held between Japanese Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru and his British counterpart Keir Starmer on the sidelines of the G20 summit in Rio de Janeiro on Monday.
2. The chair of the Group of 20 summit, Brazil, has released the G20 leaders’ declaration that calls for eradicating various forms of global inequalities. The leaders were due to adopt a declaration on Tuesday to close the summit. In reaffirming the role of the G20, the declaration said that G20 leaders remain committed to support developing countries in responding to global crises and challenges and achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.
3. China’s state-run media say multiple people have been injured after being struck by a car outside a primary school in the inland province of Hunan. Xinhua News Agency and others say the incident took place in the city of Changde on Tuesday around 8 a.m. Details remain unclear, but the injured are believed to include children.

1. Japan’s Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru is in Brazil to attend a summit of the Group of G20 major economies. During the G20 summit, the prime minister plans to stress Tokyo’s commitment to tackling international challenges, including poverty and climate change, in cooperation with developing nations. Ishiba is also expected to discuss Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the escalating tensions in the Middle East.
2. Leaders of the Group of 20 major economies are set to begin discussions on global issues, such as poverty and climate change. Japan’s Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru, US President Joe Biden and Chines President Xi Jinping are among the attendees. The leaders are expected to discuss how to proceed with measures to address hunger and poverty. They will also exchange views on sustainable development, including measures against climate change. 3. Leading American media outlets report that President Joe Biden has authorized the Ukrainian military to use US-supplied long-range missiles to strike targets inside Russia. The New York times quotes US officials as saying the authorization “came in response to Russia’s surprise decisions to bring North Korean troops into the fight.”

1. Japan’s Princess Mikasa, whose given name is Yuriko, passed away at the age of 101. The princess was the widow of Prince Mikasa, a younger brother of the late Emperor Showa. She was hospitalized at St Luke’s International Hospital in Tokyo on March 3 after suffering a stroke and aspiration pneumonia. Officials with the Imperial Household Agency said that the princess passed away of old age at around 6:30 on Friday morning. 2. President-elect Donald Trump has announced that he has picked Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as secretary of health and human services. Kennedy ran for president as an independent in the election before dropping his bid in August. He has since thrown his support behind Trump. Kennedy is known for being an anti-vaccine activist who has questioned the safety of vaccines and has said that childhood vaccines can cause autism. He is the son of former US Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy and a nephew of former President John F. Kennedy. 3. Ministers at the APEC forum have wrapped up their meetings, but without issuing a joint statement. The officials will make adjustments to a draft at working-level talks, although it wasn’t clear what specific issues need fixing. The officials from 21 APEC member economies have been discussing trade, boosting investment and realizing sustainable economic growth in the region. But concern is mounting around the globe that the election of Donald Trump may lead to more protectionist policies in the US, and further intensify trade friction between Washington and Beijing.

1. Senior US government officials say President Joe Biden will meet Chinese President Xi Jinping on Saturday on the sidelines of an international meeting in Peru. President Biden wants to discuss military-to-military communications between the two countries.
2. ABC News projected on Wednesday that Republicans will take control of the US House of Representatives after they secured a majority in the Senate. With the victory in the House, the Republicans are expected to take control of the presidency, Senate and House.
3. US President-elect Donald Trump has made a return to the White House. He was welcomed by President Joe Biden on Wednesday as part of the customary handoff of power. Biden said: “We’re looking forward to having, like we said, a smooth transition. Doing everything we can to make sure you’re accommodated, what you need, and we’re going to get a chance to talk about some of that today. Welcome, welcome back.”

1. People in China are praying for the souls of dozens of victims killed in a car ramming incident that occurred in the southern province of Guangdong on Monday night. Police said 35 people were killed and 43 others injured after a car hit numerous people at a sports facility in the city of Zhuhai. 2. US President-elect Donald Trump has announced that entrepreneur Elon Musk will lead a new organization to review public spending and cut wasteful expenditures.
3. Iranian businesses are concerned that Donald Trump’s return to the US presidency could lead to further economic sanctions against Iran. A trade fair currently taking place in the Iranian capital, Tehran, is aimed at strengthening economic ties with Russia.

1. Stocks rose in New York on Monday, with the benchmark Dow Jones Industrial Average closing above 44,000 for the first time. Buy orders expanded on hopes that President-elect Donald Trump’s promises of tax cuts and deregulation will boost the US economy. Banks and other financial stocks led the way from the start of the day’s trading.
2. Japan’s government is setting up a fund worth more than 10 trillion yen, or 65 billion dollars, to bankroll domestic development of next-generation technologies, including artificial intelligence and semiconductors. The government’s commitment to backing high-tech industries is expected to attract additional investment from the private sector.
3. US President-elect Donald Trump issued a statement by Monday announcing his nomination of Republican congresswoman Elise Stefanik to be his country’s ambassador to the United Nations. Stefanik is a senior Republican member of the House of Representatives. As a strong supporter of Trump, she has delivered speeches at Trump’s rallies.

1. Japan’s Diet has elected Ishiba Shigeru as the country’s prime minister following a runoff vote in the Lower House against the main opposition leader. Ishiba, who leads the main ruling Liberal Democratic Party, was also confirmed by the Upper House earlier on Monday.
2. Israeli media say Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has admitted his government was behind a series of explosions of hand-held communication devices across Lebanon in September. 3. Japan has posted a record current-account surplus for the first half of the fiscal year starting in April. Businesses in the country saw bigger returns as investments overseas rose.

1. US President-elect Donald Trump has named his campaign manager Susie Wiles as his White House chief of staff. Trump praised Wiles’ work on his successful presidential campaign, saying she helped him “achieve one of the greatest political victories in American history.” Trump described her as tough, smart, innovative and universally admired and respected. He added that it is a “well deserved honor” to have her as the first-ever female chief of staff in US history.
2. US President Joe Biden has given his first speech since voters went to the polls this week to choose his successor. He’s called for unity and promised a peaceful transition of power to President-elect Donald Trump. 3. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says North Korean soldiers joined battles against his country’s forces in Russia’s western region of Kursk bordering Ukraine, and have already suffered losses. Zelenskyy said over 11,000 North Korean soldiers are present in the Kursk region, where Ukraine has been conducting cross-border attacks.

1. Japan’s Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru is looking to strengthen ties with the US after Donald Trump’s victory. But others in the country are concerned over the effects of the new president will have on business. Ishiba congratulated Donald Trump over the phone on Thursday. Ishiba told Trump he respects the fact that his campaign to “make America great again” gained support from many Americans. Trump responded that he looks forward to talking with Ishiba in person, and the two confirmed they will try to schedule a meeting as soon as possible. 2. US Vice President Kamala Harris, who was defeated by Donald Trump in Tuesday’s presidential election, has delivered her concession speech. She promised that the administration of President Joe Biden engage in a peaceful transfer of power. Harris said, “The outcome of this election is not what we wanted, not what we fought for, not what we voted for, but hear me when I say, the light of America’s promise will always burn bright.” 3. An executive with Nippon Steel says the conclusion of the United States presidential election has cleared the way for the Japanese firm to complete its purpose of US steel. Vice Chairman Mori Takahiro says he expects the deal to be done under the current administration before the end of the year.

1. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says he has removed Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, citing a “crisis of trust.” The two have reportedly clashed over military operations in Gaza. Natanyahu has taken a hardline stance, while Gallant has argued that Israel needs to make concessions in ceasefire talks with the Islamic group Hamas to secure the release of the hostages.
2. Japanese Major League Baseball superstar Ohtani Shohei has undergone surgery on his left shoulder. He had injured it in a World Series game. The Los Angeles Dodgers said on Tuesday that Ohtani had a successful arthroscopic procedure to repair a labrum tear. The team said the operation was performed by the same doctor who treated the two-way star’s right pitching elbow in 2018 and 2023. 3. Japan’s 7-Eleven convenience-store chain plans to test self-driving robot delivery carts on public roads in Tokyo. The service is aimed at the elderly and other customers unable to visit stores. Parent company Seven& I Holdings is waiting for police approval to start test runs this month at two stores in western Tokyo. The carts travel at about 6 kilometers an hour and use sensors to navigate and detect traffic lights.

1. Japanese Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru told reporters on Tuesday that North Korea fired multiple ballistic missiles earlier in the morning, following a launch just last week. Ishiba said the missiles are believed to have fallen outside Japan’s Exclusive Economic Zone, and that there have been no reports of damage so far. 2. US Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump held competing events to appeal to voters in the battleground state of Pennsylvania on the eve of the country’s presidential election. The two have remained neck and neck in recent polls. Both Harris and Trump visited the state, which has the largest number of electors among the seven battleground states, on Monday night.
3. Celebrated manga artist Umezu Kazuo has died aged 88. He was known for a wide range of works, from horror and science fiction to comedy. Umezu was born in Wakayama Prefecture in western Japan and started drawing comics when he was still a child. He was first published in his senior year of high school, with works including “Mori no Kyodai,” based on the fairy tale “Hansel and Gretel.”

1. In the US presidential race, Democratic candidate Kamala Harris and Republican candidate Donald Trump are making their final pitches in key battleground states.
2. Pro-EU incumbent Maia Sandu has claimed victory in Moldova’s presidential runoff against her rival, who seeks close ties with Russia. In her second term, Sandu is expected to continue pushing for her country’s participation in the European Union.
3. Spain’s King Felipe and Queen Letizia were hit by mud thrown by flood survivors frustrated with delayed assistance during their visit to the eastern region of Valencia on Sunday.

1. The operator of the damaged Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant has released footage that shows a retrieval device grabbing nuclear fuel debris in the containment vessel of the No.2 reactor. 2. Japan’s largest opposition Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan and Democratic Party for the People agreed to discuss how to work together on a policy-by-policy basis. The DPFP’s support could decide whether the ruling coalition can stay in power following last Sunday’s Lower House election.
3. Traffic regulations for bicycles have now been tightened in Japan as a revised Road Traffic Law took effect on Friday. So-called “distracted cycling” is now banned. Anyone who causes an accident or dangerous situation by using a mobile device while cycling faces up to one year in prison or a fine of up to 300,000 yen, or about 1,980 dollars.

1. In Major League Baseball, the Los Angeles Dodgers have beaten the New York Yankees 7 to 6 in Game 5 to win the best-of-seven World Series. It’s the Dodgers’ eighth World Series title and their first in four years.
2. Executives of Japan’s main governing Liberal Democratic Party and the opposition Democratic Party for the People have agreed to discussions on economic measures and other issues on a policy-by-policy basis.
3. A Ukrainian government official has told NHK that Kyiv will use leaflets to urge North Korean soldiers in Russia to surrender if they are sent to the frontline to fight against Ukraine.

1. Japan’s ruling parties plan to hold talks with the opposition Democratic Party for the People. It’s part of their effort to maintain their coalition government with Ishiba Shigeru as Prime Minister. The main ruling Liberal Democratic Party and its junior partner, Komeito, failed to secure a majority in the Lower House in Sunday’s election. As a consequence, they will seek cooperation from opposition parties on a policy-by-policy basis to steadily implement economic and other measures.
2. Covers have been placed over an iconic dog statue outside Tokyo’s Shibuya Station to deter Halloween revelers from gathering in the area. The statue of Hachiko, modeled after a loyal Akita dog, is a popular meeting place in the busy Shibuya district. Officials in Shibuya Ward are urging people, including foreign tourists, not to come to Shibuya to celebrate Halloween. But they remain concerned that large crowds of revelers may flock to the area, posing the risk of a crowd crush or problems related to drinking. 3. Democratic US presidential candidate Kamala Harris has blasted her Republican rival Donald Trump for fanning division, one week before Election Day. Vice President Harris held a rally in central Washington on Tuesday. She spoke at the same venue where, in January 2021, then-president Trump addressed supporters before they stormed the US Congress. Harris accused Trump of sending “an armed mob to the United States Capital to overturn the will of the people in a free and fair election,” despite knowing he lost.

1. Political parties in Japan are jockeying to form a majority in the Diet following an election that dealt a severe blow to the ruling coalition. A vote to name the prime minister is due to take place in the legislature in a few weeks. Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru, who heads the LDP, has indicated that he will remain in his post and maintain the coalition government. He said national politics should not be allowed to stall for a single moment, and that he hopes to fulfill his duties.
2. US space agency NASA has chosen nine candidates regions of the moon for a potential manned landing. A landing is targeted for September 2026 under the Artemis mission, a US-led international lunar exploration project. NASA announced the nine regions on Monday. All are near the lunar South Pole. It says the sites were chosen based on their potential for the discovery of resources, and the likelihood of a safe landing. 3. An advisory panel for Japan’s finance minister has held a meeting to discuss public works projects and defense spending. This comes as the government compiles its national budget plan for the next fiscal year.

1. Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru says his party’s coalition will seek to stay in power, despite suffering a crushing blow in the Lower House election. Ishiba said: “We have received an exceptionally harsh judgement from the public. It is deeply regrettable that our LDP, along with our coalition partner Komeito, has lost many valued members. We must humbly and solemnly accept this outcome, reflect sincerely, and work toward a complete renewal of our party. 2. Japan’s ruling coalition lost its Lowe House majority in Sunday’s general election, with the opposition seeing significant gains. Financial markets in Tokyo on Monday reacted sharply to the results. The yen weakened against the dollar while stocks popped. Investors sold off the Japanese currency, believing that political uncertainty may slow interest rate hikes. 3. The Chairman of the Japan Business Federation urged Japan’s political parties to focus on policies to help the economy grow and overcome current challenges. Tokura Masakazu, head of the group known as Keidanren says voters showed their dissatisfaction with Liberal Democratic Party following slush fund scandal. He says the party should sincerely accept the result. However, he added that the party and its coalition partner Komeito must help ensure the continuation of stable policies to guide the economy.

1. Russian President Vladimir Putin has not denied reports that North Korean troops are in his country. When asked about satellite images showing the troops were in Russia, Putin said, “If there are images, then they are reflecting something.”
2. Japan’s top government spokesperson has expressed deep concerns about reports that North Korean troops are in Russia. Chief Cabinet Secretary Hayashi Yoshimasa’s remarks to reporters on Friday came after a senior US official said North Korean soldiers are being trained in eastern Russia, possibly to fight against Ukraine.
3. Former US President Barack Obama has joined Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris at a campaign rally with less than two weeks to go before Election Day. Obama said some men seem to think that the behavior of Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump is a sign of strength or machismo. He said that is not real strength. He said, “Real strength is about working hard and taking responsibility and telling the truth even when it’s inconvenient.” Referring to Vice President Harris, Obama said, “We’ve got a candidate to vote for in this election who demonstrates that kind of character, who knows what real strength looks like.”

1. The BRICS emerging economies have adopted a joint communique that calls for the elimination of unilateral coercive measures, including economic sanctions, that are contrary to international law. Russian President Vladimir Putin said more than 30 countries have expressed a desire to strengthen ties with the BRICS economies.
2. White House national security spokesperson John Kirby says at least 3,000 North Korean soldiers are now being trained in facilities in eastern Russia, possibly to fight for Russia. Kirby told reporters on Wednesday, “We assess that between early to mid-October, North Korea moved at least 3,000 soldiers into eastern Russia.”
3. The leaders of China and India have vowed to strengthen communication and improve bilateral ties that were damaged by a military clash in a border region in 2020. Chinese President Xi Jinping and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi met on Wednesday on the sidelines of the BRICS summit in Russia for the first formal talks between the two countries in five years.

1. A Japanese high court has ordered a fresh trial for a man who was convicted of killing a junior high school girl 38 years ago and subsequently served his term. The Kanazawa branch of the Nagoya High Court handed down the ruling on Wednesday in response to a request made in 2022 by Maekawa Shoshi, who is 59 years old.
2. With two weeks to go before the US presidential race, Democratic nominee Kamala Harris and her Republican rival Donald Trump courted Hispanic voters on Tuesday. Both campaigns are strengthening their efforts to win the support of Hispanic voters, who are a key constituency in the upcoming presidential election.
3. An employee of the Tokyo Stock Exchange is under investigation for suspected insider trading. The TSE’s parent company, the Japan Exchange Group, says it is fully cooperating with authorities. Sources say the TSE employee is suspected of providing undisclosed corporate takeover information to family earlier this year. The employee had advance access to company details that firms disclose to investors

1. Cases of mycoplasma pneumonia in Japan have marked a record high for the third straight week. Mycoplasma pneumonia is a respiratory disease caused by bacteria. Children are more likely to become infected.
2. The average price of new condominiums in the Tokyo area that went on sale in the April-to-September period hit a record high. A research firm cites high construction costs due to rising material prices and wages as a major factor.
3. The Japanese government plans to introduce numerical targets to improve working conditions for truck drivers while addressing a decline in the capacity of the trucking industry.

1. US Vice President and Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris celebrated her 60th birthday on Sunday while on the campaign trail for the election in November. Harris has been appealing to voters by emphasizing her relative youth compared with 78-year-old Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump. On her birthday, Harris attended a Sunday service at a church in the southern state of Georgia, Churchgoers sang “Happy Birthday” when she appeared on the stage. Earlier this month, Harris released a statement from her doctor that said, “She possesses the physical and mental resiliency required to successfully execute the duties of the Presidency.
2. US entrepreneur Elon Musk has stirred controversy by announcing a plan to give one million dollars a day to a voter who signs his petition. Musk is carrying out the campaign through a group he set up to support Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump in the November 5 election. Musk aims to collect signatures for the petition to protect freedom of speech and the right to bear arms guaranteed by the Constitution. 3. Japan’s empress Emerita Michiko turned 90 years old on Sunday, and attended celebrations at her residence. Her birthday events were downsized as part of preventive measures against infectious diseases. But she received more guests than last year.

1. China’s economy grew by 4.6 percent in the July-to-September period from a year earlier, slowing slightly as a result of weak consumption. A major factor behind the slowdown was sluggish domestic demand.
2. A United Nations committee has reviewed efforts by the Japanese government to achieve gender equality, especially Japan’s legal requirement for married couples to use the same surname. 3. The Japanese embassy in Turkey says six Japanese tourists were hospitalized with injuries on Thursday after their bus was involved in an accident in western Turkey.

1. Japanese actor Nishida Toshiyuki, who was known for performing wide-ranging roles in popular film and drama, has died at the age of 76. He was found collapsed at his home in Tokyo on Thursday. In the popular movie series “Tsuribaka nisshi,” Nishida played the role of a leading character Hama-chan, who is crazy about fishing.
2. Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru has met with the families of Japanese nationals abducted by North Korea and said he will make all-out efforts to quickly bring them home. It was the first such meeting since Ishiba became prime minister, taking place Thursday at the Prime Minister’s Office in Tokyo.
3. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte has indicated that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s “Victory Plan” involves political and military issues that need to be addressed.

1. Japan’s new defense minister and the United States Forces Japan’s new commander have agreed that the two countries will continue to coordinate closely. Nakatani Gen and Lieutenant General Stephen Jost met at the Japanese Defense Ministry in Tokyo on Wednesday. 2. North Korea says more than 1.4 million young people across the country have volunteered to join or return to the military over the past two days. North Korea’s ruling party newspaper, Rodong Sinmun said the enlistments represent “an eruption of the hatred and retaliatory spirit of the younger generation.”
3. The United States has reportedly urged Israel to allow more humanitarian aid into Gaza or face the possible suspension of US military assistance. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin sent a letter to Israel on Sunday, raising concerns over the situation in Gaza.

1. It is officially election season in Japan. More than a thousand candidates are kicking off their campaigns to win seats in the Lower House. Voters will cast ballots at the end of the month to choose their government. All 465 seats in the powerful Lower House are up for grabs. 289 will be from single-seat districts and 176 will be elected through a system of proportional representation. 233 seats are needed for a majority. Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru says if the governing coalition can secure a majority, he would consider it a victory. 2.Former US President Barack Obama has congratulated Nihon Hidankyo for winning this year’s Nobel Peace Prize. Obama, who advocated for a nuclear-free world, won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2009 while he was in office. Obama said, “At a time when the threat of nuclear weapons is growing – and the taboo against threatening their use is weakening – Nihon Hidankyo’s work reminds us that these weapons have a terrible human cost, and that the pursuit of a world without nuclear weapons is an essential part of making sure we leave our children a safer, more secure world.”　
3. This year’s Nobel Prize for economic sciences has been awarded to three professors based in the United States. The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences praised them for helping to explain inequality around the world. Daron Acemoglu is a Turkish-American economist at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Simon Johnson is also at MIT. James A. Robinson works at the University of Chicago. The academy says the three laureates have pioneered new approaches to significantly advance the understanding of global inequality.

1. The Chinese military has mobilized to start massive military drills in waters surrounding Taiwan as a warning against Taiwanese pro-independence forces. China’s Eastern Theater Command announced on Monday morning that the drills will be conducted in the Taiwan Strait, as well as in the waters to the north, south and east of Taiwan. The command oversees the East China Sea, including Taiwan, among other regions. The areas of the drills nearly encircle Taiwan. 2. US President Joe Biden has congratulated Nihon Hidankyo, a Japanese organization representing survivors of the 1945 atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, for winning this year’s Nobel Peace Prize. Biden says, “On behalf of the United States, I congratulate them on being awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for their historic work to ensure that nuclear weapons are never used again.”
3. The Israeli military says drone attacks by the Lebanon-based Shia Muslim group Hezbollah killed four of its soldiers. Local media say 60 others were wounded. The attack by drones on Sunday night struck a military base in Binyamina, about 30 kilometers south of Haifa in northern Israel.

1. The leaders of Japan and India have agreed that their countries will continue to work closely together for peace and stability in the international community. Japanese Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi concurred that Japan and India are partners that share basic values, such as democracy and the rule of law.
2. Japanese Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru and Chinese Premier Li Qiang have affirmed that their countries will continue to communicate at every level. Ishiba has also conveyed deep concerns about the situation in the East China Sea and increased activity by the Chinese military near Japan.
3. Hurricane Milton has ripped through the southern US state of Florida, leaving millions of homes and businesses without power. AP news agency says dozens of homes were destroyed before the hurricane came ashore.

1. South Korean author Han Kang has been named the winner of this year’s Nobel Prize in Literature. It’s the first time that an Asian woman has been awarded one of the literary world’s top accolades. Kang was born in 1970 and comes from a literary background as her father is also a reputed novelist. The Swedish Academy highlights works such as her international breakthrough “The Vegetarian.” Published in 2007, it tells the story of a woman who faces violent consequences for refusing to eat meat.
2. Japanese Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru has held talks with the leaders of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. He expressed his intention to step up security cooperation between Japan and the ASEAN nations for the peace and stability of the region. 3. Japan’s Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru spoke to reporters after the dissolution of the Lower House was announced. He said he would use the election as an opportunity to gain the public’s confidence and promote efforts at regional revitalization.

1. Japan’s Lower House has been dissolved for a general election set for October 27. Official campaigning will kick off next Tuesday. It will be the first Lower House in three years. Ahead of the formal dissolution in the Diet, Ishiba had his first one-on-one debate against the four opposition parties, the Constitutional Democratic Party, Japan Innovation Party, Japanese Communist Party and Democratic Party for the People.
2. Japan’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party officially announced on Wednesday morning that it would deny endorsements for 12 current and former Lower House members in the upcoming election over their involvement in the recent political funding scandal.
3. The Association of Southeast Asian Nations’ series of meetings got underway in Laos on Wednesday. On the agenda: Howe to break the impasse in Myanmar, where fighting between the military and pro-democracy forces is intensifying.

1. Japanese prosecutors have informed the families of victims in a 1966 multiple murder cases that they will not appeal a not-guilty ruling handed down in a retrial of Hakamada Iwao, who had been sentenced to death for the crime. The Shizuoka District Court handed down the not-guilty ruling last month. Now 88 years old, Hakamada was convicted of killing a family of four 58 years ago. Hakamada is now expected to be exonerated nearly 60 years after the crime took place.
2. Japan has posted a record current account surplus for the month of August. The country extended its surplus streak to 19 months in a row, as the weak yen boosted financial gains abroad. The Finance Ministry announced on Tuesday that the current account surplus topped 3.8 trillion yen, or over 25 billion dollars. That’s an increase of more than 10 billion dollars from the same month last year. It’s the highest figure for August since comparable data became available in 1985.
3. Japan’s Empress Emerita Michiko has undergone surgery for a broken thigh bone. The Imperial Household Agency says the operation was completed successfully at the University of Tokyo Hospital on Tuesday. She was examined and diagnosed the previous day with a fracture on the upper part of her right femur.

1. Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te has said it is “impossible” for the People’s Republic of China to become the motherland of Taiwan’s people, reiterating his view that Taiwan is distinct from China. Lai stressed that in terms of age, the People’s Republic of China will never be considered the motherland of the Republic of China’s people. He added that Taiwan may be the motherland of people in China who are 75 or older. 2. A Japanese business group is calling for more cooperation with Taiwan in semiconductors, artificial intelligence and other areas. The Japanese Chamber of Commerce and Industry Taipei consists of about 500 Japanese companies doing business in Taiwan. Its views and recommendations are in a white paper submitted to Liu Chin-ching, who heads Taiwan’s National Development Council.
3. The Nihonmatsu Lantern Festival kicked off on Saturday evening in Fukushima Prefecture, northeastern Japan. The event in the city of Nihonmatsu is said to be one of Japan’s three major lantern festivals. The autumn event, which features thousands of paper lanterns, dates back to the mid-17th century. It is designated as an important intangible folk cultural asset by the prefecture.

1. The new head of NATO, Mark Rutte, has been in his post for less than a week. He has already taken time to visit Ukraine to show his support. Rutte said, “I come to Ukraine at the start of my mandate to make crystal clear to you, to the people of Ukraine and to everyone watching, that NATO stands with Ukraine.”
2. Israeli forces have carried out another attack against Hezbollah militants in Lebanon. They announced on Wednesday that they conducted a “precise” strike in central Beirut.
3. The 10 non-permanent members of the UN Security Council have issued a joint statement condemning the “current cycle of violence” in the Middle East.

1. US Ambassador to Japan Rahm Emanuel has made a courtesy call on new Japanese Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru, and expressed hope that the two countries will further strengthen their alliance and cooperation.
2. The mother of a Japanese girl who was abducted to North Korea at the age of 13 has made a fresh call for early return of abduction victims as their daughter will turn 60.
3. Vietnam has lodged a protest with Beijing over what it says was an attack on a Vietnamese fishing boat by Chinese law enforcement in the disputed South China Sea.

1. US vice presidential candidates of the Democratic and Republican parties faced off at a televised debate in New York on Tuesday, ahead of the presidential election on November 5. Minnesota Governor Tim Walz is the running mate of Vice President Kamala Harris, the Democratic presidential nominee. Ohio Senator JD Vance is running on the ticket with the Republican presidential nominee, former President Donald Trump. 2. Japan’s new Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru had his first phone conversation with US President Joe Biden just a day after taking office. The call took place on Wednesday morning, Japan time. Ishiba noted during the discussion that the Japan-Us alliance was strengthened significantly under former Prime Minister Kishida Fumio and President Biden. He said he hopes to continue on this path and further fortify the alliance. 3. Claudia Sheinbaum has been sworn in as Mexico’s first female president. Sheinbaum took the oath of office in the capital, Mexico City, on Tuesday. In an inauguration speech, she said, “I am a mother, a grandmother, a scientist and a woman of faith, and from today, by the will of the Mexican people, the president.” Legislators on the floor of Congress shouted “Presidenta”—the feminine form of president in Spanish – to celebrate the birth of the country’s female leader.

1. Outgoing Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio’s Cabinet has resigned ahead of the appointment of a new Cabinet, which will be led by Kishida’s successor, Ishiba Shigeru. The Kishida administration’s Cabinet ministers submitted letters of resignation en masse at a Cabinet meeting, which started shortly after 9 a.m. on Tuesday.
2. A Russian online media outlet has reported that opposition leader Alexei Navalny was killed in prison by being poisoned, contradicting the official story that he died of natural causes. 3. Japan Airlines is entering into a revenue-sharing venture with Garuda Indonesia. It comes as the company looks to strengthen its business in Asia. The two carriers are already in a code-sharing agreement. The new arrangement will strengthen that relationship and see the airlines set flight schedules and manage revenues as if they were a single company. It is expected to take effect next April.

1. The new leader of Japan’s main ruling Liberal Democratic Party has officially announced his executive lineup. LDP President Ishiba Shigeru is set to become prime minister on Tuesday. Ishiba has named former Prime Minister Suga Yoshihide as the LDP’s vice-president. Aso Tar, who was vice-president, has become the party’s top advisor. Ishiba has appointed Moriyama Hiroshi, the former chairperson of the General Council, as the LDP’s secretary-general. Finance Minister Suzuki Shunichi will become the new General Council chairperson. Former Defense Minister Onodera Itsunori has been appointed chairperson of the Policy Research Council and former Environment Minister Koizumi Shinjiro has become chairperson of the Election Strategy Committee. 2. Japanese opposition parties have agreed to call on the ruling parties for sufficient deliberation on policies of the incoming administration of Ishiba Shigeru before the Lower House is dissolved for a general election. Ishiba is making arrangements to dissolve the Lower House on October 9. Voting in the resultant election is likely to take place on October 27. 3. The head of the interim government in Bangladesh has expressed his determination to quickly advance reform and hold an election. Muhammad Yunus became chief advisor of the interim government after the administration of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina collapsed in August after 15 years in power, following student protests. Yunus is the founder of Grameen Bank, which extends small unsecured loans to underprivileged people. He and the bank won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2006.

1. A Japanese court has acquitted an eighty-eight-year-old man who was convicted of a murder case that took place more than half a century ago. Hakamada Iwao had maintained his innocence and, with his elder sister, fought to clear his name.
2. US President Joe Biden has announced additional military aid of 7.9 billion dollars for Ukraine, saying it is essential for the country to gain battleground advantages to end the war with Russia.
3. Ishiba Shigeru has been elected leader of Japan’s main ruling Liberal Democratic Party. He is virtually assured of becoming the next prime minister.

1. The United States, Japan, France and other US allies have announced a joint statement calling for a 21-day ceasefire between Israel and the Lebanon-based Shia Muslim group Hezbollah. The statement says, “It is time to conclude a diplomatic settlement that enables civilians on both sides of the border to return to their homes in safety.” It adds, “Diplomacy, however, cannot succeed amid an escalation of this conflict.” 2. The governor of Japan’s Hyogo Prefecture has opted to lose his seat after a non-confidence vote last week. Saito Motohiko says he will not dissolve the assembly and accepts that on Monday he will lose his job. But Saito said he also wants to run in the next gubernatorial election.
3. Four Japanese men have been caught at an Australian airport on suspicion of trying to smuggle a large amount of cigarettes into the country. NHK has learned that the four were pulled aside at Brisbane Airport earlier this month for trying to bring in more than 140,000 cigarettes without reporting them.

1. Emergency officials say the death toll from record rainfall in Japan’s Ishikawa Prefecture has risen to nine.
2. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has urged UN member nations to work together to stop Russia’s invasion of his country, and he has asked them to participate in a peace summit later this year.
3. Japan’s Finance Ministry is hoping to mint excitement for the coming World Expo 2025 in Osaka. It has unveiled designs for commemorative coins to mark the event that’s scheduled to kick off next April.

1. Japan’s main opposition Constitutional Democratic Party has approved a new leadership lineup proposed by its newly elected President Noda Yoshihiko. On Tuesday, Noda presented his selection of key party appointments to party lawmakers from both chambers of the Diet. They approved the appointment of Ogawa Junya as Secretary-General, Shigetoku Kazuhiko as Chairperson of the Policy Research Committee and Ryu Hirofumi as Chairperson of the Diet Affairs Committee. Oogushi Hiroshi will stay on as Chairperson of the Election Strategy Committee.
2. The plaintiffs in a Nagasaki District Court ruling that recognized some individuals as hibakusha, or atomic bomb survivors, are expected to appeal on Tuesday. The plaintiffs said they are appealing because the district court ruling that recognized only some of them as hibakusha was inconsistent with precedents.
3. Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian says Iran does not want war in the Middle East or to become the cause of instability in the region. Pezeshkian spoke to reporters in New York on Monday. He is visiting the United States to join the UN General Assembly for the first time since taking office.

1. Members of Japan’s largest opposition party have chosen Noda Yoshihiko as their new leader. He served as prime minister between 2011 and 2012. The Constitutional Democratic Party held a special convention on Monday in Tokyo to select its leadership. Four candidates ran in the contest. Noda came out ahead in a run-off against former party president Edano Yukio. Diet lawmakers, local assembly and general party members as well as supporters cast votes. Noda said: “I am determined to take over the government. The battle starts today. No matter who the Liberal Democratic Party chooses as its leader on September 27th, a general election will definitely be held before long. So, let’s start preparing for that battle today. From now on, we have ‘no sides.” Let’s unite our party so we can take power.” 2. Major League Baseball superstar Ohtani Shohei of the Los Angeles dodgers has marked his 53rd homer and 55th stolen base of the season. The Japanese player started as the leadoff designated hitter in Sunday’s game against the Colorado Rockies. Ohtani belted a solo home run at his fifth at bat in the bottom of the ninth inning. This tied the score 5-5. Mookie Betts followed suit with a back-to-back homer, giving the Dodgers a 6-5 win. Ohtani also stole two bases in the game, extending his stolen base record of the season to 55. 3. Seven people are dead in the wake of torrential downpours in Japan’s central Ishikawa Prefecture that have caused rivers to flood and mudslides across the Noto region. Some people living in temporary shelters following the New Year’s Day earthquake are once again facing recovery efforts, this time from flooding.

1. Japan’s Foreign Minister Kamikawa Yoko has called for a review of safety measures for students commuting to Japanese schools in China.
2. The Bank of Japan decided to keep its interest rate unchanged at the end of its first policy meeting since it raised borrowing costs in July.
3. Ohtani Shohei of the Los Angeles Dodgers has become the first player in MLB history to hit 50 home runs and steal 50 bases in a single season.

1. East Japan Railway says services on the Tohoku Shinkansen line have resumed after two linked trains became uncoupled. The operator says a coupler on the 17-car Tokyo-bound train became unhinged while it was running between Furukawa and Sendai stations in Miyagi Prefecture at a speed of about 315 kilometers per hour shortly after 8:00 a.m. 2. The Hyogo prefectural assembly in western Japan has passed a non-confidence motion against the governor, Saito Motohiko, has been accused of power harassment and other misconduct. He’ll soon have to decide whether to dissolve the assembly or lose his job. All 86 prefectural assembly members, those from five political groups including the Liberal Democratic Party and Ishin no Kai as well as independents, unanimously have been demanding Saito’s immediate resignation.
3. A ten-year-old boy who was attacked on his way to a Japanese school in southern China has died of his injuries. The Japanese Consul-General in Guangzhou, Kijima Yoshiko, revealed early Thursday that the boy, who was Japanese, died before dawn at the hospital where he had been receiving treatment.

1. Japan’s defense ministry has responded to multiple launches of ballistic missiles from North Korea. The defense officials say they appear to have fallen near the country’s east coast. Details of the incident were under investigation.
2. Former US President Donald Trump rallied supporters at his first large-scale campaign event since the apparent assassination attempt against him on Sunday. Trump held a rally in the battleground state of Michigan on Tuesday, just two days after a man with a firearm was taken into custody near a golf course where he was playing.
3. Major electronics manufacturer Sharp has unveiled the concept model of its first electric vehicle. The move into EVs is part of the company’s efforts to develop new business fields. The van-type model taps into Sharp’s technologies and has a wider space in the rear of the vehicle that replicates a living room. It has a large LCD screen to allow passengers to watch movies.

1. The number of centenarians in Japan has topped 95,000, marking a record high for the 54th consecutive year. The health and welfare ministry announced the figure based on the Basic Resident Register as of September 1. It said there were 95,119 people aged 100 or older, a rise of 2,980 from last year. Women accounted for more than 88 percent of the total, at 83,958. There were 11,161 male centenarians.
2. Companies in Japan are increasingly reaching out to their former employees to cope with labor shortages and explore new business prospects. Employment information firm Mynavi Corporation held its first alumni networking event last week in Tokyo. About 200 people took part. Telecom giant NTT also established a group-wide alumni network this month. 3. The United States has decided on a foreign military sale to Taiwan of spare parts and related equipment for an estimated cost of 228 million dollars. The US government on Monday announced the return, repair and reshipment of spare parts for aircraft and related equipment to Taiwan, and that it notified Congress of the sale.

1. The Japan-set historical series “Shogun” has won a record number of prizes at the 76th Emmy Awards in the US, including best drama and best actor. “Shogun” collected a total of 18 awards, the most-ever for a single season of a television series. It has already won 14 awards at the Creative Arts Emmy Awards earlier this month. Sanada Hiroyuki won best actor for his role as Yoshii Toranaga in the drama, which was produced by the US pay TV channel, FX. Anna Sawai won for best actress, while Frederick Toye took the prize for directing a drama series. 2. US law enforcement is investigating an incident near a golf course as a possible assassination attempt against former president Donald Trump. The Republican presidential candidate is unharmed. The Federal Bureau of Investigation and others say a man possessing a firearm was detained near the golf course where Trump was playing in the state of Florida on Sunday afternoon. US media outlets say the 58-year-old man was involved in activities to support Ukraine.
3. One of Japan’s most famous Buddhist temples plans to raise its admission fees to cover the growing costs of management and staffing. The administrators of Horyuji temple in Nara Prefecture say the coronavirus pandemic led to a drop in visitor numbers, while the costs of maintaining its cultural treasures and staff are rising. The UNESCO World Heritage site currently charges 1,500 yen, or about 11 dollars, for visitors of junior high school age and above. Starting next March, adults, university and senior high school students will pay 2,000 yen, or roughly 14 dollars.

1. The US ambassador to the United Nations says the United States supports the addition of two African countries to the UN Security Council as permanent members without veto power. Linda Thomas-Greenfield revealed this during a speech at the Council on Foreign Relations in New York on Thursday.
2. Japanese department store chain Sogo & Seibu says it has no plans to fire staff or close outlets under the management of a US investment fund. The major chain was sold to Fortress Investment Group in September last year. The company unveiled a management plan on Thursday. Under the plan, the firm will reduce the floor space by about half at its flagship store in Tokyo’s Ikebukuro district. The outlet is being renovated and will focus mainly on luxury goods, cosmetics and food when it reopens next year. 3. A panel of experts met Thursday to discuss revisions to Japan’s basic energy plan and efforts to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases. Topics included energy-saving measures at workplaces and in households, and the use of new energy sources such as hydrogen. Japan has been working to revise its basic energy strategy since May. These revisions include meeting future electricity demand using power-saving technology and promoting renewable energy.

1. A senior Russian military officer says his country’s troops have retaken 10 settlements from Ukrainian forces in Russia’s western border region of Kursk. On Wednesday, Russia’s state-run Tass news agency quoted the high-ranking defense ministry officials as saying that the situation is good, and Russian units have gone on the offensive. He said a total of about 10 communities were taken back in Kursk.
2. The race to select the new leader of Japan’s main governing Liberal Democratic Party has officially kicked off. Nine people are running, a record high under the current system. The winner is expected to become the country’s next prime minister.
3. The governor of California on Wednesday declared a state of emergency as a series of wildfires continued to tear through Southern California. State fire authorities and local media say three major fires that began in September have scorched more than 40,000 hectares in a matter of days.

1. US Vice President Kamala Harris and former president Donald Trump have faced off in a high-stakes televised debate in Philadelphia. Over the course of 90 minutes, the candidates sparred over key issues including immigration, foreign policy, and the US economy. 2. US pop star Taylor Swift has endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris as the country’s next president. She posted a message to Instagram on Tuesday shortly after a televised debate between the Democratic presidential nominee and Republican opponent Donald Trump. 3. The UN General Assembly has upgraded the rights of the representative of Palestine by allowing the envoy a seat among member nations. The ambassador has observer status and has yet to be given full UN membership.

1. The operator of the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant has launched a trial to retrieve nuclear fuel debris from one of the plant’s crippled reactors, after a delay caused by misaligned pipes. Tokyo Electric Power Company, or TEPCO, was due to begin the experiment at the No.2 reactor on August 22, only to call it off at the last moment. The work resumed on Tuesday. 2. The Palestinian ambassador to the United Nations has hinted that Palestine may submit a draft resolution to the UN General Assembly as early as next week, calling on Israel to end its occupation of the Palestinian territories within six months.
3. At least 82 people have been confirmed dead in Vietnam, the Philippines and China as a powerful typhoon wreaked havoc in the region. Typhoon Yagi triggered landslides and floods in the region. According to media reports from the three countries, 58 people were confirmed dead in Vietnam, 20 in the Philippines and four in China.

1. A district court in western Japan has ruled that some of those who were just outside the government-designated zone of radiation exposure from the 1945 atomic bombing of Nagasaki should be officially recognized as hibakusha. The Nagasaki District Court on Monday ordered Nagasaki City and Nagasaki Prefecture to recognize some of the 44 plaintiffs as atomic bomb survivors and issue them a hibakusha certificate.
2. Osaka University and Japanese electronics firm Fujitsu say they have established a new calculation method to accelerate the realization of practical quantum computing. Quantum computers are said to be capable of calculating much faster than supercomputers. 3. The Paris 2024 Paralympic Games have concluded, marking the handoff to Los Angeles, which will host the next Summer Games in four years. The closing ceremony of the 12-day Games was held on Sunday at the athletics venue of State de France, just outside Paris. Organizing committee president Tony Estanguet said, “Everyone can see what an inclusive world is like,” adding “Now there is no turning back.”

1. Rome is considering limiting access to the Trevi Fountain, one of the Italian capital’s most popular tourist attractions, in a bid to address problems associated with a surge in tourist numbers.
2. Japan’s Prime Minister Kishida Fumio and South Korea’s President Yoon Suk-yeol will hold a summit meeting in Seoul on Friday. They are expected to discuss expanding bilateral cooperation in a wide range of areas, including national security.
3. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has indicated the United States and mediating partners Egypt and Qatar may make a fresh ceasefire proposal for Israel and Hamas “in the coming days.”

1. It has been one month since Bangladesh’s prime minister was forced to step down on August 5, following deadly clashes between police and student protesters. The interim government led by Nobel Peace Prize laureate Muhammad Yunus is now aiming to hold elections for a democratic transition. No dates have been announced.
2. The city of Himeji in Hyogo Prefecture, western Japan, has decided to double or triple the admission fee for Himeji Castle for visitors from outside the city. The castle is a World Cultural Heritage site. City officials plan to introduce the revised fee in early 2026. They say the move will help secure funds to maintain and manage the castle that was built more than 400 years ago.
3. Foreign and defense ministers of Japan and Australia have agreed to strengthen security cooperation amid China’s growing assertiveness. They discussed China’s increasing military activities in the region, evidenced by a recent intrusion by a Chinese military plane into Japanese airspace.

1. Nippon Steel has unveiled its plan for the management of structure of US Steel if a planned acquisition goes ahead. It says it would give a majority of the board seats to US citizens. Nippon Steel says it would also appoint Americans to key management roles. The Japanese company is hoping to win greater support for the takeover through such efforts. Many in the US have expressed strong opposition.
2. Kansai International Airport in Japan’s western prefecture of Osaka is celebrating the 30th anniversary of its opening. The airport was built by reclaiming land from the sea five kilometers off the coast in Osaka Bay to address noise and other problems. The ocean airport opened on September 4, 1994.
3. Tokyo Tower, a popular and symbolic landmark of Japan’s capital, has welcomed 190 million visitors. A ceremony was held on Wednesday to mark the occasion. The tower is located in Minato Ward and stands 333 meters tall. It was opened in 1958 as a radio tower.

1. In Major League Baseball, Ohtani Shohei of the Los Angeles Dodgers stole three bases on Monday to reach 46 for the season. Against the Arizona Diamondbacks, Ohtani’s first steal came in the fourth inning after he got a walk. In the seventh, Ohtani reached first base on a hit. He then stole second and third while Mookie Betts was at bat. 2. A Japanese government survey has found that nothing has yet been done about some 10,000 aging and dilapidated bridges. Inspections carried out up to fiscal 2018 found them to be in need of repair or removal within five years. Entities that manage tunnels and bridges are obliged to check them every five years following a fatal tunnel collapse in 2012. 3. The New Year is still months away, but department stores across Japan are already promoting their boxed sets of “osechi” food dishes eastern during the holiday. Major chain Takashimaya unveiled about 20 different selections last week. One set includes local specialties from the Noto Peninsula, which was hit by a deadly earthquake on New Year’s Day this year, such as oyster, white shrimp and firefly squid.

1. Japan’s youngest mayor has taken office following his win in an election held on Sunday. Twenty-seven-year-old Ishida Kensuke was elected mayor of Odate City, Akita Prefecture, in northern Japan. In his inaugural speech, Ishida asked city officials to help him resolve issues the city faces as he cannot do it on his own. He also said the city will need the united power of both officials and citizens to overcome the issues of a rapidly aging population and extremely low birthrate. He asked everyone to work together to bring about change in the city. 2. Localized downpours are hitting parts of northern to western Japan on Monday, while extremely heavy rain could continue through Tuesday in northern and eastern Japan. The Meteorological Agency says atmospheric conditions are extremely unstable from northern through western Japan due to warm and damp air flowing into a rain front extending across the northern part of the country from the Sea of Japan.
3. The Honmaru-goten Palace of the World Heritage site Nijo-jo Castle in Kyoto has reopened to the public for the first time in 18 years after quake-resistance reinforcement work was completed. Nijo-jo Castle was initially built in 1603 in the beginning of the Tokugawa shogunate era. The current Honmaru Palace in the castle was moved from Katsura-no-miya Palace near the Kyoto Imperial Palace in 1894. It is designated as a national important cultural asset. The work to improve the palace’s quake resistance began in 2017, and was completed by the end of March this year.

1. Tropical Storm Shanshan is moving northeast over southwestern Japan. Weather officials are warning that it will bring heavy rains and strong winds to many parts of the country into the weekend. As of Friday morning, Shanshan was moving slowly over Oita Prefecture in Kyushu. 2. The Ukrainian military has said a US-made F16 fighter jet provided by Western nations crashed during a combat mission, killing its pilot. US officials have warned about the dangers of sending pilots inexperienced on F16s into combat.
3. Japan’s legendary para swimmer Suzuki Takayuki has won a gold medal in the Men’s 50m Breaststroke SB3 class at the Paris Paralympics. The win brought Japan its first medal at the ongoing Games. In Thursday’s event final, Suzuki got off to a superb start and led the pack from the beginning. He widened his lead later in the race and first by clocking a time of 48.04 seconds.

1. Severe tropical storm Shanshan is moving northward over Kyushu in southwestern Japan, blanketing the surrounding areas with heavy rainfall. Weather officials are warning of massive downpours as bands of heavy rainclouds have formed over Tokushima and Kagawa prefectures in the Shikoku region, sharply increasing the risk of disasters. 2. The International Tokyo Toy Show began on Thursday with a selection of products on offer that make use of artificial intelligence and other leading digital technologies. Japanese and foreign makers are showcasing about 35,000 items at the annual event.
3. The organizer of the Expo 2025 in Osaka has unveiled details of a giant pavilion that is now under construction. “Future City” is the theme of the structure, where people can create a happy lifestyle while resolving global issues such as climate change.

1. Typhoon Shanshan is moving slowly northward off Japan’s southwest. The maximum gust speed is forecast to reach around 250 kilometers per hour in the typhoon’s center – strong enough to bring down houses. Bands of heavy rain clouds are expected to develop over Kagoshima and the neighboring prefecture of Miyazaki through Wednesday night. This could suddenly increase the risk of a disaster.
2. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says he will visit the US next month and present President Joe Biden with a plan to end Russian invasion. Zelenskyy told reporters that Ukraine’s cross-border offensive in the western Russian region of Kursk is part of the plan. He said the plan also includes his country’s strategic place in the world’s security infrastructure and a package to put diplomatic pressure on Russia.
3. Israeli forces have carried out an operation that’s been hailed as “nothing short of miraculous.” On Tuesday, they rescued a hostage held captive in Gaza for more than 10 months. Defense officials identified the man as 52-year-old Qaid Farhan Alkadi. The Haaretz newspaper reported that soldiers found him in a Hamas tunnel network “by chance.”

1. Residents in southwestern Japan are being urged to stay on high alert for destructive winds and flooding. Typhoon Shanshan is expected to gain traction and approach the Amami region through Wednesday. The typhoon is currently heading westward, but its exact path is difficult to forecast. The powerful storm may move slowly and bring heavy rain to areas that are relatively far away.
2. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has stressed the need to financially support Pacific island nations facing rising sea levels and other challenges brought by climate change. Guterres said in a speech on Tuesday: “The world must look to the Pacific and listen to science. This is a crazy situation. Rising seas are a crisis entirely of humanity’s making.” 3. Former US President Donald Trump has suggested he might skip the first televised debate with his Democratic presidential rival Kamala Harris over microphone rules and his own questions about the fairness of the broadcaster. US media outlets say the rival camps are at odds over whether to mute the mic when the other candidate is speaking.

1. Japan’s Digital Transformation Minister Kono Taro has announced that he will run in the leadership election of the main governing Liberal Democratic Party. Kono told reporters that the Kishida Cabinet has made great achievements both in domestic politics and diplomacy since its inauguration about 1,000 days ago. He said he wants to succeed Kishida and move Japan forward. 2. Typhoon Shanshan is expected to approach western parts of Japan and the Amami region in the south from Tuesday onwards. The storm will possibly bring fierce winds there as well as heavy rain in wide areas along the Pacific. Shanshan has a central atmospheric pressure of 980 hectopascals. It is packing maximum sustained winds of 126 kilometers per hour near its center and gusts peaking at 180 kilometers per hour.
3. A member of a Ukrainian military brigade says the country used intelligence data provided by Western partners to monitor Russia’s moves before launching its cross-border attack. The soldier spoke to NHK about the details of the cross-border offensive in Russia’s Kursk region. He handles public relations for the brigade that operates near the border with Russia.

1. US Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris has promised to be ‘a president for all Americans,” as she called for support so she can win the upcoming presidential election. Harris said the upcoming election will be a precious opportunity to chart “a New Way Forward.” Noting that she comes from a middle-class family, Harris said a strong middle-class has always been critical to America’s success, and building a strong one will be a defining goal of her presidency.
2. Former US President Donald Trump has criticized Vice President Kamala Harris over the Democratic Party’s immigration policy during a visit to the southern border with Mexico. 3. Weather officials say atmospheric conditions are extremely unstable in the Tokai region and other areas. Heavy rain is falling in central Japan’s Shizuoka Prefecture.

1. Tropical storm Shanshan is expected to come close to Tokyo’s remote Ogasawara Island chain in the western Pacific on Sunday. Shanshan is likely to approach western and eastern Japan next week, while gaining strength. Shanshan is expected to move slowly northwest before getting close to the Ogasawara Islands. Officials are calling on people to stay updated on the latest weather information.
2. Minnesota Governor Tim Walz accepted the US Democratic Party’s nomination for vice president in a speech at the party’s national convention on Wednesday. Walz – whom Vice President Kamala Harris picked as her running mate in her bid to become president. – spoke on the third ay of the convention underway in Chicago. Walz has been presenting himself as a candidate that voters can relate to with his middle-class upbringing and small-town roots. The Democratic Party hopes Walz will help Harris win wider support from the white working class. 3. Tokyo Electric Power Company, or TEPCO, has postponed a test to retrieve nuclear fuel debris from one of its crippled reactors at the Fukushima Daiichi plant. The utility had planned to begin the experimental debris removal on Thursday morning. It was to be the first such attempt in 13 and a half years after an earthquake and tsunami triggered meltdowns in the plant’s reactors in 2011.

1. It is the second day of the Democratic National Convention in Chicago. The event opened with a ceremonial roll call vote for their presidential nominee, Kamala Harris. Delegates were gathered to confirm the nominations of Harris and her running mate, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz. 2. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has called on the Islamic group Hamas to immediately accept the latest proposal for a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip. Blinken visited Egypt and Qatar on Tuesday. Those countries and the United States are mediating talks aimed at securing an agreement for a ceasefire and the release of the hostages.
3. The mayor of the Russian capital of Moscow says the country’s military has destroyed at least 10 drones flying toward the city. Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said on social media on Wednesday that the attack by unmarried aerial vehicles flying toward Moscow had been thwarted. He said there was debris at the site where some of the drones had been shot down south of Moscow.

1. US Vice President Kamala Harris called for unity on the opening night of the Democratic National Convention in Chicago on Monday. She first praised President Joe Biden and thanked him for his “historic leadership” and “lifetime of service.” She said, “We are forever grateful to you.” She told the audience that they are united by a shared vision for the future of their country. She added that in November, they will declare with one voice that they are moving forward with optimism, hope and faith.
2. A media outlet has reported that former US President Donald Trump said he would consider naming entrepreneur Elon Musk to a Cabinet or advisory position if he wins the November presidential election.
3. A Russian presidential aide says Moscow will not hold peace talks with Kyiv, following Ukraine’s cross-border incursion into western Russia. Yury Ushakov said on Monday that negotiations are currently out of the question, given the situation in the Kursk region.

1. China’s coast guard says a Philippine patrol vessel has deliberately collided with a Chinese ship in the disputed South China Sea. The Philippine side criticized China, saying it had damaged its two vessels with unlawful, dangerous acts.
2. Hamas has criticized Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, saying he is obstructing an agreement on a ceasefire and the release of hostages in the Gaza Strip. Netanyahu is sticking to his hardline stance over the issue.
3. US Vice President Kamala Harris has embarked on a campaign bus tour across the eastern battleground state of Pennsylvania to win over voters in the November presidential election. Harris visited Pittsburgh in western Pennsylvania on Sunday with her running mate, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz. She shook hands and took photos with her supporters at an airport before boarding a bus bearing the names of Harris and Walz. She pledged in a speech that her team would fight for freedom and the middle class.

1. Typhoon Ampil, now situated off the Pacific coast of Japan’s main island of Honshu, has developed into a very strong storm.
2. A court in Russia has sentenced a dual Russian-American citizen to 12 years in prison for treason after she was convicted of sending money to support the Ukrainian military. Ksenia Karelina is reported, however, to have donated the money to a charity which provides humanitarian aid to children and elderly people in Ukraine.
3.Thailand’s ruling coalition parties have nominated a daughter of former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra as the successor to dismissed Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin.

1. Typhoon Ampil is continuing to strengthen as it moves north. It is likely to approach the Kanto and Tohoku regions in eastern and northern Japan from Friday through Saturday. Weather officials are warning that bands of heavy rain clouds could develop over the Kanto region, Izu Islands and Yamanashi Prefecture, sharply increasing the risk of disasters. They are also urging caution against high waves and landslides.
2. Many people in Japan have been looking forward to traveling this weekend for the traditional summer holidays. But the weather is throwing a kink into their plans. The Central Japan Railway Company, JR Central, says it will cancel all services on the Tokaido Shinkansen bullet train line between Tokyo and Nagoya for the entire day Friday. 3. Japan has remembered approximately 3.1 million war dead in ceremonies across the nation as the country marks the 79 years since the end of World War Two. On August 15, 1945, Emperor Showa gave a recorded radio address announcing the country’s surrender.

1. Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio has announced his decision not to run in the ruling Liberal Democratic Party’s leadership election next month. It means Japan will soon have a new prime minister.
2. The Paris Olympic Games wrapped up on Sunday as it had started, with a call for peace. However, the Olympic ideal wasn’t always enough t dispel the specter of conflict ad division through the 17-day Cames. For the first time since the coronavirus pandemic, spectators were able to watch all the events and most venues were running at full capacity. Athletes were happy to have their families and colleagues close at hand, which they were denied at the Tokyo Games due to pandemic restrictions. But it wasn’t all plain sailing. Online abuse became a serious issue during the Games.
3. Severe tropical storm Ampil is expected to come closest to Tokyo’s remote Ogasawara island chain in the late afternoon through nighttime on Wednesday.

1. The Olympic flag aboard a passenger airplane from Paris has arrived in Los Angeles, which hosts the next Summer Games in 2028. At the closing ceremony of the Paris Games, a prerecorded video showed American movie star Tom Cruise skydiving into Hollywood carrying the flag. The Olympic flag arrived in Los Angeles on Monday. People in a waiting crowd took photos of the aircraft painted with the Olympic logo. Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass stepped off the plane waving the flag, drawing lud applause. 2. US President Joe Biden and the leaders of four European countries are calling on Iran to refrain from attacking Israel. In a joint statement, they said, “We expressed our support for the defense of Israel against Iranian aggression and against attacks by Iran-backed terrorist groups.
3. Dangerously high temperatures are forecast for many regions across Japan on Tuesday. The Japan Meteorological Agency says a high pressure system will cover wide areas from eastern to western Japan and drive temperatures up. By 11:00 a.m., the mercury had risen to 36.5 degrees Celsius in Nagoya City and 35.9 degrees in Nishiwaki City, Hyogo Prefecture, and Yamaguchi City.

1. The Paris Olympics have drawn to a close, marking the handoff to Los Angeles, which will host the next Summer Games in four years. The closing ceremony began on Sunday at the Stade de France, the Games’ venue for rugby and athletics. Flag-bearers for countries and territories that sent delegations entered the stadium first, followed by a parade of the other Olympians. 2. US President Joe Biden says he decided to withdraw from the 2024 presidential race partly because he was concerned about a negative impact on Congressional elections that will take place at the same time. The president said his Democratic colleagues in the House and Senate thought he would “hurt” them in their elections. He expressed concern that if he stayed in the race, that would be the topic. He added that it would be “a real distraction.” 3. A US political news outlet says Western allies of Ukraine do not appear to be pressing Kyiv to limit the use of weapons they supplied to the country in its ongoing cross-border incursion into Russia. Politico carried an article regarding the offensive that the Ukrainian military has been mounting in the western Russian region of Kursk since Tuesday. The article says, “As Ukraine widens its attacks inside Russia, there is no sign that the country’s sometimes reluctant Western allies are putting pressure on Kyiv to ease off.”

1. Japan is commemorating the 79th anniversary of the atomic bombing of Nagasaki during World War Two. The city has honored the tens of thousands of victims in an annual ceremony, with representatives from around the world in attendance. But there were some noticeable absences among foreign diplomats.
2. Japanese authorities are urging people in a wide section of the country to take precautions against a possible mega earthquake. They have issued a special advisory for the first time. This comes after a powerful quake rocked Kyushu on Thursday. The advisory is part of a precautionary measure being taken against a possible mega earthquake. The measure is known as the Nanka Trough Earthquake Extra Information protocol. 3. Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump are set to hold their first televised debate on September 10 for the US presidential election.

1. The mayor of Nagasaki says he maintains his decision not to invite the Israeli ambassador to Japan to Friday’s annual peace ceremony marking the US atomic bombing of the city. Mayor Suzuki Shiro on Thursday reiterated that this is not a political decision, but is aimed at holding the August 9 ceremony smoothly to mourn the atomic-bomb victims in a calm and solemn atmosphere. Suzuki met reporters after media reports revealed that US and European ambassadors to Japan jointly sent a letter of concern to him in July over the city’s decision. 2. A senior Russian government official has expressed wariness about Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio’s upcoming visit to Central Asia. Kishida is scheduled to visit Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and other Central Asian countries from Friday for a summit meeting of regional leaders and one-on-one talks. The tour is aimed at bolstering cooperation with the region in economic and other fields. Officials around 50 Japanese companies are expected to accompany Kishida.
3. A Russian oligarch who is said to be close to the administration of President Vladimir Putin says there will be no winner with Ukraine and it should be brought to an end as quickly as possible. Oleg Deripaska, who founded one of the world’s largest aluminum companies, is visiting Japan for an international business meeting. Deripaska described how Western sanctions on Russia caused aluminum exports to Japan and elsewhere to plunge. He said they’re “painful” and a heavy restriction,” and that Russia needs to “find new partners.” But he added that surprisingly, private businesses found their own way, and stressed that sanctions would not lead to a policy change by the Russian government.

1. Bangladesh’s presidential office has named Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus as the head of the interim government. Long-time Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has stepped down amid massive student-led uprisings.
2. US Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris and her vice presidential running mate Tim Walz have held their first joint campaign rally in a battleground state for the November election.
3. NHK has learned that Japanese motorcycle makers Honda Motor and Suzuki Moto are considering ending production of small bikes in Japan.

1. Tuesday marks 79 years since an atomic bomb dropped by the United States devastated the Japanese city of Hiroshima. Mayor Matsui Kazumi has called on people to press leaders relying on nuclear deterrence to shift their policies. A ceremony to commemorate the victims was held at the city’s Peace Memorial Park from 8 a.m. About 50,000 people participated, including atomic bomb survivors and bereaved families, Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio and representatives from 109 countries.
2. The United States is engaged in diplomacy to prevent conflicts in the Middle East from expanding. The White House announced that President Joe Biden called Jordan’s King Abdullah on Monday and discussed their efforts to deescalate regional tensions. Secretary of State Antony Blinken has described the situation in the Middle East as a critical moment. 3. Big pay raises in this year’s salary negotiations saw real wages in Japan rise in June for the first time in 27 months. The labor ministry says the inflation-adjusted wages were up 1.1 percent from a year earlier. It says more businesses paid bonuses in June than in the average year. The figures are from a monthly survey of more than 30,000 businesses with at least five employees.

1.US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has reportedly said that Iran and the Iran-backed Shia Muslim group Hezbollah could begin retaliatory attacks against Israel as early as the next 24 to 48 hours.
2. The Japanese government is trying to put an end to an extreme work culture that can sometimes have tragic consequences. It’s acting to enforce limits on overtime hours in an effort to prevent deaths from work-related stress.
3. Many parts of Japan remain in the grip of intense heat on Monday, with temperatures rising above 35 degrees Celsius in the morning in some areas.

1. Tokyo’s benchmark Nikkei Stock Average nosedived on Friday with its biggest one-day drop since the “Black Monday” crash in 1987. Investors worried whether a gloomier US economic outlook would impact the Japanese economy.
2. A plane carrying three Americans released by Russia in a complex prisoner exchange landed at an Air Force base outside the capital Washington late Thursday. The three freed Americans include Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich and former US Marine Paul Whelan. They were welcomed by US President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris, as well as their families.
3. Japan’s high school baseball governing body will start full-fledged discussions on shortening its games from nine innings to seven as a way to protect players from the intense summer heat. The working group will discuss the pros and cons of introducing the seven-inning system for the spring and summer national championships, as well as for regional tournaments.

1. Delegates to the US Democratic National Convention are voting online to select Vice President Kamala Harris as their nominee for president. President Joe Biden three his support behind Harris after dropping out of the race in late July. Nearly 4,700 delegates are taking part in what they call a “virtual roll call.” They started casting their ballots on Thursday and will wrap up Monday evening.
2. Japanese weather officials said on Friday that the rainy season appears to be over in the northern Tohoku region, virtually declaring the arrival of full-fledged summer across Japan. Officials are advising people to stay on the alert against heatstroke.
3. Honda and Nissan have announced plans to jointly run research into developing next-generation automobiles, known as software-defined vehicles, or SDVs. Both companies released the details of the plan on Thursday. It follows on from their strategic partnership announced in March.

1. The Bank of Japan has taken a big step to exit its monetary easing measures. The central bank has decided to raise its short-term interest rate again this year, to around 0.25 percent from roughly 0 to 0.1 percent.
2. The US Democratic Party says it will hold an online vote from August 1 through August 5 to nominate Vice President Kamala Harris as its candidate to succeed President Joe Biden. The Democratic National Committee says 3,923 delegates from across the United States petitioned to put Harris on the ballot for the Democratic nomination. It says Harris secured the support of 99 percent of the participating delegates and noted she is the only person who has qualified for the ballot.
3. Japanese judoka Nagase Takanori has won his second straight gold medal in the men’s 81-kilogram category at the Paris Olympics. He earned his first at the Tokyo Games in 2021.

1. Weather officials are forecasting localized thunderstorms in northern parts of Japan on Tuesday. Previous rainfalls have loosened the ground and damaged river embankments in areas of Yamagata and Akita prefectures in Tohoku, raising the risk of disaster even if only a small amount of rain falls.
2. Japan continued its strong start to the Paris Olympics on Monday when the men’s gymnastics team staged an impressive comeback to defeat China and claim one of two gold medals on the day. Japan had the upper hand after a Chinese gymnast fell off the high bar twice. This is Japan’s firs gold in the event since the 2016 Rio Games. China won the silver and the US took the bronze.
3. US tech billionaire Elon Musk has been accused of spreading an apparently digitally-altered video of Vice President Kamala Harris on his social media platform X. The video appears to have been altered from a campaign ad created by Harris’ team. US media and observers argue that his repost could be a violation of x’s policies which state, “You may not deceptively share synthetic or manipulated media that are likely to cause harm.”

1. The mercury topped 40 degrees Celsius in Shizuoka Prefecture, central Japan, on Monday morning. Japanese weather officials say a high pressure system is bringing sunny weather to western and eastern Japan, driving up temperatures from the morning.
2. Foreign ministers from Japan, the United States, Australia and India are meeting in Tokyo. This is the first time in four years for the Quad countries’ top diplomats to convene in the Japanese capital. The talks began on Monday morning, attended by Japan’s Foreign Minister Kamikawa Yoko, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong and Indian External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar. 3. Japanese shoppers looking for appliances are increasingly opting for used products as prices for the latest models are putting them out of reach for some consumers. Electronics maker Panasonic sells returned products or display models that have been repaired and inspected. It offers a one-year guarantee on home appliances and discounts of up to 20 percent.

1. The opening ceremony of the Paris Olympics will play out on the River Seine on Friday with the slogan — “Games wide open!” The French capital is hosting the Olympics for the first time in 100 years.
2. Japan’s Meteorological Agency downgraded the emergency rain warning issued in Yamagata Prefecture from the highest level to a warning early on Friday. But officials say the danger is not over yet.
3. US Vice President Kamala Harris has told Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that it is time to secure a Gaza ceasefire deal and the release of hostages.

1. Japanese weather officials have issued a heavy rain emergency warning for the northern prefecture of Yamagata. Places in the prefecture are being battered by heavy rain of an intensity recorded only once in several decades. Weather officials say there is a high possibility that flooding, landslides and other severe disasters have already occurred. 2. US President Joe Biden has given his first public address in Washington since deciding to drop his bid for re-election. He says it’s time to make way for younger voices. Biden said he has decided that the best way forward is to pass the torch to a new generation, adding that it’s the best way to unite the nation. He’s endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris as his successor. She’s expected to officially become the party’s nominee in the coming weeks. 3. The Ukrainian men’s soccer team has made its Olympic debut, ahead of the opening ceremony of the Paris Games.

1. Two new opinion polls in the United States suggest Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump are neck and neck in the race for the White House. Reuters news agency and research firm Ipsos conducted a nationwide survey after Biden announced his intention to withdraw from the presidential race. Registered voters were asked who they would pick if the election were held today. Those who said they would vote for Harris totaled 44 percent, while 42 percent said they would pick Trump. This suggests that Harris has given her Democratic Party a slight popularity boost.
2. Wednesday marks the midsummer Day of the Ox, when eating eel is traditionally believed to help people maintain their stamina in the summer heat. Kagoshima Prefecture in southwest Japan is the nation’s top producer of farmed eel. People in Kagoshima City flocked to a grilled eel restaurant in the downtown Tenmonkan district that has been in business since 1932. The restaurant opened 10 minutes earlier than the usual time of 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday as a long line of customers formed outside.
3. Amazon has started online sales and deliveries of prescription drugs in Japan in partnership with major pharmacy and drugstore chains. Amazon Japan on Tuesday announced it is teaming up with Welcia Holdings, Ain Holdings and seven other companies in the industry. The e-commerce giant says some 2,500 pharmacies will offer the service. It comes with an app for users to register electronic prescriptions. They receive guidance on use of the medication via video call. The drugs will then be delivered to homes or other designated locations.

1. A poll by CBS News shows that 79 percent of respondents think Vice President Kamala Harris should be the Democratic Party’s nominee for the US presidential election in November. 2. US Vice President Kamala Harris has rallied support from campaign staff who have been supporting President Joe Biden’s reelection bid.
3. US Vice President Kamala Harris has clarified her resolve to confront Republican nominee Donald Trump and win the November presidential election. President Joe Biden announced his withdrawal from the presidential race on Sunday, and said he would back Harris as the Democratic nominee.

1. US President Joe Biden has dropped out of the presidential race. He has endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris to be the Democratic Party’s nominee to take on Republican Donald Trump in November. Biden made the announcements on his X account on Sunday. He says it is “in the best interest” of his party and the country for him to stand down to focus solely on fulfilling his duties as president for the remainder of his term. 2. An American historian and expert on US presidential elections says the Democrats may still have a very good chance of winning in November if they unite behind the new candidate. American University Professor Allan Lichtman made the remark in an online interview with NHK after President Joe Biden announced his withdrawal from the November race. Lichtman is known for correcting predicting the outcomes of many presidential elections. Lichtman said it is an “incredibly profound development for the sitting president to step down from the race just before the party convention.
3. Japan’s Prime Minister Kishida Fumio says he thinks that US President Joe Biden decided to drop out of the presidential race as Biden believed it was the best political judgment. Kishida added that it goes without saying that the Japan-Us alliance is the cornerstone of his country’s diplomacy and security. Kishida said he will closely monitor future developments.

1. Former US President Donald Trump has formally accepted the Republican Party’s nomination as its candidate for the November presidential election. Trump said: “The discord and division in our society must be healed quickly. As Americans, we are bound together by a single fate and a shared destiny.”
2. The number of overseas visitors to Japan hit an all-time high for a single month in June. The figure for the first half of this year also broke the previous record.
3. A research team from the University of Tokyo says it has found what may be living microbes from 2-billion-year-old geological strata in South Africa.

1. Leaders of Japan and Pacific Islands nations have jointly expressed their strong opposition to unilateral attempts to change the status quo by force. They issued a declaration after wrapping up their discussions on Thursday, the final day of the three-day summit. The document highlights climate change as the biggest threat. It says that Japan will support efforts to implement more resilient disaster-prevention measures and promote decarbonization. 2. Japanese weather officials said on Thursday that the rainy season appears to have ended in the Kanto-Koshin region including Tokyo, and the Tokai region to its west. They made the announcement based on the forecast that fine weather will prevail in the coming week in the two regions.
3.The White House says US President Joe Biden tested positive for the coronavirus on Wednesday. He is reportedly experiencing mild symptoms. Biden was in the western state of Nevada to attend an event. The White House says he will return to the eastern state of Delaware, where he will self-isolate.

1. US President Joe Biden has resumed his election campaign and underscored the need for gun control. Biden returned to his campaign trail on Tuesday by visiting Nevada, one of the battleground states in the November presidential election. He had suspended the campaign in the wake of the attempted assassination of his rival, former President Donald Trump, on Saturday. 2.A shortage of workers is a big headache for Japanese firms, especially smaller ones. Some are being urged to hire people who can’t commit to full-time hours as regular employees, allowing them to qualify for benefits such as health insurance.
3. Gorgeously decorated floats have paraded through Japan’s ancient capital of Kyoto as part of its annual Gion Festival. The summer festival reportedly started more than 1,000 years ago to pray for the end of a plague. The parade of 23 floats – a festival highlight – kicked off at 9:00 a.m. on Wednesday. A child dressed in a traditional costume on the lead float used a sword to cut a sacred straw rope stretched across a main street in central Kyoto.

1. US President Joe Biden has disputed criticism from some Republicans that his comments incited the assassination attempt on Donald Trump. In response to the criticism about his comments, Biden argued about the difficulty of discussing the threat to democracy. 2. Trump makes public appearance after securing Republican Party’s presidential candidate – two days after he survived an attempt on his life at a rally. Trump appeared at the Republican National Convention as it kicked off in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, on Monday. 3. Japan and Pacific island nations will discuss a range of common issues they face during a three-day summit due to open in Tokyo on Tuesday. Japan invites leaders from South Pacific island nations and other countries once every three years for the Pacific Islands Leaders Meeting.

1. The US Republican Party is to open its convention and officially nominate former president Donald Trump as its candidate for the presidential election in November. The four-day Republican National Convention will start in Milwaukee in the Midwestern state of Wisconsin on Monday afternoon. The meeting opens two days after Trump was shot and wounded on his right ear during a speech at a rally in the eastern state of Pennsylvania on Saturday. 2. US President Joe Biden has called for unity in a televised address one day after the attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump. “I want to speak to you tonight about the need for us to lower the temperature in our politics,” Biden said. “Do remember, though we may disagree, we are not enemies. We’re neighbors. We’re friends, co-workers, citizens. And most importantly, we are fellow Americans. We must stand together.” Biden also said he spoke with Trump and is grateful he was not seriously injured. 3. A statue of a girl who died of leukemia after exposure to radiation in the 1945 US atomic bombing of Hiroshima has disappeared from a park in the United states. Police are investigating the incident as theft. Local media outlets say the statue of Sasaki Sadako was found to be missing from Peace Park in Seattle on Friday with only the figure’s feet left in place. There is speculation that the statue was targeted due to the surging price of copper.

1. The prime ministers of Japan and Britain have confirmed the security and economic cooperation between the two countries. They have also agreed to work together to deal with global issues. Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio met with Britain’s new Prime Minister Keir Starmer for about 20 minutes on Thursday on the sidelines of the NATO summit in Washington. It was their first in-person meeting since Starmer took office. 2. US President Joe Biden is giving a boost to what he sees as an “engine” of the American economy. His administration announced on Thursday 1.7 billion dollars in grants to produce electric vehicles. He is hoping the investments will also bring him votes in swing states. 3. Authorities in Matsuyama City in the western Japanese prefecture of Ehime are searching for three people after a landslide hit a residential area.

1. US trade officials fear their Chinese counterparts could be using a back door into the American market, trying to avoid paying taxes by sending metals through Mexico. They announced on Wednesday that they are imposing tariffs on foreign-made steel and aluminum shipped from Mexico.
2. Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio has arrived in the United States to join the NATO summit in Washington. Kishida will take part in the summit on Thursday as the leader of a NATO partner country in the Indo-Pacific, along with South Korea, Australia and New Zealand. 3. Leaders of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization countries have stressed their alliance’s unity and affirmed continued support for Ukraine in their summit declaration. The leaders stressed unity and solidarity in the face of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, saying they are “bound together by shared values: individual liberty, human rights, democracy and the rule of law.”

1. The UN Security Council convened an emergency meeting on Russia’s latest missile attacks across Ukraine. One of the strikes on Monday heavily damaged a children’s hospital in Kyiv. The meeting was held on Tuesday at the request of France and other countries. Russia holds the council presidency this month.
2. Bank of Japan data shows the nation’s inflation accelerated again in June. Price pressures continued to mount, as the government reduced energy subsidies intended to ease gas and electricity bills. The central bank’s Producer Price Index last month rose 2.9 percent from a year earlier in a preliminary reading. The index measures the prices companies charge each other for goods and services.
3. Trails on Mount Fuji, Japan’s highest peak, are now fully open for climbers this year. The Fujinomiya, Gotemba and Subashiri trails on the Shizuoka Prefecture side opened on Wednesday, following the opening of another route in neighboring Yamanashi Prefecture last week. The mountain straddles the two prefectures.

1. Iran’s President-elect Masoud Pezeshkian has reaffirmed that the country’s support for Russia and anti-Israel forces will not change under his presidency. The reformist candidate, who called for improvement in Iran’s relations with Western countries, won the presidential runoff on Friday.
2. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Russia on Monday to begin a two-day official visit and shore up ties with a longstanding partner. Modi knows he has to strike a balance with President Vladimir Putin. This is his first official visit since Russian troops invaded Ukraine. India is determined to keep its close ties with Russia despite pressure from Western countries and their allies. On his arrival, Modi tweeted, “Stronger ties between our nations will greatly benefit our people.”
3. US President Joe Biden has been trying to calm the fears of Democrats nervous about his chances in the November election. He wrote a letter on Monday to Democratic lawmakers in Congress, saying he is “firmly committed” to beating his rival, Donald Trump.

1. Tokyo Governor Koike Yuriko has won her third term in Sunday’s election. Koike addressed her supporters and cited various challenges Tokyo is facing, such ass soaring prices and the falling birthrate. She has pledged to take action against the latter by expanding free childcare. 2.A left-wing alliance in France has become the largest force in the country’s lower house of parliament, defying pre-election predictions. But no bloc won enough votes to form a majority. The runoff election took place on Sunday following the first round of the election on June 30. President Emmanuel Macron called the snap election as his coalition was dealt a huge defeat by the far-right National Rally party in European Parliament elections in June. 3. Corporate bankruptcies in Japan jumped to the highest in a decade in the first six months of this year. A survey by credit researcher Teikoku Databank shows some failed after being unable to repay interest-free loans taken out during the COVID-19 pandemic. The survey says 4,887 companies went under with debts of at least 10 million yen, or 60,000 dollars. That’s up 22 percent from the same period last year.

1. The UK’s largest opposition Labour Party has secured a victory in the general election, ousting the Conservatives from power for the first time in 14 years, and looks set to win in a landslide. British public broadcaster BBC says the Labour Party has won 403 of the 650 seats in the House of Commons, exceeding a majority. The ruling Conservative Party, led by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, has secured 110 seats. Labour Party leader Keir Starmer is set to become the next UK prime minister.
2. European media outlets have reported that Hungary’s Prime Minister Viktor Orban will visit Russia on Friday to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Some European leaders are warning against a meeting.
3. US President Joe Biden has admitted he “had a bad night,” “screwed up” and “made a mistake” in a televised debate against former President Donald Trump last week. But he vowed to stay in the presidential election contest. In an interview during a radio show, the president said the he “didn’t have a good debate” during his 90 minutes on stage. But Bident asked listeners to look at what he has accomplished in three and a half years of his presidency. He stressed he had “led the economy back from the brink of collapse.”

1. Japan’s Supreme Court has ruled for the first time that the country’s defunct Eugenic Protection Law, which forced people with impairments to undergo sterilization surgery, is unconstitutional. People who were forcibly sterilized had filed lawsuits across Japan, arguing that the discriminatory treatment was unconstitutional and seeking state compensation. Presiding justice Tokura Saburo declared the defunct law unconstitutional and ordered compensation in four of the cases.
2. Japan’s top government spokesperson has revealed three more cases of alleged sexual violence involving US military personnel. Chief Cabinet Secretary Hayashi Yoshimasa spoke to reporters on Wednesday after two alleged sexual assault cases in Okinawa Prefecture came to light. 3. Japan issued new banknotes for the first time in 20 years on Wednesday. A ceremony was held in the morning at the head office of the Bank of Japan in Tokyo’s Nihonbashi. BOJ Governor Ueda Kazuo said that the bank plans to put 1.5 trillion yen, or about 9.9 billion dollars, worth of new banknotes into circulation on the day. He said that while cashless transactions are becoming more prevalent, he believes that cash will continue to play a major role as it is a reliable payment method that can be used by anyone, anywhere and at any time. Ueda added he hopes that the new notes will become widely distributed among the public and serve as a lubricant for the Japanese economy.

1. Intense heat gripped much of eastern and western Japan on Thursday, with daytime highs rising above body temperature in a number of places. The highest temperature of the day, 39.3 degrees Celsius, was recorded in Shizuoka City. That was the highest for the city since record-keeping began in 1940. Aichi Prefecture’s Nagoya city and central Tokyo both saw the mercury hit 35 degrees for the first time this summer.
2. Japanese authorities say at least 37 people in 16 prefectures were attacked by wild bears from April through July 3 and two of them were killed. The total number is expected to hit its worst level to date in this fiscal year, which began in April.
3. Japan’s fisheries agency has offered a rare opportunity to taste Japanese eels fully cultivated from eggs. The Japanese eel is designated as endangered species as its population has declined sharply. The protection of resources has become an issue. In an effort to preserve the stock of eels, a research institute of the Japanese government successfully achieved full-cycle eel farming 14 years ago for the first time in the world.

1. The US Supreme Court ruled on Monday that former President Donald Trump is exempt from prosecution for any “official acts” he carried out while in office. Trump has claimed absolute immunity for actions he took while serving in the White House and has been fighting federal charges for his efforts to overturn his 2020 election loss, including the riot at the Capitol. 2. Hungary, which assumes a broadly pro-Russia stance, took over the rotating presidency of the Council of the European Union on Monday. Some member nations have a growing sense of unease and confusion on policy management, as Hungarian Prime Minister Victor Orban has been outspoken against supporting Ukraine.
3. The head of the UN office for Disarmament Affairs has emphasized the significance of a declaration unanimously adopted by a panel addressing the illicit trade of small arms and light weapons. Nakamitsu Isumi, the Under-Secretary-General and High Representative for Disarmament Affairs, spoke to reporters on Monday.

1. The latest poll shows that more than 70 percent of US registered voters responded that President Joe Biden should not seek reelection, following a shaky performance in a televised debate before the upcoming presidential election in November.
2. The Mount Fuji climbing season opened on Monday, with new measures in place to regulate the number of visitors to Japan’s highest mountain.
3. Japan’s new flagship H3 rocket has successfully placed an Earth observation satellite into orbit in its third launch.

1. US President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump fiercely attacked each other in their first televised debate before the presidential election scheduled for November. The debates between the two presumptive nominees—Biden for the Democratic Party and Trump for the Republican Party—was held in Atlanta, Georgia, on Thursday. 2. Investigative sources say prosecutors in Japan’s Okinawa Prefecture indicted a member of the US Marine Corps earlier this month for allegedly attempting to sexually assault a woman and injuring her.
3. A concert has been held in Ukraine with a piano that was found in a town occupied by Russian troops in the early days of the invasion.

1. The vice governor of Japan’s southern prefecture of Okinawa has expressed strong anger over the indictment of a US Air Force member for the alleged kidnap and sexual assault of a girl under 16. Brigadier General Nicholas Evans, commander of the 18th Wing at US Kadena Air Base, promised the US military will fully cooperate with the investigation by local authorities and the legal process.
2. Japan’s Emperor Naruhito has attended a welcome banquet in London’s financial district during his state visit to Britain. Emperor Naruhito said in his speech the citizens of Japan and the UK have made bold efforts to solve challenges, building on the achievements of their predecessors and flexibly embracing new technologies.
3. A group of researchers in Japan says it has found that the use of three anticancer drugs before surgery helps raise the survival rate for esophageal cancer patients. The researchers say the triplet chemotherapy has prompted a review of the treatment for esophageal cancer.

1. A public affairs officer of the US Air Force’s 18th Wing has issued a comment to NHK saying the unit understands and shares the concerns of the community about the alleged sexual assault by one of its Wing members. Brennon Washington was indicted for sexually assaulting an underage girl in the southwestern Japanese prefecture of Okinawa. 2. The flowers of a lotus grown from a seed excavated from a layer of earth dating back about 200 years are now in full bloom at an ancient Buddhist temple in Kyoto Prefecture, western Japan. Byodoin Temple in Uji City, dating back to the 11th Century in the late Heian Period, is listed as a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage site. The temple places pots of lotus flowers around its precinct at this time of the year. One variety, called the Byodoin Temple Lotus, has successfully been grown from a seed obtained during excavation of a pond in the compound 25 years ago.
3. Japanese police have found three people without vital signs near the crater of Mount Fuji. Police found three people collapsed on the Shizuoka Prefecture side of the crater. They were reportedly found without vital signs.

1. Japan’s Emperor Natuhito and Empress Masako are on a state visit to the United Kingdom. On Monday, the Emperor visited a place he had developed a fondness for: the River Thames. He went to the Thames Barrier, the flood control gates that have protected London for more than four decades. He studied the history of the waterway during postgraduate research at the University of Oxford soon after the gates were built.
2. Japanese schools in China are tightening their security following an attack on a bus carrying Japanese schoolchildren in Suzhou, eastern China. Officials of the Japanese Consulate-General in Shanghai say a Japanese mother and her child were injured in the attack. A Chinese bus attendant was stabbed and is in critical condition.
3. At least 20 people were reportedly killed in the attacks by armed groups against multiple facilities in Russia’s southern republic of Dagestan. Local health authorities said police officers were among those killed, and that 26 people were wounded.

1. Government figures show Japan has beat a fiscal 2030 deadline to slash food loss and waste by half. The drop reflects a decline in restaurant visits during the pandemic and changes to consumption dates on package food. After Japan’s food loss and waste reached 9.8 million tons in 2000, the government set a target to cut the figure by half. In estimates for 2022, the latest data available, the volume of discarded food fell to 4.7 million tons to meet the target. 2. A hole more than 10 centimeters wide has been found in a black screen that was set up at a popular photo spot in central Japan to block the view of Mount Fuji. Japan’s highest peak can be seen just above a convenience store in Fujikawaguchiko Town, Yamanashi Prefecture. Overseas tourists began flocking to the area around the store when photos of the view went viral on social media.
3. Wine growers in western Japan’s Tottori Prefecture have found an unusual storage place in a tunnel inside a dam. It offers ideal aging conditions for bottled wine through the year. The inspection tunnel inside Togo dam in Yurihama Town is shielded from sunlight and has a stable temperature of around 10 degrees Celsius. The cool and dark environment helps maintain the quality of red wine. Local growers plan to store bottles under the dam for up to five years.

1. Japanese weather officials say the rainy season appears to have begun in the Kinki, Tokai and Kanto-Koshin regions, including Tokyo. They forecast rainy and cloudy days for these areas in the week ahead.
2.A senior US official says he is not surprised that Russia and North Korea have signed a treaty that pledges mutual military assistance, but says it is a concern for any country that cares about maintaining peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula and in the Indo-Pacific. 3. Japanese researchers say they have discovered an area with mineral concentrations called “manganese nodules” in waters off Japan’s eastern-most island in the Pacific.

1. NHK has learned of new video footage found in Hiroshima City of an interpreter testifying that J. Robert Oppenheimer shed tears as he said “I’m sorry” to atomic bomb survivors 60 years ago. Oppenheimer was a theoretical physicist who directed the US project to develop the atomic bomb during World War Two. He is said to have been pained by the devastation caused by the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. But he reportedly did not visit the cities when he made a trip to Japan in 1960.
2. A record 56 candidates have entered the official 17-day race to choose Tokyo’s next leader in July’s gubernatorial election. The figure is more than double the 22 candidates who ran in the previous vote in 2020.Some of the candidates have already made campaign statements. Incumbent Koike Yuriko says: “My primary goal is to make Tokyo the world’s best city. My slogan in this campaign is ‘protect the capital.’ That means protecting people’s lives, their livelihoods, and the economy. But it’s not only about protecting — it’s about helping those things improve. I will strive to make Tokyo better and better. I want to move such things forward for the people, with the people.”
3. Weather authorities are calling on people in the southern part of Kyushu, southwestern Japan, to be on high alert for landslides and flooding, as torrential rains are pounding the region. The Meteorological Agency says warm moist air is moving toward a seasonal rain front stretching near Kyushu, making atmospheric conditions extremely unstable.

1. The summit between Russia and North Korea is now officially underway. Images from Pyongyang show crowds welcoming Russian President Vladimir Putin for his first visit in 24 years. 2. Japan’s Diet has enacted a bill to revise the political funds control law. The bill was approved at the Upper House plenary session on Wednesday with a majority in favor. The main ruling Liberal Democratic Party, its partner Komeito and others supported the bill. 3. Myanmar’s pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi turned 79 on Wednesday. The Nobel Peace Prize laureate has been kept in detention by Myanmar’s military since troops seized power in a coup in 2021. Her son, Kim Aris currently lives in the United Kingdom. In an interview with NHK, he said he is unsure of his mother’s whereabouts.

1. Russian President Vladimir Putin, ahead of his first visit to North Korea in 24 years, said the two countries will boost their ties to a higher level. His remark appeared in an article printed by North Korea’s ruling party’s newspaper. Putin said in the article that Russia highly appreciates “that the DPRK is firmly supporting the special military operations of Russia being conducted in Ukraine.”
2. Japanese weather officials are warning of bands of heavy rain clouds that will likely form over the Shikoku region, western Japan. The Meteorological Agency says warm and damp air is flowing toward a front accompanied by a low pressure system that stretchers off the southern coast of Kyushu to Kanto, making atmospheric conditions very unstable. 3. Himeji City, in western Japan, has decided to review the admission fee for Himeji Castle, a UNESCO World Cultural heritage site, and is considering setting higher rates for non-local and foreign visitors. Himeji Mayor Kiyomoto Hideyasu told reporters on Monday that he intends to consider setting different rates for Japanese visitors, foreign tourists and local residents.

1. Delegates to an international conference on peace in Ukraine have adopted a joint communique pledging to take concrete measures to address issues, such as the safety of nuclear power plants. The two-day summit to discuss a peace plan put forward by Ukraine ended on Sunday in the Swiss resort of Burgenstock. Representatives from about 100 countries and organizations attended.
2. A Swedish think tank says the global total of nuclear warheads deployed with missiles and aircraft has grown by 60 from last year. China and Russia appear to be promoting their deployment. The Stockholm International Peace Research Institute released the finding on Monday in its annual report.
3. Japanese weather officials say the rainy season appears to have begun in the northern part of western Japan’s Kyushu region. They are also warning of landslides, flooding of low-lying land and swelling rivers in southern Kyushu and Shikoku.

1. Leaders of the Group of Seven nations have begun their second day of summit talks in Italy with a focus on China’s overproduction and artificial intelligence.
2. The president of the International Criminal Court is seeking widespread understanding and support for the activities of the court to establish the rule of law in the international community.
3. The operator of a short railway that runs in a city near Tokyo will launch a facial recognition ticketing system on Saturday.

1. Leaders of the Group of Seven nations are aiming to reach an agreement on a plan to utilize frozen Russian assets to support Ukraine. One of the main focuses is whether the G7 nations will agree to utilize Russia’s central bank assets, which have been frozen by Western sanctions, to assist Ukraine.
2. The World Bank says Myanmar’s economy faces some extremely difficult challenges, as inflation surges and trade falls. Fighting has been raging in the country since the military seized power in a coup nearly three and a half years ago.
3. People across Japan will soon be facing another price hike, with mail feels in the country set to rise for the first time in 30 years. Starting from October, postage for standard-size items will go up to 110 yen, or around 70 cents. The cost of postcards will rise more than 30 percent in yen terms to just over 50 cents. Express mail will get about a 15 percent increase.

1. Shipments of Japanese plums known as “sumomo” started on Wednesday in Yamanashi Prefecture, central Japan. Yamanashi is the country’s top producer of sumomo plums, Minami-Alps City boasts an annual shipment of about 1,500 tons.
2. The oldest member of K-pop boy band BTS, Jin, has been discharged from South Korea’s military, completing his 18 months of mandatory service. The 31-year-old was seen leaving an army facility close to the military demarcation line between the two Koreans on Wednesday morning.
3. A survey shows that Japan’s standing in the global gender equality rankings still trails behind most of the world, despite some improvement from last year. The result highlights the slow pace of progress for women politically and economically. Japan ranks 118th among 146 nations in the annual Global Gender Gap Report released by the World Economic Forum on Wednesday. Its ranking went up by seven places, from 125th last year.

1. South Korea’s military says its troops fired waring shots when North Korean soldiers briefly crossed the military demarcation line between the two countries on Sunday. More than 10 North Korean soldiers apparently violated the land border by mistake. The Joint Chiefs of Staff said on Tuesday that the incident occurred shortly past noon on Sunday. It added that the North Korean soldiers immediately returned to their territory, after the South Korean military issued warning broadcasts and fired warning shots. 2. A survey shows bankruptcies in Japan rose to the most in 12 years in May. The failures come as pandemic-related government support for struggling businesses nears its end. Research firm Teikoku Databank says 1,016 companies started liquidation last month. That’s a 46 percent year-on-year increase.
3. NHK’s latest poll indicates that more than 80 percent of the respondents feel a sense of crisis about the impact that Japan’s falling birthrate could have on society. Government statistics released last week showed that the country’s total fertility rate fell to 1.20 in 2023. That is the lowest since record-keeping began in 1947. The figure represents the number of children a woman is expected to have during her lifetime.

1. The Iranian government has unveiled the list of six people allowed to stand in the presidential election on June 28. Most of the major reformist and moderate applicants were disqualified. The Interior Ministry on Sunday announced the candidate lineup for the election, which was called after President Ebrahim Raisi died in a helicopter crash last month. Eighty people filed for candidacy. The Guardian Council, or a panel of Islamic jurists and others, approved only six of them as candidates after examining their qualifications, such as loyalty to the country’s Islamic establishment.
2. Companies across Japan officially started holding job interviews for university seniors this month. The declining workforce means that potential recruits have lots of options. Among the many firms hiring, those that show concern about social and environmental issues are standing out from the competition. Uchida Keigo has decided to join a Tokyo-based energy firm that promotes carbon neutrality. He turned down a provisional job offer from a major appliance manufacturer.
3. Japan has logged its biggest-ever current-account surplus for the month of April. The record was set as rising overseas interest rates and the weak yen pushed up the interest income companies earn on their bond holdings. The Finance Ministry said on Monday that the surplus was 2.05 trillion yen, or about 13 billion dollars. That is the most for any April since 1985, when comparable data became available. April also marked the 15th straight month of surplus.

1. The UN General Assembly has elected former Cameroon prime minister Philemon Yang as its next president. His one-year term will begin in September. In a speech on Thursday, Yang said that geopolitical tensions continue to fuel distrust among states and intensify an arms race. He added that conflicts are increasing in various regions of the world with an unbearable toll on civilians, and the “cases of Gaza and Ukraine are very painfully illustrative in this regard.” 2. The Japanese government is working to sign a new document with Ukraine that includes economic measures to support the reconstruction of the country. Government sources say arrangements are underway for Prime Minister Kishida Fumio and President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to hold talks and sign the document on the sidelines of this year’s Group of Seven summit. The G7 summit will be held in Italy from June 13.
3. A group of countries formed to counter China’s rising influence in Asia agreed Thursday to promote investments in decarbonization and to aim for economic fairness. Ministers from the 14-country Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity signed statements setting out goals for clean and fair economies in the region. The clean economy pact targets member country investments of at least 120 billion dollars in renewable energy and power storage. The “fair economy” accord sets a goal of preventing corruption.

1. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has expressed a strong sense of crisis following reports by a UN weather agency on Wednesday that the rate of global warming is increasing. In a speech made the same day, Guterres appealed to the international community to do more to contain global warming, calling for “an exit ramp off the highway to climate hell.” 2. The Lower House of Japan’s Diet is expected to pass a bill to revise the political funds control law on Thursday. The main ruling Liberal Democratic Party amended the bill it submitted to include demands from its coalition partner Komeito and the Japan Innovation Party. The bill mandates that lawmakers create a document to confirm the contents of their political funds reports. This is to introduce a system of “guilt by association.” 3. An expert says the Russian economy has become increasingly dependent on China since Western countries imposed sanctions on Moscow. Alexandra Prokopenko of the Carnegie Russia Eurasia Center says the sanctions have made China an irreplaceable partner for Russia. She adds that Russia may become subordinate to China, as the Chinese economy is much larger than Russia’s.

1. India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi has declared victory in the country’s general election after his alliance secured a majority in the lower house. But his own party fell far short of winning a single-party majority.
2. Japan’s government statistics reveal that the total fertility rate last year dropped to the lowest since record-keeping began in 1947. The number of children a woman is expected to have during her lifetime fell to 1.20.
3. Government officials are conducting an on-site inspection at the head office of Yamaha Motor in central Japan.

1. Tuesday marks the 35th anniversary of the crackdown on pro-democracy protests in Beijing’s Tiananmen Square. On June 4, 1989, Chinese troops opened fire on thousands of student-led protestors who had gathered in and around the square calling for democracy. The government says 319 people were killed, but some say the figure was actually much higher. 2. Japanese Finance Minister Suzuki Shunichi says the country’s recent intervention in the currency market had some effect in stabilizing the yen. Suzuki was speaking on Tuesday after his ministry admitted on Friday that the government and the Bank of Japan had funneled nearly 9.8 trillion yen, or about 62 billion dollars, into the market over the past month. 3. US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin has suggested that the rank of the commander of the US forces deployed in Japan may be upgraded. This comes at a time when Japan is setting up a joint operations command to coordinate its Self-Defense Forces.

1. Japan is changing the design of its paper currency for the first time in 20 years. Three new banknotes will go into circulation on July 3, and industries are busy installing systems to accept the bills. A survey by the finance ministry found that more than 90 percent of bank ATMs will be alle to handle the notes when they appear.
2. Multiple media reports say Claudia Sheibaum is on course to become Mexico’s first female president. A preliminary vote count shows that she secured more than 50 percent of the ballots in Sunday’s election. Sheibaum, a former Mexico City mayor from the ruling leftist party Morena, had about 58 percent of the vote in the preliminary results released by Mexico’s National Electoral Institute.
3. Japan’s Imperial Household Agency says Empress Emerita Michiko has been infected wit the coronavirus. The agency says the Empress Emerita has had coughs since early Sunday morning and discomfort in her throat from Monday morning.

1. Donald Trump has become the first-ever former US president to be convicted of a crime. A New York jury found him guilty on all 34 counts related to hush money paid to an adult film star ahead of the 2016 presidential election. Prosecutors say Trump led a conspiracy to influence the outcome of the race. They say he covered up a 130,000-dollar payment to buy actor Stormy Daniels’s silence about a sexual encounter. After weeks of hearings and two days of deliberations, a 12-person jury agreed with their arguments. 2.The latest inflation figures for Tokyo show consumer prices continued to rise in the Japanese capital in May. The rate of increases accelerated from April, but remained below the Bank of Japan’s 2 percent target for the second straight month.
3. The Japanese government has adopted an action plan aimed at strengthening its child-related policies. It includes measures to tackle the country’s declining birthrate and child property. The plan promotes about 400 measures that aim to provide comprehensive support from childhood until adulthood.

１．Japan’s Princess Kako has visited the World Heritage site of the Old Town of Corfu as part of her official trip to Greece. Princess Kako, the second daughter of Crown Prince and Princess Akishino, arrived on the island of Corfu on Wednesday afternoon. The landscape of the Old Town shows the influence of Western European styles. Corfu was under Venetian rule for about 400 years until the 18th century. The island was also under French and British control. Princess Kako told reporters that the places she has visited are all very attractive and she is grateful for the warm welcome.
2. NHK has learned that nearly 20 percent of units in high-rise condominium buildings on the Tokyo Summer Olympics athletes village site have been offered for rent or resale. The site, called Harumi Flag, sits surrounded by Tokyo Bay in the capital’s Chuo Ward. The Tokyo Metropolitan Government has developed it into condominium blocks mainly targeting families. Residents have moved in since January. NHK looked into register records and discovered that companies purchased some units for investment and other purposes.　 3. A taxi driver has been shot in the stomach by a passenger, apparently with a handgun, in Saitama Prefecture, near Tokyo. He is being treated at a hospital. The police said the victim, who is believed to be in his 70s, was bleeding from the stomach. He was conscious and able to speak while being taken to a hospital. The police said the passenger demanded money from the driver and shot him in the stomach. They found money scattered in his car.

1. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has demanded Israel immediately cease attacks on Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip.
2. Three major Japanese automakers Toyota Motor, Mazda Motor and Subaru have held a presentation to unveil the next-generation eco-friendly engines they are developing.
3. Japanese chemical major Asahi Kasei has announced it will acquire Swedish drugmaker Calliditas Therapeutics as part of efforts to bolster its pharmaceutical business. The Swedish firm develops drugs such as those to treat kidney diseases and has an advantage in the US market.

1. An aerospace engineering expert says North Korea appears to have lost control of a rocket during ascent in Monday’s failed launch of what it claims was a military reconnaissance satellite.
2. The top commander of the Ukrainian military says France is planning to send instructors to his country for military personnel training.
3. Authorities in Ishikawa Prefecture’s Wajima City suspect a woman in her 70s may have died alone in a temporary house built for evacuees from areas hit by the massive New Year’s Day earthquake.

1. South Korea’s president says he and the leaders of Japan and China have adopted a joint declaration that includes their pledge to work closely together to achieve regional peace and prosperity. Yoon Suk-yeol told reporters that the foundation of cooperation among the three countries is mutual understanding and trust, and their leaders must meet frequently to communicate with each other.
2. Tel Aviv has come under a Hamas rocket attack as Israel continues its offensive in Rafah, southern Gaza. The Israeli media say Tel Aviv was targeted for the first time since January. Hamas bombarded Tel Aviv with a rocket barrage. This comes as the Israeli military continues its operation in Rafah. The International Court of Justice had ordered Israel to immediately halt the attack in the area as a provisional measure.
3. In sumo, 23-year-old Onosato has won his first top-division title in his seventh tourney since his debut as a professional wrestler. Onosato was recently promoted to the fourth-highest rank of Komusubi. Going into the final day of the 15-day Summer Grand Sumo Tournament on Sunday, he was leading with 11 wins and three losses. Sekiwake Abi and three other wrestlers were trailing him with four losses.

1. Visitors to next year’s world expo in Osaka will be able to pay for their items in shops and restaurants through facial recognition. Event organizers say users will first need to download an app to register photos of their faces with payment methods, like credit cards. The customers will look at cameras at shop counters when they are ready to leave. Payments are approved after the device identifies their faces.
2. Consumer prices in Japan rose in April but at a slower pace for a second-straight month. A major factor was food prices rising moderately following steep gains.
3. Representatives of four Japanese companies have visited the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv to discuss reconstruction projects in the country. The group included officials from companies that make landmine detectors and landmine removers. Others were from firms that deal with the reconstruction of infrastructure.

1. Two major Japanese food makers have teamed up to solve the problem of recycling oily plastic bottles, and aim to lay the groundwork for a system of reusing the items. Edible oils are among the main products of Kewpie and Nisshin OilliO Group, which use a combined total of about 5,000 tons of plastic bottles a year. The two firms plan to collect them with help from recycling companies. They will first wash off the oil, and convert them into potentially reusable materials by crushing or heating them. The food makers will then try ways of making new items from the materials.
2. The Lower House of Japan’s Diet has passed a bill aimed at protecting children from sexual abuse. The bill would allow background checks of sex crime records for job seekers in child-rearing sectors.
3. The leaders of South Korea, China, and Japan will hold a trilateral summit in Seoul on Monday. It will be the first one in four and a half years.

1. The yield on Japan’s 10-year government bond has hit 1 percent. That’s an 11-year high. The benchmark-bond yield on Wednesday briefly rose to a level not seen since May 2013. Yields rise when government bond prices fall.
2. A funeral ceremony for Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi and seven others who recently perished in a helicopter crash will begin Wednesday morning in Iran’s capital Tehran. Foreign dignitaries will be among the attendees.
3. One passenger has died and at least 30 others have been injured after a Singapore Airlines flight from London to Singapore encountered severe turbulence. Airline officials say the Boeing 777 aircraft was hit by the turbulence about 11,000 meters above Myanmar roughly 10 hours after the takeoff.

1. Ukraine says it has decided to take part in the upcoming summer Olympic Games in Paris. In a statement on Monday, the country’s Youth and Sports Ministry and Olympic Committee announced the decision to participate in the Games, which open on July 26. The statement said participating in the Games is an opportunity for Ukraine to demonstrate its strong will and spirits. 2. Japan’s lay judge system marks its 15th anniversary. It is facing a growing problem with candidates failing to show up for the screening process. Lay judge candidates are randomly chosen every year from the general public. They must be at least 20 years old and have the right to vote. Except for those who are allowed to excuse themselves for various reasons, candidates are screened through an appointment procedure and a lottery. 3. A Bank of Japan survey shows that many businesses felt both benefits and drawbacks from the central bank’s unprecedented monetary easing in recent decades. The central bank is now analyzing the effects of its monetary policy that included massive purchases of assets like government bonds and exceptionally low interest rates. The BOJ has started to move away from the policy after a period of about 25 years.

1. Iranian state-run media say President Ebrahim Raisi has been confirmed dead in a helicopter crash. The aircraft reportedly went down on Sunday in Iran’s northern province of East Azerbaijan after encountering thick frog. Iranian state-run media say all people on board the helicopter were killed, including Iran’s Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian. Raisi and Abdollahian were traveling to inspect a dam project near the border with the country of Azerbaijan.
2. President of Taiwan Lai Ching-te has stressed in his inauguration speech that he will maintain the status quo in Taiwan’s relations with China and pursue peace and prosperity together. Lai took the oath of office in a ceremony at the presidential office in Taipei on Monday morning. He said he will abide by the Constitution, fulfill his duties faithfully, promote people’s welfare and protect Taiwan. Lai, speaking about Taiwan’s relations with China, said his government will “neither yield nor provoke, and maintain the status quo.” 3. Japan’s two opposition parties have jointly submitted draft revisions to impose tougher penalties on lawmakers who violate the political funds control law. The Constitutional Democratic Party and the Democratic Party for the People submitted the proposals to the Lower House of the Diet on Monday. A political funds scandal involving the main governing Liberal Democratic Party has become a major issue.

1. The sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has dismissed allegations that Pyongyang is exploring the possibility of exporting weapons to Russia for use in its war against Ukraine.　　 2. Slovakia’s Interior Minister has said the shooting of Prime Minister Robert Fico on Wednesday was a politically motivated assassination attempt. Defense Minister Robert Kalinak said the medical team managed to stabilize Fico, but that he is still not out of danger. 3. Chinese exports to Russia of nitrocellulose – a dual-use material that can be used to produce ammunition – have surged since Russia began its invasion of Ukraine. NHK analyzed data published by China’s customs authorities dating back to 2015. It found there were hardly any nitrocellulose exports to Russia between 2015 and 2021. But these exports jumped from May 2022, three months after Russia invaded Ukraine.

1. Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping have confirmed the importance of bilateral cooperation at their summit in Beijing. Chinese media reported that Xi congratulated Putin on his fifth term when they met on Thursday afternoon. Xi said Russia will surely make new and greater progress in national development under Putin’s leadership. 2. Chinese exports to Russia of nitrocellulose – a dual-use material that can be used to produce ammunition –have surged since Russia began its invasion of Ukraine. Nitrocellulose is a highly flammable compound that is used in the production of paint, varnish and ink, as well as ammunition.
3. Tokyo police have sent papers to prosecutors on a man who allegedly used camera-equipped smart glasses to cheat on an entrance exam at Waseda University. The 18-year-old was a high school senior when the alleged cheating took place in February of this year.

1. Russian President Vladimir Putin has told a Chinese media outlet that he is “open to a dialogue on Ukraine.” He has also indicated that Moscow welcomes Beijing’s involvement in the effort to resolve the conflict.
2. A group of private economists believe that Japan’s economy shrank in the January-to-March quarter. The country’s GDP figures will be released by the government on Thursday. Observers will be paying attention to consumer spending, which accounts for more than half of Japan’s GDP. 3. Wednesday marks 50 years since Seven-Eleven Japan opened its first convenience store outlet. Seven-Eleven Japan is the country’s first full-fledged convenience store chain employing a franchise system to allow store owners to operate outlets. The chain launched its first store in Tokyo’s Toyosu area in 1974. Company President Nagamatsu Fumihiko said the chain aims to further advance the concept of convenience.

1. Police in Japan say three people have died in a pileup involving seven vehicles that left multiple cars ablaze on the Metropolitan Expressway just outside Tokyo. The road operator alerted police on Tuesday morning about the burning vehicles on the outbound lanes of Route 5 Ikebukuro Line in Toda city, Saitama Prefecture. Three people who were trapped in the fire have been confirmed dead. A person in a truck was sent to hospital with minor injuries. 2. The pace of gains in Japan’s producer prices was unchanged in April from the previous month, as higher crude-oil prices maintained inflationary pressure. The Bank of Japan said on Tuesday the preliminary Producer Price Index rose 0.9 percent last month from the same period a year earlier.
3. Donald Trump’s former lawyer has testified that he made hush money payments to an adult film actress at the direction of the former US President. Michael Cohen spoke as the prosecution’s star witness at the hearing in New York state criminal court on Monday. The trial has been held since last month after prosecutors charged Trump with falsifying business records. This was in relation to hush money paid to an adult film star during his 2016 presidential election campaign.

1. Many people in Japan harbor an ambition to visit Alaska, Canada, or Scandinavian countries to see, at least once in their lifetime, the spectacular Northern Lights. But realizing this dream is becoming increasingly difficult as the cost of overseas travel is soaring due to a weakening Japanese yen, which is at the lowest level in three decades against the US dollar. Fortunately, Northern Lights enthusiasts this weekend were able to boast:” Don’t worry. You can see the aurora here in Japan!”
2. More Japanese automakers have posted record profits for the fiscal year ending in March, with the combination of a weak yen and brisk sales proving to be a windfall. Honda Motor reported group sales of 20.4 trillion yen, or about 131 billion dollars, which is up over 20 percent in yen terms from a year ago.
3. Russian President Vladimir Putin has proposed Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu be appointed as the secretary of the Russian Security Council. Shoigu has headed the defense ministry since 2012. He will be replaced by acting First Deputy Prime Minister Andrei Belousov, who has been in charge of economic policies.

1. Prime Minister Kishida Fumio says he aims to hold a summit meeting with North Korea with support from the United States and the international community. Kishida made the comment on Friday in a meeting in Tokyo with a group of the relatives of Japanese nationals abducted by North Korea.
2. The mayor of a town in western Japan says he has decided to accept a first-stage survey to choose a final disposal site for high-level radioactive waste. Genkai Mayor Wakiyama Shintaro made the announcement on Friday.
3. A quake-hit aquarium in central Japan says it’s on the road to recovery, thanks to supporters who’ve been donating to a crowdfunding campaign. Their generosity has raised 31 million yen, or about 200 thousand dollars. That’s more than six times the initial target.

1. Russians have commemorated the former Soviet Union’s victory over Nazi Germany with a ceremony in the capital Moscow Victory Day celebrations were held across Russia amid the country’s invasion of Ukraine. Russia marked the 79th anniversary of the World War Two victory on Thursday in ceremonies and military parades held in more than 20 cities. 2. A group of non-regular workers looking for pay hikes in Japan says nearly half the firms involved have not agreed to their demands at spring wage negotiations. The group said at a news conference on Thursday that about 30,000 workers demanded 10-percent or more wage increase from 107 employers. Fifty-five percent of the companies have responded so far. But the group said the average increase is only 3 to 4 percent, and the remaining 48 firms have yet to agree to boost salaries.
3. Japanese figure skater and Olympic medalist Uno Shoma has announced his retirement from competition. The 26-year-old made the announcement on Instagram on Thursday. He won a silver medal in the men’s singles in the 2018 Pyeongchang Winter Olympics and took bronze in the 2022 Beijing Games. He also won two world championships in a row in 2022 and 2023. In the message, Uno expressed his gratitude for people who have supported him as a competitor until today.

1. Toyota Motor has posted a record group operating profit topping 5 trillion yen, or 34.5 billion dollars, for fiscal 2023, the highest-ever figure for a listed Japanese company. 2. The second round of a Japanese government-backed subsidy program to support tourism in quake-hit areas in central Japan has begun. This round, which began on Tuesday, only covers Ishikawa Prefecture. The government introduced the program earlier this year to help areas affected by the Noto Peninsula earthquake that struck on New Year’s Day. 3. Two rival companies in Japan have joined hands to develop a mosquito spray to fight the growing spread of dengue fever in Southeast Asia and elsewhere. Kao Corporation teamed up with Earth Corporation to combine expertise and shorten the development period for the product. The companies say the spray uses a fine mist to saturate the wings and bodies of mosquitoes to prevent them from flying.

1. Russian President Vladimir Putin is set to start a new six-year term as president on Tuesday. Putin, who triumphed in a presidential election held last March, is being sworn in at an inauguration ceremony at the Kremlin in Moscow. Since being elected president for the first time in 2000, Putin has held power either as president or prime minister for more than 20 years. His fifth term will last until 2030.
2. United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has strongly urged Israel and Hamas not to miss an opportunity to agree on a truce and hostage-released deal. Speaking to reporters on Monday, Guterres said that he had earlier in the day made a “very strong appeal to the government of Israel and the leadership of Hamas in order to go an extra mile to materialize an agreement that is absolutely vital.”
3. A wine tasting site in central Japan’s Yamanashi Prefecture saw tourism numbers surge past pre-pandemic levels during the spring holiday season. Katsunuma Budou no Oka, or Grape Hill, is a tourist site in Koshu City, a noted wine area. It has about 200 wines available for tasting.

1. Chinese President Xi Jinping has begun three-way talks with French President Emmanuel Macron and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. Xi is on his first tour of Europe in five years.
2. Train stations and airports across Japan are crowded with holidaymakers returning home on Monday, the last day of the spring holiday period. Central Japan Railway says congestion on shinkansen bullet trains bound for Tokyo is expected to hit the highest level for the holiday period.
3. A recently discovered anime, created about a century ago in Japan, is shining new light on the industry. One expert says only a few films from that era survive today, so the newly found work will greatly help in understanding anime production of the time. The film depicts a child using a knife and a fork to eat a meal. It also shows another child eating something out of a bag.

1. Japan’s Prime Minister Kishida Fumio has arrived in Brazil. He will hold summit talks with Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva. Kishida arrived in the capital Brasilia on Thursday night, on the second leg of his tour to France and South African countries. It is the first time in eight years that a Japanese prime minister has visited Brazil. 2. Nippon Steel says it will postpone its plan to acquire United Sates Steel until the end of this year. The Japanese firm initially planned the takeover of the American steel producer by September. The Japanese steelmaker said it revised the estimated closing date after carefully deliberating on the timeframe for obtaining approval from US authorities. 3. US President Joe Biden has come under criticism for not addressing university protests against the situation in the Middle East. He spoke out on Thursday about the clashes and said “order must prevail.” Biden made the comments after hundreds of officers muscled their way through demonstrators at the University of California, Los Angeles, in the early hours of Thursday morning. They used stun grenades and dismantled an encampment that had been there for a week.

1. Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio has stressed the importance of maintaining a free and fair rules-based economic order amid a diversifying international community. Kishida delivered a speech on Thursday at a meeting in Paris of the Ministerial Council of the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development.
2. Japanese Foreign Minister Kamikawa Yoko has visited three African nations to promote economic cooperation and to confirm the importance of building an international order based on the rule of law. Kamikawa visited Madagascar, Cote d’lvoire, and Nigeria on a five-day tour of emerging economies in Africa, which ended on Wednesday. 3. Fujiko Hemming, a classical pianist who released her best-selling debut album in her late 60s, has died at the age of 92. She won many fans with her struggle to overcome adversity and performances that reflected her warm personality. The Fujiko Hemming Foundation announced on Thursday that she died on April 21 after she was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in March.

1. Former US President Donald Trump has been fined for repeatedly violating a gag order in relation to his hush money criminal trial. He also received a warning that he could be jailed if he does it again. Trump has been charged by New York prosecutors with falsifying business records. This was in relation to hush money paid to an adult film star during his 2016 presidential election campaign.
2. Relatives of Japanese nationals abducted by North Korea have asked senior US government officials for support to bring all the remaining abductees back. This should be done as early as possible, since not much time is left for their aged parents, the relatives added. The group included Yokota Takuya, whose sister Megumi was abducted in 1977 at the age of 13, and Iizuka Koichiro, whose mother Taguchi Yaeko was abducted when he was one year old. 3. Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has expressed his willingness to strengthen ties with Japan in the global transition to renewable energy. Lula spoke to NHK and other Japanese media outlets in the capital Brasilia on Tuesday, ahead of a summit with Japan’s Prime Minister Kishida Fumio later this week.

1. Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio says he has no plans for a snap election after the opposition Constitutional Democratic Party took all seas in three by-elections on the weekend. The main ruling Liberal Democratic Party did not field a candidate in two of those constituencies, but lost the other in Shimane Prefecture. Kishida said on Tuesday: “The LDP’s political fundraising issue proved to be a major factor during the Shimane election campaign. I am very sorry for the defeat – both to the candidate and to all of the local people who gave him their support.”
2. US President Joe Biden has urged the leaders of Egypt and Qatar to help secure the release of the hostages being held by Hamas. The White House said the president and the leaders discussed the deal now on the table to secure the release of the hostages together with an immediate ceasefire in Gaza.
3. Hundreds of demonstrators at about 20 universities across the United States have reportedly been arrested as protests against Israeli attacks on :Gaza expand.

1. The yen fell to a fresh 34-year low against the dollar, but rapidly rebounded on Monday. The volatile moves have led to speculation that Japanese authorities intervened in the currency market.
2. Two relatives of Japanese nationals abducted by North Korea have left for the United States to seek support from US officials for an early resolution of the issue. The relatives are Yokota Takuya, who leads the group of abductees’ families, and Iizuka Koichiro. 3. Researchers in Japan say they have confirmed blood flow in bioengineered lungs transplanted into mice. They say the lungs were made using human cells.

1. The Japanese government has conducted its first survey on child abuse linked to the religious beliefs of the child’s guardians. It found that there were 47 cases of such abuse in the country during an 18-month period through last September. The Children and Families Agency conducted the survey at child consultation centers, schools and other places. It released the results on Friday.
2. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi are holding a meeting in Beijing. The talks got underway on Friday morning. At the start of the meeting, Wang said that the China-US relationship is beginning to stabilize overall. But he noted that negative factors in the bilateral relationship are still increasing and building. He added that China’s core interests are always facing challenges. 3. The Bank of Japan says it will leave its monetary policy unchanged. On the Tokyo foreign-exchange market, the BOJ decision prompted investors to sell the yen. The Japanese currency dropped to the 156 yen-level a fresh 34-year low. Market watchers believe the wide interest-rate gap between the United States and Japan will remain for the time being. That’s driving the move to the higher-yielding dollar.

1.　Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi and her Vietnamese counterpart Bui Thanh Son have agreed to work for regional stability based on international law. Vietnam’s state-run media says the two exchanged views on trade and security at a meeting on Wednesday in Hanoi. 2. The leaders of Iran and Pakistan have agreed to further expand trade and economic cooperation, vowing to increase annual trade to 10 billion dollars. Pakistan’s foreign ministry issued a joint statement on Wednesday. It said the neighboring nations vowed to take annual bilateral trade to 10 billion dollars in five years. They also agreed to quickly finalize a free trade agreement.
3. The Philippines and the United States have agreed to work toward sharing military information, and to hold a dialogue between their defense chiefs this year. This comes as tensions between Manila and Beijing heat up over territorial disputes in the South China Sea.

1. The Israeli military continued to carry out intense air strikes against Hamas in northern Gaza on Tuesday. On that day, Israel told residents in parts of the northern town of Beit Lahiya to move to designated zones.
2. The US Senate passed an emergency budget bill on Tuesday that includes additional aid for Ukraine. It had already passed the House of Representatives, and is set to be enacted after President Joe Biden signs it. Ahead of the vote in Washington, US Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said, “Let us not keep our friends around the world waiting for a moment longer.” 3. Former US President Donald Trump welcomed Aso Taro, the vice-president of Japan’s main ruling Liberal Democratic Party, at Trump Tower in New York on Tuesday. At the building’s entrance, Trump introduced Aso to reporters. He said, “We’ll be talking about Japan and the United States right now and lots of other things.”

1. A team of experts from the International Atomic Energy Agency is visiting Japan to inspect the discharge of treated and diluted water from the crippled Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant into the ocean. The IAEA task force is conducting a safety review for the second time since the discharge operation began in August last year.
2. Japan’s finance minister has issued another warning against excessive currency market moves. Suzuki Shunichi suggested recent developments have created the conditions to resolve the sharp drop in the yen. Suzuki made the remarks at an Upper House committee meeting. He was asked about a possible market intervention to prop up the Japanese currency. 3. Japan Post Bank has been affected by a delay in deposits from other financial institutions due to a system glitch since Tuesday morning. The bank says that it can still transfer money to other institutions as usual.

1. Japan’s Defense Ministry announced on Monday afternoon that North Korea has launched at least one apparent ballistic missile. Japanese government sources say the projectile likely fell outside the country’s Exclusive Economic Zone in the Sea of Japan.
2. Officials at the Bank of Japan this week will hold their first policy meeting since scrapping the negative interest-rate policy last month. They said at the previous gathering that they could “foresee the virtuous cycle” between wages and prices.
3.Investigative sources say security camera footage shows a man whose burnt body was found last Tuesday in Japan’s Tochigi Prefecture had been with several people in central Tokyo the previous night. Two burnt bodies were discovered in the town of Nasu, north of Tokyo. One was identified as that of 55-year-old Takarajima Ryutaro. The other is believed to be his wife.

1. What is being called the world’s largest general election kicks off in India on Friday, with roughly 970 million eligible voters. It pits Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ruling party against an opposition alliance. The voting to choose members of the lower house is staggered with seven different polling dates set for constituencies across the country. The seventh and final phase of voting will take place on June 1.
2. The United Nations Security Council has rejected a draft resolution recommending full Palestinian membership of the global body due to a veto by the United States. The 15 council members took a vote on Thursday. Twelve countries, including Japan and France, voted in favor of the resolution, while Britain and Switzerland abstained. Algeria submitted the draft representing Arab nations’ backing for the Palestinians amid the ongoing conflict in the Gaza Strip.
3. Japanese Foreign Minister Kamikawa Yoko has pledged that Japan will continue its support for Ukraine while imposing strict sanctions on Russia. The Group of Seven foreign ministers held a session on Ukraine on Thursday on the southern Italian island of Capri. Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba and NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg also took part in the meeting.

1. A magnitude 6.6 earthquake rocked western Japan late Wednesday night. No tsunami was triggered. The tremor struck at around 11:14 p.m. It was strongest in the Shikoku region’s Ehime and Kochi prefectures. Officials say it clocked a lower 6 on Japan’s zero to seven seismic scale, making it the area’s strongest quake since the current scale system was introduced in 1996.
2. Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio says he is determined to maintain and strengthen a free and open international order, based on the achievements of his recent visit to the United States.
3. Australia has announced a new defense strategy, including a substantially bigger budget. The new plan is aimed at protecting the country in the medium and long term. It accuses China of “coercive tactics,” and calls for stronger deterrence.

1. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz says he has asked Chinese President Xi Jinping to pressure Russia to end its invasion of Ukraine. He also said Germany values economic ties with its largest trading partner, China.
2. The multibillion dollar plan by Japan’s Nippon Steel to acquire US Steel may have run into another obstacle. US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said she understands the views of President Joe Biden in opposing the takeover.
3. People in Wajima City have hoisted carp streamers to pray for the recovery of their community, which was heavily damaged in the January 1 earthquake that hit Ishikawa Prefecture’s Noto Peninsula in central Japan. Carp streamers are traditionally flown to celebrate the Boy’s Festival on May 5, which is now a national holiday for Children’s Day.

1. Official campaigning for three Lower House by-elections on April 28 began in Japan on Tuesday. In the No.1 district of Shimane Prefecture, the by-election is being held following the death of former Lower House speaker Hosoda Hiroyuki in November.
2. South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol has expressed his intention to promote dialogue with the opposition camp following his party’s crushing defeat in a parliamentary election held last Wednesday. The ruling People Power Party suffered a major blow when the opposition parties retained their majority.
3. Japan’s annual diplomatic calls for the promotion of strategic and mutually beneficial ties with China for the first time in five years. The report says Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the worsening situation in the Middle East have complicated the structure of global divisions.

1. Media reports say Israel is considering a counterstrike against Iran, which carried out a massive drone and missile attack on Israel. Tension over the Gaza Strip is also growing as Israel may reportedly go ahead with a ground offensive in the southern city of Rafah. 2. Russian forces are spreading surface land mines by the thousands in Ukraine’s east. The plastic weapon’s petal shape allows them to be scattered from the air quickly across wide areas. Ukraine’s military is stepping up vigilance against the palm-sized mines. The use of petal mines is worsening tension ahead of Russia’s May 9 World War II Victory Day celebrations. Russian President Vladimir Putin is known to consider the holiday important for military planning.
3. Tokyo investigative sources say a man suspected of stealing an expensive gold tea bowl has admitted taking it because the display case was not locked. Horie Masaru was arrested for allegedly stealing the bowl worth about 10 million yen, or about 65,000 dollars, from the Takashimaya department store in Tokyo’s Nihonbashi district last Thursday.

1. The 2025 World Exposition in Osaka City, western Japan, is scheduled to open one year from Saturday. Construction of the Grand Room, also known as the Ring, is underway. More than 50 of the participating countries are considering building their own pavilions, but over ten of them have still not found contractors.
2. Japanese clothing giant Fast Retailing reported record sales and profit for the six months through February, mainly thanks to brisk sales overseas. The operator of Uniqlo outlets on Thursday said its consolidated revenue for the period rose 9 percent from a year earlier to 1.59 trillion yen. That’s more than 10 billion dollars. Net profit rose 27.7 percent to 195,9 billion yen, or nearly 1.3 billion dollars.
3.Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio joined US President Joe Biden and Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr for their first-ever trilateral summit on Thursday. Biden welcomed his counterparts to the White House and said he wants to take their Indo-Pacific strategy to “new heights.” They covered everything from energy security to infrastructure projects and maritime security.

1. Japan‘s Prime Minister Kishida Fumio has vowed to expand ties with the United States in a speech at a dinner after his summit with US President Joe Biden.
2. A senior US government official says the top leaders of Japan, the United States and the Philippines are expected to confirm their unity in dealing with China’s aggressive moves in the South China Sea.
3. A new Japanese talent agency that has succeeded the business of the disgraced Johnny & Associates has begun full operations with a concert featuring its performers.

1. Japan’s Prime Minister Kishida Fumio and his wife, Yuko, now visiting the United States, have attended an informal dinner hosted by US President Joe Biden and US First Lady Jill Biden. Kishida gave Biden gifts that include a pair of coffee cups and ballpoint pens, which are traditional Wajima lacquerware from Ishikawa Prefecture. The area was hit by a deadly earthquake on January 1.
2. A long-established tea firm in Kyoto Prefecture, western Japan, is offering a metaverse service that enables people to attend Japanese tea ceremonies virtually. Fukujuen, which is headquartered in Kyoto’s Kizugawa City, has launched “metaCHA-Japanese Tea Experience.” 3. Producer prices in Japan rose slightly for the fifth straight month in March. A major factor was that the impact of government energy subsidies had run its course. The Bank of Japan says the preliminary Producer Price Index for the month was up 0.8 percent from last year.

1. A senior Japanese national security adviser has emphasized that an “epic change” is underway in the country’s security strategy.　The Secretary General of Japan’s National Security Secretariat, Akiba Takeo, submitted an article to the Washington Post to coincide with Prime Minister Kishida Fumio’s visit to Washington this week.　It says: “Japan has refrained from promoting arms exports, regardless of the destination, since the 1970s. However, this policy has proved increasingly unsuitable as security challenges have intensified. Japan has opened a way to enable the transfer of a wider variety of defense equipment, including fighter jets co-developed with other countries.”　
2. US Ambassador to the United Nations Linda Thomas-Greenfield will visit Japan and South Korea next week. She will first visit South Korea and then Japan. In Tokyo, Thomas-Greenfield will meet with the government’s senior officials and is expected to confirm strengthening collaboration between the three countries which are currently members of the UN Security Council. Issues to be discussed will include North Korea’s missile and nuclear programs.　 3. Japanese Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako will visit communities on Ishikawa Prefecture’s Noto Peninsula that were hit hard by the New Year’s Day earthquake later this week. The Imperial Household Agency said the couple will travel by plane from Tokyo’s Haneda Airport to Noto Airport on Friday morning. They will then board a Japan Self-Defense Forces helicopter in the afternoon and travel to Anamizu Town.

1. The real wages of private-sector workers in Japan fell for the 23rd month in a row in February, as inflation continued to outpace wage hikes. A monthly survey by the labor ministry found that inflation-adjusted pay dropped by 1.3 percent from a year earlier.
2. Japan launched its first ride-hailing services on Monday amid a growing taxi shortage, with Tokyo taking the lead. An industry group says the drivers are in their 20s to 50s, including self-employed people and a homemaker. All are driving their own cars. Customers use a smartphone app to book their journeys.
3. Large crowds have enjoyed watching giant decorated floats parading along a street adorned with cherry blossoms in full bloom in Aichi Prefecture, central Japan. The Inuyama Festival took place in the city of Inuyama over the weekend. Its main attraction is 13 magnificent floats with mechanized puppet dolls that entertain spectators.

1. US President Joe Biden has warned Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that US policy with respect to Gaza will depend on the swift implementation of new steps to protect civilians and aid workers. In a phone call with Netanyahu on Thursday, Biden made clear the need for Israel to announce and implement a series of concrete steps to address civilian harm, humanitarian suffering and the safety of aid workers.
2. The US government has welcomed Israel’s decision to allow more deliveries of humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip, including the opening of the Erez crossing.
3. One of Japan’s celebrated traditional gardens in Kanazawa City, Ishikawa Prefecture, is now open for free for cherry blossom viewing. The garden, Kenroku-en, is designated by the government as a scenic beauty that requires protection. It opens for free in the cherry blossoming season every year. A powerful earthquake that hit the prefecture on January 1 also caused damage to the garden. Most of stone lanterns that fell have been repaired, but stone walls that partially collapsed have yet to be restored and remain off-limits.

1. Search and rescue efforts continue in Taiwan following Wednesday’s deadly earthquake. On Thursday morning, people waited at a station in a village in the north of Hualien County, close to the epicenter. Many tried to catch the first train after being stranded. 2. Japan’s Chief Cabinet Secretary Hayashi Yoshimasa says the Japanese government is ready to provide necessary assistance to quake-hit Taiwan, but there has been no request at this point, which suggests the Taiwanese side is focused on respons3e measures for now. 3. Retail giant Aeon has recalled about 860,000 bottles of mineral water in Japan after some customers reported a foul smell coming from the products. The 2-liter bottles of water were sold under the company’s Topvalu brand. Aeon stopped selling them on Monday.

1. Taiwanese authorities say seven people have died and 736 have been injured in a strong earthquake that occurred off the eastern coast of Taiwan at around 7:58 a.m. local time on Wednesday. They added that 77 people are trapped inside collapsed buildings.
2. US President Joe Biden has sharply criticized Israel over the deaths of several members of an international non-profit organization. He said it has not done enough to protect aid workers and civilians in the Gaza Strip. The World Central Kitchen said on Tuesday that seven of its members were killed in an Israeli airstrike.
3. Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio and Indonesia’s president-elect Prabowo Subianto have agreed to increase cooperation on a wide range of issues, including national security. Prabowo, who is currently defense minister, is visiting Japan for the first time since he won Indonesia’s presidential election in February.

1. Japan’s industry ministry will provide domestic semiconductor maker Rapidus with up to 590 billion yen, or nearly 3.9 billion dollars in additional financial assistance. Japanese Industry Minister Saito Ken said the ministry will make all-out efforts for the success of the next-generation semiconductor project while securing the necessary budget. 2. Fleets working along the Sea of Japan coast have kicked off the shrimp season with a good haul of a transparent pink variety known as the jewel of Toyama Bay. A local fisheries association says about 270 kilograms of broad velvet shrimp were unloaded as the first catch at the port of Shinminato on Monday. Some were as long as 7 centimeters and bigger-than-usual for this time of year. The broad velvets were put up for auction right away and fetched relatively high prices.
3. A man in southwestern Japan has lost about 110 million yen, or roughly 730,000 dollars, after falling victim to a so-called romance scam. Police say the man is in his 60s and lives in northern Kumamoto Prefecture. They revealed that he was told by someone posing as a woman on a matchmaking app that there was a way to increase his money. The man reportedly transferred cash to a designated account about 20 times.

1. Taiwan’s former president Ma Ying-jeou is visiting China from Monday. The focus is on whether he will meet with President Xi Jinping. This comes as Taiwan’s president-elect from the ruling Democratic Progressive Party is set to take office next month. 2. Israeli protesters rallied in Jerusalem on Sunday to demand the resignation of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu amid growing criticism of his failure to secure the release of hostages. Tens of thousands of people gathered outside the parliament in what the Associated Press said was the largest anti-government protest since the Israel-Hamas conflict started in October. 3. An overtime cap for truck drivers in Japan took effect with the start of the new fiscal year on April 1. The move is aimed at improving working conditions for truckers and is promoting businesses to find more efficient ways to transport their goods. One private think tank estimates that if no measures are taken, the overtime cap could reduce haulage capacity by about 35 percent by 2030.

1. Cherry blossoms started blooming in Tokyo on Friday, five days later than they usually do. The Meteorological Agency announced the start of the cherry blossom season, after it spotted eleven blossoms on a benchmark cherry tree at Yasukuni Shrine in Tokyo. 2. Japan ‘s health ministry says the number of children who took their own lives remained at a record-high level in 2023. More than 510 reportedly took the action. The total figure is down by 44 from the previous year. Males accounted for 14, 862 of the cases, while females accounted for 6,975 of the cases. The figure for males rose by 116, but the number for females fell by 160.
3. Japan’s internal affairs ministry says tickets for two types of lotteries will go on sale to help rebuild communities affected by the New Year’s Day earthquake. Internal affairs minister Matsumoto Takeaki announced the plan on Friday. He urged people to buy the lottery tickets to help people in the quake-hit areas.

1. Australian researchers say China’s Belt and Road initiative is stumbling. They’ve released a new report showing many of Beijing’s investment commitments for infrastructure projects in Southeast Asia went unfulfilled.
2. Japanese musical theater company Takarazuka Revue has admitted that one of its performers who died last year was harassed, and apologized to her bereaved family.
3. The US Navy has begun training for Japan’s Self-Defense Forces on how to handle Tomahawk cruise missiles that Japan decided to purchase from the United States.

1. Japan’s health ministry says a major Japanese drug maker has reported the second death of a person who had taken its health supplements containing red yeast rice, or “beni-koji.” Osaka-based Kobayashi Pharmaceutical issued a voluntary recall last week for three products containing the ingredient. The move came after the revelation that some people have developed kidney disease or other health issues after consuming one of those products. 2. The US Coast Guard says the six people missing after a bridge collapsed in the eastern state of Maryland are now presumed dead. It has suspended search and rescue operations. Coast Guard officials said on Tuesday evening that it’s unlikely that those missing are still alive, given the length of time that had passed since the accident. A large cargo ship rammed into one of the columns supporting the bridge in Baltimore in the early hours of Tuesday. A major portion of the bridge collapsed.
3. US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin has conveyed his concern to his Israeli counterpart about Israel’s plan for a ground offensive in the southern Gaza city of Rafah. Austin met with Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant in Washington on Tuesday. The two discussed alternative approaches to the planned military operation. Referring to the situation in the Gaza Strip, the US defense secretary described the number of civilian casualties as “far too high” and the amount of humanitarian aid as “far too low.”

１．Major Japanese drugmaker Kobayashi Pharmaceutical says a person who took a health supplement it’s recalling has died of kidney disease. The product contains a type of yeast-fermented rice called beni-koji.　The company says it suspects the death is related to its product, and is investigating.　The person’s family contacted the company on Saturday night. The person had been taking the Beni-koji Cholesterol Help supplement since April 2021.　 2. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has again dismissed a view expressed by Russian President Vladimir Putin that Ukraine may have played a role in last Friday’s deadly attack on a concert hall near Moscow. Putin said on Monday that the attack was carried out by radical Islamists, but added that the atrocity may be linked to a series of attempts by “those who have been at war with our country since 2014 by the hands of the neo-Nazi Kyiv regime,” referring to Ukraine.　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　
3. Major League Baseball’s Ohtani Shohei has spoken to the media for the first time about his former interpreter’s alleged illegal sports gambling.　The Japanese superstar said he had no involvement in Mizuhara Ippei’s betting.　Ohtani spoke in front of about 100 reporters. The Los Angeles Dodgers’ manager, Dave Roberts, and senior executives of the team were also present.

1. The sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un says Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio recently conveyed his intention to meet Kim face-to-face for summit talks as soon as possible. Kim Yo Jong said Kishida recently conveyed his intention “through another channel.” The statement reiterated North Korea’s position that an abduction issue has already been settled.
2. Russian authorities have charged four suspects with terrorism over the deadly attack on a concert hall near Moscow. The Russian Investigative Committee says 137 people died in Friday’s attack in the city of Krasnogorsk. Health officials say 182 are undergoing treatment at hospitals.
3. The New Year’s Day earthquake seemed to mark the end for a century-old sake maker in Ishikawa Prefecture. But thanks to the help of a fellow brewery, he’s already been able to restart production.

1. A senior US government official has hinted that next month’s Japan-US summit will discuss technological collaboration between Japan and AUKUS, a security framework of Australia, Britain and the United Sates.
2. US secretary of State Antony Blinken says “the gaps are narrowing” for reaching a ceasefire agreement in the Gaza Strip and the release of hostages held by Hamas. Blinken discussed the negotiations for a pause in the fighting with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi and other officials in Cairo on Thursday. The US, Egypt and Qatar are brokering the talks between Israel and Hamas.
3. The Associated Press has reported the recently fired interpreter for Major League Baseball star Ohtani Shohei is under criminal investigation by US tax authorities. Mizuhara Ippei was dismissed by the Los Angeles Dodgers on Wednesday as US media outlets reported allegations that he gambled illegally.

1. Japan’s Ground Self-Defense Force has resumed flights of Osprey tilt-rotor transport aircraft for the first time since a fatal crash last November. The GSDF has 14 Ospreys deployed on a temporary basis at Camp Kisarazu in Chiba Prefecture, near Tokyo.
2. Indonesia’s election commission has announced that Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto won the presidential election held last month. Authorities released the results of the February 14 vote on Wednesday after more than a month of ballot-counting was completed.
3. US media have reported that an interpreter for Major League baseball superstar Ohtani Shohei has been fired from the Los Angeles Dodgers. The Los Angeles Times and other media outlets said on Wednesday that lawyers for Ohtani accused Mizuhara Ippei of being involved in Illegal gambling.

1. People in quake-devastated Wajima City, central Japan, offered their prayers at their family graves on Wednesday to mark the spring equinox. The day is a national holiday that falls in the middle of the Buddhist “higan” period, when people remember their deceased relatives.
2. Victims of the sarin gas attack on the Tokyo subway system were remembered on the 29th anniversary of the deadly incident on Wednesday. On March 20, 1995, members of the Aum Shinrikyo cult released the toxic nerve gas inside packed rush hour subway cars on three lines in central Tokyo. Fourteen people died and about 6,300 others were injured.
3. A subway operator in the Washington metropolitan area has unveiled the design of a train that Japan’s Hitachi will manufacture in the United States. The operator of the railway connection Washington D.C. with neighboring states, including Maryland and Virginia, awarded Hitachi a contract to provide 256 train cars.

1. Japan’s Foreign Minister Kamikawa Yoko has indicated that Japan, along with the United States, plans to sponsor a draft UN Security Council resolution aimed at preventing the deployment of nuclear and other weapons of mass destruction in space. Kamikawa chaired a ministerial-level meeting of the security council on nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation in New York on Monday.
2. The Bank of Japan marks a landmark shift away from its massive monetary stimulus. The central bank has decided to end its negative interest rate policy and raise borrowing rates for the first hike in 17 years. It will also abandon its yield-curve control framework, which holds down long-term interest rates as well as short-term rates.
3. A temple in western Japan has displayed a repaired doll modeled after Murasaki Shikibu, a noblewoman who authored the 11th-century masterpiece, “The Tale of Genji”. Ishiyamadera Temple in Otsu City, near Kyoto, is where Murasaki Shikibu is said to have conceived the concept of the novel, a story about the life and love affairs of Prince Genji.

1. Incumbent Russian leader Vladimir Putin has declared himself the victor in the country’s presidential election. Putin said he wanted to thank all Russians who came out to vote, claiming the country is one united family. He also said the result of the election would allow Russia to become stronger.
2. The United States and Britain have called into question Russia’s latest presidential election. President Vladimir Putin declared victory in the race. A White House National Security Council spokesperson released a statement on Sunday. The statement says: “The results were unsurprising. The elections were obviously not free nor fair given how Mr. Putin has imprisoned political opponents and prevented others from running against him.”
3. Bank of Japan policymakers will discuss ending the era of negative interest rates at their two-day meeting starting on Monday. Many observers say recent pay hikes signal that the economic conditions are being met for a shift in the BOJ’s massive monetary easing.

1. Japan plans to ease the country’s strict defense export rules to allow the sale of next generation fighter jets developed with Britain and Italy. The country’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party and its coalition partner, Komeito, came to an agreement on Friday to tweak the rules under some conditions.
2. Japan’s largest steelmaker has pushed back against President Joe Biden’s concerns over its plan to acquire US Steel. Biden said on Thursday it is “vital” that the company remains American. Officials at Nippon Steel responded on Friday, saying the deal will deliver “clear benefits” to US Steel, its workers and national security.
3. The Los Angeles Dodgers have released a photo on the team’s official social media account showing Japanese star player Ohtani Shohei’s wife for the first time. The couple are posing in front of a plane heading to South Korea, where the team’s season opener will take place.

1. Bank of Japan Governor Ueda Kazuo says the outcome of spring wage negotiations is pivotal to central bank discussions about a change in its ultra-easy monetary policy. Ueda said, “We will consider revising our negative rate policy and the Yield Curve Control framework once the 2-percent inflation target is clearly in sight and sustained.
2. An Osprey transport aircraft has resume flights at a US base in Japan’s southern prefecture of Okinawa for the first time since they were grounded after a deadly crash last November. Japan’s Defense Ministry announced on Wednesday that the aircraft would resume flights in Japan in phases from Thursday, after maintenance and crew training are completed.
3. Japan’s ruling coalition parties are expected to reach a broad agreement on a framework that would allow the export of next-generation fighter jets co-developed with Britain and Italy. The main governing Liberal Democratic Party and its junior coalition partner, Komeito, have been discussing setting strict conditions on exports.

1. This year’s US presidential election will likely be a rematch between President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump, now that both men have clinched their respective party’s nominations.
2. Japanese venture capital firm Space One’s Kairos rocket has exploded several seconds after liftoff from a launch site in western Japan. Space One says it aborted the flight. The small satellite-carrying solid-fuel rocket apparently developed a problem.
3. The director of “Godzilla Minus One,” Yamazaki Takashi, has returned to Japan with the Academy Award for best visual effects in tow. The movie is the first Asian production to win the Oscar in the category, and Yamazaki says the honor could be a watershed moment for Japan’s film industry.

1. Two students have graduated from a school in a town on the Noto Peninsula that was heavily affected by the powerful New Year’s Day earthquake. Many people attended Tuesday’s graduation ceremony at the integrated elementary and junior high school in Ohtani Town, in the city of Suzu, Ishikawa Prefecture.
2. A government survey shows business sentiment among major Japanese companies turned negative for the first three months of this year, the first pessimistic reading in four quarters. The gloomy view was mainly attributed to shipment suspensions at automakers due to safety test violations.
3. The head of the International Atomic Energy Agency is due to inspect the disabled Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant on Wednesday during is visit to Japan. Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi is making a three-day trip to the country at the invitation of the Japanese Foreign Ministry. He is expected to meet with Chief Cabinet Secretary Hayashi Yoshimasa on Tuesday, the first day of the visit.

1. Thirteen years have passed since the March 11 Great East Japan Earthquake, tsunami and Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant accident. Repairs of damaged of infrastructure in the disaster area are nearly complete. But the human costs continue to mount as population outflow and a graying demographic take a toll on the region.
2. Japanese animation master Miyazaki Hayao’s “The Boy and the Heron” has won the 2024 Oscar for Best Animated Feature Film. It is the second time Miyazaki has taken the prize in the category. “The Boy and the Heron” is a fantasy film about a boy who moves to the countryside after his mother’s death during World War Two, and wanders into a mysterious world guided by a talking grey heron.
3. The Japanese movie “Godzilla Minus One” has won the 2024 Academy Award for Best Visual Effects. This is the first time a Japanese movie has won an Oscar in the category. In the latest work, the giant monster unleashes chaos in post-war Japan. Godzilla appears without warning and relentlessly destroys the city that is in the process of rebuilding. The monster and the people fighting it are depicted using VFX technology.

1. Japanese manga artist Toriyama Akira, known globally for such works as “Dragon Ball” and “Dr. Slump,” has died at the age of 68. The official website of the Weekly Shonen Jump magazine said Toriyama died of acute subdural hematoma on March 1.
2. US President Joe Biden delivered the last State of the Union address of his first-term on Thursday. Speaking before a joint session of Congress, Biden kicked off his speech with a declaration on democracy, noting that “not since President Lincoln and the Civil War have freedom and democracy been under assault here at home as they are today.”
3. Japan and India have agreed to strengthen cooperation over wide areas, including national security, economic issues and cultural exchanges. Japan’s Foreign Minister Kamikawa Yoko and India’s External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar agreed to step up cooperation to realize a free and open Indo-Pacific region, a concept advocated by Tokyo.

1. The humanitarian crisis in Gaza is deepening as the Israel-Hamas conflict enters its 6th month, and pessimism is growing over the characters of an imminent pause in fighting in the enclave.
2. Policy chiefs of Japan’s ruling coalition parties are to meet on Friday to discuss the controversial issue of whether to allow exports of next-generation fighter jets.
3. Residents of the southwestern Japanese prefecture of Oita have been involved in a legal dispute to suspend a nuclear power plant’s operation. But a court has turned their demand down.

1. Nikki Haley has decided to drop out of the Republican presidential nomination race, according to multiple US media outlets. This leaves Donald Trump as the party’s presumptive nominee for US President.
2. A senior Chinese economic official says the government’s growth target of around 5 percent this year is achievable by combining fiscal and monetary policies.
3. Tokyo’s benchmark stock index edged down on Wednesday for the second-straight session, ending just shy of its all-time high.

1. Fifteen US states will soon hold primaries and caucuses on “Super Tuesday” in the Republican nomination race for the US presidential election in November. Former President Donald Trump is the frontrunner in the battle to be the Republican presidential candidate.
2. Uber Eats says it will start delivering food using self-driving robots in parts of Tokyo on Wednesday. The company expects the service will help to ease a staff shortage. A small six-wheeled robot will be introduced to two restaurants in the capital’s Nihonbashi district.
3. Ukraine’s defense ministry says it carried out a drone attack that damaged a Russian naval ship off the southern coast of Russian-occupied Crimea.

1. US Vice President Kamala Harris has called on Israel to do more to significantly increase the flow of aid into Gaza. This comes amid uncertainty over talks between Israel and Hamas on a pause in fighting and the release of hostages. Harris described the situation in Gaza as a “humanitarian catastrophe” during a speech in the southern US state of Alabama on Sunday.
2. Former US ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley has won the Republican primary in Washington, D.C. The victory in the US capital is her first over former President Donald Trump in the GOP nomination race for the US presidential election in November. With all votes counted, Haley garnered 62.8 percent, against 33.3 percent for Trump.
3. Authorities in Burkina Faso say about 170 people have been killed in attacks on three villages. The security situation is worsening in the western African nation with Islamic extremists posing a major threat. Since around 2015, Islamic militants in Burkina Faso have carried out repeated attacks and acts of terrorism, mainly in the country’s northern region.

1. A series of earthquakes have been observed off the eastern coast of Chiba Prefecture, near Tokyo, since Tuesday. Japanese officials are urging people in the region to be on the alert for further seismic activity. Japan Meteorological Agency officials say a magnitude 5.2 earthquake struck the area at around 5:43 a.m. on Friday.
2. A ceremony in the Marshall Islands has marked 70 years since a US hydrogen bomb test at Bikini Atoll in the Pacific Ocean. Many islanders and crewmembers of the Daigo Fukuryu Maru from the central Japanese city of Yaizu and fishing boats from Kochi Prefecture, southwestern Japan, were exposed to radiation when the test was conducted on March 1, 1954.
3. US President Joe Biden traveled to the southern border with Mexico and met with patrol agents and asylum officers on Thursday. His trip to Brownsville, Texas, came on the same day that former President Donald Trump visited another city close by. The visits happened ahead of Super Tuesday on March 5, when voters in about one-third of states choose the candidates they want for the 2024 presidential election.

1. Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio has told a Lower House ethics council that his party will consider whether to discipline Diet members who were involved in a fundraising scandal, depending on their explanations. Kishida addressed the Deliberative Council for Political Ethics on Thursday, becoming the first incumbent prime minister to do so. The session was open to the media.
2. The new government of the South Pacific nation of Tuvalu has reaffirmed its commitment to maintaining relations with Taiwan. Prime Minister Feleti Teo’s government released a “Statement of Priorities” committing to the long-term and lasting special relationship between Tuvalu and Taiwan. It also says the government intends to strengthen ties.
3. The wife of late Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny has called for support from European Parliament members. She vowed to pursue President Vladimir Putin’s responsibility over her husband’s death and continue his work to criticize the Putin administration.

1. Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio says he will attend a Lower House ethics meeting on a fundraising scandal involving factions of the main governing Liberal Democratic Party. Kishida told reporters on Wednesday that he will attend the Lower House Deliberative Council on Political Ethics with the media present. It will be the first time for a prime minister in office to attend.
2. US media say President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump are each certain to win their party’s primary in Michigan on Tuesday. Biden’s Democratic party and the Republican party both held a primary in the Midwestern state for the November presidential election.
3. NHK has learned that Japan’s Justice Ministry has compiled a draft of revised guidelines on special stay permission for foreign nationals who have been illegally staying in the country. Ministry officials are considering allowing people with no residential status to stay if the parents integrate themselves into local communities and their children have been receiving education in Japan for a long time.

1. Japan’s ruling and opposition camps are at odds over whether or not a Lower House ethics council meeting should be open to the public. The fundraising scandal involving the main ruling Liberal Democratic Party will be discussed at the meeting.
2. French President Emmanuel Macron has not ruled out the option of sending ground troops to Ukraine. Macron invited leaders and ministers from more than 20 countries to Paris on Monday to discuss support for Ukraine, as Russia’s invasion of the country goes into its third year. Attendees included representatives from the United States and Europe.
3. Leaders in Sweden have cleared the final hurdle allowing their country to join NATO. On Monday, they saw lawmakers in Hungary approve their bid to join the alliance. Prime Minister Viktor Orban had promised Hungary would not be the last of NATO’s 31 members to ratify. But, last month, members of parliament in Turkey approved Sweden’s request. Finally, he relented. “We make alliances to defend each other in case of outside attack. There is no more serious commitment than this,” Orban said.

1. A US expert on Russian politics has stressed the urgent need for Western nations to provide military assistance to Ukraine, comparing the current situation to that during World War Two.
2. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has called for continued military assistance from the West as his country’s fight against Russia’s invasion enters what he referred to as a crucial third year.
3. The head of Ukraine’s Defense intelligence says Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny died from a blood clot, denying speculation that he was killed while in prison.

1. Japan’s Emperor Naruhito turns 64 on Friday. Ahead of his birthday, he spoke to reporters at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo. He reflected on the past year, conveying condolences to the relatives of those who died in the major earthquake that shook the Noto Peninsula and other areas of central Japan on January 1.
2. Foreign ministers from the Group of 20 nations remain divided over Russia’s invasion of Ukraine as the fighting approaches the two-year mark. Diplomats discussed the conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East, as well as reforms for international bodies including the United Nations.
3. A senior UN official in charge of overseeing humanitarian aid in Ukraine has appealed for continued support from the international community, as the second anniversary of the start of Russia’s invasion nears. Denise Brown, the United Nations Resident Coordinator in Ukraine noted that the conflict between Israel and Hamas and other global crises have reduced the international community’s interest in the situation in Ukraine.

1. The benchmark index for the Tokyo Stock Exchange set an all-time high on Thursday. It has taken more than 34 years for the Nikkei 225 to reach that level. Thursday’s trading saw it cross the 39,000 mark for the first time ever, reaching 39,156 at one stage.
2. Japan’s Foreign Minister Kamikawa Yoko has strongly condemned Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and called for bringing about lasting peace as soon as possible. Kamikawa was speaking at the G20 foreign ministerial meeting that opened in Rio de Janeiro on Wednesday. The participants include Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.
3. The British government has imposed sanctions on six individuals in charge of the Arctic penal colony where Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny died last week.
The Foreign Office announced on Wednesday that the officials will be banned from Britain and their assets will be frozen.

1. The Japanese government is accelerating its push for offshore wind power. It sees floating turbines as more suitable for the country, and is preparing for tests. The government has set offshore wind power as one of the pillars of its renewable energy policy. But the country has few shallow sea areas suitable for the anchored types, leaving floating versions as a more feasible option.
2. A private survey has found that workers at most small-and-medium-sized firms in Japan can expect wage hikes in fiscal 2024. But the margin of the increase will not be as big as this year. Labor and management are currently discussing sustainable pay increases in the annual spring wage negotiations.
3. The Italian government says leaders of the Group of Seven nations will hold an online summit on Saturday, exactly two years from the start of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Italy said on Tuesday that the leaders will discuss support for Ukraine. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is expected to join the talks.

1. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has reportedly been given a Russian-made car as a gift from the country’s President Vladimir Putin. The North Korean leader’s sister, Kim Yo Jong, reportedly conveyed her brother’s gratitude to the Russian side, calling the gift a clear sign of the special personal relationship between the two leaders.
2. EU foreign ministers expressed their condolences to the widow of later Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny during a ministerial meeting that was held on Monday. Yulia Navalnaya attended the EU foreign ministers’ gathering in Belgium. The ministers invited her after her husband—a vocal critic of Russian President Vladimir Putin – died at a prison on Friday.
3. Taiwanese authorities say they will send back to China two crew members who were aboard a Chinese fishing boat that capsized. The boat overturned last Wednesday near Kinmen, a group of islands effectively controlled by Taiwan. Two of the four crew members on the vessel died. The incident occurred as the boat was being pursued by a Taiwanese coast guard ship.

1. Japan is hosting a conference to discuss how to support Ukraine’s reconstruction efforts nearly two years after Russia’s invasion started. The Japan-Ukraine Conference for Promotion of Economic Growth and Reconstruction began on Monday morning in Tokyo.
2. A Ukrainian military commander says his troops have inflicted nearly 50,000 personnel losses on Russian forces before withdrawing from the strategically important city of Avdiivka. But a US newspaper warns of challenges confronting Ukrainian troops amid stalled military aid from the United States.
3. Japanese animation master Miyazaki Hayao’s “The Boy and the Heron” has won the Animated Film category at the British Academy Film Awards. The winners of the 77th awards, commonly known as the BAFTAs, were announced at a ceremony on Sunday.

1. The White House official in charge of East Asia says the United States will support Japan’s efforts to hold a summit with North Korea.
2. Japan’s top government spokesperson says Pyongyang’s claim that the issue of abductions of Japanese nationals by North Korean agents is already settled is absolutely unacceptable.
3. The World Bank says 486 billion dollars will be needed over the next decade to fund the reconstruction and recovery of Ukraine. It says damage caused directly by Russia’s invasion nearly two years ago has reached almost 152 billion dollars. Housing, transport, commerce and agriculture are the most affected sectors.

1. The unseasonably warm winter in Japan this years has put a damper on a traditional snow festival in a city in the country’s northeast. An annual festival featuring “Kamakura,” or igloo-like snow huts, kicked off in the city of Yokote in Akita Prefecture on Thursday, despite the absence of accumulated snow on the ground.
2. Japan has lost its place as the world’s third-largest economy to Germany. The Japanese economy was the world’s second largest for decades from 1968. But China surged past in 2010, leaving Japan third until 2022. Germany’s population is about two-thirds the size of Japan’s.
3. NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg has pushed back against former US President Donald Trump. He took aim at comments suggesting member nations would not defend one another.

1. Temperatures across Japan are expected to remain unseasonably high on Wednesday and Thursday, due to a warm air mass flowing over the archipelago. Daytime highs will reach 18 degrees Celsius in central Tokyo and Osaka City, and 10 degrees in northern Japan’s Sapporo City.
2. Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal and delegates from about 50 Ukrainian organizations are expected to attend a Tokyo conference on how to rebuild infrastructure destroyed by Russia’s invasion. Sources say arrangements are being made for nearly 100 officials to take part from Ukrainian businesses, research institutes and other organizations.
3. The US Senate has approved a foreign aid package worth 95 billion dollars. It includes money for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan. Senate Majority Leader chuck Schumer said, “It’s certainly been years, perhaps decades, since the Senate passed a bill that so greatly impacts not just our national security, not just the security of our allies, but the security of Western democracy.”

1. A working team put together by Japan’s main ruling Liberal Democratic Party is set to start discussing potential revisions to the political funds control law. The party has been rocked by a political funding scandal involving some of its factions.
2. An economist says US pop singer Taylor Swift has given a significant boost to Japan’s economy. Eto Mitsumasa says Swift’s four days of concerts in Tokyo last week have generated an economic impact of over 34 billion yen, or about 228 million dollars.
3. US President Joe Biden says the United States is trying to secure at least a six-week pause in the fighting between Israel and Hamas. The US and others have been trying to broker an agreement to pause the fighting in Gaza and secure the release of the hostages being held by Hamas.

1. Recovery and reconstruction efforts are continuing six weeks after a devastating New Year’s Day earthquake struck central Japan. Volunteers are helping out in the Noto Peninsula where most of the damage occurred. But accommodation for them is scarce.
2. The famed Carnival in Rio de Janeiro kicked into high gear on Sunday with the start of a parade of top samba dancers. A contest featuring 12 selected teams began on Sunday night. Each group is made up of about 3,000 members. Dancers in colorful costumes are parading down a 700-meter street, accompanied by huge floats.
3. Ukraine’s air defense capability to intercept Russian missiles and drones is expected to decline unless it gets additional weapons supplies from Western nations. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has repeatedly asked Western leaders for new military assistance to improve his country’s air defenses.

1. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un says his country will occupy and annex South Korean territory in the event of war, stressing he would not hesitate to use force. The North’s state-run media reported on Friday that Kim visited the defense ministry with his daughter the day before. Thursday is the founding anniversary of the North’s military.
2. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has spoken of his intention to “reset” the
“direction of Ukraine’s leadership” in the war effort against Russia. He announced on Thursday that he will replace his commander-in-chief. Zelenskyy posted a video on social media expressing his gratitude to General Valeri Zaluzhnyi for two years.
3. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has appointed a new commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces. Zelenskyy on Thursday named Oleksandr Syrskyi, the commander of Ukraine’s ground forces, to lead the military, replacing Valerii Zaluzhnyi.

1. Volunteers have begun helping people in Ishikawa Prefecture’s Noto Town, which suffered heavy damage from the powerful earthquake on New Year’s Day. These volunteers quickly headed to their designated places after being given shovels, gloves and other equipment for removing quake debris.
2. The US Senate has failed to approve an emergency budget bill that includes aid for Ukraine. A bipartisan group of senators put together a package including security measures for the border with Mexico and wartime aid to Ukraine and Israel. But most Republicans voted against advancing it in the chamber on Wednesday after former President Donald Trump, who is seeking re-election in the presidential race this year, urged them not to compromise.
3. Japan has offered financial aid to Ukraine to restore cultural heritage, education and media through the United Nations’ cultural agency UNESCO.

1. Tokyo’s Chiyoda Ward and property developer Mitsubishi Estate have launched a digital tracking and information system to help people left stranded in the area after a major disaster. Officials unveiled their new “Disaster Dashboard” system to media on Wednesday as it went into operation.
2. Orcas trapped by ice off Hokkaido, northern Japan, were no longer seen in the area as of Wednesday morning. Rausu Town officials said they hoped the orcas had been able to free themselves as the ice floes appeared to be loosening on Wednesday morning.
3. Toyota Motor says it will invest 1.3 billion dollars in its flagship US plant in Kentucky to start producing electric vehicles in 2025. Toyota’s North American unit plans to start producing a new three-row electric SUV at the Kentucky facility and add a battery pack assembly line. The batteries will be supplied by another plant in North California.

1. The powerful New Year’s Day earthquake damaged more than 50,000 houses in central Japan’s Ishikawa Prefecture, creating one of the biggest challenges in the recovery effort. A little over a month on residential reconstruction has entered a new stage aided by lessons learned from Japan’s many past disasters.
2. Severn schools in Wajima City, Ishikawa Prefecture, reopened on Tuesday following the powerful New Year’s Day earthquake. As many as 65 public schools in 9 cities and towns in the prefecture closed at one point, but all have now resumed classes.
3. Buckingham Palace in Britain says King Charles has been diagnosed with cancer, and will postpone his public-facing duties while he undergoes treatment. The palace has not revealed the type or stage of the disease, except that it is not prostate cancer. It says King Charles began receiving treatment as an outpatient in London on Monday.

1. Expressway operators have closed some sections of toll roads in Tokyo and the surrounding areas as a precaution to prevent vehicles from being stranded due to snow and icy roads. Heavy snowfall is expected from Monday afternoon to Tuesday.
2. Heavy snowfall in China’s inland areas is affecting expressways, high-speed railways and flights as people head for their hometowns for the Lunar New Year holidays. China’s weather officials say Hubei and Henan provinces are among the areas that have been hit by heavy snowfall since last week.
3. Apple has rolled out its first mixed-reality headset in the United States. The tech giant says it hopes to start selling the device in other markets later this year. The Apple Vision Pro lets users immerse themselves in virtual reality. They can also experience augmented reality when digital content is overlaid on the physical world.

1. Ukraine says its forces have destroyed a Russian missile ship in the Russian-controlled southern region of Crimea. Ukraine’s defense intelligence agency said on Thursday that one of its units sank the Black Sea Fleet’s Ivanovets in the waters off the western side of Crimea.
2. The Lebanon-based Shia militant group Hezbollah has expressed its determination to continue resistance to Israel unless the country ends its attacks in the Gaza Strip. A senior official of Hezbollah’s political arm, Hussein al-Hajj Hassan, told NHK on Thursday that Israel has failed to produce any results in Gaza and is heading toward defeat.
3. The European Union has agreed on a new aid package for Ukraine. It is worth 50 billion euros, or 54 billion dollars. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said, “Ukraine is fighting for us. So we will support them with the necessary funding and provide them with the much needed predictability they deserve. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy joined the meeting online and later thanked the members.

1. People in Japan are marking one month since a magnitude 7.6 earthquake rocked communities along the Sea of Japan coast. 240 people were killed and 19 remain unaccounted for. Thousands more living in temporary shelters are looking at a long road toward recovery.
2. A Japanese seismic engineering expert says damage from liquefaction in the New Year’s Day earthquake was concentrated on sand dunes along the Sea of Japan coast, not just reclaimed land or former river courses.
3. Efforts are underway to help Ishikawa Prefecture’s lacquerware makers following the New Year’s Day earthquake. Lacquerware made in the city of Wajima is designated as an important intangible cultural asset with a history of over 600 years. Producing the craft items takes about 120 steps and involves many skilled artisans.

1. The Japanese government says two parliamentary vice ministers have decided to step down over a political fundraising scandal involving factions of the main ruling Liberal Democratic Party. Informed sources say investigations have revealed undeclared revenues in the political fund reports of Komori Takuo and Kato Ryusho’s offices from their faction’s fundraising events.
2. NHK has learned more than 30 people died from exposure to the cold in Ishikawa Prefecture after the powerful New Year’s Day earthquake. Many of them are believed to have been waiting for rescue.
3. Japanese sumo wrestler Kotonowaka has been promoted to the second highest rank of Ozeki.

1. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has said he sees “some real hope” in negotiations for a pause in fighting between Israel and Hamas, and the release of hostages held by the Islamic group.
2. Japan’s transport ministry has started an onsite inspection of a Toyota Motor subsidiary for what has been termed “irregularities” in engine certification tests.
3. People in areas affected by the powerful earthquake in central Japan on New Year’s Day are being advised to be on the lookout for avalanches and landslides, due to hugely fluctuating temperatures.

1. Japanese investigative sources say a suspected fugitive believed to have been involved in one of several bombing attacks in the Japanese capital in the 1970s died at a hospital near Tokyo on Monday morning. The Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department received information on Thursday last week that a man, who claimed to be the fugitive Kirishima Satoshi, was hospitalized in Kanagawa Prefecture earlier this month for stomach cancer.
2. The governor of Japan’s Ishikawa Prefecture says power supplies are expected to be resumed as early as Wednesday in most of the areas that have been without electricity since the powerful earthquake four weeks ago. Governor Hase Hiroshi told reporters on Monday that blackouts are expected to end by Wednesday, apart from some areas.
3. Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio has reiterated his apology in the Diet for the money scandal embroiling factions of his main ruling Liberal Democratic Party. Kishida said the issue seriously undermined the public trust in politics. He pledged to make persistent efforts to reform politics and restore trust.

1. Japan’s Diet convened an ordinary session on Friday. The primary focus of debate is on political reform including legal revision, with the main governing Liberal Democratic Party led by Prime Minister Kishida Fumio mired in a political funding scandal.
2. Japan’s National Police Agency says it will increase the number of security cameras in the quake-hit areas in central Japan to prevent burglaries and other crimes. The agency said it had received 32 reports of crimes, such as break-ins at damaged houses and thefts at evacuation shelters, as of Wednesday.
3. Tokyo’s consume prices rose in January but at a slower pace than in the previous month.

1. A Japanese court has sentenced a man to death for the arson attack that killed 36 employees at a famous animation studio in Kyoto. The number of deaths is the largest on record in a criminal trial in the country in more than three decades. Prosecutors charged Aoba Shinji with murder and arson after he doused Kyoto Animation’s studio with gasoline and started a fire in July 2019. The attack left 32 others injured. The company is known for “Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya,” “Violet Evergarden” and other anime hits.
2. Japan’s main ruling Liberal Democratic Party has approved an interim report on political reform. It calls for revamping intraparty factions into true policy groups that will be prohibited from holding fundraising parties and will not exert influence on personnel matters.
3. Japanese government officials have agreed on a support plan to help residents and businesses in central Japan recover from heavy damage caused by the massive earthquake that hit the region on New Year’s Day.

1. Multiple news outlets project that former US President Donald Trump will win the New Hampshire primary. It’s the Republican Party’s second nomination contest in the race to choose a presidential candidate. Trump used his victory speech Tuesday night to take aim at his rival former ambassador to the United Nations, Nikki Haley. Trump said, “She’s doing a speech like she won. She didn’t win. She lost.”
2. Turkey’s parliament has approved Sweden’s bid to join NATO. The move enables Stockholm to take a major step forward in its quest to become a member of the Western military alliance. A majority of the Turkish lawmakers voted to approve the Nordic country’s entry into NATO on Tuesday. A ruling party member said Sweden’s membership matches Turkey’s interests.
3. The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists says the world is as close as it has ever been to self-annihilation. It has left its Doomsday Clock set at 90 seconds to midnight. The clock was created 77 years ago by Albert Einstein and J. Robert Oppenheimer, among others, to warn people about the threats from nuclear weapons.

1. The two-person race for the US Republican presidential nomination is intensifying. Both candidates are competing in New Hampshire, which is set to vote Tuesday in the latest state-by-state primary election. Former President Donald Trump faces ex-United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley in a poll that is open both to members of the Republican Party and undecided voters.
2. Policymakers at the Bank of Japan have wrapped up their two-day meeting on Tuesday. The say they are leaving the central bank’s easing program unchanged. They decided to stick with the current policy to achieve sustainable and stable price gains led by stronger wage growth. The central bank will keep its short-term benchmark interest rate in negative territory, and will continue asset purchases to keep long-term rates “around zero percent.”
3. Shinkansen bullet train services on the Tohoku Hokuriku and Joetsu lines have been partially suspended, due to a power outage that occurred on Tuesday morning. JR East says the power outage occurred at around 10 a.m. It says workers found an overhead power cable dangling in an area between the stations of Ueno and Omiya.

1. Officials at the weather observatory at Abashiri City in Japan’s northern main island of Hokkaido say ice floes have reached the coast for the first time this season. They confirmed at 9:45 a.m. on Monday that the ice floes arrived, blocking navigation of ordinary vessels in the sea.
2. Voters in the US state of New Hampshire will have a choice between former President Donald Trump and former US ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley in Tuesday’s Republican primary. The contest became a one-on-one race after Florida Governor Ron DeSantis announced on Sunday that he was suspending his campaign. DeSantis said it is clear to him that a majority of Republican primary voters want to give Trump another chance. He also noted that Trump is “superior” to President Joe Biden and he has his support.
3. More than 15, 000 people are still staying at shelters in Ishikawa Prefecture three weeks after a powerful earthquake struck the Noto Peninsula on New Year’s Day. Officials in the prefecture have confirmed 232 people dead and 22 others still unaccounted for.

1. Tokyo prosecutors have indicted several people over a political funds scandal involving factions of the main ruling Liberal Democratic Party. A former chief treasurer of the faction that was led until recently by Prime Minister Kishida Fumio received a summary indictment.
2. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has again indicated negative views on establishing a Palestinian state.
3. Consumer prices in Japan rose at their fastest pace in over four decades last year. Food saw especially sharp price rises.

1. Japan Airlines has appointed a former flight attendant as president. She will be the first woman to lead a major airline in the country. Tottori Mitsuko is currently a senior managing executive officer. She will assume the new post on April 1.
2. The Japanese Communist Party has picked a woman as its leader for the first time in its 102-year history. The party’s current policy chief, Tamura Tomoko, was appointed as the new chairperson at its congress on Thursday. She succeeds Shii Kazuo, who had been the chairperson since 2000.
3. Russian forces are continuing their attacks on Ukraine using Iranian-made unmanned aerial vehicles, or UAVs, as Russia and Iran step up military cooperation. Ukraine’s Air Force said on Thursday that Russia fired 33 Iranian strike UAVs and Ukrainian forces destroyed 22 of them. The Air Force also said Russia conducted a missile attack in the eastern region of Kharkiv.

1. Japan marks the 29th anniversary of the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake on Wednesday that devastated the western Japanese city of Kobe and surrounding regions. The 1995 disaster left 6,434 people dead. At a park in Kobe’s Chuo Ward, residents arranged lanterns to form “1.17” to represent the date of the disaster, and “Tomoni,” the Japanese word meaning “together.”
2. The death toll from the New Year’s Day earthquake on the Noto Peninsula in central Japan has risen to 232. As survivors try to return to normal, some are finding it may be harder than they expected. Fishermen in Wajima City in Ishikawa Prefecture are finally seeing the scope of the damage. The quake caused 200 meters of coastline to lift.
3. Japan’s major shipping companies are suspending routes that pass through the Red Sea for all of their vessels. NYK Line, Mitsui O.S.K. Lines and Kawasaki Kisen cite safety concerns amid heightened tensions in the region. Houthi rebels in Yemen have been attacking vessels in the Red Sea. The US government announced last week that US and British forces had struck rebel bases in retaliation.

1. Former US President Donald Trump has won the Iowa caucuses. This is the first vote in the nationwide contest to choose the Republican Party’s candidate for this year’s presidential election. In the US presidential election, the Democratic and Republican parties hold caucuses and primaries in states across the country to select their presidential candidates for the November vote.
2. Cold weather is making a difficult situation even worse for survivors of the deadly New Year’s earthquake in central Japan. At least 222 people have been confirmed dead and thousands more still haven’t returned to their homes as temperatures dip below freezing. Snow clouds have covered much of the Noto Peninsula.
3. The US military in Japan will begin to deliver relief supplies to quake-hit areas in central Japan’s Noto Peninsula as early as Wednesday at the request of the Japanese Defense Ministry. Defense Minister Kihara Minoru told reporters on Tuesday that Japan’s Self Defense Forces have now shifted their main tasks from sending relief supplies to focusing on moving evacuees out of affected areas.

1. Monday marks two weeks since a devastating earthquake and tsunami struck central Japan. The disaster has claimed at least 221 lives, with crews searching for 22 people still unaccounted for. As relief efforts continue, officials fear harsh conditions in evacuation centers are posing a major health risk. Officials in Ishikawa Prefecture say almost 500 people in over a dozen communities remain cut off due to blocked roads. As of Sunday, water and power were still unavailable at hundreds of evacuation sites hosting almost 20-thousand people. 13 evacuees are now believed to have died from sudden or chronic illness after staying at a temporary shelter.
2. Japan’s Chief Cabinet Secretary Hayashi Yoshimasa has reaffirmed the government’s consistent position regarding Taiwan, saying Japan will continue to deepen relations.
3. US Republican presidential candidates, including Donald Trump, rallied for support just ahead of Monday night’s Iowa caucus, the first of the primaries for the GOP race. Trump is leading the pack, which includes former UN Ambassador Nikki Haley and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis. They each held rallies on Sunday to appeal to voters as frigid cold gripped the Midwestern state.

1. Relief efforts continue following the massive New Year’s day earthquake in central Japan. At least 215 people now been confirmed dead and 38 are still unaccounted for. Officials in Ishikawa Prefecture are warning that worsening weather could threaten more lives. Some people have been able to return to hard-hit areas to survey the damage. A district in the town of Anamizu was home to about 40 shops. Many have collapsed or have been severely damaged.
2. The Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development says the Bank of Japan should start gradually raising interest rates on the assumption that inflation will stabilize at around 2 percent. The OECD’s latest report on Japan’s economy notes that inflation has been above the BOJ’s target of 2 percent since April 2022.
3. The US Securities and Exchange Commission has approved the listing and trading of exchange traded funds holding bitcoin. The SEC announced that it approved applications for a number of ETFs tracking bitcoin on Wednesday. Buyers of such funds can indirectly invest in bitcoin, without opening an account with a cryptocurrency trading platform.

1. China says it exported a record 4.91 million vehicles last year, making it all but certain that the country has overtaken Japan as the world’s largest auto exporter. The strong growth of Chinese exports is due to a 70 percent increase in exports of electric or other types of “new energy” vehicles that are fast becoming popular worldwide.
2. Tokyo’s benchmark Nikkei Stock Average topped 35,000-mark on Thursday for the first time in almost 35 years. Export-related shares led the advance as the yen weakened against the dollar. The Nikkei 225 ended the day at 35,049, up 1.8 percent from Wednesday. It is the first time since February 1990 that the index has reached that level.
3. The New York times has picked Yamaguchi City in western Japan as one of the “52 Places to Go in 2024.” The city is the third choice among this year’s favored travel destinations, behind total solar eclipse viewpoints in North America and Paris, France. The newspaper says Yamaguchi is often called the “Kyoto of the West”, and describes it as a compact city that has considerably less “tourism pollution” than the ancient capital.

1. A survey has found that caregivers at facilities for the elderly and people with disabilities are working under extreme stress following the massive earthquake that struck the Noto Peninsula on New Year’s Day.
2. The operator of a nuclear power plant in quake-hit Ishikawa Prefecture says tsunami waves measuring up to about 3 meters high reached the site following a magnitude 7.6 earthquake in central Japan on New Year’s Day.
3. Japanese leading ‘enka’ ballad singer Yashiro Aki has died at the age of 73. Yashiro was born in Yatsushiro City in the southwestern prefecture of Kumamoto, and made her debut in 1971.

1. Japan’s Defense Minister Kihara Minoru says a total of 6,300 Self-Defense Force personnel are now involved in efforts to hep areas affected by the powerful earthquake tat struck central Japan on New Year’s Day. Kihara told reporters on Tuesday that the number of personnel was increased by 200 from the previous day.
2. Taiwan’s ruling party presidential candidate says his election win would prompt China to review its Taiwan policy, even though Beijing currently does not see is party as a dialogue partner. Lai Ching-te of the Democratic Progressive Party is running in Saturday’s presidential election against Hou Yu-ih of the largest opposition Kuomintang party and Ko Wen-je of the second-largest opposition Taiwan People’s Party.
3. Schools in Japan’s Ishikawa Prefecture that were relatively unaffected by the powerful earthquake on New Year’s Day have reopened for their new terms.

1. NHK has learned from informed sources that data storage devices related to Japanese Lower House member Ikeda Yoshitaka were destroyed before Tokyo prosecutors searched his office and other places last month. He was arrested on Sunday on suspicion of violating the political funds control law.
2. Three candidates in Taiwan’s presidential election appealed for support during large rallies on the last Sunday before the January 13 vote. Key points of contention include ties with China.
3. Bangladesh’s Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina secured a fifth term in office in a controversial general election on Sunday. The voting took place in a tense atmosphere with the military and police heavily guarding each polling station.

1. Three full days have passed since a major earthquake struck the Noto Peninsula on the Sea of Japan coast, and rescue operations continue. The survival rate is said to drop significantly after 72 hours. The Ishikawa prefectural government says it has confirmed at least 92 deaths. 242 people were still unaccounted for as of Thursday night.
2. US Defense Department Press Secretary Pat Ryder has said “Our hearts are with the Japanese government” after Monday’s powerful earthquake in the Noto Peninsula. Ryder said on Thursday, “We remain in close communication with the Government of Japan and we do stand ready to aid in any way that would be most helpful to Japan.
3. The impact of some big news events, including earthquake on New Year’s Day, are on the minds of the chiefs of Japanese securities firms as we enter 2024. They gave their thoughts on what might be ahead for the economy. President and CEO of Daiwa Securities Group, Nakata Seiji, says the latest earthquake reminded the world that Japan is prone to earthquakes. He adds that the collision of a JAL jet with a Japan Coast Guard aircraft on Tuesday also raised concern about safety amid growing demand for tourism, especially inbound travel.

1. Qatar-based satellite TV network Al Jazeera says 14 people have been killed in Israel’s overnight bombardment targeting areas near an evacuation zone in southern Gaza. Al Jazeera says that many of the victims of the Israeli strike outside the city of Khan Younis on Wednesday and Thursday were children.
2. Russia and Ukraine have conducted their largest exchange of prisoners of war since Russia’s invasion began in 2022. Ukraine’s military said on Wednesday that 230 people, including soldiers and six civilians, returned home. The Russian defense ministry said 248 military personnel returned to the country.
3. Officials in Ishikawa Prefecture in central Japan say that 84 people have been confirmed dead after the magnitude 7.6 earthquake that struck on New Year’s Day. The cities of Wajima and Suzu accounted for the majority of the confirmed total. As of Thursday, 48 deaths had been reported in Wajima, and 23 in Suzu. A total of 305 people are reportedly injured in the prefecture.

1. Japan Airlines officials are shedding light on the dramatic evacuation of a plane that collided with a Japan Coast Guard aircraft on Tuesday at Tokyo’s Haneda Airport. They say all passengers and crew had escaped 18 minutes after landing. They say Flight 516 arrived from New Chitose Airport in Hokkaido, landing on runway C at around 5:47 p.m. The officials say the aircraft collided with the Coast Guard plane immediately after landing, and caught fire. The plane stopped after traveling about one kilometer, and the people on board escaped from three emergency exits.
2. Japanese seismologists have estimated that a recent earthquake observed in Ishikawa Prefecture was almost as powerful as the mega quake that generated violent jolts and massive tsunami off eastern Japan in 2011. Monday’s quake shook Shika Town with the intensity of 7, the highest on Japan’s scale.
3. More than 60 people are confirmed dead in Monday’s devastating earthquake in Ishikawa Prefecture, central Japan. Tens of thousands are still without electricity. Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio says emergency teams are in a race against time to save lives.

1. The extent of the damage following a massive earthquake along the Sea of Japan coast on New Year’s Day is becoming clear. The earthquake has left at least 30 people dead in Ishikawa Prefecture. Injuries are reported in the prefectures of Ishikawa, Niigata, Fukui, Toyama, and Gifu.
2. Roads are covered with mud and sand, and some structures have tilted in parts of Niigata City due to soil liquefaction caused by Monday’s massive earthquake.
3. South Korea’s main opposition party leader Lee Jae-myung was attacked by a man during a visit to the southern city of Busan on Tuesday morning. He was taken to the hospital while conscious. Local police say a man carrying a weapon attacked Lee, the head of the Democratic Party. Lee was reportedly bleeding from the neck when he was rushed to a hospital.

1. A massive magnitude-7.6 earthquake has struck Ishikawa Prefecture, in central Japan, along the Japan Sea Coast. People in those areas must evacuate immediately.
2. Chief Cabinet Secretary Hayashi Yoshimasa said it has been confirmed that many buildings collapsed after Monday’s magnitude 7.6 earthquake.
3. Japan’s Prime Minister Kishida Fumio told reporters that he has instructed his officials to provide people accurate information about the tsunami and related damages.

1. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has called for global unity to make 2024 a year of building trust and hope. The UN chief released a video message for the New Year on Thursday. Guterres expressed a strong sense of crisis, saying, “2023 has been a year of enormous suffering, violence and climate chaos.”
2. Tokyo’s Haneda Airport was bustling from early on Friday as year-end travelers left for hometowns or vacations. This is Japan’s first year-end and New Year holiday season sine the government downgrade and COVID-19 to the same category as seasonal influenza. 3. Major shipping firms in Denmark and France have announced partial resumption of services through the Red Sea. Many international carriers have suspended passages through the sea amid concerns about attacks on ships by Yemen’s anti-government Houthi group. The group has attacked a number of vessels in recent months in solidarity with Hamas in Gaza.

1. Matsumoto Castle in central Japan had a year-end cleanup to prepare for the coming New Year festivities. The castle, a designated national treasure in Matsumoto City, Nagano Prefecture, is cleaned every year at around this time.
2. Japan’s transport ministry has approved a plan by the Central Japan Railway Company to delay the start of its magnetically levitated train service from the initial scheduled of “2027 o later.” The company decided on December 14 to make the change for the section between Tokyo’s Shinagawa and Nagoya and filed for the change with the transportation ministry. 3. Researchers in Japan say a new coronavirus variant thought to be better at evading the human body’ immune system is becoming increasingly prevalent nationwide. The National Institute of Infectious Diseases says the JN.1 variant accounts for an estimated 31 percent of all detected cases this week, up sharply from 11.6 percent in the week through December 3.

1. A US firm researching the logistics industry says the operations of many commercial vessels in the Red Sea have been affected as Yemen’s anti-government Houthi group continues to attack ships in the area.
2. Tokyo prosecutors have begun searching the office of a Lower House lawmaker in connection with a fundraising scandal involving factions of the main ruling Liberal Democratic Party. On Wednesday, investigators from the Tokyo District Public Prosecutors Office raided Ikeda Yoshitaka’ office, which is located at the Diet members’ office building. 3. Suspended prison sentences have been finalized in Japan for three male former Ground Self-Defense Force members who were found guilty on charges of indecent assault of a female subordinate. The defendants did not file an appeal by the two-week deadline on Tuesday.

1. Japanese automaker Daihatsu Motor suspended operations at its main assembly plant in Osaka on Tuesday. This comes after irregularities were found in safety test data. Production has now come to a halt at all four of the carmakers’ factories in Japan. The plants in Shiga, Kyoto and Oita prefectures were shut down on Monday.
2. Sources say Tokyo prosecutors have questioned Hagiuda Koichi, a former policy affairs chief of the main ruling Liberal Democratic Party, on a voluntary basis. The move is part of an investigation into a political fundraising scandal involving the party’s largest faction, which was once led by the late Prime Minister Abe Shinzo.
3. The Japanese government has decided to impose additional sanctions against three more senior Hamas members. The Cabinet on Tuesday approved freezing the assets of the individuals, who are thought to have been in a position to use funds for terrorist activities. This follows a similar government decision in October against nine Hamas members.

1. Major Japanese department store operator Takashimaya says it is looking into why some of the Christmas cakes purchased on its online store were delivered in a damaged condition. Takashimaya issued an apology on Sunday after hundreds of customers contacted the company about receiving ruined frozen cakes.
2. Orthodox churches in Ukraine are further distancing themselves from Russia by celebrating Christmas on December 25, as the invasion of their country continues. Ukraine, like Russia, had observed Orthodox Christmas on January 7 according to the Julian calendar. But earlier this year, Kyiv officially changed the date to align with Western European countries. 3. A leading Russian newspaper says the country has been dealing with acute labor shortages this year. It adds that the problem will remain acute in 2024. Izvestia, the newspaper, said that Russia was short about 4.8 million workers this year. The figure represents more than 6 percent of the country’s workforce.

1. Students at Major League player Ohtani Shohei’s old elementary school got the chance to check out some of the baseball gloves the star has donated to schools in Japan. Three of the gloves, two for right—handers and one for left-handers, were sent to Anetai Elementary School in Oshu City in the northeastern prefecture of Iwate. About 250 students got their first look at them after the school’s second-semester closing ceremony on Friday. 2. Japan’s government has officially decided to allow a mission of the Self-Defense Forces in Djibouti to rescue and evacuate its nationals during emergencies in the Middle East and Africa. The mission is in the eastern African nation for anti-piracy measures in the Gulf of Aden off Somalia. It also gathers information to secure the safety of ships related to Japan. 3. Japan’s Daihatsu Motor is halting production at all of its domestic plants from next week following a scandal over test data irregularities. The automaker is also considering compensation payments to parts makers it deals directly with. The move could have an impact on regional economies. Daihatsu will stop production at all four of its vehicle factories in Japan.

1. Health authorities in Tokyo are sounding the alarm about a type of bacterial disease commonly spread among children. They are calling on people to take precautionary steps such as washing hands and wearing masks.
2. Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio says he plans to launch a national institute in January to study ways to ensure that generative AI technologies are safe to use and help promote benefits for society. 3. People in Indonesia’s Aceh Province have welcomed students from northern Japan to share their experiences dealing with earthquakes and tsunamis. Both regions have suffered from massive disasters in recent history.

1. Japanese automaker Daihatsu Motor is set to halt shipments of all its domestic and overseas models due to a third-party committee’s discovery of additional safety data irregularities. It was found in April that Toyota Motor’s fully owned subsidiary had rigged door parts in collision tests on cars for overseas markets. In May, it came to light that Daihatsu had improperly obtained government certification for hybrid vehicles for the Japanese market as well. 2. The top court in the western US state of Colorado has ruled that former President Donald Trump is disqualified from running for president in the state. The Colorado Supreme Court decided on Tuesday that Trump had engaged in insurrection by inciting his supporters to attack the US Capitol in 2021. The court said the decision is based on the US Constitution, which bars any person “engaged in insurrection or rebellion” from office, and that Trump is ineligible to appear on Colorado’s 2024 presidential ballot.
3.Japan’s Justice Minister Koizumi Ryuji is slated to leave his political faction after prosecutors raided the offices of two factions of the main ruling Liberal Democratic Party due to a fundraising scandal.

1. Japan’s Prime Minister Kishida Fumio has pledged to regain public trust as Tokyo prosecutors raided the offices of the main ruling Liberal Democratic Party’s Abe and Nikai factions over a fundraising scandal. But Kishida said he will retain in his Cabinet two ministers from one of the party factions under scrutiny.
2. Prosecutors in Tokyo have begun raiding the offices of two factions of the main ruling Liberal Democratic Party in connection with a political fundraising scandal. It is alleged that the factions failed to report the receipt of political funds in violation of the Political Funds Control Law. 3. Bank of Japan policymakers had no Christmas surprise for financial markets in their final meeting of the year. The central bank said it will leave its ultra-easy monetary policy unchanged after the two-day meeting ended on Tuesday. The vote among policymakers was unanimous.

1. The secretary-general of Japan’s main ruling Liberal Democratic Party says he will consider measures to ensure the transparency of political fundraising parties, including revisions to the political funds control law. 2. Japan is investing about 13 trillion yen, or over 90 billion dollars, to promote decarbonization efforts in the private sector. It will issue so-called green transformation bonds to cover the cost. 3. Colorful images projected on the exterior of a castle in central Japan are entertaining people visiting the popular tourist attraction.

1. Japan’s new top government spokesperson Hayashi Yoshimasa has vowed to restore public trust in politics under the guidance of Prime Minister Kishida Fumio.
2. Japan’s new Chief Cabinet Secretary Hayashi Yoshimasa has vowed utmost efforts to realize the early return of Japanese nationals abducted by North Korea. Hayashi, who assumed the post on Thursday, also took on the role of the minister to deal with the abductions issue. 3. Transport authorities in Beijing says a subway accident in the Chinese capital has left more than 100 people with bone fractures. Chinese media say the accident took place on Thursday evening when the last two carriages detached from the train while running above ground on the Changping line.

1. Japan’s Prime Minister Kishida Fumio is dealing with the fallout from a political money scandal. It involves a party faction once led by one of Kishida’s predecessors, the late Abe Shinzo. Kishida is trying to find a way ahead, and as part of that, he has replaced four members of his cabinet. The new ministers went to the Imperial Palace Thursday evening to be endorsed ceremonially by Emperor Naruhito. They have officially taken office. 2. Russian President Vladimir Putin has begun a year-end news conference with domestic and international journalists that features a call-in show with ordinary Russian people. The event began in a venue near the Kremlin in the capital Moscow at around noon on Thursday. On the conflict in Ukraine, Putin said there will be peace when Russia achieves its goals. He said those goals are the “denazification” and “demilitarization” of Ukraine. 3. An alliance of the ethnic militant groups in Myanmar says it will continue fighting to the end to defeat the junta, while the military says it held talks with the rebels amid intensifying battles. The Three Brotherhood Alliance said in a social media post on Wednesday it remains committed to ending what it calls a “dictatorship.” It added if needs more time and ongoing efforts to complete this goal, but its dedication remains strong with the entire Myanmar people.

1. Japan’s largest opposition party has submitted a no-confidence motion against the Cabinet of Prime Minister Kishida Fumio. The motion in the Lower House is in response to the political funding scandal involving a faction of the main ruling Liberal Democratic Party. The investigation by prosecutors has found that dozens of members of the largest faction of the ruling party, the Abe faction, received kickbacks. That includes six senior members. 2. The policy chief of Japan’s main governing Liberal Democratic Party has decided to step down in response to a growing money scandal involving the LDP’s largest faction. Hagiuda Koichi is expected to soon submit his resignation as the chairperson of the LDP’s Policy Research Council to Prime Minister Kishida Fumio.
3. The US Department of Defense announced on Tuesday additional military aid of up to 200 million dollars for Ukraine. The fresh aid reflects the US’ apparent intent to strengthen Ukraine’s air defense amid continued Russian missile attacks, which appear to be targeting Ukrainian energy facilities, a critical concern as winter sets in.

1. The Lower House of Japan’s Diet has voted down a motion of non-confidence in Chief Cabinet Secretary Matsuno Hirokazu over a political fund scandal.
2. A Japanese district court has found three male former Ground Self-Defense Force members guilty on charges of indecent assault of a female subordinate. The Fukushima District Court handed down two-year prison sentences suspended for four years to Shibuya Shutaro, Sekine Akito and Kimezawa Yusuke on Tuesday.
3. In Major League Baseball, the Los Angeles Dodgers officially announced on Monday that they have signed a 10-year-contract with Japanese two-way superstar Ohtani Shohei. The announcement quoted Ohtani thanking his new team’s fans for welcoming him.

1. Pro- Beijing candidates have swept almost all the seats in Hong Kong’s district council elections. The turnout in Sunday’s polls was a record low of 27.5 percent as pro-democracy parties were unable to field any candidates after a change in the election system. The turnout plummeted from the record high of 71.2 percent in the last elections in 2019 and was the lowest since Hong Kong was returned from Britain to China in 1997. 2. The White House says US President Joe Biden will meet with Ukraine’s leader Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Washington on Tuesday. The White House said on Sunday that Biden invited Zelenskyy for talks to underscore the United States’ “unshakeable commitment to supporting the people of Ukraine as they defend themselves against Russia’s brutal invasion.” 3. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has stressed the legitimacy of the country’s military operation in the Gaza Strip, saying “justice is on our side.” The Israeli military announced on Sunday that it had struck more than 3,500 targets in Gaza since December 1 when it resumed operations after a pause.

1. Japan reported a current account surplus for the ninth straight month in October, mainly due to a decline in energy prices. The current account is a measure of Japan’s trade and investment with the rest of the world.
2. Sources say Japan’s chief cabinet secretary’s office may have received more than 10 million yen, or 69,000 dollars, in kickbacks from selling tickets for political fundraising parties. Matsuno Hirokazu’s office allegedly failed to report the income over the five years to 2022 in its political funds report.
3. US President Joe Biden has stressed the necessity to protect civilians in the Gaza Strip during talks with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Biden expressed his deep concern for the hostages that remain in Gaza. The two leaders agreed to stay engaged to free the remaining hostages.

1. The US military has grounded all types of Osprey tilt-rotor transport aircraft deployed around the world following a fatal crash last week off Japan.
2. Japan’s Prime Minister Kishida Fumio is calling decisive action to deal with a deepening money sandal in the main ruling party and he is setting the tone by quitting his own faction. 3. NHK has learned a lawmaker of the main ruling Liberal Democratic party has likely received about 50 million yen, or about 350,000 dollars, in kickbacks with regard to selling tickets for fund-raising parties.

1. Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio has instructed factions of the main governing Liberal Democratic Party to refrain from holding fundraising events until the party takes steps to regain the public’s trust. Five factions of the LDP allegedly underreported the revenues from sales of tickets for fundraising events.
2. A spokesperson for the Israeli military has stressed that a certain level of civilian deaths in the Gaza Strip cannot be helped. In an interview with CNN, the spokesperson was asked to confirm a report that senior Israeli military officials have said around two civilians have been killed for every Hamas fighter killed by Israel in Gaza.
3. China has showed a positive stance toward recognizing the Taliban’s interim government as the legitimate ruler of Afghanistan. The Taliban established control following the withdrawal of US troops from Afghanistan in the summer of 2021.

1. The United States responded with caution after France urged the United Nations Security Council to adopt a resolution calling for a truce between Israel and Hamas. French UN Ambassador Nicolas de Riviere told reporters before an emergency session that the Security Council should adopt a resolution calling for a longer-term truce.
2. A senior White House official has warned that US aid for Ukraine will run out by the end of the year unless Congress approves additional funding. US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said, “Congress has to decide whether to continue to support the fight for freedom in Ukraine as part of the 50-nation coalition that President Biden has built, or whether Congress will ignore the lessons we’ve learned from history and let Putin prevail.” 3. Japan’s Justice Ministry has started a trial of using artificial intelligence to translate Japanese laws into English. The ministry last Friday began the experimental introduction of AI aimed at reducing the time required for translation.

1. Japan’s Prime Minister Kishida Fumio said he has no knowledge of having met with the Japanese branch head of a group associated with a religious organization widely known as the Unification Church four years ago. The Japanese newspaper Asahi Shimbun reported on Monday that the branch head of the group was present at a meeting between Kishida and former US House Speaker Newt Gingrich in Japan in October 2019. 2.Divers searching for the US Osprey aircraft that crashed into the sea in southwestern Japan last week have reportedly located what appear to be part of the plane and multiple people. Sources say the number of people the divers found on Monday morning appears to be five. The tilt-rotor transport aircraft of the US Air Force crashed off Yakushima Island in Kagoshima Prefecture last Wednesday. 3. An international environmental NGO has given Japan a satirical “Fossil of the Day” award at the venue of the COP28 climate change conference in Dubai. The Climate Action Network presents the awards every day during the UN conference to countries it says are “doing the most to achieve the least” to curb global warming.

1. Japan is facing the growing challenge of promoting solar panel recycling. Large numbers of panels will need replacing by the late 2030s. Renewable energy is one of the topics in the COP28 climate conference now underway in Dubai. In Japan, solar power accounted for 9.2 percent of the power supply in fiscal 2022 – the highest figure among renewable energy sources. Japan’s government plans to raise that to around 16 percent in fiscal 2030. 2. Japanese retail giant Seven & i Holdings has announced it will purchase the largest convenience store chain in Australia. The move is part of an effort to expand the firm’s business outside of Japan and North America.
3. Japan’s job market looked a little more positive in October. The jobs-to-applicants ratio was up for the first time in 10 months. The labor ministry says there were 130 openings for every 100 people seeking work. That’s an uptick of 0.01 point from September.

1. The body of a crewmember of a US military Osprey transport aircraft that crashed off the southern Japanese coast has been handed over the US side. Japan’s defense ministry says the Osprey requested an emergency landing at an airport on the island of Yakushima at around 2:35 p.m. on Wednesday, local time. The aircraft disappeared from Japan’s Self-Defense Forces’ radar screens near the island about five minutes later.
2. Delegates from more than 190 countries and regions are gathering in the United Arab Emirates for the UN climate change conference that opens on Thursday. COP 28 is scheduled to continue through December12. The conference in Dubai will provide the first opportunity for the delegates to assess the collective progress in the world’s response to the climate crisis. The assessment known as the “global stocktake” takes place every five years to find what each country or region needs to do to achieve the goals of the Paris Agreement. 3. Former senior Japanese diplomat Tanaka Hitoshi, who had known Kissinger for decades, spoke to NHK on Thursday about their relationship. Tanka is known to have led secret negotiations with North Korea in the early 2000s, which led to a historic bilateral summit and the return of five abducted Japanese nationals. “He mentioned that he and I had a common interest in preserving secrecy…”

1. The release of captives by Israel and Hamas continued on Tuesday, as a pause in the fighting in the Gaza Strip between the two sides was extended for two more days until Wednesday. Attention is now focused on whether the two sides can agree to a further extension of the truce, as the United States and other parties are working to achieve this.
2. An Osprey transport aircraft belonging to the US military has reportedly crashed into waters off Kagoshima Prefecture, southwestern Japan. Japanese coast guard officials say they received information that the aircraft crashed off Yakushima Island at around 2:47 p.m. on Wednesday. They deployed patrol ships and aircraft to the site. The Osprey was reportedly carrying eight people, but no information is available about their safety. 3. A municipality in Miyagi Prefecture, northeast Japan, aims to become the first in the country to certify that its oyster farming helps make the planet cleaner, by contributing to what is known as the blue carbon ecosystem. The concept is attracting attention as the world strives to curb greenhouse gas emissions. Blue carbon refers to carbon dioxides which are trapped and stored by coastal and marine ecosystems, including seaweeds such as wakame and kombu kelp. The town of Minamisanriku, in a major oyster producing region, is seeking blue carbon status for the seaweeds attached to rafts used in oyster farming. The town has teamed up with Tohoku University for the project.

1. Qatar says Israel and Hamas have agreed to extend the current pause in fighting between the two sides for two more days until Wednesday. Attention is now focused on whether the move will lead to more hostages being released and improvements in the humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip. 2. The operator of the Line messaging app is reporting a massive breach of personal data. Line Yahoo, or LY Corporation, believes that about 440,000 items may have been leaked, apparently due to a cyberattack on an affiliate’s computer system.
3. The organizers of the 2025 World Exposition in Osaka, western Japan, have invited the media to the construction site of the Grand Roof, the symbol of the venue. The Grand Roof, also called the Ring, was unveiled to the media on Monday, showing the progress in its construction. Three consortiums have been commissioned to take part in the project.

1. North Korea has described its launch of a military spy satellite as an exercise of its right to self-defense. 2. Israel and Hamas have conducted their third hostage-prisoner exchange. US President Joe Biden has expressed hope that the two sides will extend their pause in fighting and release more captives. 3. Ozeki Kirishima says he feels great after winning his first grand sumo tournament title since assuming sumo’s second-highest rank.

1. Japan’s Chief Cabinet Secretary Matsuno Hirokazu reiterated the government’s objections to a recent South Korean court ruling. The decision ordered Japan to pay damages to people referred to as wartime comfort women and their relatives. Matsuno also stressed the importance of cooperation between Japan and South Korea as tensions in the region rise. 2. A large-scale air show is underway in the southern Chinese province of Guangdong. A wide range of civilian aircraft are on display at Aero Asia 2023 in Zhuhai. More than 250 firms from China and around 20 other countries and regions are participating. Business jets that are seeing high demand among wealthy individuals and small propeller planes are among the exhibits. 3. Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio stayed overnight at a hotel after facilities malfunctioned at his official residence. Government sources say repair work was necessary at the prime minister’s residence. They declined to give details, citing security reasons.

1. There has been no official announcement yet on the starting time of a temporary truce between Israel and the Palestinian Islamic group Hamas.
2. A high court in South Korea has ordered the Japanese government to pay damages after overturning a lower court’s dismissal of a lawsuit filed by a group of people referred to as wartime comfort women and their relatives.
3. A documentary film featuring Palestinian children detained by Israeli soldiers has won the top ranking Japan Prize for the year. The prizes are awarded to creators of outstanding educational materials. There were 391 entries from 55 countries and regions for the 50th round of the international contest sponsored by NHK. The awards ceremony was held on Thursday in Tokyo.

1. Hamas and Israel say they’ve agreed to a four-day pause in the fighting in exchange for hostages. Qatar, which mediated the deal, confirmed Wednesday the four-day pause was in exchange for 50 hostages. Hamas also said Israel will free around 150 jailed Palestinians. Both sides say they will release women and children.
2. US President Joe Biden has welcomed the agreement between Israel and the Palestinian Islamic group Hamas on a pause in the fighting and the release of some hostages. In a statement issued on Tuesday, Biden thanked Qatar Amir Sheikh Tamin Bin Hamad Al Thani and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi for “their critical leadership and partnership in reaching this deal.” 3. The US Geological Survey says a magnitude 6.7 earthquake has occurred off the Vanuatu Islands. The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center says small tsunami waves have been observed in the area. No tsunami warning has been issued.

1. Japan delivered landmine detectors and vehicles to Ukraine during a handover ceremony held in the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv on Monday. The Russian military placed landmines across Ukraine after it invaded the country.
2. Japanese beverage makers and retailers are looking to AI technology to help reduce food loss and waste. Under the new system, AI would check damaged cardboard boxes to determine if they need to be returned to manufacturers. Seven major firms are drawing up uniform criteria. They are using AI to analyze photos of boxes to determine the extent of any damage. Warehouse workers have been visually examining boxes to determine whether they should be returned. 3.Japanese government narcotics agents have inspected a factory in Osaka City, western Japan, over the production of gummy candies allegedly containing a substance with a toxicity similar to that of a designated drug like cannabis.

1. Argentina’s right-wing congressman and economist, Javier Milei, has won the country’s presidential runoff. The voting took place on Sunday amid economic turmoil in the country, including soaring inflation. The electoral authority says with 98 percent of the votes counted, Milei had 55.7 percent, while Economy Minister Sergio Massa from the ruling center-left part got 44.2 percent. 2. The operator of the damaged Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant says it finished the third round of the treated and diluted water discharge into the sea as planned.
3. The final large-scale work on Tokyo’s JR Shibuya Station is complete, amid the ongoing project to extensively redevelop the area. At dawn on Monday, workers for East Japan Railway finished lifting the Yamanote Line’s tracks by up to 20 centimeters. Train services returned to normal following a planned partial suspension of services over the weekend.

1. The leaders of Japan and China have reconfirmed their stance of promoting a mutually beneficial strategic relationship and maintaining communications for a new era of bilateral ties. Japan’s Prime Minister Kishida Fumio and Chinese President Xi Jinping met for about one hour in San Francisco on Thursday. They held face-to-face talks for the first time since November last year. 2. Japan’s Prime Minister Kishida Fumio and US President Joe Biden have agreed at their talks to work closely together in responding to China and other global issues. The two leaders held a summit for about 15 minutes on Thursday during Kishida’s visit to San Franciso for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum.
3. Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio and South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol have confirmed that their countries and the US will work closely together against North Korea’s nuclear and missile development. The two leaders held talks for about 30 minutes on Thursday during their visit to San Francisco for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum. It was the seventh summit between Kishida and Yoon this year.

1. China’s foreign ministry is hailing the outcome of President Xi Jinping’s latest summit with US President Joe Biden. Speaking to reporters on Thursday, ministry spokesperson Mao Ning described the talks as comprehensive and constructive, with strategic significance and far-reaching influence. 2. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says Britain’s new Foreign Secretary David Cameron has visited Kyiv in his first overseas trip after taking up his new post. The former British prime minister became foreign secretary in a cabinet reshuffle on Monday. 3. Ukrainian troops have made some progress in their counteroffensive against Russia by securing a foothold in an occupied area of the Kherson region. The two sides are currently engaged in fierce fighting in Ukraine’s south and east.

1. The Israeli military has raided al-Shifa Hospital, the largest medical institution in the Gaza Strip. The military said on Wednesday that it is conducting what it calls a “precise and targeted operation” against the Islamic group Hamas in a specified area of the hospital. 2. Ministers from 21 members of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum have gathered in San Francisco. Japan’s Foreign Minister Kamikawa Yoko and Economy, Trade and Industry Minister Nishimura Yasutoshi were among the attendees on Tuesday. Issues on the agenda included sustainable economic growth. Nishimura said it is important to seek a diverse and realistic path to achieve net zero emissions of greenhouse gases. 3. Families with young children gathered at Zenko-ji Temple in Nagano City, central Japan, on Wednesday to celebrate “Shichi-go-san,” the traditional rite of passage for kids. This custom involves boys aged 3 and 5 and girls aged 3 and 7 visiting a shrine or a Buddhist temple on November 15 to pray for their growth.

1. Doctors at hospitals in the Gaza Strip have been working for more than a month in perilous conditions. They have seen Israeli troops fighting Hamas militants right outside their windows. Health authorities say 25 of the 35 hospitals in the enclave have closed. 2. Japan is seeing a clear recovery in tax-free spending by Chinese visitors, which was the key driver of consumption among inbound tourists before the coronavirus pandemic. International tax-free service operator Global Blue says Chinese tourists visiting Japan spent 25 percent more on tax-free goods in October than in the same month in 2019. That’s on a same-store companion. 3. The organizer of the 2025 World Exposition in Osaka has begun a meeting with participating countries and organizations. The organizer aims to accelerate preparations by explaining support measures, as a number of countries are behind schedule in building their pavilions.

1. Japan’s government has approved the resignation of State Minister of Finance Kanda Kenji, who repeatedly failed to pay taxes for his company. The Cabinet gave the approval on Monday after Kanda handed in his resignation. Prime Minister Kishida Fumio has decided to replace him on the grounds that the issue should not stall Diet deliberations. 2. Companies listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange are releasing their midterm earnings for fiscal 2023. More than half the firms that posted their results for the April-September period say they saw net profit growth.
3. NHK has learned that Japan’s government is considering providing defense equipment to Vietnam and Djibouti under a new security assistance framework. Government officials say the two countries are candidates to receive Official Security Assistance, or OSA, during the fiscal year that begins next April.

1. US officials have pressed their Israeli counterparts repeatedly for a pause in the fighting in the Gaza Strip. They say the Israelis have agreed to stop military operations against Hamas militants for four hours every day.
2. Japan’s senior national security official and China’s foreign minister have exchanged opinions on holding a summit between the leaders of their countries. Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio is considering holding talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping in the US city of San Francisco on the sidelines of the summit of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum next week. 3. In Major League Baseball, Japanese two-way star Ohtani Shohei has won the Silver Slugger Award in the designated hitter category. He received the award in the American League for the second time since 2021.

1. The foreign ministers of the United States and South Korea have agreed to take concerted actions against the military cooperation between Russia and North Korea. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and his South Korean counterpart Park Jin shared “profound concerns” about North Korea’s “growing and dangerous military cooperation with Russia,” calling it a violation of UN Security Council resolutions and a serious threat to the world. 2. A joint coastal defense drill has begun in the Philippines with five countries participating, including the US and Japan. The drill is part of efforts by Manila to strengthen multilateral security cooperation at a time when China is growing aggressive in the disputed South China Sea. 3. Japan is experiencing an unprecedentedly warm fall. Weather officials say most of the snow on the summit of Mount Fuji has now melted away. The Meteorological Agency on Wednesday said most of the snow on the top of Mt. Fuji has melted due to unseasonably warm weather over the past few days.

1. Britain’s King Charles has delivered his first King’s Speech in Parliament, outlining the government’s policy priorities. In the British tradition, the monarch reads out a speech on the government’s legislative plans at the start of each parliamentary session.
2. A senior US government official has reiterated President Joe Biden’s position on post-conflict Gaza, saying that reoccupation of the Palestinian-controlled area by Israeli forces is “not the right thing to do.”
3. Japanese exports of seafood to China in September plunged sharply from a year earlier. This was after Beijing suspended imports of marine products to protest the release of treated and diluted water into the sea from the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant.

1. US President Joe Biden and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu have discussed the idea of “tactical pauses” in the fighting in the Gaza Strip. In a statement on Monday, the White House said the two leaders discussed the possibility of tactical pauses for humanitarian reasons in the conflict between Israel and the Palestinian Islamic group Hamas. 2. Senior diplomats from the United States and China have met in Washington on nuclear arms control, ahead of an expected summit between US President Joe Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping. 3. A US research institute says that China is taking steps to de-risk its Belt and Road Initiative, as the country is moving to outflank its competitors. AidData, a research lab at William & Mary’s Global Research Institute, released a report on Monday saying it describes China as “the world’s largest official debt collector.”

1. The Tokyo Metropolitan Government has held its first drill using shelters designated for emergency evacuation in the event of a missile attack. About 60 people took part in the drill held on Monday at three places in Tokyo’s Nerima Ward, including Toei Subway Nerima Station and the Heisei Tsutsuji Park. At the subway station, participants began to evacuate when the central government’s J-Alert nationwide warning system issued an alarm for a missile launch. 2. People in Japan are getting bigger returns on their fixed bank deposits for the first time in years. The change follows a rise in long-term interest rates that accompanied tweaks in the country’s monetary policy. MUFG Bank previously offered returns of a uniform 0.002 percent for 5- to 10-year fixed term deposits. Starting Monday, it increased the 10-year rate by 100 times to 0.2 percent. It’s the first such increase in 12 years. 3. A senior UN official has urged the international community to hold dialogue with the Taliban and provide support for women and girls in Afghanistan. The UN Development Programme’s Director of the Regional Bureau for Asia and the Pacific, Kanni Wignaraja, spoke to NHK on Monday in Tokyo. The Taliban, which seized power two years ago, have been restricting women’s rights to education and work.

1. Israel is stepping up its ground and air offensive against Hamas in the Gaza Strip. The Israeli military says its troops have now completely encircled Gaza City. Following Thursday’s announcement, Israel carried out intense bombings of northern Gaza. Footage showed flares lighting up the night sky, while missiles rained down amid loud explosions. 2. A large float has toppled over at a festival in Shizuoka Prefecture in central Japan, killing one person and injuring at least 18. The incident took place on Friday morning during an annual festival held by Hirose Shrine in Izunokuni City. Police say one of the floats being paraded on the streets appears to have become uncontrollable and flipped on its side on a downward slope. 3. The Beatles have released what is billed as their “last” song which was produced with the help of artificial intelligence. The British rock group’s late member John Lennon composed the tune, “Now and Then,” in 1978, two years before he was killed.

1. The Japanese government has decided on a package of economic measures worth over 17 trillion yen, or 113 billion dollars, including income tax cuts. The Cabinet on Thursday approved the package designed to address the impact of higher prices as well as facilitate sustained pay increases and growth potential.
2. The funeral for China’s former Premier Li Keqiang has been held in Beijing, attended by President Xi Jinping and other top Communist Party leaders. Many citizens gathered near the venue, but police turned them away. State-run China Central Television said President Xi expressed his condolences to the former premier’s family, and that flowers were offered under the name of former President Hu Jintao, who is said to have been close to Li. 3. Japan’s Foreign Minister Kamikawa Yoko left Tokyo on Thursday for her visit to Israel, the West Bank and Jordan. Her trip is the first by a Japanese cabinet minister to Israel or the West Bank since the conflict between Israel and Palestinian Islamic group Hamas began on October 7.

1. The government of Thailand has asked Qatar to help secure the release of Thai hostages being held by the Islamic group Hamas. Thailand Foreign Ministry said, “On this occasion, the Thai side requested Qatar’s support in finding ways to ensure the immediate release of the foreign hostages, including Thai nationals.”
2. A senior UN official has called on the UN Security Council not to lose focus on the dire humanitarian situation in Ukraine, while conflict continues in the Middle East. Ramesh Rajasingham, director of the Coordination division of the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, or OCHA, said more than 9,900 civilians have so far been confirmed killed in Ukraine since the start of Russia’s invasion in February last year. 3. Japan’s two major airlines recorded sharp increases in net profit for Aril to September this year, clearly indicating a recovery from the coronavirus pandemic. The major factor behind the good results is tourism – a rise in both foreign tourists to Japan and Japanese travelers abroad.

1. A man has fired shots toward a hospital in Saitama Prefecture near Tokyo, possibly wounding two people. The suspected shooter fled the scene and reportedly holed himself up in a nearby post office. 2. Japan’s government is arranging another flight by a Self-Defense Force aircraft to bring Japanese nationals home from Israel as the military there steps up its attacks on the Gaza Strip. 3. Policymakers at the Bank of Japan have modified the yield curve control on the long-term rate again. The central bank redefined the 1 percent threshold as an upper limit with room for allowance, rather than a rigid cap.

1. China’s top uniformed officer has warned that the military “will not be soft-handed” if anyone attempts to “separate” Taiwan from China. The Central Military Commission’s vice chair, General Zhang Youxia, spoke on Monday at the opening ceremony of the Beijing Xiangshan Forum. 2. Images suggest that Israeli forces have entered northern Gaza and have advanced about 3 kilometers southward. Israel’s military conducted intense air raids and continued ground operations in the enclave on Sunday.
3. A new fact has come to light involving the retrial of Hakamada Iwao, who has been sentenced to death but has been pleading innocent for a murder case that occurred more than half a century ago.

1. China’s former premier Li Keqiang died early on Friday at the age of 68, according to state media. China Central Television says Li had a heart attack and died shortly after midnight in Shanghai after all rescue measures failed.
2. A US-drafted resolution calling for a “humanitarian pause” and a Russian resolution seeking a “humanitarian ceasefire” failed to pass in the UN Security Council on Wednesday due to a rift between the United States and Russia. Both resolutions condemned the October 7 terror attack by Islamic group Hamas in Israel. Gaza residents and the families of the hostages taken by Hamas are growing increasingly worried. 3. The total value of sales at Japan’s major supermarkets was up in September for the seventh straight month. The increase was driven by the rising cost of many items.

1. Israeli media says that a large number of hostages may be released from Hamas captivity within a few days. The Israeli government on Wednesday said that more than half the estimated 220 hostages still held by Hamas have passports from 25 different countries. 2. The number of shops and staff at Japan’s Narita airport has taken a big hit since the start of the pandemic. The slump comes at a difficult time for the transport hub, which is facing a resurgence in tourists and other travelers.
3. The Japanese government has approved the resignation of parliamentary vice-minister of education and culture Yamada Taro over a scandal. Yamada submitted his resignation to the education minister on Wednesday following a media report about his extramarital affair with a woman.

1. US leaders are calling for humanitarian pauses in Israeli airstrikes on the Gaza Strip to allow for international aid to reach civilians, but they say they oppose a general ceasefire. Palestinian authorities say the number of people killed in the bombardment has risen to nearly 5,800. So far 1,400 Israelis have been killed, most of them in the initial attack on October 7. Hamas is still holding 220 people hostage.
2. In a landmark ruling, Japan’s Supreme Court has decided that requiring people to undergo surgery to remove their reproductive functions when they wish to officially change gender is unconstitutional. A person who was recorded as male at birth but now identifies as a woman asked a family court to allow a gender change without surgery, claiming that enforcing it would violate their human rights and the Constitution.
3. The start of 2024 is still a couple of months away. But a traditional ceramics maker in southern Japan is hard at work producing figurines for the Year of the Dragon in the Chinese zodiac. Amakusa ceramics are designated as one of Japan’s traditional crafts. One porcelain maker in Reihoku, Kumamoto Prefecture, started turning out miniature dragons in early September, using locally procured stones as a base material.

1. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi has called on Israel to ensure the safety of civilians amid the conflict between the country and Hamas. Wang said China is saddened by the large number of civilian casualties caused by the conflict. He also said that while states have the right to self-defense, they should abide by international humanitarian law and protect the safety of civilians. 2. The International Atomic Energy Agency has begun its first survey since the release of treated and diluted water from the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant into the ocean started earlier this year. IAEA Deputy Director General Lydie Evrard said the IAEA’s mission will continue until the release of the water is finished. She said the IAEA will continue its safety review with objectivity, based on the science and with an independent approach. 3. As the Christmas season approaches, Japanese people enjoy eating a typical cream sponge cake topped with large, fresh strawberries. But this year’s hot summer is raising concern about a sufficient quantity of the fruit.

1. An NHK staff member in the Gaza Strip has obtained footage taken at one of the main hospitals there. The video shows children apparently wounded by Israeli airstrikes being carried into the facility. An official of the International Committee of the Red Cross called the situation catastrophic. The official said the hospital lacks adequate fuel to remain operational and medical supplies to save lives.
2. Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio has announced his intention to study income tax cuts, stressing that increased tax revenue will be returned to the people as a temporary measure to help them deal with rising prices. The prime minister said in his policy speech that the economy should be given the highest priority as Japan shifts away from the cost-cutting that has continued for three decades.
3. The leaders of the United States and five other Western nations have reiterated their support for Israel amid its fighting with the Islamic group Hamas. They also urged Israel to adhere to international humanitarian law and protect civilians.

1. US President Joe Biden has called for support for Israel and Ukraine, saying it is vital for US national security. Biden said, “We’re facing an inflection point in history. One of those moments where the decisions we make today are going to determine the future for decades to come.” 2. The latest data out of China indicates that a slump in the housing market is spreading throughout the country. New home prices declined in more major cities in September than in the previous month. The Chinese government is trying to reverse the lingering real-estate slump. Its countermeasures include easing mortgage-related regulations. The question is whether the government will take additional action.
3. Japan’s Diet convened for an extraordinary session on Friday. Lawmakers are to discuss rising prices and a draft supplementary budget for the first time since Prime Minister Kishida Fumio reshuffled his Cabinet last month.

1. Israel says it will allow Egypt conditional access to the Gaza Strip to deliver humanitarian aid. The Israeli government announced in a statement on Wednesday that “Israel will not prevent humanitarian assistance from Egypt as long as it is only food, water and medicine for the civilian population located in the southern Gaza Strip.”
2. The British government says Prime Minister Rishi Sunak will arrive in Israel on Thursday and meet Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Sunak plans to visit Israel and its neighbors through Friday to discuss ways to contain the fighting and provide humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip. 3. US vehicle maker Tesla has posted a nearly 45 percent decline in third quarter net profit. This comes as the company slashes prices to compete with rivals around the world. Tesla released its latest earnings report on Wednesday. It says revenues in the July-September period rose 9 percent from the same period last year to about 23.3 billion dollars. But net income plunged to about 1.8 billion dollars.

1. Chinese President Xi Jinping met on Wednesday in Beijing with Russian President Vladimir Putin. The two are attending an international forum on China’s Belt and Road Initiative. Xi and Putin sat down on the sidelines of the event to discuss their shared vision for the future. 2. The Chinese government released third-quarter GDP data on Wednesday showing the recovery of the world’s second-largest economy slowed down amid a prolonged slump in the real estate sector. 3.Prices of newly harvested Japanese rice have risen for the second consecutive year amid higher costs of fertilizers and fuel. The agriculture ministry conducted a survey during the September harvest season. It found that the average wholesale price of new rice was 15,291 yen, or about 102 dollars. For a 60-kilogram sack. That is up nearly 10 percent in yen terms from a year earlier.

1. Senior US officials say President Joe Biden will visit Israel on Wednesday to meet with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Blinken said Biden will be visiting at a crucial moment for Israel, the region and the world. He said the president will reaffirm US solidarity with Israel and discuss strategies to minimize civilian casualties in the Gaza Strip, which is controlled by the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas.
2. China is hosting an international forum on its Belt and Road Initiative beginning on Tuesday in Beijing. Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin are scheduled to talk on the sidelines. The Chinese government has said the two-day event is expected to draw delegates from more than 140 countries.
3. Asian pop music legend and Japanese singer-songwriter Tanimura Shinji died earlier this month. He was 74 years old. Tanimura was born in Osaka Prefecture, western Japan and made his musical album debut as a member of a three-man band, Alice, in 1972. Tanimura also enjoyed an active solo vocalist career. The song “Subaru”, or Star became synonymous with the singer-songwriter.

1. US President Joe Biden says it would be a mistake for Israel to occupy Gaza again. Asked if it is time for a ceasefire, Biden replied that Israel has to respond. He said, “They have to go after Hamas.” But he said, “I think it’d be a big mistake,” when he was asked if he would support an Israeli occupation of Gaza.
2. Growing worries about the Israel-Hamas conflict are creating waves in the markets, with traders in Tokyo sending crude oil prices higher over fears that further escalation could choke supply. Meanwhile, gold futures hit a record high in Osaka early on Saturday as investors piled in seeking safe haven from market uncertainty.
3. Fans of entertainers belonging to the Japanese talent agency Johnny & Associates have expressed mixed feelings over the closure of shops selling official merchandise. These so-called Johnny’s Shops, which sell photos and other goods featuring the agency’s talents, are scheduled to shut down on Monday. This follows the sexual abuse scandal involving the agency’s late founder, Johnny Kitagawa.

1. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken says he will visit five Arab nations in an effort to prevent a further escalation of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
2. The operator of Japanese clothing giant Uniqlo is expecting revenue to top 3 trillion yen in the current business year. Fast Retailing says it’s on track to meet that threshold for the first time with strong sales overseas.
3. Doctors have conducted a successful experiment using a robot system to perform remote surgery between Singapore and Japan.

1. Japan’s education and culture ministry has announced it will seek a court order to disband the group formerly known as the Unification Church. Education and Culture Minister Moriyama Masahito said, “We have interviewed over 170 victims, gathered information and considered the details of this case. As a result, the ministry will request a dissolution order based on the Religious Corporation Act.”
2. A vice-ministerial-level meeting of three countries jointly chairing discussions between creditor nations working to resolve Sri Lanka’s debt problems has been held in Morocco. Japan, India and France say the talks have been making progress, but many challenges remain. Sri Lanka has been facing a rapid weakening of its currency and inflation due to failed financial policies. 　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　3. Shogi star Fujii Sota has become the first player to hold all eight major titles after winning the Oza championship. The 21-year-old Fujii faced Nagase Takuya, the 31-year-old defending champion of the Oza title, in the fourth match of the best-of-five series in Kyoto on Wednesday.　The players spent a long time pondering their moves, and Nagase gradually got the upper hand. After they had both used up their allotted time, they had to make their moves within one minute. In that situation, Nagase failed to find moves that would lead him to victory. The balance then turned to Fujii, and Nagase conceded after the 138th move of the match. Fujii won the series with three wins and one loss.

1. The International Atomic Energy Agency says a team of experts from countries including China will visit Japan next week to collect samples of seawater, deposits and fish from the vicinity of the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant. The plant’s operator began the second round of the release of treated and diluted water from the damaged plant last week. 2. At least 2,100 people have been killed in fighting between Israel and the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas as violence escalates in and around the Gaza Strip. While Israel bombards Gaza with airstrikes, Hamas continues to launch rockets toward Israel.
3. China’s Foreign Ministry says the country will host the third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation in Beijing on Tuesday and Wednesday next week. Russian President Vladimir Putin is expected to visit China for the first time since the start of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine last year and hod a summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping on the sidelines.

1. Taiwan’s President Tsai Ing-wen called for peaceful coexistence with China in her address on Tuesday to mark Double Tenth Day, which Taiwan considers its national day. Speaking in front of the presidential office building in Taipei, Tsai said, “It is my duty as president to safeguard our national sovereignty and the democratic and free way of life of the 23 million people of Taiwan.” 2. The Japanese government is pushing for a shift to sea and rail freight as part of its strategy to address a truck driver shortage. One firm in central Japan has started loading its cargo on a specially designed type of ship as part of this transition. Shizuoka Prefecture-based Suzuyo is using vessels designed to carry wheeled cargo. This allows for the shipments to be easily rolled off and attached to trucks at their destinations. 3. The leaders of the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, France and Italy have expressed support for Israel and its right to defend itself from attacks by the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas.

1. In the men’s Rugby World Cup, Japan has failed to advance to the knockout stage. The Brave Blossoms lost to Argentina in the last match in Pool D by 27-39. Argentina took an early lead shortly after the kickoff. Japan scored its first try in the 16th minute after Amato Fakatava collected his own kick forward. But Pieter Labuschagne was penalized with a yellow card and forced off the field for 10 minutes. His absence helped Argentina to score 8 points. The Japanese players struggled with their opponents’ power and physical strength and couldn’t reduce the gap.
2. Japanese police say four people have been hospitalized after touching what appeared to be a chemical on board a Tohoku Shinkansen bullet train linking northeastern regions with Tokyo. 3. A giant panda born in Japan has been put on public view in the Chinese province of Sichuan. Visitors to the China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda have been able to view Xiang Xiang from Sunday.

1. One year after Japan fully reopened its borders to foreign visitors, inbound tourism is booming. Arrivals in August topped 2.15 million, about 85 percent of pre-pandemic levels. But the country’s hospitality sector has been struggling to keep up with the demand. One pressing concern is that there aren’t enough qualified tour guides. The shortage is so severe, it’s been forcing some companies to turn people away.
2. Sources say the northern Japanese city of Sapporo has decided to give up its bid for the 2030 Winter Olympics and Paralympics. They say instead, the city intends to aim to host the Games in 2034 or later. The city suspended efforts to build momentum for its bid in December last year, following corruption and bid-rigging scandals linked to the Tokyo Summer Games in 2021. 3. Prolific Norwegian author and playwright Jon Fosse has won the Nobel Prize in Literature. The Swedish Academy said on Thursday that Fosse is being awarded the prize “for his innovative plays and prose which give voice to the unsayable.” Fosse was born in 1959 and began his career in 1983. He chose to craft his works in Nynorsk, one of Norway’s two written languages. He has published numerous novels, poetry collections and children’s books.

1. A low pressure system and a front are dumping heavy rain on Japan’s northern prefecture of Hokkaido. Atmospheric conditions, mainly in northern Japan, have been extremely unstable. 2. Japan’s highest peak, Mount Fuji, has been capped with snow for the first time this season. The snow was observed on Thursday morning.
3. US Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer has confirmed he will be leading a bipartisan Senate delegation on a visit to China, Japan and South Korea next week.

1. US House Speaker Kevin McCarthy was ousted from the post on Tuesday with a vote of 216 in favor, 210 against and seven not present. All attending House Democrats and eight Republicans supported the move. One factor behind the motion is believed to be McCarthy’s failure to keep a promise he made when elected as speaker to work toward drastically cutting federal expenditures. Another is that McCarthy conceded to Democrats in order to pass temporary funding to avoid a partial government shutdown.
2. Japan’s education ministry says about 299,000 elementary and junior high school students missed school in the year that ended in March 2023. The figure, which has risen 10 years in a row, was the highest pm record.
3. Popular Japanese TV personality and actor Kuroyanagi Tetsuko has released a sequel to her 1981 autobiographical memoir “Totto-chan; The Little Girl at the Window.” The 90-year-old – whose childhood nickname was memorialized in her book’s title – says what prompted he to pick up her pen again was the ongoing war in Ukraine.

1. Two scientists whose “groundbreaking findings” transformed the threat of the pandemic have been awarded the Nobel Prize in medicine. Katalin Kariko and Drew Weissman were recognized on Monday for laying the groundwork for COVID-19 vaccines. Members of the Nobel panel say the laureates contributed to the unprecedented rate of vaccine development during “one of the greatest threats to human health” in history. “They have saved millions of lives, prevented severe COVID-19, reduced the overall disease burden and enabled societies to open up again,” said Richard Sandberg, a member of the Nobel Assembly at the Karolinska Institute near Stockholm.
2. A bipartisan group of US Senators, including Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, are reportedly planning to visit China next week with hopes of meeting President Xi Jinping.
3. Japanese opposition lawmaker Suzuki Muneo has defied a government advisory against travel to Russia and has held talks with Deputy Foreign Minister Andrey Rudenko. Russia’s Foreign Ministry says Suzuki, an Upper House lawmaker with Nippon Ishin Japan Innovation Party, met Rudenko on Monday.

1. The head of an animation firm in Kyoto City has denied in court that his studio stoke the idea for a novel, as a man accused of a deadly arson attack claims. Kyoto Animation President Hatta Hideaki testified as a witness in the trial of Aoba Shinji at the Kyoto District Court on Monday. Hatta said it is heart-wrenching that the incident happened due to Aoba’s mistaken belief. 2. Japanese talent agency Johnny & Associates says it is changing its name to focus on compensating the victims of its late founder. The agency has been at the center of a scandal over sex abuse involving Johnny Kitagawa. It also says it’s starting a new company to manage their roster of talent. The company says 478 people have come forward as of the end of last month with allegations of abuse involving Kitagawa. Of those, 325 are seeking compensation, which the company will begin distributing starting in November under a new name: “Smile-Up.”
3. Tokyo metropolitan police have arrested another ex-cram school teacher on suspicion of conspiring to shoot images of a girl’s underwear with a former colleague already under arrest. Police also referred the school to prosecutors for alleged violation of the personal information protection law.

1. The US State Department has announced that US and Chinese senior diplomatic officials held talks in Washington this week. The department said US Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs Daniel Kritenbrink met Chinese Vice Foreign Minister for Asia Sun Weidong on Wednesday. 2. Japanese Princess Kako, the second daughter of Crown Prince and Princess Akishino, will visit Peru in November to mark 150 years of diplomatic relations between the countries. Prince Kako will our the South American nation for 10 days starting on November 1. It will be her second official overseas trip. Japan and Peru signed a commerce and navigation treaty in 1873. 3. The US Defense Department says Ukrainian pilots have begun training in the United States to fly F-16 fighter jets. But the training program could be disrupted if the US government shuts down this weekend. Speaking to reporters on Thursday, Deputy Pentagon Press Secretary Sabrina Singh confirmed that English language training has started for several pilots from Ukraine. Such training is required for pilots to learn the technical terms needed to operate the fighter jets.

1. Tokyo Electric Power Company says it will start the second round of the release of treated and diluted water from the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant into the ocean on October 5. TEPCO says it made the decision about the schedule after examining the facilities for the release and the results of the first round of discharge and found no problems or reasons to change the procedure. 2. Japanese automakers have reported slumping new car sales in China in August. The firms have been struggling with their lineups of largely gasoline-powered and hybrid models as the country shifts rapidly to electric vehicles.
3. The latest trade data show that the release of treated and diluted water from the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant has hit Japan’s seafood industry. The value of exports to China fell more than 75 percent in August compared to the previous year.

1. Okinawa’s governor has indicated he will not approve by Wednesday’s deadline the Japanese government’s project for the relocation of a US military base within the southwestern prefecture. Tokyo plans to shift the US Marine Corps Futenma Air Station from the densely populated city of Ginowan to an offshore site at Henoko in Nago City.
2. Nursery school children in the northern Japan prefecture of Aomori were recently given the chance to harvest soybeans whose earlier generations had traveled to space. A local variety of soybeans were brought to and kept at the International Space Station for four months in 2010 for experimental purposes. The beans were planted at a local agricultural high school after their return from space. Students at the school have continued growing the beans since then. 3. Children have returned to a school in a town near the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv after a charity group there set up a bomb shelter as classes resume. Japan helped fund the facility. UNICEF says one-third of Ukraine’s school-age children, about 1.5 million, rely on online learning as their schools were destroyed or have no bomb shelters.

1. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi has hinted at the possibility of President Xi Jinping’s attendance at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in the US in November. At the news conference in Beijing on Tuesday, Wang unveiled a white paper titled “A Global Community of Shared Future; China’s Proposals and Actions.” He emphasized China’s commitment to working with other nations to create a beautiful future for humanity.”
2. Trial runs of a bullet train of the Hokuriku Shinkansen line have begun in an extended part of the line set to open in March. The new section links Kanazawa Prefecture and Tsuruga Station in neighboring Fukui Prefecture, both along the Sea of Japan Coast. 3. Nissan Motor has ramped up its electric vehicle strategy in Europe with a bold new target. It plans to sell EVs there by 2030. Nissan says that of the over one million EVs it has sold globally, one-third have been in Europe. The carmaker apparently hopes to get ahead of the competition as the continent speeds up its shift to EVs.

1. Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio has mapped out a new economic stimulus package partly in response to the continued high cost of living. “We’ve come through the pandemic and everyone is now struggling with high prices,” Kishida said. “We want to implement economic measures to appropriately return to the public the increased tax revenues, which are the result of growth.” 2. This season’s first auction of blowfish has been held in the western Japanese city of Shimonoseki, heralding the arrival of the traditional winter delicacy on the market. The auction was held early Monsay morning at the Haedomari fish market, which handles largest amount of the wild torafugu variety in Japan.
3. Shipments of Chinese mitten crabs have started in the eastern province of Jiangsu in China. The seasonal delicacy is also known as Shanghai hairy crab. In China, it is popular to steam the crabs whole and dip the meat in vinegar flavored with ginger.

1. Japan’s Crown Prince and Princess Akishino have attended a ceremony marking the 50th anniversary of diplomatic ties between the country and Vietnam in its capital Hanoi. The two are now visiting Vietnam. In a speech at the ceremony on Thursday evening, the Crown Prince said the bilateral friendship has been nurtured over a long time through constant efforts by people of both countries. 2. Japan, Germany, Brazil and India have confirmed that they will work together to try to reform the United Nations Security Council. The foreign ministers of the four countries, known as the G4, met on Thursday in New York on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly session. The countries are seeking to secure permanent seats on the council. Japanese Foreign Minister Kamikawa Yoko and the other ministers agreed that it is becoming increasingly important to strengthen the functions of the United Nations, due to Russia’s ongoing aggression against Ukraine.
3. Policymakers at the Bank of Japan have decided to leave the central bank’s easing program unchanged as they wrapped up their two-day meeting on Friday. Investors are now focusing on whether BOJ Governor Ueda Kazuo will offer any fresh signals on the timing of a policy shift at his news conference scheduled after the meeting.

1. British Foreign Secretary James Cleverly says Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is causing harm to people worldwide. He emphasized the need for the United Nations to undergo reform as the Security Council is not functioning as it should. Cleverly said Ukraine’s counteroffensive against Russia has been slower than some would like, but the country was being careful to minimize casualties. He noted that Ukraine has achieved success in that regard. He also stated that the UK will continue to provide support, assessing Ukraine’s weapons needs.
2. Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio has stressed the need for United Nations reform at a time when the rule of law is being challenged by Russia’s aggression in Ukraine. 3. Ukraine and Russia exchanged criticism at a special session of the UN Security Council, held to address the situation in Ukraine. The meeting took place at the UN headquarters in New York on Wednesday alongside the General Assembly. Attendees included Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskky, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken.

1. US President Joe Biden has hosted the first summit between his country and five Central Asian countries. The meeting, dubbed C5+1, was held in New York on Tuesday on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly. Along with Biden, the leaders of Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan attended the meeting. 2. Japan’s Prime Minister Kishida Fumio has called for international cooperation in tackling a range of complex problems the global community is facing in his speech at the UN General Assembly. He also urged reform of the United Nations.
3. Japanese transport officials are predicting that the country will be short of over 30,000 bus drivers by fiscal 2030.

1. The Group of Seven foreign ministers have issued a statement denouncing Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and calling for the immediate and unconditional withdrawal of Russian forces. The top diplomats met for about two hours on Monday on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York. 2. The Polish government is stepping up its border security as more people try to illegally enter Poland from Belarus. The two countries share a 400-kilometer border and Poland suspects Belarus is deliberately using migrants to destabilize the area. A spokesperson with the Polish Border Guard told NHK that not a single day passes without illegal border crossings. 3. An annual competition featuring dozens of giant pumpkins harvested from across Japan was held on Shodoshima Island, western Japan. The 37th giant pumpkin contest was held in the town of Tonosho in Kagawa Prefecture on Sunday.

1. North Korea says its leader Kim Jong Un’s latest visit to Russia has brought about a radical new turn in the history of the development of bilateral ties. Kim began his journey home after visiting Far Eastern Federal University and other places in Russia’s far eastern city of Vladivostok on Sunday. 2. Ukrainian forces say they have recaptured another village in the eastern region of Donetsk has they intensify counteroffensives in south and east of the country. The commander of Ukraine’s ground forces, Oleksandr Syrskyi, announced on social media on Sunday that his troops retook the village of Klischiivka about six kilometers southwest of the contested city of Bakhmut. 3. At the men’s Rugby World Cup in France, Japan lost to England in the Brave Blossoms’ second Pool D fixture. The game on Sunday night in Nice finished 34-12 to England.

1. Japanese police are searching the headquarters of used car dealer chain Bigmotor in relation to alleged used of weed killer leading to deaths of trees along sidewalks outside some of its shops. The firm is under scrutiny for allegedly filing fraudulent insurance claims after carrying out unnecessary repair work. Tree deaths by weed killer or other means near Bigmotor outlets have also drawn public attention.
2. Shipments of top-quality bigeye tuna have begun in the northeastern Japanese city of Shiogama, Miyagi Prefecture. The Sanriku Shiogama Higashimono brand name is given to premium bigeye tuna unloaded at the market from early autumn to winter. The selection criteria include freshness and fattiness.
3. Japanese musician Yoshiki has left prints of his hands and feet in cement in a ceremony at a Hollywood theater. He’s the first Japanese to leave his mark alongside those of legendary stars. The imprint ceremony for the member of the popular rock band X Japan took place at the TCL Chinese Theatre on Thursday.

1. North Korea says the country’s leader Kim Jong Un sand Russian President Vladimir Putin reached a “satisfactory agreement” on important issues in their summit talks on Wednesday. Putin also reportedly accepted an invitation to visit North Korea at a convenient time. 2. Japan’s new Foreign Minister Kamikawa Yoko says she hopes to build trust with her global counterparts at the UN General Assembly next week. She wants to visit New York next week to attend the UN General Assembly session and the G7 Foreign Ministers’ meeting. 3. Japan Airlines is using a sustainable aviation fuel, or SAF, on one of its international flights during a week-long trial. SAF accounts for 11 percent of the fuel on flight JL6 from Tokyo’s Haneda Airport to New York City. The carrier’s goal is for SAF to make up 1 percent of the fuel burned on all its flights by 2025. The ratio is slated to rise to 10 percent by 2030.

1. Japan’s Prime Minister Kishida Fumio will reshuffle his Cabinet on Wednesday evening. He made Liberal Democratic Party executive appointments earlier in the day. Kishida plans to keep Chief Cabinet Secretary Matsuo Hirokazu and Finance Minister Suzuki Shunichi in their current positions to maintain his administration framework.
2. Multiple Russian media have reported that President Vladimir Putin will meet with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un on Wednesday at a space center in Russia’s far eastern region of Amur. 3. Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un exchanged words in front of reporters on Wednesday at the start of their summit in the Russian Far East. Putin stressed the need to discuss economic cooperation, humanitarian issues and regional affairs. Kim said the two countries have much to cooperate on, such as in politics and culture, to meet the expectations of their people.

1. A special train carrying North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has entered the Russian Far East. Russian government sources say Kim and President Vladimir Putin are expected to hold talks on Wednesday. 2. The Russian and North Korean Ambassadors to the United Nations are showing support for each other as a summit meeting between their two leaders is likely to take place soon. North Korean Ambassador Kim Song backed Moscow’s veto of a resolution to renew sanctions against the West African country of Mali at the UN General Assembly meeting on Monday. 3. British scientist Ian Wilmut, who created the world’s first cloned sheep, Doly, has died. He was 79. Wilmut, who studied embryology and regenerative medicine, cloned Dolly in 1996 from the cell of an adult sheep. While the lamb’s creation raised hope that the technique could be applied to treatment of incurable diseases, it also sparked controversy over the ethics of possible human cloning.

1. The yield on Japan’s 10-year-government bond has risen to its highest level since January 2014. It hit 0.705 percent at one stage on Monday. A move by the Bank of Japan in July to slightly relax its grip on long-term yields has been putting upward pressure on the benchmark bond’s yield. 2. The operator of the damaged Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant says the first round of the release into the sea of treated and diluted water has been completed. It says there were no problems with the equipment or procedures.
3. In the men’s Rugby World Cup in France, Japan comfortably defeated Chile 42-12 in their opening group match. Chile scored the first try in the sixth minute of the first half. Then two minutes later, Japan immediately scored a try to tie the score. Chile temporarily lost two players one by one to penalties. Japan took advantage by scoring two tries, finishing the first half in the lead.

1. Tropical storm Yun-yeung is approaching central Japan and may make landfall as early as Friday evening. Atmospheric conditions are becoming extremely unstable in the Kanto-Koshin region. Radar analysis shows some parts of Chiba Prefecture received more than 100 millimeters of rain in one hour on Friday morning. 台風１３号　
2.The Indian capital of New Delhi is under tight security ahead of the Group of 20 summit. The two-day meeting will kick off on Saturday. The G20 leaders are expected to start arriving in the city from around noon on Friday.
3. Voting has begun in gubernatorial and other local elections across Russia. Voters will elect new regional and local leaders, including the mayor of Moscow and the governors of 20 regions. The country is also staging what it calls elections in four eastern and southern Ukrainian regions—Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson. Russia unilaterally declared the annexation of the four regions in September last year.

1. The head of Johnny & Associates talent agency has said its late founder, Johnny Kitagawa sexually abused young men, and she has stepped down from the president role to take responsibility. Julie K. Fujishima, Kitagawa’s niece, said at a press conference in Tokyo on Thursday that her uncle abused minors. Following her resignation, which she said took place on Tuesday, Johnny performer Higashiyama Noriyuki became the new president.
2. An internationally-acclaimed Japanese conductor will lead an opera performance in Odesa, southern Ukraine, in an effort to encourage people in the war-torn country. Yoshida Hirofumi will lead the production of Puccini’s “La Boheme” at the Odesa National Academic Opera and Ballet Theatre. 3. Japan has successfully launched an H2A rocket carrying an X-ray satellite, as well as a probe that will attempt to make the nation’s first lunar landing.

1. Public prosecutors have indicted a man suspected of throwing an explosive device that landed near Prime Minister Kishida Fumio in April. The Wakayama District Public Prosecutors Office indicted 24-year-old Kimura Ryuji on Wednesday.
2. Ukraine has reiterated its accusations that Russia caused the breach of the Kakhovka dam in the Ukrainian southern region of Kherson in June. Wednesday marks three months since the breach that flooded vast areas.
3. A health ministry survey of people in Japan who overdosed on over-the-counter drugs found they were overwhelmingly women and young. The researchers surveyed 122 people who were hospitalized after abusing painkillers and fever-reducing medication during the 18-month period through last December.

1. Japan’s government has decided to extend over 20 billion yen, or more than 140 million dollars, in emergency aid to domestic seafood producers. This is in response to China’s suspension of seafood imports following the release of treated and diluted water from the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant.
2. Leaders and top diplomats from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations kicked off a summit meeting on Tuesday in Jakarta. At the top of the agenda is the situation in Myanmar where battles are intensifying between the military that seized power two years ago and pro-democracy groups. 3. China’s foreign minister Wang Yi has demonstrated in talks with Italian counterpart Antonio Tajani that Beijing intends to strengthen bilateral ties. The move is apparently aimed at urging Italy to continue its participation in the Beijing-led Belt and Road Initiative.

1. People in Japan are turning to a tax-reduction plan to help the nation’s fishing industry after China imposed a ban on seafood imports last month. The program known as furusato nozei allows people to donate to municipalities of their choice in return for a tax reduction and gifts. China suspended all seafood imports from Japan in response to the release of treated and diluted water from the crippled Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant. The move is a huge blow for people in the fishing industry.
2. Researchers in Japan say they have found that a type of intestinal bacteria may protect against the development of diabetes. They say these bacteria may activate insulin, a hormone that helps reduce blood sugar levels. The group of researchers from the Riken research institute, the University of Tokyo and others published their findings in the science journal Nature. They surveyed more than 300 adults who were found to be at risk of developing diabetes because of their weight and blood test results.
3. Japan’s men’s basketball team has finished 19th in the FIBA World Cup after winning three matches and losing two. In the previous World Cup, Japan was in 31st place. In the Classification Games 17-32, Japan topped its group after beating Venezuela and Cabo Verde. The victory over the West African nation put Japan at the top of the six Asian nations that took part in this year’s World Cup.

1. Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio has urged people to act to protect their lives in a mock news conference for a national disaster drill on the centenary of the Great Kanto Earthquake. 2.The latest data out of China indicates that factory activity remained weak for the fifth month in a row in August.
3. Fishing trawlers have set out from a port in Fukushima Prefecture for the first time since the government began releasing into the ocean treated and diluted water from the damaged Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant.

1. The labor union of the Sogo & Seibu department store chain has staged a one-day strike. The flagship store in Tokyo’s Ikebukuro district was shuttered on Thursday. The strike is in response to the planned sale of the struggling chain. Sogo & Seibu’s parent company, Seven & i Holdings, decided in November to sell it to a US investment firm. 2. East and West Japan Railway company officials say an extended Shinkansen line along the Sea of Japan coast will be up and running on March 16, a year later than planned. The new section of the Hokuriku Shinkansen runs between Kanazawa in Ishikawa Prefecture and Tsuruga in Fukui Prefecture. 3. Japan’s Prime Minister Kishida Fumio has visited a wholesale market in Tokyo and vowed to draw up support measures for those affected by China’s suspension of Japanese seafood imports. China has been the largest importer of Japanese seafood. Last year, Japan exported marine products worth 87.1 billion yen, or about 595 million dollars.

1. The United Nations has emphasized the need to quickly implement the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty. However, during a UN General Assembly meeting, the United States and Russia, the world’s two largest nuclear weapons possessors, exchanged accusations against each other. UN High Representative for Disarmament Affairs Nakamitsu Izumi shared the General Assembly president’s warning that the world is closer to a global catastrophe than ever before due to Russia’s ongoing “war against Ukraine.” She stressed that the CTBT needs to be enforced without delay. 2. Members of Japan’s main ruling Liberal Democratic Party have asked the government to act internationally against China’s reaction to the release of treated and diluted water from the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant. China suspended all imports of Japanese seafood after the discharge began last week. Some public and other facilities in Japan have received many harassing phone calls.
3. Prime Minister Kishida Fumio says Japan intends to lead international efforts to achieve nuclear disarmament. Kishida said Japan’s leadership will be based on the results of the Group of Seven summit in Hiroshima and that the country will work to maintain and strengthen the framework of the NPT, Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons.

1. Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio will visit Indonesia and India next month for a series of international summits. In Indonesia, he will attend a summit of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, or ASEAN, and other meetings.
2. European Council President Charles Michel says both member countries and potential additions to the European Union should work to be ready for the bloc’s enlargement by 2030. Balkan states including Serbia, as well as Ukraine and Moldova, have applied for EU membership. But some in the bloc, are cautious about accepting new members, in particular countries that lack the economic power of current members, and also for other reasons.
3. Japan’s Prime Minister Kishida Fumio has stressed that his government will do its utmost to prevent damage to the country’s fisheries industry, in connection with the release of treated and diluted water from the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant into the sea.

1. The Japanese government has outlined a plan to build underground shelters where people can evacuate in the event of emergencies. The draft was compiled while keeping in mind a possible contingency in Taiwan. The plan says each shelter would be a robust underground facility with a door that can withstand blasts, a ventilation system and an emergency power source. 2. The organizers of the Paris Olympics and Paralympics are taking steps to ensure that next year’s events will be the most eco-friendly Games ever. Monday marks one year until the opening of the Paris Paralympics. One project involves using water from the Seine River to air condition some competition venues, including badminton and wheelchair basketball courts. 3. A group of Japanese companies is working on developing plastic drink bottles that are not made from any petroleum-based materials. They say the commercialization of these bottles produced only from bio-based substances would be a world-first. A substance called “para-xylene” accounts for about 70 percent of the bottles.

1. US media reports say the plane crash that is believed to have killed Wagner Group leader Yevgeny Prigozhin may have been caused by an intentional explosion. The private jet carrying 10 people crashed on Wednesday in northwestern Russia while flying from Moscow to St. Petersburg. Russian President Vladimir Putin sent his condolences to Prigozhin’s family on Thursday. 2. Members of the United Nations Security Council have called on Russia to pull out its troops out of Ukraine immediately at a meeting that marked 18 months since the start of the invasion. Japan’s Ambassador Ishikane Kimihiro said Japan will continue to support Ukraine. 3. US President Joe Biden has reiterated that Washington is committed to supporting Ukraine for as long as it takes to end Russia’s invasion.

1. Tokyo Electric Power Company said it has started discharging treated and diluted water from the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant. The first round of the release will happen over 17 days. The full process could take at least 30 years to complete. 2. A US think tank says the leader of the Wagner mercenary group, Yevgeny Prigozhin, was likely assassinated at the order of Russian President Vladimir Putin. The Institute for the Study of War noted that the Kremlin and the Russian defense ministry had been destroying the Wagner group and weakening Prigozhin’s authority since the armed rebellion in June. 3. Thailand’s new Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin took office on Wednesday, leading a coalition that includes pro-military parties with which his party had long been at odds. The Pheu Thai Party’s Srettha was endorsed by the king on Wednesday, one day after being chosen as prime minister in a parliamentary vote.

1. The release of treated and diluted water from the crippled Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant is scheduled to happen on Thursday. Ahead of the discharge, Japan’s industry minister called on people to enjoy marine products from the country’s northeastern region. He reassured the public that the items are safe. Nishimura Yasutoshi attended an event in Tokyo featuring seafood from across the country. 2. Scorching heat is continuing across Japan on Wednesday, with temperatures reaching extremely high levels from the morning in the eastern and northern parts of the country. Temperatures are projected to rise even further later in the day. Highs are expected to reach 39 degrees in Kitaakita City, Akita Prefecture, and 38 degrees in cities of Niigata, Toyama and Yamagata Prefecture’s Sakata. 3. Sake brewers in the western Japanese city of Kami have begun preparations for their first brew of the sake season using newly harvested rice. Sake brewing normally takes place during the winter months, but some brewers in Kochi Prefecture start preparing every August using rice harvested in the prefecture in summer.

1. Japan’s government has finalized when it will begin releasing treated and diluted water from the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant into the ocean. The plan sets into motion as soon as Thursday.　Prime Minister Kishida Fumio said, “The release is expected on Thursday, as long as weather and sea conditions don’t cause any issues. We will take responsibility until the discharge of the treated water is completed, no matter how long it takes, for the next several decades.” 2. Thailand’s ousted former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra has set foot in the country for the first time in 15 years amid rumors of a pardon. Thaksin arrived in Bangkok by private jet on Tuesday morning and was welcomed by family members and supporters. He knelt before a portrait of the Thai king and waved with a smile.
3. President Joe Biden is visiting the US state of Hawaii to inspect the massive damage caused by wildfires in Maui two weeks ago. He interrupted his summer vacation to go there. Biden walked through the scorched remains of Lahaina, a popular tourist destination that was devastated by the fires.

1. Scorching heat continues to grip Japan on Monday, pushing temperatures above 35 degrees Celsius in many places. Heatstroke alerts have been issued for many prefectures across Japan. Weather officials are asking people to check the Heat Stress Index, which is based on temperature, humidity and solar radiation, and take necessary precautions.
2. China’s central bank has lowered its key interest rate in what is seen as a bid to support the economy amid clear signs of a faltering recovery. Prolonged weakness in China’s real-estate market is prompting concern about the financial health of related businesses. Exports are also down sharply. 3. Former US President Donald Trump has confirmed that he will not take part in the first Republican presidential primary debate this week. Trump, who is seeking re-election in the 2024 presidential race, made the remark in a social media post on Sunday. The debate is scheduled to take place on Wednesday in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

1. A senior US official has stressed that the upcoming three-way summit involving the United States, Japan and South Korea will serve as an important opportunity to enhance their trilateral relationship. White House National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby said President Joe Biden “has focused very, very keenly on the Indo-Pacific since Day One” of his administration.
2. Struggling Chinese property conglomerate Evergrande Group filed for Chapter 15 bankruptcy protection with a New York federal court on Thursday. The major real estate developer was declared to be in default in 2021 after the Chinese government tightened restrictions on the property sector. In July, Evergrande reported an annual net loss of 14.8 billion dollars for 2022. It had posted a deficit of 65.3 billion dollars the previous year.
3. The mayor of Kaminoseki in Yamaguchi Prefecture, western Japan, says his town will allow Chugoku Electric Power Company to conduct a feasibility survey for building a facility to temporarily store spent nuclear fuel. Earlier this month, the utility announced its plan to conduct a joint survey of its site in the town with Kansai Electric Power Company.

1. Hawaii Governor Josh Green says the death toll from the Maui wildfires has risen to 110. Green said search teams have so far scoured 38 percent of the affected areas. He said authorities have added more people and search dogs to the effort, and enlisted additional experts to help assess DNA in a bid to identify the dead.
2. The Japanese government and the United Nations Development Programme have agreed to build facilities to recycle rubble left by Turkey’s major earthquakes in February in a Japan-funded project. The disaster killed 50,783 people and destroyed more than 310,000 buildings in southern Turkey. Workers still continue to demolish and remove damaged buildings.
3. Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio is scheduled to leave for the United States on Thursday afternoon for a trilateral summit with US and South Korean leaders. Kishida will hold talks with US President Joe Biden and South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol at the Camp David presidential retreat near Washington the next day.

1. A trail of destruction has been left by Tropical Storm Lan as it plows through central and western Japan. Weather officials say heavy rain is likely again on Wednesday in different parts of the country. They say rain clouds brought by the storm are hovering over the Tokai and Hokuriku regions. 2. The operator of the Tokaido-Sanyo Shinkansen line says services fully resumed ass of 2:10 p.m. on Wednesday. The Shinkansen bullet train had halted operations between Tokyo and Hakata due to heavy rain in Shizuoka Prefecture, central Japan.
3. Rescue crews in Hawaii have found the bodies of at least 101 victims of the wildfires on Maui over the past week. It is the deadliest natural disaster in state history. The crews fear that they will find many more bodies because they have managed to search only about one-quarter of the disaster zone. Flames and toxic fumes have prevented them from entering some buildings.

1. The fighting stopped long ago, but the millions killed continue to be remembered. Japan is marking 78 years since World War Two. It regards August 15, 1945, as the end of the conflict. That’s the day the public learned that Japan had surrendered.
2. South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol has called Japan “a partner sharing universal values,” and stressed his intention to step up the two countries’ cooperation in security and the economy. Yoon spoke Tuesday at a ceremony in Seoul marking the anniversary of the Korean Peninsula’s liberation from Japanese colonial rule.
3. Tens of thousands of homes are without power as Severe Tropical Storm Lan slams into Japan’s main island. Many residents have been forced to flee.

1. Churchgoers in Maui have been praying for the victims of the wildfires that devastated parts of the Hawaiian island. The death toll has reached 93 in the deadliest wildfires in the United States in more than a century.
2. Scorching heat continues across wide regions of Japan, with the mercury topping 38 degrees Celsius in Niigata Prefecture along the Sea of Japan coast on Monday morning. 3. Sources say Japanese police are planning to investigate two members of a suspected fraud group of Japanese nationals based in Cambodia after bringing them back to Japan.

1. Russia has launched its first lunar probe in nearly half a century, with the aim of becoming the first country to make a landing on the Moon’s south pole. Russia’s space agency Roscosmos said the Luna-25 lifted off on Friday from the Vostochny cosmodrome in the Far East. It said the unmanned spacecraft entered its scheduled flight path. 2. The number of people in Japan heading off to their hometowns, vacation spots and other destinations for the “Bon” holiday period appeared to have peaked on Friday. This is the first summer holiday in Japan since the government lifted all coronavirus pandemic restrictions. 3. The operator of the crippled Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant has found leaks in a hose used to transfer treated water. Tokyo Electric Power Company conducted a probe after higher-than-usual levels of radioactive material were detected in rainwater in the dike around a storage tank.

1. The Chinese government has allowed the resumption of group tours by its citizens to 78 more countries and regions. The destinations include Japan, South Korea, India, the United States, Australia, Britain and Germany. China announced the lifting of the ban on Thursday. It had been imposed from January 2020 to counter the COVID-19 pandemic. 2. A brother of a Japanese abductee to North Korea has called on junior high school students to gain a better understanding of the abduction issue and to support efforts to bring his sister home for a reunion with their elderly mother. Yokota Takuya, a younger brother of abductee Yokota Megumi, gave a speech at a gathering of junior high school students in Tokyo on Thursday. He heads a group of the abductees’ families.
3. Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio is considering a reshuffle of his Cabinet and executives of his main ruling Liberal Democratic Party as early as mid-September. The information comes from several government and party officials, who say Kishida, who is also LDP President, is looking to bolster his leadership amid flagging public support. Thursday marks exactly one year since Kishida last reshuffled his Cabinet and party executives.

1. US space agency NASA has unveiled the Orion spacecraft being developed for a manned flight around the moon, planned for next year.
2. The United Nations says it has secured approval from the Syrian government to continue using a Turkish border crossing to deliver aid to people in the country’s northwest, an area controlled by anti-government forces.
3. People in Japan have marked 78 years since the US military dropped an atomic bomb on Nagasaki. The city remains the last place to suffer a nuclear attack.

1. Weather officials in Japan are warning people to be on alert ahead of the arrival of Severe Tropical Storm Khanun. The storm is expected to approach the country’s southwestern region of Kyushu on Wednesday. Bands of active rain clouds are expected to develop in the Amami region and in southern and northern Kyushu through Wednesday night.
2. Former Japanese Prime Minister Aso Taro has said in a speech in Taiwan that “a readiness to fight” serves as a deterrence in the region. Referring to China’s growing military pressure on Taiwan, Aso said peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait are very important for the stability of Japan and the international community. He said countries around the world are starting to recognize this. 3. Japan’s current account surplus rose in the first half of 2023 from the same period last year, mainly due to a fall in the price of energy imports. The Finance Ministry said on Tuesday that the surplus for the six months through June stood at 8.1 trillion yen, or about 56 billion dollars. That’s up about 5.6 billion dollars from the same period last year.

1. Former Japanese Prime Minister Aso Taro has laid flowers at the grave of the former Taiwan President Lee Teng-hui, who fostered close ties with Japan. Lee died in 2020 at the age of 97. He had contributed to Taiwan’s democratization by allowing voters to directly cast ballots in a presidential race for the first time.
2. Severe Tropical Storm Khanun is on track to approach southwestern Japan by Wednesday. It is moving north with winds expected to reach 90 kilometers per hour. The Japan Meteorological Agency says Khanun is moving slowly over waters off the Amami region in Kagoshima Prefecture. Bands of active rain clouds could develop in the region and in southern Kyushu through Tuesday morning. Record-breaking precipitation could hit the Pacific side of western and eastern Japan through Thursday.
3. Tensions continue to rise in the West African nation of Niger, after military leaders who staged a coup rejected a regional bloc’s request to reinstate the president by a Sunday deadline. The coup leaders announced on Sunday that they closed the country’s airspace, citing the possibility of military intervention by the Economic Community of West African States, or ECOWAS.

1. Japan’s weather officials continue to urge people in Okinawa Prefecture to be on high alert as Typhoon Khanun nears the region’s Miyakojima Island. The typhoon has left two people dead and more than 60 others injured in the prefecture. Officials are calling for caution against high waves and storm surges.
2. The European Union, Norway and Iceland on Thursday lifted all import restrictions on Japanese food products that had been implemented following the 2011 accident at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant. Japan’s Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries says it welcomes the removal of the restrictions as it will boost reconstruction efforts in the areas affected by the nuclear disaster. 3. A variety of colorful fireworks lit the night sky over Nagaoka City in central Japan as one of the country’s most popular fireworks festivals opened on Wednesday. The two-day Nagaoka Fireworks Festival started at 7:20 p.m. with the release of three white fireworks, carrying with them a wish for peace. The long-standing event honors those who died in an air raid in 1945 and prays for recovery from a major earthquake that struck the area in 2004.

1. Data from Japan’s Fire and Disaster Management Agency show 7, 235 heatstroke patients were taken to hospital nationwide in June. The figure is the second largest for the month of June since the statistics began in 2010, following 15,969 recorded in June of last year.　 2. A Japanese government panel has proposed that the country’s average hourly minimum wage for this fiscal year be raised above 1,000 yen, or about seven dollars and 20 cents for the first time. The labor ministry panel members, including representatives from unions and corporate management, had been discussing a minimum wage hike to match the rising cost of living.
3. Policymakers at the Bank of Japan say they are introducing greater flexibility in their yield-curve control policy, or YCC. But they are otherwise leaving their ultra-loose program unchanged.

1. Donald Trump has been indicted in connection with his efforts to overturn the 2020 election. It’s the third time in four months that the former US president has been charged criminally. The four count indictment alleges Trump conspired to defraud the US by preventing Congress from certifying President Joe Biden’s win. It says that deprived voters of their right to a fair election. 2. The organizers of the Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai have proposed a new plan to help countries and economies get their pavilions ready in time for the event. The world expo is scheduled to open in April 2025, but construction is running behind schedule.
3. Japan’s Toyota Motor has unveiled its new Land Cruiser models, including the series’ first hybrid type. The move reflects the global auto giant’s carbon neutrality strategy to avoid solely focusing on electric vehicles.

1. A large and very strong typhoon is approaching Japan’s southern prefecture of Okinawa. Officials are calling on people to be on the alert for violent winds, storm surges and high waves. Japan’s Meteorological Agency says that as of 6 p.m. on Tuesday, Typhoon Khanun was estimated to be at sea 130 kilometers south-southeast of the prefectural capital of Naha City. It was moving west-northwest at a speed of 15 kilometers per hour.
2. Myanmar’s military says it has pardoned ousted leader Aung San Suu Kyi for some of the offenses she was convicted of. The announcement was made through state media on Tuesday. Aung San Suu Kyi was found guilty of 19 charges, including corruption, in unofficial trials, which in total resulted in a prison sentence of 33 years. The military says it has canceled the sentences for five of the offences. 3. Drones again flew into Russia’s capital of Moscow early Tuesday. The Russian defense ministry says Ukraine attempted to attack Moscow and its suburban areas with three drones on Tuesday. It says one of the unmanned aircraft crashed in a business district of high-rise office towers.

1. Japan has triumphed at the Fencing World Championships, clinching its first ever men’s team foil title with victory over China in the final. The win cam on the final day of the event, which took place in Milan from July 22 through 30, with qualifying points for the 2024 Paris Olympic Games on offer. 2. The Bank of Japan has released records from over a decade ago showing policymakers at the time hoped for early achievement of the BOJ’s 2-percent inflation target. The central bank’s ultra-loose policy has yet to meet the goal in a sustained way. 3. A record of more than 17 percent of male workers in Japan took child-care leave in the last fiscal year. More than 3,300 businesses and entities responded to the labor ministry’s annual survey in October. The results show 17.13 percent of eligible male workers took paternity leave in the year that ended in March, up 3.16 percentage points from a year earlier. But the figure is still far below the government’s target of 50 percent by 2025.

1. Data from Japan’s Fire and Disaster Management Agency show 7,235 heatstroke patients were taken to hospital nationwide in June. The figure is the second largest for the month of June since the statistics began in 2010, following 15, 969 recorded in June of last year. 2. A Japanese government panel has proposed that the country’s average hourly minimum wage for this fiscal year be raised above 1,000 yen, or about seven dollars and 20 cents, for the first time. The labor ministry panel members, including representatives from unions and corporate management, had been discussing a minimum wage hike to match the rising cost of living.
3.Policymakers at the Bank of Japan say they are introducing greater flexibility in their yield-curve control policy, or YCC. But they are otherwise leaving their ultra-loose program unchanged. The announcement came after the BOJ wrapped up its 2-day policy meeting on Friday. The officials said the yield on the 10-year Japanese government bond will be allowed to fluctuate in a range of around plus and minus half a percentage point as before. But now, they say they will conduct YCC with flexibility regarding the upper and lower bounds of the range, viewing them not as rigid limits. The BOJ will offer to purchase 10-year JGBs at 1 percent.

1. Life-threatening high temperatures were forecast across Japan on Thursday, and officials are urging steps to avoid heatstroke.
2. Tourists at the Shuzenji hot-spring resort in Izu City, Shizuoka Prefecture, are taking a respite from the scorching heat by dipping their feet in a cold footbath.
3. NATO says it is strengthening surveillance and reconnaissance activities in the Black Sea region following Russia’s pullout from a deal to allow grain exports from Ukrainian ports.

1. Cambodia’s long-serving Prime Minister Hun Sen said on Wednesday that he will step down in the coming weeks. He has named his eldest son, Hun Manet, as his successor. 2. Russia’s Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu has arrived in North Korea, where he is due to attend events marking the 70th anniversary of the Korean War Armistice.
3. The whereabouts of China’s foreign minister, Qin Gang, has been a source of mystery both inside and outside Beijing. He has been out of the public eye for a month. Now, he has been ousted from his job without explanation from Chinese leaders.

1. Twenty-five years have passed since a fatal arsenic poisoning at a summer festival in western Japan. Four people, including an elementary school student, died and 63 others developed poisoning symptoms after eating curry served at a community festival in Wakayama City on July 25, 1998. 2. Climate activist Greta Thunberg has been fined by a Swedish court for disobeying police during a protest last month. Thunberg was charged after blocking the road for oil trucks in the southern Swedish city of Malmo and refusing police orders to disperse on June 19. 3. A maze created in a field with about 50,000 sunflowers in northern Japan’s Yamagata Prefecture has opened to the public. Local people use an idle field in Tendo City to make the labyrinth every summer. About 50,000 sunflowers have grown as tall as two meters high. The field is around 5,000 square meters in size. The path is roughly 500 meters long.

1. This year’s air-raid evacuation drills began in Taiwan on Monday. The annual exercises are aimed at preparing people for possibilities such as a missile attack by China. The drills are being held separately in four regions across Taiwan through Thursday. 2. Rising costs have forced the organizer of a fireworks festival in western Japan to drastically increase the number of paid seats to help finance the event. The Matsue Suigosai Fireworks display in Shimane Prefecture has been held nearly every summer for about 100 years. 3. A senior Japanese government official says China is spreading inaccurate information about Tokyo’s plan to release treated and diluted water from the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant into the ocean. Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Isozaki Yoshihiko told reporters on Monday that some of the information being released by China is false, and the Japanese government has made science-based objections on multiple occasions.

1. Japan’s Chief Cabinet Secretary Matsuno Hirokazu says Japan will strongly demand at the United Nations Security Council that Russia returns to an international framework to allow Ukraine to resume its grain exports. The UN Security Council will convene an emergency meeting on Friday to discuss Russia’s withdrawal from the deal.
2. The suspected leader of a group believed to have committed a series of robberies across Japan may have given instructions from the Philippines in a robbery that took place in Chiba Prefecture earlier this year. Imamura Kiyoto has been arrested on suspicion of giving instructions to three assailants involved in the incident in Japan at a recycling shop in Oamishirasato City. The three beat and injured the owner of the shop.
3. Japanese weather officials say they have observed a new tropical storm over waters east of the Philippines. The Meteorological Agency said on Friday morning that Tropical Storm Doksuri is moving north-northwest at a speed of 15 kilometers per hour. Tropical Storm Doksuri=台風５号

1. Workers at the Acropolis, Greece’s top tourist attraction, say they will go on strike from Thursday to protest being forced to work in scorching temperatures. Staff at the UNESCO World Heritage site in Athens will stop working at 4 p.m. each day. The Acropolis is normally open daily from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. The union of workers at the ancient site says that given the problems they have faced in recent days, they have unanimously decided on the measures to protect the health of staff and visitors. 2. The United States has warned that Russia may attack civilian ships in the Black Sea, in addition to the recent attacks on Ukrainian grain facilities.
3. The head of Britain’s MI6 intelligence service says Russian President Vladimir Putin is “clearly under pressure.” He also called on Russians to collaborate with MI6.

1. The Japanese consul general in Portland, a city in the western US state of Oregon, was attacked by an apparent homeless woman in the city’s downtown area last month. Japan’s Foreign Ministry says that on June 17, Consul General Yoshioka Yuzo suffered a cut to his head after being pushed to the ground by a stranger and hitting the pavement.
2. Britain is set to enact legislation that will prevent migrants from claiming asylum if they come across the English channel by boat or arrive through other unauthorized means. The Illegal Migration Bill was passed by parliament on Monday and will now go for royal assent. The bill places a duty on the government to refuse asylum applications from illegal arrivals in principle, and to detain and deport them.
3. Tokyo’s Haneda Airport reopened the International Flight Area in Terminal 2 on Wednesday. That section of the terminal was shut down, due to the coronavirus pandemic. Terminal 2 is one of Haneda Airport’s domestic terminals. The International Flight Area was opened in March of 2020 to increase the number of international flights at the airport.

1. Finance ministers and central bank chiefs from the Group of 20 major economies have begun their second day of talks in India. Japanese Finance Minister Suzuki Shunichi and Bank of Japan Governor Ueda Kazuo are taking part in the meeting in Gandhinagar, in the state of Gujarat. Tuesday’s discussions are expected to focus on developing countries’ debts. 2. Iran’s grain imports from Russia, which has friendly ties with Tehran, have been increasing sharply this year as Western sanctions against both countries continue. Iran’s customs authorities say the country imported about 740,000 tons of grain from Russia in the three-month period through June. That’s about 1.5 times more than in the same period last year, and 2.5 times that of 2021. 3. Japanese government officials are expressing deep concerns over Russia’s decision to halt a deal that allows Ukraine’s grain exports to continue from Black Sea ports.

1. A group of researchers says a higher basal body temperature made intestinal bacteria more active in mice and prevented them from becoming seriously ill with influenza. The group includes Associate Professor Ichinohe Takeshi of the University of Tokyo’s Institute of Medical Science. The researchers took note that mice with high basal body temperatures are less likely to develop serious symptoms if they are infected with flue.
2. Japanese tennis player Oda Tokito has won the men’s wheelchair singles title at Wimbledon for the first time. It is his second Grand Slam title following the French Open last month. 17-year-old Oda is ranked number one in the world. He faced second-ranked Alfie Hewett of Britain in the final on Sunday. 3. Japanese Actor Suzuki Ryohei has won the Screen International Rising Star award at the New York Asian Film Festival for his performance in the gay romance drama “Egoist.” Suzuki played the main character – a gay person navigating his relationship with his lover and the lover’s mother – in the film that was screened on Saturday.

1. News outlets say that US authorities have opened an investigation into the developer of Chat GPT, the Al-powered chatbot. The Federal Trade commission is reportedly probing whether California-based OpenAI has violated consumer protection laws. It says ChatGPT can generate responses hat make “false, misleading, disparaging or harmful” statements about people.
2. The operator of Japanese clothing giant Uniqlo has posted record sales and profit for the nine months through May. The numbers were driven by strong sales overseas. Fast Retailing said its consolidated revenue for the period rose 21.4 percent from a year earlier to about 2.14 trillion yen. That’s about 15.3 billion dollars. Net profit also increased 0.3 percent. 3. A Hollywood actors’ union has decided to go on strike for the first time in 43 years. It is calling for higher pay and for the use of artificial intelligence to be regulated. The actors are seeking an increase in pay and residuals from streaming services.

1. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has welcomed the long-term security guarantees from the leaders of the Group of Seven nations. The G7 nations issued a joint declaration on the sidelines of the NATO summit held in Lithuania. They pledged long-term support for Ukraine, including ensuring a sustainable force capable of deterring Russian aggression in the future. 2. Thailand’s Foreign Minister Don Pramudwinai says he had a meeting on Sunday with Myanmar’s de-facto leader Aung San Suu Kyi, who was ousted in a 2021 military coup and later jailed, and that she is in good health.
3. A survey by Japan’s central bank shows that a record of over 95 percent of people say prices have risen from a year ago, but a growing number also feel that economic conditions are improving.

1. Japan’s defense ministry says it believes the missile North Korea launched earlier Wednesday fell into the Sea of Japan outside of the exclusive economic zone. Officials also confirm it was an intercontinental ballistic missile-class. Tokyo says it has lodged a protest. 2. A major trans-Pacific trade deal has come into force in all 11 countries that originally signed it. This comes after the Southeast Asian nation of Brunei completed its ratification process. The deal, known as the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership, creates a massive free trade bloc spanning the Pacific.
3. Japanese businesses are lending a hand to municipalities in the transition to electric vehicles, launching new services that help local governments replace their official-use cars with EVs. A group company of major trading firm Mitsubishi Corporation is leasing out nearly 200 EVs to Tokyo’s Setagaya Ward starting this month. This will help lower the cost of making the switch to eco-friendly transportation.

1. Japan’s Prime Minister Kishida Fumio, who is an route to Europe, is expected to visit Poland on Tuesday before heading to Lithuania. Kishida and Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki are planning to exchange views on the effects that a prolonged military invasion by Russia may have on neighboring countries and on future ways of support.
2. Japan’s Foreign Minister Hayashi Yoshimasa is scheduled to attend the Association of Southeast Asian Nations’ meetings in Indonesia from Wednesday. Hayashi said he plans to exchange views about Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the North Korean situation. He said he will also confirm that they will cooperate to realize a free and open Indo-Pacific. 3. Consumers conscious about food sustainability are increasingly switching to plant-based food instead of meat and dairy products. Seven-Eleven Japan says it will start selling rice balls and nuggets made with alternative forms of protein from this month.

1. A Kremlin spokesperson has revealed that Russian President Vladimir Putin met Yevgeny Prigozhin, leader of the Wagner Group mercenary force, just days after the group’s mutiny. 2. Russia’s top general, Chief of the General Staff Valery Gerasimov, has been seen in public for the first time since a June mercenary mutiny.
3. Some NATO member nations have expressed opposition to the use or provision of cluster munitions after the United States’ recent decision to furnish them to Ukraine for its counteroffensive against Russian forces.

1. A Japanese group of dementia patients and their families is seeking the speedy approval in Japan of a drug for Alzheimer’s disease. The United States fully approve lecanemab on Thursday. It was jointly developed by Japanese pharmaceutical firm Eisai and its US partner Biogen. 2. A group of foreign residents of western Japan’s Tokushima Prefecture is preparing to join one of the country’s leading summer dance festivals in August. The Awa Odori features groups of dancers wearing summer kimonos or Japanese happi coats performing to the lively tune of chimes, drums, flutes and “shamisen” strings.
3. Japan’s independent committee tasked with protecting personal information says it will conduct an onsite inspection at the Digital Agency. This comes after errors were made when some My Number national ID cards were processed. The Digital Agency was created by the government to speed up digitalization in Japan. As of July 4th, 940 cases had been confirmed in which an individual’s national ID number was linked to a stranger’s bank account. Such bank accounts are used to receive pension payments and other benefits.

1. Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko says the leader of Russian private military firm Wagner Group, Yevgeny Prigozhin, is back in Russia. The Belarusian president last month said the mercenary leader was in Belarus. He reportedly said Prigozhin is in St. Petersburg or may have moved to Moscow or somewhere else, but he is now not in Belarus.
2. US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen has arrived in Beijing for high-level talks, amid growing tensions over semiconductor exports. Yellen’s visit to China is her first as treasury secretary. She will remain there through Sunday.
3. One of Japan’s biggest travel agencies is tipping that domestic travel will return to pre-pandemic levels this summer. JTB forecasts that between July 15 and August 31, 72-and-a-half million people will take trips around the country with at least one overnight stay. That’s on par with the level in 2019.

1. International Atomic Energy Agency chief Rafael Grossi met residents of Fukushima Prefecture on Wednesday to alleviate concerns over Japan’s plan to release treated and diluted water from the crippled Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant into the ocean. 2. Rice has been a staple of Japanese cuisine for centuries, but domestic consumption is on the decline. A producers’ association has launched a promotion to combat this trend. It urges restaurants to offer more “donburi” items, or dishes served in bowls of rice. 3. Britain’s defense ministry says Russia has used a massive amount of antitank mines to slow the advance of Ukraine’s forces in the country’s south. The ministry said on Tuesday that in recent weeks, Russia has prioritized and refined tactics aimed at slowing Ukrainian armored counteroffensive operations in the south. It also said Russia attempted to strike Ukrainian armored vehicles with drones, attack helicopters and artillery.

1.Children at an elementary school in a village in Kumamoto Prefecture, southwestern Japan, have marked the third anniversary of deadly flooding that hit the region. In July 2020, the Kuma River flooded after record rainfall, killing 25 people in Kuma Village.
2. Japanese weather officials are warning that southwestern Japan’s Kyushu region could be hit by mudslides and torrential downpours. Rain clouds have developed in southern Kyushu, due to the effects of a stationary active front in the area.
3. The speaker of Taiwan’s legislature has arrived by ship at Yonaguni Island in Japan’s Okinawa Prefecture. You Si-kun boarded a high-speed boat on Tuesday morning in Suao in his home country of Yilan. Yonaguni is Japan’s westernmost island, just over 100 kilometers from Suao.

1. Two astronauts chosen for the role by Japan’s space agency in February have spoken to reporters in Tokyo before they begin training together. Suwa Makoto and Yoneda Ayu were selected as astronauts in the first screening process in the country in 14 years. They gave their first in-person joint news conference on Monday at a Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, or JAXA, location in Tokyo. 2. Sales of new vehicles in Japan surged in the first half of this year as a semiconductor shortage eased. Auto industry groups say that more than 2.4 million units were sold from January to June. 3. Thousands of people have rallied across Australia in support of a campaign to recognize Indigenous peoples in the Constitution. Activists are seeking to shore up the “yes” vote ahead of a referendum on whether to give the country’s original inhabitants a say in key policies affecting them.

1. The Peace Memorial Park in Hiroshima and the Pearl Harbor National Memorial in the US state of Hawaii have established sister ties despite dissent by people including atomic survivors. A signing ceremony was held at the US Embassy in Tokyo on Thursday. 2. The head of the International Atomic Energy Agency will visit Japan next week to discuss the country’s plan to release treated and diluted water from the damaged Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant into the ocean. IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi will meet with Japanese Foreign Minister Hayashi Yoshimasa and other officials. He also plans to inspect the Fukushima Daiichi plant. 3. China’s national security law for Hong Kong that has been in effect for three years is impacting people’s daily lives in the region. The owner of a small store there says she recently came under police surveillance. Debby Chan was elected to a district council for the first time in 2019 as a pro-democracy lawmaker. But she chose to resign when the security law took effect on June 30, 2020. She then opened a store selling food and other items. Police began to monitor her closely after she started handing out candles to her customers last month, ahead of the anniversary of the Chinese military’s crackdown on pro-democracy demonstrators in Beijing’s Tiananmen Square. June 4 marked 34 years since the incident.

1. A Russian newspaper says a senior general with the country’s military has been arrested in connection to the rebellion carried out by the Wagner Group. The Moscow Times said Surovikin, the deputy commander of Russia’s military operation in Ukraine, reportedly chose to side with Wagner leader Yevgeny Prigozhin during the uprising. The two are said to have been close. 2. Western leaders say the recent armed rebellion led by Yevgeny Prigozhin, head of the Wagner mercenary group, has undermined the leadership of Russian President Vladimir Putin. US President Joe Biden was asked by reporters at the White House on Wednesday if Putin had been weakened by the uprising. He said, “Absolutely.”
3. Japan and South Korea have agreed to resume a currency swap deal between the two countries, in another sign that bilateral relations are warming.

1. Japan’s COVID-19 cases are rising again, especially in the southern prefecture of Okinawa, as people enjoy normal summer activities for the first time in three years. Some doctors fear another wave is imminent, after the government downgraded the coronavirus to the same category as seasonal flue in May. Okinawa had 157 coronavirus patients admitted to hospitals in the week through Sunday, about 1.3 times more than in the previous week.
2. The North Korean Institute has criticized the Japanese government for hosting a UN symposium on Norea’s abduction of Japanese and other foreign nationals. According to the institute, the abduction issue has been completely, finally and irreversibly settled thanks to North Korea’s sincere efforts. 3. The founder of the Wagner mercenary group, Yevgeny Prigozhin, has kept people guessing as to his whereabouts since he led a march on Moscow on Saturday. He called off the uprising and agreed to go into exile. Now, he has ended days of speculation by showing up in Belarus.

1.An independent Belarusian group says a private jet apparently owned by Yevgeny Prigozhin, the head of Russian private military firm Wagner Group, has landed at a military airfield near the Belarusian capital Minsk. The independent monitoring project Hajun reported the arrival of the business jet on Tuesday. It is not known whether Prigozhin was onboard the plane. 2. Tokyo police say Kabuki actor Ichikawa Ennosuke is admitting to allegations that he helped his mother kill herself. Ennosuke, whose real name is Kinoshi Takahiko, was arrested on Tuesday on suspicion of helping his mother kill herself by giving her sleeping drugs. 3. A Russian independent media outlet says new camps for members of Russia’s Wagner mercenary group are being constructed in Belarus, where the group’s founder, Yevgeny Prigozhin, is reportedly going into exile.

1. A US media outlet says Janet Yellen, the country’s treasury secretary, may visit Beijing early next month for high-level economic talks with her Chinese counterpart. Attention is focused on whether the visit, if it happens, will help improve the strained relations between the world’s No.1 and No. 2 economic powers.
2. Mercenaries have challenged Russian authorities by marching toward Moscow. But the leader of the Wagner Group, Yevgeny Prigozhin, says he had not intention of seizing power. Officials in the Kremlin said Prigozhin called off his forces on Saturday in exchange for an offer to go into exile in Belarus. 3. Western leaders are denying accusations they knew Russian mercenaries were preparing to march on Moscow. US President Joe Biden said on Monday that his administration has made clear to Russian leaders that they had “nothing to do with it.”

1. All five people on board the missing Titan submersible are believed to be dead after searchers discovered debris thought to belong to the craft on the ocean floor.
2. People in Japan’s southern prefecture of Okinawa are observing the 78th anniversary of one of the deadliest battles of World War Two. The battle, which was between the now-defunct imperial Japanese military and US forces, claimed more than 200,000 lives. 3. US President Joe Biden and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi have agreed to strengthen bilateral ties, including in co-production of fighter jet engines.

1. Rescuers are racing against time to find a submersible carrying five people that went missing on a visit to the wreck of the Titanic at the bottom of the Atlantic. A search and rescue operation is underway for the submersible, which lost contact with the surface less than 2 hours after starting its dive on Sunday.
2. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has acknowledged that his nation’s counteroffensive against Russian forces is not proceeding as rapidly as he wants. Admitting that “not everything is easy,” Zelenskyy pointed out the presence of land mines poses difficulties. He said his country would “definitely like to make bigger steps – they are a bit smaller than we want.” 3. Ukraine faces a long and difficult road to recovery from all the damage caused by Russia’s invasion. That’s the focus of a London gathering of officials from more than 60 countries, organizations and companies. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy addressed the meeting online. He said, “At this conference, we must move from vision to agreements, and from agreements to real projects.”

1. Hunter Biden, the son of US President Joe Biden, has struck a deal with federal prosecutors that will likely keep him out of jail. He agreed to plead guilty to two misdemeanor tax charges while avoiding prosecution for possessing a firearm as a drug user. 2. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has revealed that one of the three Ukrainian ports covered by a UN-backed grain deal has been excluded. Under the Black Sea grain deal, Russia and Ukraine have agreed to allow grain shipments from the ports to secure global food supply after the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
3. US media outlets say possible safety problems with a submersible that has gone missing on a tour of the Titanic shipwreck in the Atlantic had been pointed out five years ago. The Titan submersible was on an underwater tour to see the wreckage of the Titanic ocean liner resting on the seabed about 4,000 meters deep off the Canadian coasts. It lost contact with a parent ship on Sunday.

1. The meteorological agencies of the United Nations and the European Union say 2022 was the warmest year on record for many countries in Europe. On Monday, the World Meteorological Organization and the EU’s Copernicus Climate Change Service released a report on the state of the climate in Europe last year. The report says in 2022 Europe’s average temperature was about 2.3 degrees Celsius above the pre-industrial average.
2. US and Canadian rescuers are searching for a missing submersible carrying five people on a tour of the Titanic shipwreck. In 1912, about 1,500 passengers and crew members perished when the British ocean liner hit an iceberg in the Atlantic and sank on its way to the United States. The tour to view the wreckage, located at a depth of about 4,000 meters off the Canadian coast, is operated by US company OceanGate and costs 250,000 dollars per person. The US Coast Guard said the craft lost contact with its support ship about an hour and 45 minutes after it began its dive on Sunday morning. 3. Japanese restaurant chains are accelerating moves to expand abroad. They are setting up branches and acquiring foreign businesses to tap rising post-COVID demand. The company that runs conveyor-belt sushi chain Kura Sushi earlier ditched plans to enter the Chinese market due to the pandemic. But it has revived its ambitions, opening an outlet in Shanghai this month. Kura Sushi is also quickening its pace of openings in the United States and elsewhere.

1. The leaders of Japan, the US and South Korea are expected to meet in the United States shortly to discuss their response to North Korea’s repeated missile launches.
2. Ukraine’s deputy defense minister says the country’s forces have liberated eight communities in the past two weeks of their counteroffensive operations. Hanna Maliar wrote on social media on Monday that the village of Piatykhatky in the southern region of Zaporizhzhia is among those recaptured. 3. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken met with Chinese President Xi Jinping and other senior officials in Beijing. The two-day visit, which began on Sunday, is the first to the country by one of President Joe Biden’s Cabinet. It comes after a planned meeting in February was canceled amid allegations of China’s deploying spy balloons in the United States.

1. Policymakers at the Bank of Japan have wrapped up their two-day meeting. They say they are leaving the central bank’s easing program unchanged. The BOJ will keep its short-term benchmark interest rate in negative territory. And it will continue asset purchases to keep long-term rates around zero percent.
2. Ukrainian defense officials say the country’s troops are making progress in their counteroffensive against Russia despite fierce resistance. Speaking to reporters on Thursday in Kyiv, Ukraine’s deputy defense minister, Hanna Maliar, said Ukrainian troops have advanced more than three kilometers to the east. She also said they are advancing “gradually but surely” to the south. 3. Russia’s central election commission says it will hold elections in September in the four regions in eastern and southern Ukraine that Moscow claims to have annexed, along with the rest of Russia.

1. The suspect in the shooting that left two Japan Ground Self-Defense Force members dead has told police that he targeted a 52-year-old instructor and “didn’t intend” to kill another victim. The 18-year-old male candidate allegedly opened fire at three GSDF personnel at the organization’s Hiro shooting range during live-fire training in Gifu City, central Japan, on Wednesday. 2. Tokyo’s board of education has issued a notice asking school officials to warn students against becoming dependent on generative AI when doing homework over the summer vacation. In the notice, the education board stressed the need in education to nurture students’ ability to think on their own. 3. Policymakers at the Bank of Japan have begun discussing the impact of massive monetary easing and the rising cost of living at their two-day meeting from Thursday. The central bank has been controlling short-and long-term interest rates to help achieve its goal of two-percent inflation.

1. Two Self-Defense Force members have died and another was injured in a shooting incident in Gifu city, central Japan. An SDF candidate in his teens have been arrested. The suspect reportedly started shooting with an automatic rifle shortly after training began at the Ground SDF’s Hino Basic Shooting Range around 9 a.m. on Wednesday.
2. Yakusho Koji won Best Actor Award at this year’s Canne International Film Festival for his role in the movie “Perfect Days.” Back home in Japan, he spoke to reporters about his part and said the film by German director Wim Wenders is a good example for Japanese productions to follow. “Perfect Days” is set in Shibuya, Tokyo. Yakusho plays the protagonist, a silent and meticulous cleaner of public restrooms. 3. The UN refugee agency estimates that an unprecedented number of around 110 million people have been forcibly displaced due to conflict, persecution and human rights violations as of the end of May. The office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees released its Global Trends in Forced Displacement 2022 report ahead of UN-designated World Refugee Day on June 20.

1. Japan’s government has approved measures to address the country’s declining birthrate by increasing financial support for people raising children. The measures include removing the limit on household income for receiving childrearing allowances from the government. 2. Ukraine’s defense ministry says its troops have liberated a total of seven villages in the eastern and southern parts of the country.
3. NHK has learned that the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency is making arrangements to visit Japan early next month, before treated and diluted water from the crippled Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant is released into the ocean.

1. NATO has begun its largest air deployment exercise since its establishment in 1949 in an apparent show of its deterrence capabilities. The military exercise began at a base in northern Germany and elsewhere on Monday, with 250 fighter and other aircraft and 10,000 personnel from 25 NATO and other countries participating. Senior officers of Japan’s Air Self-Defense Force are scheduled to take part as observers, making them the only participants from Asia.
2. The Ukrainian military has been pressing ahead with a major counteroffensive. Large-scaled military operations appeared to be under way on at least three fronts—around Bakhmut in eastern Donetsk, western Donetsk and Zaporizhzhia in the country’s south. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Saturday that a counteroffensive aimed at retaking Russian-occupied territory is in progress.
3. A new report estimates China’s nuclear arsenal has grown by 60 warheads – the largest year-on-year increase in the world. The Stockholm International Peace Research Institute released its findings on Monday. The report says China’s inventory reached 410 that month as part of a significant expansion.

1. A bill to revise Japan’s immigration law has been enacted after passing the Upper House of the Diet by a majority vote. The ruling coalition of the Liberal Democratic Party and Komeito, as well as the Nippon Ishin Japan Innovation Party and the Democratic Party for the People voted in favor of the bill on Friday.
2. A bill to promote understanding of the LGBTQ community in Japan has been finalized after a revised version of legislation from the two ruling parties gained support from two opposition parties. The Diet’s Lower House Cabinet Committee voted on the bill on Friday. Three bills had been submitted. 3. Japan’s Cabinet has adopted a plan to drastically expand the fields for qualified foreign skilled workers. The move is aimed at attracting more skilled people from abroad amid the intense global competition for such workers.

1. Torrential rain is expected to hit western Japan and Pacific coastal areas of eastern Japan on Thursday and Friday. Weather officials are calling on people to remain on the alert for landslides and other disasters. They say rain is expected to intensify again in areas that were hit by record rainfall last weekend. They warn that even small amounts of rain can heighten the risk of mudslides. 2. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau twice visited the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum during his stay in the city last month for the Group of Seven summit. The G7 leaders visited the museum, which details the 1945 atomic bombing of the city, on May 19, the opening day of the summit. They spent about 40 minutes there. The Canadian Embassy in Tokyo says Trudeau visited the museum again on May 21, his last day in Japan, because he wanted to see the displays more thoroughly.
3. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has called for a comprehensive investigation into the destruction of a hydroelectric power-generating dam in southern Ukraine. Kyiv and Moscow are blaming each other for the incident.

1. Sweden’s defense minister has indicated that his country is ready to join NATO and expressed hope that its membership application will be approved prior to the organization’s summit in July. 2. Delegates to the United Nations Security Council gathered for an emergency session on Tuesday to discuss the dam breach on the Dnipro River in Ukraine. Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator Martin Griffiths said the situation may represent the “most significant” damage to civilian infrastructure since the war began.
3. A senior member of a group of Russian volunteer fighters has stressed that its ultimate goal is to topple President Vladimir Putin’s government. The Liberty of Russia Legion has been carrying out attacks in western Russian regions near the border with Ukraine.

1. Ukraine has accused Russia of destroying a hydroelectric power-generating dam in the country’s south. It says residents downstream have been forced to evacuate. The Ukrainian military announced on Tuesday that Russia’s forces destroyed the Kakhovka Dam on the Dnipro River in the southern region of Kherson.
2. Hong Kong’s top court has overturned the conviction of a journalist in a ruling related to an investigative report about an attack on pro-democracy protesters. Choy Yuk-ling, better known as Bao Choy, worked for local broadcasters RTHK. She produced the documentary, which criticized the slow police response when assailants attacked the protesters in July 2019. 3. Workers at the crippled Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant have finished sending seawater into an underwater tunnel that has been built to release treated and diluted water from the facility into the ocean. Once filled with seawater, the tunnel will guide treated water from the plant to a point about 1 kilometer offshore.

1. Temperatures topped 30 degrees Celsius in many parts of Japan on Monday. People in areas affected by heavy rain late last week battled intense heat while working to repair damage. 2. The front-runner for Thailand’s next leader joined a pride parade on Sunday in Bangkok. Pita Limjaroenrat, head of the opposition Move Forward Party, promised to pass a law allowing same-sex marriage if he becomes prime minister.
3. Officials in Saga Prefecture, western Japan, have removed the covers of what is believed to be the grave of an ancient powerful figure to study what is inside. They hope to find hints to resolve the dispute over a continuing ancient mystery in Japan. Experts say the grave at the Yoshinogari Ruins appears to date from the late Yayoi period between the first and third centuries.

1. The US Senate has passed a bill to suspend the government’s debt ceiling, paving the way for President Joe Biden to sign it into law to avert a default. The bill is based on an agreement reached on Sunday between the Democratic president and Republican House of Representatives Speaker Kevin McCarthy. The Biden administration sought to raise the ceiling, while Republicans demanded spending cuts.
2. Japanese weather officials say bands of thunderclouds are causing heavy downpours in western Japan’s Kochi Prefecture. A front is also expected to bring heavy rain to more prefectures along the Pacific coast and other areas. The front is being fed by moist air around Severe Tropical Storm Mawar, and it is causing downpours.
3. US President Joe Biden tripped and fell on stage at the US Air Force Academy graduation ceremony on Thursday. The White House says he is fine. The 80-year-old president fell as he was about to return to his seat after shaking hands with graduates at the ceremony in the western state of Colorado.

1. The US House of Representatives has passed a bill to suspend the government’s debt ceiling, paving the way to avert a US default. The bill is based on an agreement reached on Sunday between US President Joe Biden, who wants to raise the ceiling, and House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, who wants to cut spending.
2.The German government has told Moscow to shut down four Russian consulates in the country after Berlin was forced to restrict its own diplomatic missions in Russia. A German foreign ministry spokesperson said on Wednesday that it will close three of its four consulates in Russia because Moscow has imposed limits on the number of German officials who ae allowed to work in the country. 3. Toyota Motor announced Wednesday it will start producing family-friendly sports utility EVs featuring third-row seating in the US state of Kentucky in 2025. The SUVs will be powered by batteries made at a plant in the nearby state of North Carolina.

1. A large typhoon is moving toward the Okinawa region in southwestern Japan. Japan’s Meteorological Agency says that as of 9:00 a.m. Wednesday, Typhoon Mawar was moving slowly northward over the sea south of Okinawa. 　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　
2. The head of the United Nation’s nuclear watchdog has proposed five principles to ensure the safety of Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, which has been under Russian control since 2022. The Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency, Rafael Grossi, made the proposal at the UN Security Council in New York on Tuesday. 　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　3. Russian leaders have ordered wave after wave of strikes on Kyiv and other communities across Ukraine. Now, they are seeing threats reach into the heart of their own capital, Moscow. President Vladimir Putin claims Ukrainians are attempting to “intimidate” his people.

1. A large and powerful typhoon is expected to approach the Okinawa region in southwestern Japan from Wednesday, unleashing strong gusts of wind, high waves and heavy rain. Japan’s Meteorological Agency says Typhoon Mawar has been showing sluggish movement over the sea south of Okinawa as of Tuesday afternoon.
2. Japan’s automakers have reported another sharp rise in global production, as supply chains continue to recover from the pandemic. Six of the country’s 8 major carmakers say they shipped more vehicles in April than the same month last year. Toyota Motor says it made about 787,800 new vehicles last month, up 13.8% from the same month last year. That’s a record high for April. Honda’s output grew by 44.5%, while Mazda 21.1% and Mitsubishi 20.6%. Nissan was up 15.8&, and Subaru up 12.8%. 3. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has suggested that his country will soon launch a full-scale counteroffensive against Russia to win back territory. Ukrainian Air Force officials said on Tuesday that Russian forces launched airstrikes with 31 drones from Monday night to early Tuesday morning. They said 29 were shot down and that most of the airstrikes targeted Ukraine’s capital, Kyiv.

1. Japanese government officials say North Korea has told the International Maritime Organization of plans to launch what it calls an “artificial satellite” between May 31 and June 11. Japan has condemned it as a provocation against its national security. Prime Minister Kishida Fumio told reporters the Self-Defense Forces have been ordered to shoot down any incoming missile expected to fall in Japanese territory.
2. The Philippine Coast Guard will hold a drill with its Japanese and US counterparts from Thursday in waters around Manila Bay. Officials from the three countries confirmed they will strengthen cooperation, apparently with China’s increasing activities in the South China Sea in mind. 3. Turkey’s election commission has announced that incumbent Recep Tayyip Erdogan is the winner in the presidential runoff election. Erdogan declared victory before his supporters on Sunday evening in Istanbul. Erdogan was running against Kemal Kilicdaroglu, the head of a six-party opposition alliance.

1. Police in central Japan have arrested a 31-year-old man in connection with the killing of four people, including two police officers, in a shooting and stabbing attack. Police have identified the suspect as Aoki Masanori, the son of Nakano City assembly speaker Aoki Masamichi. 2. Overall prices in the Japanese capital remain high as people continue to pay more for food and some services.
3. Investigators around the world are waiting for signs that the Bank of Japan is ready to adjust its ultra-easing policy and start raising interest rates. Central bank Governor Ueda Kazuo has reiterated that achieving sustainable inflation of 2 percent is still the main consideration.

1. Newly released minutes of the last US Federal Reserve policy meeting show officials were divided over whether to halt rate increases in June. The minutes say several participants noted that further rate hikes may not be necessary if the economy evolves as they expect. But others said some additional policy tightening would likely be warranted at future meetings because they were concerned that inflation would take too long to slow down to their target of 2 percent. 　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　2. A senior South Korean official says Seoul will decide its stance on Japan’s plan to release treated and diluted water from the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant into the sea after the International Atomic Energy Agency issues its assessment. Japan plans to release the treated water after diluting it to reduce tritium levels to one-seventh of the World Health Organization’s safety standards for drinking water.　
3. Japan’s junior coalition partner Komeito has decided not to cooperate in Tokyo with the main ruling Liberal Democratic Party in the next Lower House election. The two ruling parties have been at odds over whether to file their own candidate in Tokyo’s 28th electoral district.

1. A senior Ukrainian military officer says the country’s forces are not joining pro-Ukrainian volunteer soldiers fighting inside Russian territory. Roman Kostenko said two armed groups that claim to have intruded into Russia’s Belgorod region have their own goals. He acknowledged that the military is in partnership with them, but said Kyiv does not want Russian land. 2. The European Union’s foreign policy chief says Ukrainian pilots have started training to operate F-16 fighter jets in “several countries,” including Poland. Josep Borrell said that the training “will take time, but the sooner the better.” He added that Western allies have opened the door for providing the aircraft.
3. Major US media outlets reported on Tuesday that Florida Governor Ron DeSantis will announce on Wednesday his bid to seek the Republican nomination for next year’s presidential election. He could be the biggest rival of former President Donald Trump in the Republican nomination race.

1. Japan’s Prime Minister Kishida Fumio says he does not plan to introduce new tax increases to fund government measures aimed at reversing the country’s declining birthrate. The government held a panel meeting on Monday to discuss its plan to strengthen childcare measures over the next three years. On the agenda was how to finance the package.
2. A team of South Korean experts is at the crippled Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant to assess the safety of Japan’s plan to release treated and diluted water into the ocean. The delegation of about 30 members includes senior officials of South Korea’s Nuclear Safety and Security Commission, as well as marine environment specialists.
3. The government of the western Russian region bordering Ukraine says members of a Ukrainian sabotage group had entered the Russian territory. Belgorod region governor Vyacheslav Vyacheslav Gladkov on Monday said counter-terrorism measures were taken to drive them away.

1. A team of South Korean experts has started a four-day survey in Japan to check on the safety of treated and diluted water from the crippled Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant that is slated to be released into the sea. Under the government plan, the treated water from the plant will be diluted to reduce tritium levels to meet World Health Organization safety standards for drinking water before it is released into the ocean.
2. A survivor of the 1945 atomic bombing of Hiroshima says she shared her thoughts about nuclear weapons with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy when she told him her experiences on Sunday. Ogura Keiko met Zelenskyy at the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum and told him her experiences in English. 3. The G7 summit has concluded in Hiroshima with leaders welcoming Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and reaffirming their support for Ukraine. Japan’s Prime Minister Kishida Fumio, who chaired the summit, is hailing it as a success. In the summit’s closing speech on Sunday, Kishida said leaders demonstrated their determination to protect the international order.

1. The leaders of the Group of Seven nations have started talks in Japan’s western city of Hiroshima. Issues on the agenda include the global economy, the war in Ukraine, nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation. Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio, who is chairing the event, spoke at the beginning of the talks on Friday. “The major theme of this summit is not division and confrontation,” he said. “It is reaffirming the G7’s unity and strengthening our role to ensure a coordinated international community and to hammer out active and concrete contributions to that end.” 2. Multiple western media outlets are quoting sources as saying Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy will attend the G7 Summit in Hiroshima, western Japan. It will be the first visit to Asia for the Ukrainian leader since the start of Russia’s invasion in February of last year. He is expected to ask G 7 leaders directly for more military aid. Reuters says Zelenskyy will arrive on Sunday. 3. Authorities in Hiroshima have put in place traffic restrictions on city center roads and expressways in Hiroshima Prefecture for the duration of the three-day talks of the G7 summit that started on Friday.

1. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba has told a Chinese envoy that his country will not accept a peace proposal that involves ceding territory to Russia.
2. Montana is set to become the first US state to impose a complete ban on Tik Tok, a popular video-sharing app owned by a Chinese firm.
3. British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte agreed on Tuesday to build an international coalition to provide Ukraine with military support, including fighter jets.

1. Japan and China began operating a defense hotline between the two nations on Tuesday. The hotline is designed to prevent accidental clashes between Japan’s Self-Defense Forces and the Chinese military. The hotline was launched on March 31. It is part of a broader communications mechanism between Tokyo and Beijing that was introduced earlier to prevent accidental clashes at sea or in the air.　 2. The head of the artificial intelligence startup behind Chat GPT* is stressing the need for legislation to ensure the safe use of AI. Samuel Altman testified before US Congress on Tuesday. Altman was asked about how AI technology should be regulated as it rapidly expands across the globe. He is calling for the formation of a universal body to license the most powerful AI systems to guarantee compliance with safety standards. *GPT = Generative Pre-trained Transformation 3. The latest GDP figures for Japan show consumers spending again after a further easing of COVID regulations. The Cabinet Office says the economy grew by an annualized 1.6 percent in real terms in the January to March period. That is the first time in three quarters it has been in positive territory.

1. China’s latest key statistics indicate a mild economic rebound from last year’s COVID slump. The National Bureau of Statistics says industrial output rose 5.6 percent in Aril from the same month in 2022. The pace falls short of market expectations of around 10 percent. Strict coronavirus lockdowns were in place in Shanghai and elsewhere in the country a year earlier, crimping supply chains.　　　　　　 2. The procession of the Aoi Matsuri, one of Kyoto’s three traditional festivals, is being held for the first time in four years on Tuesday. Emperor Emeritus Akihito and Empress Emerita Michiko, who are now visiting Japan’s ancient capital, are among the grand procession’s many spectators. 　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　3. A saber presented by Britain’s Queen Victoria to a Japanese official, who saved the life of a British consul in Japan in the late days of the feudal era, has been discovered in Tokyo. In 1868, shortly after the fall of the Tokugawa shogunate and the launch of the Meiji government, British Consul Harry Parkes was heading to the Kyoto Imperial Palace for an audience with the Emperor. On the way, he was attacked by traditionalists who wanted to expel foreigners.　Goto Shojiro and other samurai were escorting the consul.　　They disarmed the assailants.　　Parkes was not hurt in the attack. Queen Victoria later sent Goto a saber to show Britain’s appreciation.

1. The White House says President Joe Biden will meet Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio on Thursday ahead of the Group of Seven summit in Hiroshima. Biden is currently holding discussions with Congressional leaders, including Republican House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, on raising the US government’s debt ceiling to avoid a default. 2. Thailand’s two major opposition parties are expected to win a combined majority in the lower house of parliament general election. The focus of the election was whether the military-backed government would be able to hold onto power after taking control in coup nine years ago. 3. The Turkish presidential election appears headed for a runoff, with both incumbent Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his main rival, Kemal Kilicdaroglu, so far unable to secure the majority needed to win. Sunday’s election was effectively a two-man race between Erdogan and Kilicdaroglu, who is the joint candidate of six opposition parties.

1. A Japanese expert says strong earthquakes and tsunami could strike the Noto Peninsula on the Sea of Japan coast due to migration of fluids trapped underground. As of 4 p.m. on Friday, swarm quakes registering one or higher on the Japanese scale had hit the region 95 times since about a week ago. 2. Research by a brokerage firm indicates that many of Japan’s listed companies enjoyed robust financial results during the last fiscal year. Fifty-seven percent of the firms saw an increase in net profit for the fiscal year that ended in March.
3. A meeting scheduled for Friday between US President Joe Biden and congressional leaders over the federal government’s debt ceiling has been postponed to next week.

1. Beijing is looking to deepen ties with Paris amid growing pressure from the West. China’s foreign minister met his French counterpart on Wednesday. He stressed the need to build a more resilient Sino-French supply chain. Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang and his French counterpart Catherine Colonna discussed a number of issues. They said the two sides should work together to address global challenges, including the war in Ukraine.
2.Prime Minister Kishida Fumio says Japan, as this year’s Group of Seven chair, must take a leadership role in setting global rules for generative artificial intelligence. Kishida on Thursday attended the first meeting of a new government council on AI strategy. It is tasked with discussing the country’s policies on generative AI from the standpoint of promoting its effective use and addressing concerns. 3. US President Joe Biden has hinted that he may virtually attend next week’s Group of Seven Summit in Hiroshima. This comes as Biden and House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, a Republican, remain divided on whether to raise the federal government’s debt limit to avoid the risk of a default.

1. South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol has marked his first year in office and pledged efforts to create a country that can contribute to global peace and stability. Yoon visited the National Cemetery in Seoul on Wednesday and wrote in a guest book that he will work together with the people to create a country that embraces freedom and innovation and contributes to global peace and stability in a responsible manner. 2. Major Japanese trading houses have posted record net profits for the fiscal year that ended March 31. Mitsubishi Corporation on Tuesday reported a 1.18 trillion-yen profit, or about 8.7 billion dollars, up 25.9 percent from the previous fiscal year. Mitsui & Co. reported 1.13 trillion yen, or about 8.3 billion dollars. Other companies also posted record-high profits thanks to higher resource and energy prices and the weak yen.
3. The leaders of members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, or ASEAN, have gathered in Indonesia for a summit to discuss maters including how to deal with the security crisis in Myanmar. Indonesian President Joko Widodo, the chair of ASEAN this year, said the bloc can become the driver of peace or growth only if there is unity.

1. Russia’s president marked a key wartime anniversary by claiming his country is under attack again. Vladimir Putin spoke Tuesday at an event recognizing the Soviet victory over Nazi Germany during World War II. “Civilization is at a turning point. Real war is being waged against our motherland,” Putin said. Tensions are rising as Ukraine is poised to launch an attack with military support from Europe and the United States.
2. Tokyo police have arrested four teenagers, including a high-school student, in connection with a robbery at a luxury watch store in Ginza on Monday evening. Several masked assailants stormed the store. They threatened to kill the sales clerks with a knife, smashed a showcase and got away with merchandize.
3. South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol has stressed that his latest summit with the Japanese prime minister was fruitful, and expressed his intention to work further to improve bilateral ties.

1. Japan’s Prime Minister Kishida Fumio says he wants to further strengthen ties with South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol and open a new era together. Kishida spoke to reporters in Seoul on Monday morning after wrapping up his official schedule in South Korea. This is his first visit to the country as prime minister.
2. Japan’s industry ministry is encouraging domestic firms to actively seek foreign investments by showcasing successful example that led to corporate growth. Ministry officials have collated 20 cases involving firms both large and small, including startups. They all posted growth as a result of being acquired by a foreign company or through capital tie-ups. 3. Japan has officially downgraded COVID-19 to a low-level infectious disease, ranking it alongside the seasonal flu. The change means the government can no longer legally restrict public movement. The operators of the Lawson, Seven-Eleven and FamilyMart chains say they’re giving individual outlets the freedom to set their own policies on masks, hand sanitizers and partitions.

1. More details are coming in about an earthquake that struck Ishikawa Prefecture on the Sea of Japan coast. Authorities say that so far there have been no reports of damage from tsunami. The quake struck around 2:42 p.m. on Friday, local time. It registered an upper 6 on the Japanese seismic scale of zero to 7 in the city of Suzu. Long tremors that could rock high-rise buildings have been recorded in Ishikawa.
2. On a national holiday dedicated to children, the latest data shows Japan’s child population has dropped for the 42nd straight year. The internal affairs ministry estimates that the number of children aged 14 or younger was 14.35 million as of April 1, down 300,000 from the previous year. 3. Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio and Mozambican President Filipe Nyushi have agreed to support the early resumption of natural gas development in the East African country. Kishida met with Myusi in the capital Maputo for about ninety minutes on Thursday. The prime minister was on the final leg of his tour of four African nations.

1. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has accused Russia of shelling multiple locations in the southern region of Kherson, leaving at least 21 civilians dead and 48 others injured. Zelenskyy said in a social media post that a railway station, a house and a supermarket came under attack among other locations.
2. The United States says it will send a type of air-launched rocket for the first time to Ukraine. The shipments of Hydra-70s are part of additional security assistance valued at up to 300 million dollars. The US Department of Defense announced on Wednesday that the package will also include more ammunition for US-provided High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems, or HIMARS, and additional howitzers. 3. Japan and France have agreed to step up cooperation in the field of nuclear energy, including the development of next-generation advanced reactors. Japan’s industry minister Nishimura Yasutoshi and French energy transition minister Agnes Pannier-Runacher affirmed that the two countries will work for the maximum use of nuclear energy to ensure a stable energy supply and achieve carbon neutrality.

1. British police have arrested a man for throwing suspected shotgun cartridges onto the ground of Buckingham Palace. The incident happened just four days before the coronation of King Charles III. 2. A senior US official says the United States is on track to open an embassy in the Pacific island nation of Tonga this month. The move comes as the administration of President Joe Biden is seen as increasing its involvement in the region to counter China’s growing influence there. 3. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has pledged to continue to provide assistance to Afghanistan, despite the Taliban’s ban on UN Afghan female staff.

1. The Asian Development Bank has unveiled a new loan program to help emerging and developing economies fight climate change. ADB President Asakawa Masatsugu spoke to reporters in the South Korean city of Incheon on Tuesday, as the bank opened its four-day annual meeting. Asakawa said, “The global battle against climate change will be won or lost in Asia and the Pacific.”
2. US President Joe Biden and Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. have agreed to adopt new defense guidelines amid China’s increasing maritime activities. Biden and Marcos held a summit at the White House on Monday. The joint statement released after the talks said, “They affirm the importance of maintaining peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait as an indispensable element of global security and prosperity.”
3. A crashed Japanese Ground Self-Defense Force helicopter was recovered from waters in the southern prefecture of Okinawa before noon on Tuesday. The helicopter disappeared from radar near Miyakojima Island on April 6. It was carrying a crew of 10. The debris of the helicopter, found at the depth of 106 meters, was raised onto the deck of one of the two private salvage ships involved in the work at about 11:45 a.m. A large net was used to lift the wreckage.

1. Final arrangements are being made for Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio to make a two-day visit to South Korea from Sunday, where he will meet President Yoon Suk-yeol following their summit in Japan earlier this year. It would be the first trip to South Korea by a Japanese prime minister since Abe Shinzo visited the country in 2018.
2. Japanese three-time Olympic table tennis medalist Ishikawa Kasumi says she has decided to retire. Ishikawa made the announcement on her official website and social media accounts on Monday. She wrote that the decision comes as she feels that she has given everything she has. 3. Japanese figure skating ice dance duo Takahashi Daisuke and Muramoto kana say they will retire after the current season. Takahashi said they decided to retire from completion after this season. Muramoto said they talked a lot before reaching the decision.

1. The Bank of Japan has wrapped up a two-day policy meeting—the first since Ueda Kazuo became its governor earlier this month. Policymakers say they are leaving the central bank’s easing program unchanged. They also announced that they will conduct a review of their measures. 2. Work to raise a sunken Ground Self-Defense Force helicopter is expected to begin shortly now that a salvage ship has arrived in the area where its apparent wreckage was found. The helicopter , carrying a crew of 10, dropped off radar near the island of Miyakojima, Okinawa Prefecture, on April 6. Five of the missing crewmembers have since been confirmed dead.
3. Japan will end its COVID-19 requirements for people arriving in the country starting on Saturday. The Japanese government currently requires people entering the nation to show proof that they have received three or more vaccinations, among other requirements. Chief Cabinet Secretary Matsuno Hirokazu said in a news conference on Friday that the requirements will be lifted for people arriving on Saturday onwards.

1. Japan’s health ministry has officially decided to downgrade the legal status of the coronavirus on May 8. The ministry on Thursday endorsed the government’s plan to categorize the coronavirus in the same group as seasonal influenza. The ministry plans to have more medical institutions examine and treat coronavirus patients after the downgrading. 2. Prime Minister Kishida Fumio says he wants to see women in at least 30 percent of executive positions at Japan’s top listed companies by 2030. Kishida presented the goal at a meeting of the government’s Council for Gender Equality held on Thursday.
3. The Tokyo Metropolitan Government plans to establish a large-scale startup support center to actively promote the development of innovative businesses and overseas expansion. The metropolitan government aims to boost the numbers of entrepreneurs and so-called unicorn firms with valuations of 1billion dollars or more.

1. South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol and US President Joe Biden visited a memorial for the Korean War in Washington on Tuesday ahead of a bilateral summit. Yoon and his wife, Kim Keon-hee, went to the Korean War Veterans Memorial together with Biden and his wife, Jill. 2. Japan’s prime minister has reiterated his plan to raise taxes to help pay for defense. He stressed that this will remain within the scope of the increase the government decided in December. 3. A Japanese space company’s attempt to make lunar history appears to have failed. Its lander made what it calls a “hard landing,” and communication with it has been lost. The vehicle, developed by ispace, lifted off in December on a rocket from the US firm SpaceX. The craft had entered orbit about 100 kilometers above the moon’s surface on April 13. It was supposed to land near a crater in the moon’s northern hemisphere at around 1:40 a.m. Wednesday, Japan time.

1.Prime Minister Kishida Fumio says all Japanese nationals and their families who wanted to leave Khartoum, the capital of Sudan, have been evacuated. Kishida told reporters on Tuesday morning that eight more individuals have been evacuated from Sudan. This follows the evacuations of 45 people who arrived in nearby Djibouti on an Air Self-Defense Force aircraft on Monday. 2. A White House official says President Joe Biden and his South Korean counterpart Yoon Suk-yeol will reaffirm the United States’ extended deterrence against North Korea when they meet on Wednesday. Yoon arrived in Washington on Monday. He is the first South Korean president in 12 years to pay a state visit to the US.
3. Ministers from the Group of Seven nations plan to discuss how best to promote artificial intelligence when they meet in Japan this weekend. This comes as the popularity of programs like Chat GPT takes off, and the debate intensifies about the free exchange of data across borders. The G7 ministers for digitalization and technology will meet from Saturday in Takasaki City, north of Tokyo.

1. Japan’s Prime Minister Kishida Fumio says he sees the results of Sunday’s Diet by-elections as encouragement for his party to follow through on its key policies. Kishida spoke to reporters on Monday, a day after his main governing Liberal Democratic Party won four out of the five seats contested in the by-elections and increased its Diet presence. 2. Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio says the government is doing all it can to ensure the safety of its evacuation effort in Sudan. About 60 Japanese nationals are in the African country. Kishida said the government is carefully monitoring the situation in Sudan and closely cooperating with other concerned countries.
3. One year has passed since a sightseeing boat carrying 26 people sank off the coast of Japan’s northernmost prefecture of Hokkaido. Twenty people were confirmed dead, with six others still unaccounted for. A memorial ceremony took place in the town of Shari on the Shiretoko Peninsula on Sunday.

1. A paramilitary group clashing with Sudan’s armed forces says it has agreed to a 72-hour ceasefire on humanitarian grounds. It comes after almost a week of fighting that the United Nations says has killed at least 330 people and injured thousands.
2. Japan’s Environmental Ministry says the country’s greenhouse gas emissions in fiscal 2021 increased from the previous year for the first time since fiscal 2013.
3.The Tokyo District Court has handed down suspended sentences to three former officials of a business suit retailer for their involvement in a bribery scandal related to the Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games. This is the first ruling in connection with the scandal.

1. Japan’s Ground Self-Defense Force has named a replacement for the head of its 8th Division who was on board a missing GSDF helicopter. The helicopter dropped off radar on April 6 near Miyakojima Island in Okinawa Prefecture. The 10 personnel onboard included Sakamoto Yuichi, who headed the 8th division. 2.A new ceasefire between rival factions fell apart Wednesday night in Sudan. Japanese government officials say they are getting ready to airlift around 60 nationals from the country as deadly clashes continue.
3. More than 1.8 million foreign visitors arrived in Japan in March, up 23 percent from the previous month. The Japan National Tourism Organization sys 466,800 were from South Korea, the most from any country or region. The second highest was Taiwan, with 278,900, followed by the United States with 203,000.

1. Japan’s government is preparing to send Self-Defense Force aircraft to transport Japanese nationals from Sudan, as fierce fighting continues there between military and paramilitary forces. Chief Cabinet Secretary Matsuo Hirokazu said about 60 Japanese nationals were in Sudan as of Wednesday. 2. Ukraine and Poland have agreed to restart transit of grain and other farm products from Ukraine through Poland for export, on condition that they are sealed and monitored to ensure that they do not stay in Poland. The Russian invasion of Ukraine has forced the country to send its produce through neighboring Poland, Hungary and Slovakia for export to Africa and elsewhere. But the three countries recently announced a ban on such transfer, saying it harms domestic farmers as large quantities of the products are traded in the countries.
3. The man arrested on suspicion of throwing an explosive device at Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio had unsuccessfully sued the government over electoral eligibility. Police are investigating where the issue is related to the suspect’s motive.

1. News stats suggest China’s economy is turning the corner as the government’s ultra-strict coronavirus measures fade from view. GDP growth for the January-to-March period was 4.5 percent up on the same period last year. The National Bureau of Statistics made the announcement on Tuesday. The figure beats market expectations of about 4 percent, adjusted for inflation.
2. A research group in Japan says it has found that the coronavirus that causes COVID-19 can infect the brain’s immune cells—a factor that could explain how neurological disorders, such as brain fog, occur in some people.
3. The wife of Japan’s Prime Minister Kishida Fumio visited the White House on Monday to meet with First Lady Jill Biden. Kishida Yuko became the first spouse of a Japanese prime minister to travel to the United States without her husband at the invitation of the First Lady. Japan’s Foreign Ministry said the two met over tea prepared by Kishida, who later greeted President Joe Biden in the Oval Office.

1. Foreign ministers of the Group of Seven nations agreed on Monday that Russia must immediately and unconditionally withdraw all forces from Ukraine. Japan’s Foreign Minister Hayashi Yoshimasa and his counterparts reached the agreement on their second day of talks at a hotel in the resort town of Karuizawa, Nagano Prefecture in central Japan. 2. Past details are emerging about the man who allegedly threw an explosive device toward Prime Minister Kishida Fumio during an outdoor election rally on Saturday. The incident occurred when Kishida was about to give a speech at a fishing port in the western city of Wakayama. The 24-year-old suspect, Kimura Ryuji, was arrested on the spot and has been sent to prosecutors. When Kimura completed elementary school, he wrote a short graduation essay saying that his dream is to become “a pastry chef or an inventor.”
3. Officials of Sagamihara City, near Tokyo, have begun conducting emergency checks at local campsites, one day after a tree fell and killed a camper. Early on Sunday, a tree fell onto a tent at a campsite in the city, killing a 29-year-old woman from Tokyo and seriously injuring her husband, who were inside.

1. Japan’s Self-Defense Forces have found part of a helicopter that disappeared last week with 10 people on board in waters in southwestern Japan. A search and rescue team believes they have found at least one body. Defense Ministry sources say an underwater camera has captured what appears to be part of the missing Ground Self-Defense Force helicopter and a body. 2. Ukraine’s economy plunged by almost one-third last year as the Russian invasion devastated agriculture, fishing, manufacturing and construction. The country’s statistics service said Wednesday that 2022 gross domestic product contracted 29.1 percent from the previous year. 3. Japan’s government has approved a plan by Osaka Prefecture and the city of Osaka to open the country’s first resort featuring a casino in 2029. It is the first time for the government to make such an approval.

1. Japanese weather officials say yellow sand from China’s deserts has blown into wide regions from northern to western Japan, including Tokyo. This is the first time since May 2021 that yellow sand has been observed in central Tokyo.
2. Japan’s Self-Defense Forces and Coast Guard Continue to search for a Ground Self-Defense Force helicopter that disappeared in southwestern Japan a week ago with 10 people on board. The helicopter dropped off radar last Thursday soon after taking off from the island of Miyakojima in Okinawa Prefecture. The 10 people, including a division chief, remain missing. 3.An eyewitness of the Myanmar military’s airstrike on a village that reportedly killed at least 100 civilians, including children, says the attack is a war crime. Myanmar’s military said its airstrike targeted a ceremony to mark the opening of an office for the pro-democracy National Unity Government.

1. Yellow sand swept across Beijing and other parts of China, sending air pollution surging to hazardous levels on Monday and Tuesday. Chinese weather officials said strong winds carried yellow sand from inland regions and neighboring Mongolia to northern China and other parts of the country. 2. NHK has learned that a draft of a communique to be issued by the foreign ministers of the Group of Seven nations demands that Russia withdraw its forces from Ukraine immediately and unconditionally. The G7 foreign ministers are scheduled to meet from April 16 in the town of Karuizawa, Nagano Prefecture, central Japan. A draft of the communique the ministers are aiming to adopt condemns Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine in the strongest possible terms.
3. US IT venture firm Open AI says it will pay people who report vulnerabilities, bugs or security flaws in its artificial intelligence systems up to 20,000 dollars. Open AI is the developer of Chat GPT. It made the announcement about its Bug Bounty Program on its official blog on Tuesday.

1. The United States and the Philippines have begun their largest-ever joint military drills, with 17,600 personnel from both countries taking part. The Philippines has been strengthening its alliance with the US in the face of a growing Chinese presence in the South China Sea. 2. South Korea says it has agreed with the United States that many of the allegedly leaked US documents are fake and untrue. The documents include those that suggest Washington spied on Seoul. South Korea’s presidential office on Tuesday said the US and South Korean defense chiefs agreed on the assessment in a phone conversation. It also said the two sides will further strengthen their relationship of trust and cooperation through their alliance.
3. More and more people around the world are using the artificial intelligence chatbot known as Chat GPT. The CEO of the apple’s developer Open AI visited Japan on Monday. Sam Altman suggests in an exclusive interview with NHK that Chat GPT will improve our lives in ways we may never have imagined. He said, “We wanted to come here first. Japan has been an extremely exciting country for this whole wave of AI. It’s also a country that has such geopolitical importance and a sort of strong democratic foundations.”

1. Japan’s Prime Minister Kishida Fumio agreed with the new Bank of Japan governor there is no need to immediately revise a 2013 joint statement that aims for a price stability target of 2 percent inflation. Ueda Kazuo, who assumed his post as BOJ governor on Sunday, visited the Prime Minister’s office on Monday evening to receive his letter of appointment. He was joined by his two new deputy governors.
2. An NHK opinion poll shows that the approval rate for Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio’s Cabinet rose one percentage point to 42 percent. The disapproval rate fell by five points to 35 percent. 3. Japan’s Ground Self-Defense Force says it has found a helmet belonging to one of the 10 personnel who were on board a helicopter that went missing last week. The GSDF says the helmet was retrieved on Sunday near the coast of the island of Irabujima in the southern prefecture of Okinawa.

1. Organizers of the 2025 World Exposition in Osaka have announced the event is going completely cashless. Visitors will be able to choose from about 60 payment methods, including smartphone app and credit card. The organizers say the event will be the first World Expo to be completely cashless. 2. The leaders of France and China have agreed that Russia and Ukraine should resume peace talks as soon as possible. They also agreed that no one should use nuclear weapons. Xi said China and France have a responsibility to promote multilateralism and protect the peace, stability, and prosperity of the world. Macron expressed hope that China will work for peace in Ukraine. He said he’s counting on Xi to bring Russia back to reason and everyone back to the negotiating table.
3. Japan’s Defense Ministry says a Ground Self-Defense Force helicopter has disappeared from radar in the country’s southwest. Ministry officials say the UH-60JA multipurpose chopper, with 10 people on board, was flying near the island of Miyakojima in Okinawa Prefecture when it vanished from radar at around 4:33 p.m. on Thursday.

1. Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen has met with the Speaker of the US House of Representatives, Kevin McCarthy, in California. She is stopping in the US on her way back to Taiwan after a tour of Central America. At a news conference, Tsai said, “The peace that we have maintained and the democracy that we have worked hard to build are facing unprecedented challenges.”
2. A United Nations report says North Korea stole a higher value of cryptocurrency assets in 2022 than in any previous year using increasingly sophisticated techniques. It recommends that the head of the country’s agency responsible be sanctioned.
3. Japan has outlined a new strategy to preserve biodiversity and start restoring nature by 2030. The government revised the strategy for the first time in 11 years in response to the UN’s COP 15 biodiversity convention in December. Delegates adopted a pledge to protect 30 percent of the Earth’s lands, coastal areas and inland waters.

1. Japan’s Foreign Minister Hayashi Yoshimasa says his country wants to secure its cooperation with NATO to strengthen international order based on the rule of law. Hayashi said the international community stands at a historical turning point, and that he wants to highlight the importance of Japan-NATO cooperation to uphold and strengthen a free and open international order and the rule of law. 2. Finland has officially joined the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. This makes the Nordic nation the 31st member of the world’s largest military alliance. The event marks the end of decades of military non-alignment for Finland. The country has a border with Russia that runs about 1,300 kilometers. Helsinki changed its policy in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. 3. The operator of a sushi restaurant chain in Japan is set to offer its used cooking oil for the production of sustainable aviation fuel, or SAF. Food & Life Companies, the parent firm of sushi chain Sushiro, is teaming up with 3 businesses including engineering firm JGC Holdings for the project.

1. Former US President Donald Trump is now in New York, on the eve of his arraignment scheduled for Tuesday. A New York grand jury indicted Trump last week, making him the first former president to face criminal charges. He left his home in Florida and entered Trump Tower in Manhattan on Monday. Media outlets reported that he will spend the night there.
2. The second meeting of an international forum to discuss nuclear disarmament opened in Tokyo on Tuesday. The International Group of Eminent Persons for a World without Nuclear Weapons was launched by Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio. 3. The international organization governing taekwondo says it will allow Russian and Belarusian athletes to take part in next month’s world championships as neutral individuals. Athletes from Russia and Belarus have been barred from most international competitions following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

1. A new Japanese agency in charge of implementing policies for children and families has begun full-scale operations. The Children and Families Agency was established with about 400 personnel on Saturday. An inauguration ceremony was held at its Tokyo office on Monday. 2. World-renowned Japanese musician and composer Sakamoto Ryuichi has died at the age of 71. He was a founding member of a trailblazing electronic music group and composed acclaimed film scores that won him an Oscar. Sakamoto co-founded the band Yellow Magic Orchestra, known as YMO, with Hosono Haruomi and Takahashi Yukihiro in 1978. The group pioneered the use of computers and electronic instruments such as synthesizers, establishing the genre called techno-pop.
3. Japanese health authorities have confirmed what appears to be Japan’s first death from an unexplained case of acute hepatitis that has reportedly been affecting children.

1. A New York grand jury has indicted former US President Donald Trump, making him the first former president to face criminal charges. The charges remained under seal on Thursday, but the investigation centered on Trump’s alleged hush-money payments to a porn star who claims she had an affair with him. 2. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has stressed the need to focus on “de-risking” relations with China, rather than decoupling from the Asian nation. In a speech in Brussels on Thursday, von der Leyen noted that China is strengthening its ties with Russia as Moscow continues its invasion of Ukraine.
3. Leaders in Finland and Sweden saw Russian troops roll into Ukraine and decided to end decades of neutrality. They promised the countries would join NATO together. Now, the Finns are set to join the alliance on their own. All 30 NATO nations have to approve any new members. However, leaders in Turkey raised objections. They argued both countries were soft on terrorism. They held months of talks, then cleared the way for Finland. On Thursday, Turkish lawmakers added their approval.

1. Taiwan’s President Tsai Ing-wen started a tour of two Central American countries on Wednesday. The trip includes two transit stops in the United States, where she will likely meet House Speaker Kevin McCarthy. Tsai is due to visit Guatemala and Belize via New York. The two Central American nations have diplomatic ties with Taiwan. Before returning home on April 7, she will stop in Los Angeles. 2. Mount Fuji has not erupted in more than 300 years, but Japan has a new strategy in case an eruption is imminent. A major blowup could prove catastrophic for neighboring communities and also paralyze daily life in Tokyo and beyond. The evacuation plan was unveiled on Wednesday. It was developed by three prefectures along with the central government.
3. The 11 members of the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Tans-Pacific Partnership, or CPTPP, including Japan, are expected to reach broad agreement with the United Kingdom on its membership. The CPTTP took effect in 2018. The UK will be the first country to be approved other than the original 11 members, which include Australia, Canada and countries of the Asia-Pacific.

1. Myanmar’s military-appointed election commission has announced that the political party led by Aung San Suu Kyi will be dissolved as of Wednesday. The military, which seized power in a coup in 2021, enacted a new law on the registration of political parties in January. 2. A US senior official says Washington has decided to stop providing Russia with information on strategic nuclear weapons, citing Moscow’s failure to comply with the New START nuclear arms control treaty. White House National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby noted that the pact is important not only for the two countries but for the world. He said that the US would prefer to be able to share information again, but Russia must show the same willingness.
3. Japan and the United States have signed an agreement to support EVs that run on batteries produced in Japan. The deal aims to strengthen supply chains for key minerals used in EV batteries. The two countries announced the deal on Tuesday. The minerals covered in the pact include lithium, nickel and cobalt.

1. US investigators say a fatal school shooting in the southern state of Tennessee that claimed the lives of six people was premeditated. A 28-year-old local resident opened fire Monday morning at an elementary school in Nashville, killing three children and three adults before being shot dead by police.
2. North Korea has unveiled what appear to be tactical nuclear warheads as leader Kim Jong Un called for scaling up the production of weapons-grade nuclear material.
3. Ukraine is taking deliveries of battle tanks from its Western partners, as the country prepares to launch a counteroffensive against Russian forces. Ukraine’s Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov said on social media on Monday that the country’s armed forces have received Challenger 2 tanks from Britain and other armored vehicles from the US and Germany.

1. China’s Foreign Ministry says a Japanese man detained in the country is suspected of engaging in espionage activities. Major Japanese pharmaceutical company Astellas Pharma has confirmed that one of its employees in his 50s was detained in Beijing on suspicion of violating Chinese law.
2. Myanmar’s junta chief has overseen a massive military parade and stressed his soldiers will continue to confront pro-democracy forces head-on. Top general Min Aung Hlaing called the pro-democracy groups “terrorists.” He said their attacks are a conspiracy to devastate the country, and the military will resolutely oppose them.
3. Ukraine and Western nations are slamming Russia’s plan to deploy tactical nuclear weapons to Belarus. Russian President Vladimir Putin announced on Saturday that a storage facility for such weapons is scheduled to be constructed in Belarus by July 1. The Ukrainian foreign ministry condemned Putin’s plan on Sunday, calling it another provocative step by his administration.

1. South Korea’s President Yoon Suk-yeol has vowed to further solidify the country’s three-way security cooperation with Japan and the United States in the face of North Korea’s repeated military provocations.
2. Several hundred thousand people have marched in Paris to protest pension system reforms by the administration of President Emmanuel Macron. The French government is promoting the reforms that include raising the pension age from the current 62 years to 64. Last week, the government forced a reform bill through parliament without a vote by taking advantage of a constitutional article.
3. Miura Riku and Kihara Ryuichi have claimed gold in the pairs figure skating at the World Championships in Japan. The pair, known as “Riku-Ryu,” performed last after topping the short program the day before. They started with a twist lift and three consecutive jumps. They earned the highest “level four” for the execution of the lift. They accurately performed their spins and lifts, and skated to the end with elegant and synchronized moves as the crowd cheered them on.

1. Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio returned to Tokyo on Thursday morning after visiting Ukraine and other countries. Kishida said his visit made him painfully aware that Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is an outrage threatening the international order. Kishida said seeing the places where people have suffered aggression with his own eyes,and listening to the personal accounts of their horrific experiences, made him keenly aware of the recklessness of Russia’s actions.
2. The new school year began this week in Afghanistan, but in most parts of the country girls can only attend elementary school. The Taliban Islamist group regained control of Afghanistan in August 202.　The group has refused to allow girls to attend junior and senior high schools. Last December, the group suspended university classes for women. 3. Campaigning has begun for gubernatorial elections in nine prefectures across Japan, kicking off a series of nationwide local elections held every four years. The key campaign issues include policies to support children and child-raising amid the falling birthrate. Candidates are also expected to focus on the revitalization of regional economies.

1. Japan has won the World Baseball Classic for the third time, beating the defending champion United States 3 to 2 in the final. It’s their first title since 2009. Japan finished the tournament undefeated and Ohtani was named the Most Valuable Player.
2. Chinese President Xi Jinping has met with his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin. The two leaders have framed their relationship as one with “no limits.” Putin and Xi discussed their shared goal of providing a counterbalance to the West. They hailed what they called a “new era.”
3. Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio has said Tokyo will make 30 million dollars available through NATO trust funds to help Ukraine acquire non-lethal equipment. Kishida said he definitely wanted to visit Ukraine meet Zelenskyy in person and deliver his country’s unwavering solidarity before Japan hosts the Group of Seven summit in Hiroshima in May.

1. Japan advanced to the final of the World Baseball Classic by beating Mexico 6-5. “Samurai Japan” will face Team USA in the final on Tuesday in Miami.
2.Japanese officials say Prime Minister Kishida Fumio is heading to Ukraine after visiting India. It will mark the first visit to Ukraine by a Japanese leader since the start of the Russian invasion.
3. Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping held an informal meeting in Moscow on Monday. The Chinese president is on a three-day state visit to Russia. This is his first visit since Russia began its invasion of Ukraine in February last year.

1. Chinese President Xi Jinping has arrived in Moscow to hold summit talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Xi started his three-day state visit to Russia on Monday. This is his first visit since Russia began its invasion of Ukraine in February last year. A summit meeting is scheduled to be held on Tuesday.
2. Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio has invited his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi to the G7 summit in May and Modi accepted. The two leaders met in New Delhi, the capital of India on Monday. Both countries agreed to continue to commit to maintain a rules-based world order. 3. Six major central banks have announced a coordinated move to inject more dollars into the global financial system. The decision follows the collapse of two US banks and comes amid a deal for an emergency takeover of Credit Suisse.

1. Western analysts say Russia’s offensive in the eastern Ukrainian region of Donetsk may be losing steam as Ukrainian troops continue all-out resistance. Russian private military firm Wagner Group and Ukrainian forces are locked in a fierce battle for full control of the Ukrainian stronghold of Bakhmut. 2. Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang has told his Ukrainian counterpart Dmytro Kuleba that Beijing intends to play a constructive role in bringing about a ceasefire between Ukraine and Russia. China’s Foreign Ministry said the two ministers held telephone talks on Thursday. The ministry quoted Qin as saying he had expressed concern about an escalation of the Ukraine-Russia crisis and the possibility of it getting out of control.
3.Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio and South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol have agreed to resume the so-called shuttle diplomacy between the leaders of the two countries. Such mutual visits have not taken place in more than a decade.

1. The Japanese Prime Minister and South Korean President are holding talks in Tokyo. Kishida Fumio and Yoon Suk-yeol are hoping to improve strained relations between the countries, as North Korea speeds up its nuclear and missile development. Yoon is the first South Korean president to visit Japan in 12 years – excluding international gatherings.
2. Japan’s defense ministry says the suspected intercontinental ballistic missile fired by North Korea on Thursday likely had the capacity to travel as far as 15,000 kilometers. That is enough to reach the entire US mainland. There is a high possibility that it was what’s known as a lofted missile. 3. A senior White House official has spoken about the US drone that went down into the Black Sea, after it has a physical encounter with a Russian jet. He said the device might never be recovered.

1. Economic data released by China on Wednesday show the world’s second-largest economy picking up at the beginning of this year, following the end of the “zero-COVID” policy. The National Bureau of Statistics says retail sales in the first two months rose by 3.5 percent from the same period a year ago. It was the first increase after three straight months of declines going back to October of 2022. 2. Japan’s annual wage negotiations are set to peak on Wednesday, when many companies will respond to labor unions. Many unions are having their demands met, but the question is whether workers at not only big firms but also smaller ones will be given persistent pay raises. 3. Japan’s Upper House has stripped a member of the chamber of his status as a lawmaker for failing to attend a single Diet session. On Wednesday, the Upper House plenary session voted 235 to one to expel opposition Seijikajoshi 48 Party member GaaSyy. He will no longer be a lawmaker.

1. South Korea’s military says North Korea launched two short-range ballistic missiles on Tuesday morning. This comes one day after US and South Korean forces began joint military drills. 2. US President Joe Biden has pledged to do whatever it takes to contain the fallout from a pair of banking collapses. He is working to restore confidence after the failure of Silicon Valley Bank and Signature Bank.
3. China’s President Xi Jinping is reportedly planning a visit to Russia next week for talks with his counterpart Vladimir Putin.

1. Nobel Prize-winning Japanese novelist Oe Kenzaburo died of old age on March 3. He was 88. Oe won the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1994, becoming the second Japanese author to receive the honor after Kawabata Yasunari.
2. China’s President Xi Jinping has reiterated his determination to push for the reunification of Taiwan in a speech to the National People’s Congress. Xi said he will advance the process of the reunification of the motherland, stressing that China will firmly oppose pro-independence and secessionist activities and the interference of external forces. 3. Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has expressed confidence that his forces will successfully defend the strategic city of Bakhmut from Russia. The city is a Ukrainian stronghold in the country’s eastern region of Donetsk.

1. Policymakers at the Bank of Japan have wrapped up their two-day meeting on Friday, the last one for Governor Kuroda Haruhiko. Reflecting on the past 10 years, he called monetary easing a success, and said the potential of Japan’s economy had been fully demonstrated. 2.Twin panda cubs at Tokyo’s Ueno Zoo are being prepared for independence from their mother starting on Friday. Male Xiao Xiao and female Lei Lei will be 21 months old on March 23. Wild pandas become independent of their mothers around the age. 3. The latest polls in South Korea show that almost 60 percent of the respondents are against the government’s plan for settling the wartime labor issue with Japan. The plan announced on Monday says a government-backed fund supported by donations from domestic companies is to compensate people who say they or their relatives were forced to work for Japanese firms during World War Two. The survey shows that 35 percent of the respondents support the plan, saying it is good for the national interest and relations with Japan. But 59 percent said they are against the plan as it does not include apologies and compensation from Japan.

1. South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol will visit Japan for two days from next Thursday to hold summit talks with Prime Minister Kishida Fumio. It will be the first visit to Japan by a South Korean president in about four years.
2.Japan’s Lower House has endorsed the appointment of economist Ueda Kazuo as the new governor of the Bank of Japan. Ueda, a former BOJ policy board member, is to replace Kuroda Haruhiko, whose term ends on April 8.
3. International Women’s Day demonstrations have taken place in Turkey, Peru, Brazil and many other parts of the world, calling for advances in women’s rights.

1. Japan’s Imperial Household Agency has resumed processions of horse-drawn carriages for newly appointed foreign ambassadors, after a three-year suspension due to the coronavirus pandemic. A procession is held when newly appointed envoys present their credentials to the Emperor. Office workers and foreign tourists were seen taking pictures and videos as the carriage passed through a tree-lined avenue in the business district.
2. Palestinian children in the Gaza Strip have flown kites to mark the 12th year since the massive earthquake and tsunami devastated Japan’s northeast. The kite flying event started in 2012 with the support of the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees, or UNRWA. The event has since been held annually except for 2020, when it had to be canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic. 3. Japan’s tourist industry is struggling with a shortage of workers as demand for travel surges in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic. The Tokyo Metropolitan Government organized job fair in a bid to help companies affected. More than 30 businesses, including bus companies and hotel operators, sent recruiters to the fair on Wednesday. Job-hunting university students and workers seeking to switch jobs visited corporate booths, where they were briefed on the work and wages.

1. The Japanese government has approved a draft of revisions to the immigration law and related legislation. The draft of revisions to the Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act was approved at a Cabinet meeting on Tuesday.
2. Japan’s launch of its new flagship H3 rocket ended in failure after the second-stage engine didn’t ignite and the mission was aborted. According to the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, or JAXA, about eight minutes after liftoff it was announced that ignition of the second-stage engine had not been confirmed.
3. Britain’s Financial Times newspaper is reporting that Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen is planning to meet with US House Speaker Kevin McCarthy in the United States in April. The article published Monday says. “Several people familiar with the situation said that Tsai and McCarthy had agreed to meet in the US because of Taiwanese security concerns.”

1. South Korean officials have unveiled a plan to settle a longstanding issue with Japan. They say South Korean companies will compensate people who say they were forced to work during World War Two. Foreign Minister Park Jin said, “We are willing to develop the relationship between South Korea and Japan to a higher level, to a more future-oriented one.”
2. South Korea’s government has disclosed plans to halt the process of its complaint with the World Trade Organization against Japan while discussions proceed on Japan’s export restrictions. South Korea’s industry ministry announced on Monday tat Seoul and Tokyo agreed to conduct bilateral consultations on export control issues.
3.The head of Japan’s largest business group says the organization will consider new programs to step up cooperation with its South Korean counterpart, following Seoul’s announcement of a plan to settle the wartime labor issue between the two countries.

1. NHK has learned that preparations are underway to launch Japan’s new H3 flagship rocket on Monday. The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) aborted a launch attempt on February 17 due to a system malfunction. Sources involved in the launch have told NHK that arrangements are being made for a second attempt on March 6.
2. A meeting of foreign ministers from the Quad nations of Japan, the United States, Australia and India is underway in New Delhi. The Quad foreign ministers are expected to oppose any attempts to change the status quo by force amid Russia’s ongoing invasion of Ukraine. They will likely confirm efforts to maintain and strengthen international order based on the rule of law. 3. The top diplomats from the US and Russia have attended some of the same meetings since the start of the war in Ukraine. However, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov had never taken the opportunity to speak together. On Thursday, they met in person.

1. Foreign ministers from the Group of 20 are meeting for a second day in New Delhi, where the war in Ukraine is expected to take center stage. Indian External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar said, “Let us remind ourselves that this grouping bears an exceptional responsibility. We first came together in the midst of a global crisis.” 2. Japan’s agriculture ministry says the number of chickens and other birds culled across the country due to avian flu is to top 15 million this winter – a new record high.
3. The board of education in Toda City, north of Tokyo, has instructed schools to take thorough security measures after an intruder slashed a teacher. Police on Wednesday arrested a 17-year-old senior high school student on suspicion of attempted murder. The student allegedly trespassed into a junior high school in the city and wounded a teacher with a knife.

1. At least 29 people are dead after two trains collided in Greece. Eighty-five others are injured. The crash took place near the city of Larissa, about 200 kilometers north of the capital, Athens. One of the trains was carrying passengers, while the other was transporting freight. 2. Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a bill on Tuesday suspending the country’s last nuclear arms treaty with the US, known as the New START treaty. Putin declared in a national address last week that the would put the agreement on hold. The deal limits the number of nuclear warheads, missiles and bombers in each country’s arsenal.
3. Commanders on both sides of the war in Ukraine have expended soldiers and weapons in a standoff in the east. Month after month, those defending the city of Bakhmut have held their lines in the face of a Russian onslaught. But now, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has issued a warning about their fate. Zelenskyy said on late Monday that Russian troops are shattering anything the Ukrainians could use to shield themselves. He said they have been relentless. Still, his troops are refusing to give up.

1. US media says one of the federal agencies comprising the country’s intelligence community now concludes the COVID-19 pandemic was most likely caused by a leak from a laboratory in Wuhan, China. The Wall Street Journal reported on Sunday that the Energy Department recently submitted to the White House a report concluding that the virus likely accidentally spread from the laboratory. 2. US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen made a surprise visit to Ukraine on Monday to underscore Washington’s commitment to supporting the country. In a meeting with President Zelenskyy, Yellen stressed, “Ukraine’s fight is our fight. We will stand with Ukraine for as long as it takes.” 3. Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko is visiting China on Tuesday for talks with President Xi Jinping. The meeting comes amid pressure by the United States on China to avoid providing military aid to Russia in its invasion of Ukraine.

1. A boat crowded with migrants from Afghanistan, Iran and other countries has capsized off the coast of Italy, killing at least 59 people. Italian authorities and media say the wooden vessel crashed against rocks in bad weather and capsized off the coast of the southern Italian province of Calabria on Sunday. It had set sail from Turkey several days earlier. 2. A Japanese venture firm is providing evacuees from Ukraine with an opportunity to learn Japanese via their smartphones. Tokyo-based firm Monoxer is a provider of memorization tools and develops learning platforms mainly for educational institutions and businesses. Now it has created an application for Ukrainian evacuees in Japan who are having trouble finding work due to the language barrier. 3.Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has dismissed the commander of Ukrainian forces fighting Russian forces in the Donbas region in the country’s east. He has given no reason for the dismissal of Eduard Moskalyov announced on Sunday. He stressed his resolve to regain all occupied territories from Russia.

1. The government’s nominee for Bank of Japan governor has told a Lower House hearing that he intends to stick with the BOJ’s massive monetary-easing program. Economist Ueda Kazuo said, “If I am approved as governor, I would like to work closely with the government and implement appropriate policies in accordance with developments in ‘economic activity and prices’.” 2. The UN General Assembly has adopted a resolution demanding Russia immediately withdraw its forces from Ukraine and urging lasting peace. The resolution was put to a vote at a special session at UN headquarters in New York on Thursday, the eve of the anniversary of Russia’s invasion. In the vote, 141 countries voted in favor of the resolution, while Russia and other six countries voted against it. Another 32 countries, including China, abstained.
3. Finance chiefs and central bank governors from the Group of Seven nations have reaffirmed their “unwavering support” for Ukraine, and their unity in condemning Russia’s invasion. The officials released a statement after their meeting in the southern Indian city of Bengaluru on Thursday, the eve of the first anniversary of the start of the invasion. They were joined by Ukraine’s Finance Minister Sergii Marchenko.

1. Japan’s Emperor Naruhito has greeted the general public on his birthday at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo. The Emperor turned 63 on Thursday. This is the first time he has delivered a public birthday greeting since he ascended the throne in 2019. To prevent the spread of the coronavirus, only 4,800 people, chosen by lottery, were allowed into the palace grounds. 2. Russian President Vladimir Putin has declared his intention to boost his country’s nuclear forces, just a day before the one-year anniversary of the start of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The president hailed Russian forces in Ukraine, saying, “Our troops are heroically fighting the neo-Nazism that has taken root in Ukraine, protecting our people in our historical lands, and are fighting courageously and heroically.”
3. A senior United States government official has expressed deep concerns over China’s possible support for the Russian military in its ongoing invasion of Ukraine and said if assistance is given, it will seriously impact US-China relations.

1. Japan and China have held their first security dialogue in about four years. Senior foreign affairs and defense officials from the two countries met Wednesday in Tokyo.
2. South Korea’s fertility rate in 2022 marked a record low for the seventh year in a row. Statistics Korea said on Wednesday that the average number of children born per woman stood at 0.78 last year, down 0.03 from the previous year. The agency says South Korea is the only country among members of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development with a fertility rate below one. 3. Prices of new condominiums in Japan reached record highs for the sixth straight year in 2022. The increase were due to a combination of strong demand and soaring building-material costs.

1. US President Joe Biden’s visit to Ukraine was accomplished after careful planning and strict control of information. Accompanying reporters say Biden arrived in Kyiv at 8 a.m. Monday, local time, and shortly after 8:30 a.m., he arrived at the palace to meet Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and First Lady Olena Zelenska.
2. Eighty percent of the people who participated in a survey conducted in Ukraine said that they have physical and mental problems because of the war. Using mobile phones, NHK and the Kyiv-based research organization, Rating Group, surveyed people aged 18 and older across Ukraine. They did not question people living in the eastern region of Donbas or the southern region of Crimea. One thousand people responded.
3. The United Nations Security Council has held an emergency meeting about North Korea’s latest ballistic missile launches. Most of the member nations are standing united, but Russia and China continue to block any strong response.

1. Ukrainian leaders are bracing for major missile attacks as the first anniversary of Russia’s invasion approaches on Friday. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in a video message on Sunday that the more losses Russia suffers in the eastern region of Donbas, the faster Ukraine will be able to end the invasion.
2. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un’s sister has criticized the United States and South Korea for conducting a joint air force drill involving US B-1 bombers on Sunday. Kim Yo Jong noted, “We are carefully examining the influence it would exert on the security of our state,” and added, “we will take corresponding counteraction if it is judged to be any direct or indirect threat.” 3.US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has said he conveyed his concerns to China’s top diplomat about Beijing’s possible support for the Russian military in the ongoing Ukraine invasion. Washington is apparently warning that it will take measures should Beijing respond to Moscow’s request.

1. Experts are trying to figure out why Japan’s new H3 flagship rocket was not able to lift off from a site in southwestern Japan as scheduled. The rocket was set to launch from the Tanegashima Space Center on Friday morning.
2. Doctors say US President Joe Biden is “fit for duty” after a physical exam. At the age of 80, Biden is the oldest president in US history.
3. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has addressed a prestigious film festival, urging filmmakers and others to assist his country amid Russia’s invasion. The president said Russia has been killing people in Ukraine for almost a year. He stressed that art and culture should not help the “evil” by remaining silent.

1. Candidates to become the next head and deputy heads of the Bank of Japan are set to explain their ideas on Japanese economic policy to Lower House members on February 24. The government on Tuesday presented the Diet with the nominations of Ueda Kazuo as the new central bank governor and Himino Ryozo and Uchida Shinichi as deputy governors. The term of incumbent Governor Kuroda Haruhiko ends in early April.
2. A winter festival featuring huts made from snow has welcomed back tourists for the first time in three years in Akita Prefecture, northern Japan. The event is held every year in the city of Yokote on February 15 and 16. About 40 of the “kamakura” huts were built for the festival. 3. The Financial Times reports Western intelligence shows Russia is amassing aircraft close to the border with Ukraine. It said the move indicates Moscow is preparing to bolster its faltering land offensive. The paper says intelligence shared among NATO allies shows Russia is assembling both fixed-wing and rotary aircraft. The article notes that Russia has used its air forces sparingly, relying instead on long-range missiles, artillery and land-based troops.

1. Providing aid to survivors has been especially hard in Northwest Syria as the civil war in the country continues. But officials are hoping to speed up deliveries with newly opened routes. 2. The government of Turkey and Syria, as well as the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, say the combined death toll from the recent devastating earthquakes that hit southern Turkey has exceeded 40,000.
3. Former Japanese Defense Minister Onodera Itsunori raised concern that objects believed to be Chinese spy balloons could suggest possible vulnerabilities in the nation’s defenses. The ministry on Tuesday said balloon-like objects were spotted over Japanese territory at least three times between 2019 and 2021.

1. Russia is believed to be intensifying its offensive against Ukraine ahead of the first anniversary of its invasion, despite suffering heavy casualties. NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg told a media conference on Monday, “What Russia does now, what President Putin is doing now, is sending thousands of thousands more troops, accepting a very high rate of casualty, taking big losses, but putting pressure on the Ukrainians.”
2. Syria has reportedly agreed to open more land routes from Turkey to allow for the delivery of humanitarian aid by the United Nations to earthquake victims in the opposition-controlled northwestern part of the country. UN emergency relief coordinator Martin Griffiths informed the UN Security Council in an emergency online meeting that Syrian President Bashar al-Assad agreed to open two more border crossings for three months.
3. Search and rescue efforts continue in Turkey and Syria. A 12-year-old boy was reportedly pulled alive from the rubble of a collapsed apartment in southern Turkey, more than one week after the devastating earthquake hit. Turkey’s Anadolu news agency reported on Monday that the boy had been trapped in the debris for 182 hours in the province of Hatay.

1. The death toll from a series of earthquakes that have rocked Turkey and neighboring Syria over the past week has exceeded 33,000. A magnitude 7.8 quake hit southern Turkey in the early hours of last Monday, followed by more tremors. Turkey has counted 29,605 deaths while Syria tallied at least 3,581 fatalities. Search-and-rescue efforts are underway in quake-stricken areas as many people are believed to be still trapped under collapsed buildings.
2.A government aircraft is delivering medical equipment and supplies to Turkey in the wake of last week’s massive earthquake. The Defense Ministry says the plane is heading to Turkey after stopping at Narita Airport to load about 15 tons of supplies for a Japanese emergency medical team, including tents, beds and operating tables.
3.The United States is calling on UN Security Council members to vote for increased access to quake-stricken Syria by opening more border crossings from Turkey. UN Special Envoy for Syria Geir Pedersen stressed, “We are mobilizing funding and we are trying to tell everyone, put politics aside. This is the time to unite behind a common effort to support the Syrian people.

1. Japanese weather officials have issued heavy snow warnings for central Tokyo and Saitama Prefecture, located north of the capital. It’s the first warning of its kind for central Tokyo since January 6, 2022.
2. The Japanese government plans to allow people to make their own choices about wearing face masks to prevent coronavirus infections, beginning in March. The government currently recommends that masks be worn indoors. It is reviewing the recommendation because the coronavirus will be reclassified to the same category as seasonal influenza from May 8.
3. United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres says a UN convoy has entered quake-hit Syria to deliver relief supplies.

1. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has made pitches to allies around the world, but rarely in person. On Wednesday, he went on a surprise visit to London to repeat his demands for fighter jets to use in his country’s fight against Russian forces. Zelenskyy said, “I appeal to you, and the world, with the simple and yet most important words: Combat aircraft for Ukraine. Wings for freedom.” 2. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has sought additional military support from France and Germany in a meeting with the two countries’ leaders. French President Emmanuel Macron said Russia could not be allowed to win the war, and stressed the need to continue military support for Ukraine and its future as long as Russia keeps attacking.
3. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un presided over a huge military parade in Pyongyang on Wednesday night that showcased intercontinental ballistic missiles. The event marked the 75th founding anniversary of the country’s armed forces and was the first large-scale parade since April last year.

1. The death toll from Monday’s earthquake and aftershocks that hit Turkey and Syria has surpassed 8,300, as desperate efforts continue to rescue people trapped under rubble. A powerful quake with a magnitude of 7.8 hit southern Turkey near the Syrian border early on Monday, followed by another major quake and a series of aftershocks.
2. US President Joe Biden stressed his achievements, including the creation of record employment levels, in a State of the Union address that also outlined policies for the coming year. Biden delivered his second State of the Union address to a joint session of Congress on Tuesday, as attention is focused on whether he will soon announce his candidacy for reelection. 3. A Tokyo Olympics executive has been arrested on suspicion of violating Japan’s Anti-Monopoly Act. Sources say former deputy director of the Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics Organizing Committee’s operations bureau Mori Yasuo has admitted to involvement in rigging bids for test events. Prosecutors and Japan Fair Trade Commission officials suspect that the organizing committee colluded with Dentsu, the country’s largest ad agency, to steer contracts to specific companies.

1. Two men suspected of orchestrating a series of robberies across Japan have arrived in the country to face separate fraud charges. They were deported from the Philippines. They allegedly coordinated the crimes with another pair of Japanese nationals. Who may also soon face deportation. 2. A senior White House official says the US military has recovered parts of a suspected Chinese spy balloon that was shot down off the US Atlantic Coast on Saturday. A US Air Force fighter jet downed the balloon after it traveled across US territory last week. 3. Crews in southeastern Turkey near the border with Syria are searching in near-freezing temperatures to find survivors of earthquakes. At least 3700 people were killed. A magnitude 7.8 quake struck early Monday while many residents were still asleep. In the hours that followed, they felt dozens of aftershocks including one of magnitude 7.5. Thousands of buildings collapsed.

1. A powerful earthquake struck south-east Turkey on Monday morning, reportedly leaving at least 100 people dead in the country and neighboring Syria. Turkish disaster management officials say the quake with an estimated magnitude of 7.4 hit the south-eastern Turkish province of Kahramanmaras, near Syria, at 01:17 UTC on Monday.
2. Visitors to the port city of Nagasaki in southwestern Japan have enjoyed watching a reenactment of a parade featuring a Chinese goddess of maritime safety. The procession on Sunday was the climax of the two-week Nagasaki Lantern Festival. The event recreates a Chinese sailors’ procession from the Tokugawa period between the 17th and 19th centuries.
3.A Japanese exporter of bonsai trees is preparing to welcome foreign buyers for the first time since the start of the pandemic. The Bonsai Network Japan ships potted ornamental trees and shrubs abroad from its facilities north of Tokyo. Europe is its major export market.

1. US television network ABC has aired images of a suspected Chinese surveillance balloon that has been observed flying over the continental United States. They show what appears to be black equipment underneath the white balloon.
2.Japan’s two biggest airlines logged improved results for the April-to-December period last year as demand for travel rebounded. Japan Airlines says group sales for the 9 months roughly doubled from a year earlier in yen terms, to over 1 trillion yen, or over 7.8 billion dollars. Japan Airlines’ main competitor, ANA Holdings, saw group sales for the April-to-December period rise about 70 percent. The figure was just over 1.25 trillion yen, or over 9.7 billion dollars.
3. The value of Japan’s exports of agricultural, forestry and fishery products last year reached a record high owing to the weak yen and recovering demand in the global restaurant industry. The value of exports has increased for 10 consecutive years. The figure in 2022 was about 3.1 times that in 2012.

1.Japanese Foreign Minister Hayashi Yoshimasa says his country is seriously concerned about the further extension of the state of emergency in Myanmar. He said the country’s military has been failing to work for political progress, such as the release of all of detained people, including Aung San Suu Kyi.
2.A former commander in Russian private military company Wagner who fled to Norway has spoken about the brutality of the fighting in Ukraine. Andrei Medvedev was interviewed by Norwegian public broadcaster NRK. Asked why he signed the contract with Wagner, he said he grew up as an orphan and had believed Russian propaganda. Medvedev said he decided to desert after he saw what was happening on the frontline. He added that he wanted to apologize to the Ukrainian people,and expressed a willingness to cooperate with an investigation into war crimes.
3.The transportation authority of the western Japanese city of Kyoto says it will do away with one-day bus passes at the end of March,2024. The aim of the move is to ease passenger congestion by reducing the number of tourists on buses.

1.A UN human rights expert on Myanmar has called for a coordinated response by the international community ahead of Wednesday’s two-year anniversary of the military coup that overturned the democratically elected government.
2.The Philippines is taking steps to repatriate four Japanese nationals who are believed to be linked to a series of robberies in Japan. Attention has been focused on how soon the suspects will be sent. Philippine officials are expected to discuss the matter as early Wednesday afternoon.
3.Police in Pakistan say they suspect a security lapse may have been to blame for a deadly blast that occurred at a crowded mosque on Monday. The massive explosion took place in Pakistan’s northwestern city of Peshawar. Local authorities say it left at least 95 people dead and more than 200 others injured.

1.The members of the UN Security Council discussed North Korea for the first time this year during a meeting on Monday. The conference was chaired by Japan. Last year, North Korea repeatedly launched ballistic missiles. It fired at least 73 missiles, including cruise missiles, toward the Sea of Japan and other destinations.
2.US media outlets are reporting that former world champion skier Kyle Smaine was killed in an avalanche in central Japan on Sunday. Many messages have been posted on social media. The US Freeski Team wrote, “Today we lost an incredible person friend, skier and teammate to the mountains.” It added, “Smaine loved exploring the mountains, was a fierce competitor but an even better person and friend.”
3.Russian commanders have been trying for months to break through defensive positions in eastern Ukraine. Now, they may have some momentum. The troops had already captured Soledar, a town they see as a foothold in the Donetsk region. Now, authorities claim soldiers have secured a place that has been a Ukrainian bastion since the outset of the war.

1.The head of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization will arrive in Japan on Monday. He is expected to discuss strengthening bilateral ties amid growing collaboration between Russia and China. NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg will meet Prime Minister Kishida Fumio and other officials during his three-day visit to Japan.
2.Four Chinese government ships have entered Japan’s territorial waters around the Senkaku Islands in the East China Sea. The vessels are reportedly navigating in waters a few kilometers away from Japanese fishing and survey ships.
3.Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has asked the international community to supply new weapons quickly to his country as Russian attacks there continue to kill civilians.

1.An expert panel of Japan’s health ministry agreed on Friday that COVID-19 should be downgraded to the same category of infectious diseases as seasonal influenza in about three months. The government is expected to decide at a meeting of its coronavirus task force later in the day that the disease’s classification will be downgraded on May 8.
2.Japan’s government has decided on additional sanctions on Russia in response to the ongoing invasion of Ukraine. Exports will be banned to 49 more entities, including Russian aircraft repair factories. More items will be added to the list of banned exports to Russia.
3.Canada has joined Germany and the United States in sending battle tanks to Ukraine. Canada’s defense minister Anita Anand announced on Thursday that her country will supply Ukraine with four of its German-made Leopard 2 tanks.

1.Germany has announced that it will supply its highly capable Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine. The German government said on Wednesday that it will send its first batch of 14 and also train Ukrainian soldiers in Germany. It also said it will allow countries that possess Leopard 2 tanks to provide them to Ukraine.
2.The United Nations’ cultural agency UNESCO decided to add the historic center of Odesa in Ukraine to its World Heritage List on Wednesday. Called the Pearl of the Black Sea, Odesa developed as a port city during the age of Russian Empire. It flourished as a strategic hub of maritime trade, where a variety of cultures and nationalities mingled.
3.Ukraine’s ambassador to Japan says victory is on the way, but not without help. NHK sat down with Sergiy Korsunsky to talk about Russia’s invasion, now 11 months in. The ambassador says Japan can play a crucial role in setting up and running the financial platform that will be created for the reconstruction and modernization of Ukraine.

1.Weather officials forecast heavy snow will continue to fall in areas along the Sea of Japan coast in northern and eastern Japan. They are calling on people to stay on the alert for possible traffic disruptions.
2.Heavy snow in central and western Japan has left vehicles stranded over a 10-kilometer stretch of expressway between Nagoya and Kyoto. The Central Nippon Expressway Company says vehicles have become trapped on the Shin-Meishin Expressway between the Komono Interchange in Mie Prefecture and the Koka-Tsuchiyama Interchange in Shiga Prefecture.
3.Investigative sources say police suspect that a person using the name “Luffy” was the mastermind behind a spate of robberies in Japan. Police suspect that the robberies were carried out by groups of people who had been recruited through social media. They allegedly broke into homes and shops in accordance with Luffy’s instructions.

1.Many areas across Japan are expected to be affected by the coldest air mass of the season from Tuesday. Weather officials are advising people to prepare for heavy snow and low temperatures and refrain from going out in the worst of the weather.
2.Businesses across Japan are preparing to respond to a bout of severe winter weather in the coming days. Demand for some goods has been unexpectedly high at some shops. A home improvement store in Fukuoka City in southwestern Japan says it has sold all of its merchandise for coping with heavy snow and icy weather. Among the items sold out were snow shovels and covers for water pipes to keep them from freezing up.
3.Japanese insurers are planning to hike premiums for coverage of war damage to ships in waters around Russia and Ukraine. The move comes as Russia’s drawn-out invasion of Ukraine prompts reinsurance companies to increase their rates.

1.Police in the United States say the suspect in a deadly shooting outside Los Angeles has been found dead of a self-inflicted gunshot wound. It ends a manhunt that began after a gunman killed 10 people and injured 10 others during Lunar New Year’s celebrations. The male suspect’s body was found inside a van in a parking lot about 30 kilometers from the crime scene.
2.Japan’s Prime Minister Kishida Fumio says addressing the country’s falling birthrate will be a top priority for the government. Kishida said births in Japan last year are estimated to be under 800,000. He said the government will try to implement unprecedented countermeasures to boost the number of births. He said he intends to devise steps and seek stable financial sources to achieve the goal.
3.Japanese weather officials are urging people to prepare for heavy snow and cold temperatures as soon as possible. They warn that the coldest air mass of this winter is expected to bring heavy snow to much of the country from Tuesday.

1.Japan’s Prime Minister Kishida Fumio has instructed ministers to consider steps toward recategorizing COVID-19 into the same class of infectious diseases as seasonal flu this spring.
2.South Korea plans to ease its indoor mask mandate at the end of this month, after the Lunar New Year holidays. Prime Minister Han Duck-soo told a task force meeting on Friday that the daily number of new infections of the coronavirus has been declining for three weeks.
3.Japan has submitted a revised recommendation letter for a group of gold and silver mines on Sado Island on the Sea of Japan to be registered as a World Cultural Heritage site.

1.Eyes around the world will soon turn to Germany where defense chiefs with the North Atlantic Treaty Organization are set to meet. The Friday talks will once again focus on help for Ukraine. And this time the main topic is tanks.
2.Japan has posted its biggest annual trade deficit on record. The weaker yen and soaring energy prices were mostly to blame.
3.New Zealand’s Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has announced she is stepping down. She says her time in office has been her greatest honor, but says she is no longer the right person for the job.

1.Politicians, business leaders, academics and activists are weighing in on global issues from a resort town in the Swiss Alps. They have descended on Davos for the world Economic Forum. Ukraine’s first lady says some leaders have failed to use their influence to help stop the fighting. Olena Zelenska says, if her country loses, the war could ignite wider crises.
2.A US Defense Department spokesperson says the US military has begun training Ukrainians to use and maintain the Patriot missile defense system. The US-produced Patriot is a mobile surface-to-air missile system designed to intercept ballistic and cruise missiles, as well as aircraft. The Dutch defense ministry on Tuesday said it was also ready to provide Ukraine with the Patriot system.
3.A former commander with Russia’s private military contractor Wagner has reportedly fled to Norway and is seeking asylum there. Norwegian human rights group Gulagu.net released an interview with Medvedev in which he explained his reasons for defecting.

1.China says its population dropped by around 850,000 people last year, marking the first decline in 61 years. The National Bureau of Statistics announced on Tuesday that the total on the mainland stood at an estimated one billion, 411 million, 750 thousand as of the end of 2022. China ended its one-child policy in 2016 after struggling with labor shortages and a rapidly aging demographic.
2.Japan is marking the 28th anniversary on Tuesday of the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake, which left 6,434 people dead. The powerful quake jolted the western prefecture of Hyogo and nearby areas on January 17, 1995, causing scores of buildings to collapse and fires to break out across affected areas.
3.The Japanese government says it has decided to offer debt relief of 7.8 billion yen to Ukraine to help ease the economic burden imposed on the country since it was invaded by Russia. Ukraine was supposed to pay back the amount, which is equivalent to over 60 million dollars at current rates, to Japan by the end of this year. It was to have been part of repayment of financial assistance. Japan’s Foreign Ministry says it has agreed with Kyiv that the money will be repaid in 10 installments over a six-month period, starting June 2027.

1.The world Economic Forum will open its annual meeting in Davos, Switzerland, on Monday with the slogan “Cooperation in a fragmented world.” Participants are expected to discuss the impact on the world economy of the US-China standoff and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. They are also expected to exchange views on what can be done to put the economy back on the globalization track.
2.Japanese pharmaceutical firm Eisai on Monday said it has applied to Japan’s health ministry for approval of its Alzheimer’s drug. The drug is designed to slow the progression of the neurodegenerative disease by reducing the accumulation of amyloid beta in the brains of Alzheimer’s patients. The abnormal protein is believed to induce neuronal cell death.
3.Bankruptcies of nursing care providers across Japan hit their highest level last year since 2000. Credit research firm Tokyo Shoko Research says 143 care providers went bankrupt in 2022. Businesses with fewer than 10 employees accounted for more than 80 percent of the bankruptcies.

1.Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio has found some common ground with his Canadian counterpart Justin Trudeau as part of his efforts toward a free and open Indo-Pacific. The two met in Ottawa on Thursday. Kishida is touring five Group of Seven countries and meeting with their leaders ahead of the G7 summit in Hiroshima in May.
2.Japan and the United States are to start discussions for effective operation of Japan’s counterattack capabilities under its new defense policy. Japan’s Defense Minister Hamada Yasukazu and US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin met at the Pentagon on Thursday.
3.Ukraine’s deputy defense minister says a fierce battle is continuing near the Ukrainian stronghold of Bakhmut in the eastern region of Donetsk. Hanna Maliar briefed reporters on the status of fighting over the town of Soledar on Thursday. She said Ukrainian soldiers are fighting desperately despite the difficult situation.

1.Japan’s Prime Minister Kishida Fumio and his British counterpart, Rishi Sunak, have affirmed unity ahead of the Group of Seven summit in Hiroshima in May. Kishida flew into London on the third leg of a weeklong tour. He previously visited France and Italy, and will travel next to Canada and the United States.
2.Japan and the United States say they are reorganizing their defense cooperation to be more effective. This comes as Tokyo is strengthening its capability to respond to attacks, and as both countries say they want to counter China’s attempts to change the status quo.
3.Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio has arrived in Ottawa to hold talks with his Canadian counterpart, Justin Trudeau. Kishida is currently on a tour of France, Italy, Britain, Canada and the United States, ahead of the Group of Seven summit in Hiroshima slated for May. Canada is the fourth designation of the tour.

1.Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio and his Italian counterpart Giorgia Meloni have agreed to upgrade the two countries’ relationship to a strategi partnership. Italy is the second stop of Kishida’s trip to five of the Group of Seven nations. His trip comes ahead of May’s G7 summit, which Japan will host in Hiroshima.
2.The coronavirus is rapidly spreading in China. And, travelers from there are facing restrictions imposed by multiple countries. Those include Japan and South Korea. Beijing is now hitting back with its own. It has suspended issuing certain visas to people from both countries.
3.Japanese Defense officials say a Maritime Self-Defense Force destroyer that is stranded in western Japan may have struck rocks, noting shallow waters were spotted nearby.

1.Japan’s Prime Minister Kishida Fumio and French President Emmanuel Macron have agreed the two nations will work closely to ensure the success of the upcoming Group of Seven summit in Hiroshima. Kishida told Macron that he wants the summit, scheduled for May, to be a forum where G7 nations can express their resolve to uphold a free and open international order based on the rule of law. He also said the meeting will give the G7 countries a chance to show their commitment to strengthening strict sanctions on Russia over its invasion of Ukraine, as well as their strong support for Kyiv.
2.Researchers in Osaka Prefecture, western Japan, have confirmed for the first time that endangered Japanese eels inhabit Dotonbori River in the middle of Osaka City.
3.A Japanese saury fishing cooperative says the country’s catch of the fish hit a record low in 2022 for the fourth year in a row.

1.Brazilian media outlets say security authorities have removed supporters of the country’s former President Jair Bolsonaro from the Congress and other buildings in the capital, Brasilia. But they say clashes between Bolsonaro loyalists and police are continuing in some parts of the city. The mob breached security barricades and entered the Congress building on Sunday. They also stormed into the nearby presidential palace and the Supreme Court.
2.US President Joe Biden has visited the US-Mexico border for the first time since he took office two years ago. Biden visited El Paso on Sunday to inspect immigration control. He exchanged opinions with border security officials and local lawmakers.
3.Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio has left for France on the first leg of his tour of five Group of Seven nations. Kishida plans to visit France, Italy, Britain, Canada and the United States from Monday through Sunday to hold talks with their leaders in the run-up to the G7 summit in Hiroshima in May. Japan holds the presidency this year.

1.Russian President Vladimir Putin has ordered his troops to observe a ceasefire starting Friday to mark Orthodox Christmas. He said soldiers “along the entire line of contact” with Ukraine will hold their fire for 36 hours. He called on Ukrainian forces to follow suit. However, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy rejected the idea.
2.Firefighters in Tokyo have held their annual New Year’s drill. They conducted the drill to prepare for a possible major quake, as this year marks the centennial of the magnitude-7.9 Great Kanto Earthquake.
3.A government survey shows that 27.9 percent of Japanese companies allow their employees to stay on the job until age 70. The figure is up 2.3 percentage points from a year earlier. A law that took effect in April 2021 requires companies to do what they can to keep their employees on the payroll until age 70 if they wish to continue working, as Japan’s population is rapidly aging.

1.Fishers based at a port with the largest annual catch in Japan have marked their first day at sea in 2023. The fishers poured sake rice wine into the sea in a ritual to pray for the safety of their operations and good catches in the year ahead.
2.US President Joe Biden has revealed that his country is considering sending armored fighting vehicles to Ukraine to help Ukrainians take back territory from the Russians. Biden is considering Bradley Fighting Vehicles, which run on caterpillar tracks and are equipped with an autocannon and other weapons. They can attack while transporting soldiers.
3.A senior White House official says the United States is considering enhancing defense cooperation with Japan and South Korea amid North Korea’s growing threats.

1. Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio is set to meet with US President Joe Biden at the White House on January 13. White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre announced the meeting Tuesday in a statement that said the leaders will aim “to further deepen ties between our governments, economies, and our people.”
2. Japan’s ambassador to the United Nations has vowed to make efforts to maintain the peace and security of the international community as the country serves as a non-permanent member of the Security Council.
3. The US House of Representatives has failed to elect a speaker on the first ballot for the first time in 100 years. The Republicans won a majority in the chamber following the elections in November and the new session adjourned on Tuesday. Top House Republican Kevin McCarthy was seen as a favorite within the Republican Party to become speaker. But he fell short of a majority in the first ballot after failing to gain support from hardliners and other Republican representatives. He also failed to win a majority in the subsequent two rounds of voting.

1. Japan’s airports, railway stations and expressways are crowded on Tuesday as people return from their year-end and New Year holidays. This holiday season saw more travelers as it was the first time in three years that there were no coronavirus restrictions in place.
2. Japanese businesses are increasingly finding practical applications for quantum technology from worker shift-scheduling to railway operations. Electronics and other firms have been engaged in research into quantum computers, which would vastly surpass the calculating power of supercomputers.
3. Russia’s defense ministry said on Monday 63 of its soldiers were killed in a Ukrainian rocket strike in the eastern region of Donbas. It also said Ukraine used a HIMARS rocket launcher supplied by the US.

1. Worshippers flocked to a shrine in central Tokyo in the early hours of New Year’s Day to pray for good luck in 2023. Crowds of people gathered at Meiji Jingu before midnight on New Year’s Eve. They waited in line to hear the sound of a drum that signaled the arrival of the New Year.
2. Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has been sworn in as Brazil’s president. He now faces the difficult task of reuniting the country following an intense campaign. Lula, who led Brazil’s leftist government from 2003 through 2010 during two previous terms as the country’s leader, beat former right-wring president Jair Bolsonaro in an October runoff. Lula’s inauguration ceremony took place on Sunday in the capital Brasilia.
3. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has spoken with China’s new Foreign Minister Qin Gang by telephone. The talks took place on Sunday, as Qin was leaving Washington for his new role. China appointed the ambassador to the United States to head the foreign ministry on Friday.

1. Former Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has returned to power with a hardline coalition government after winning November’s national election.
2. Brazilian soccer legend Pele, a three-time World Cup winner, has died. He was 82. Pele, whose real name was Edson Arantes do Nascimento, was born in the southeastern state of Minas Gerais in 1940. He joined the national squad at the age of 17 and helped it win the World Cup for the first time in 1958. 3. Russian forces have unleashed another large-scale missile barrage at energy infrastructure and other targets across Ukraine, causing casualties and severely disrupting daily life amid the bitter winter cold.

1. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has stressed his resolve to retake territory from Russia and help Ukrainians who have evacuated the country to return. Zelenskyy said Ukrainian forces have already managed to liberate more than 1,800 cities and villages from Russian occupation, and pledged to continue efforts to restore the country’s territorial integrity. The president said millions of Ukrainians have been displaced and found shelter abroad since Russia’s invasion began. He expressed gratitude to all the countries that have accepted and helped those people. Zelenskyy went on, “But we must reserve them as a part of Ukrainian society. We have to ensure their return.” 2. Battles for control of the Russian stronghold of Luhansk in Ukraine’s eastern region appear to be intensifying as Ukrainian forces try to take it back. Ukrainian forces are continuing counteroffensives to seize territories Russia is occupying. In the Luhansk region, Ukrainian troops appear to be stepping up their offensive to recapture Kreminna. 3. Railways, airports and expressways in Japan are packed with people heading off to hometowns and vacations during the year-end and New Year holidays.

1. Many people in Japan are heading overseas to enjoy their first year-end and New Year holidays since the country significantly eased border controls against the COVID-19 pandemic. 2. Sources say the Japan Football Association has decided to let men’s national team coach Moriyasu Hajime stay in his post. Moriyasu, 54, led the Samurai Blue in the FIFA World Cup in Qatar earlier this year. The team advanced to the last 16 after beating powerhouses Germany and Spain in the group stage, but failed to reach the quarterfinals as the team had hoped. 3. A government survey has revealed that airports across Japan are facing a severe shortage of security staff amid a recovery in air travel. A transport ministry survey shows that the number of security staff fell from 7,400 in April 2020 to 5,600 in September 2022. That’s reduction of 1,800 staff, or about 25 percent.

1. Indonesians have commemorated the 18th anniversary of the deadly Indian Ocean tsunami that struck on December 26, 2004. The disaster left more than 220,000 people dead or missing in a vast area spanning from Southeast Asia to East Africa. The tsunami was triggered by a massive earthquake that struck off the coast of Indonesia’s Sumatra Island. More than 160,000 people were killed in Aceh province, located on the northwest tip of the island. 2. Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba says his country wants an international conference on ending the war to be held at the end of February. Kuleba also suggested that Ukrainian soldiers will be trained outside the country to learn how to use the US Patriot air defense system. He said that the Patriot missile battery will be operational in less than six months and that Ukraine will do whatever it can to win the war next year. 3. Japan’s reconstruction minister Akiba Kenya has submitted his resignation over political funding irregularities and other issues.

1. Britain’s King Charles has delivered his first Christmas message to the nation as monarch. He remembered his mother, the late Queen Elizabeth II, who died in September, and expressed gratitude to public workers.
2. Some of Ukraine’s Orthodox churches held Christmas services on December 25 in a break with the Russian Orthodox tradition that observes Christmas on January 7.
3. China’s Zhejiang Province reported more than one million new coronavirus cases on Sunday as the number of the infections surge nationwide. Provincial health authorities say the number of new COVID cases is expected to peak before the New Year holidays. They say the daily tally could reach up to 2 million. But the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention says new COVID cases nationwide reached only 2,940 on Saturday.

1. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy made a direct appeal to Americans for more support during a surprise visit Wednesday to Washington. In a speech delivered before Congress, he thanked the US for continuing to provide military aid, which he called an investment in democracy. 2. The Japanese government has released a report on experts’ opinions about its handling of former Prime Minister Abe Shinzo’s state funeral in September. The government heard from 21 experts in various fields, including scholars of the Constitution and administrative law, between October and December. 3. Newly released tax records for former US president Donald Trump show that he paid no income tax in 2020, his final full year in office. The Ways and Means Committee of the US House of Representatives has released a summary report on Trump’s tax filings from 2015 to 2020.

1. The White House says Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is visiting Washington and holding a summit with US President Joe Biden on Wednesday. A source close to the Ukrainian government said it will be the first time for Zelenskyy to visit a foreign country since Russia began its attacks in February.
2. NHK has learned that police in Japan have raided a number of seafood traders who are suspected of selling clams illegally imported from North Korea.
3. US billionaire Elon Musk says he is stepping down as CEO of social-media giant Twitter. His resignation would follow a poll in which a majority of Twitter users voted in favor of him quitting the CEO job.

1. Kyiv authorities illuminated a Christmas tree in the Ukrainian capital on Monday evening amid continued power outages caused by Russian attacks. Standing in a city center square, the tree is 12 meters tall, less than half the usual height, and the daily hours of illumination have been shortened.
2. Japan’s central bank has surprised markets by adjusting its monetary policy, allowing long-term interest rates to fluctuate in wider band. The Bank of Japan believes the new range will improve market functions. The yield for the 10-year Japanese Government Bond will now be allowed to move in a range of around plus and minus 0.5 percent. The earlier range was plus and minus 0.25 percent.
3. A food maker in northern Japan is rushing to meet demand for “datemaki” rolled omelets. They are part of the colorful “osechi” delicacies traditionally served over the New Year holiday. The company in Hokkaido plans to make more than 3,000 of the distinctive cog-shaped rolls in time for New Year.

1. Argentina has won the men’s soccer World Cup in Qatar by defeating France in the white-knuckle penalty shootout of the final. It was the South American team’s first title in 36 years, and its third overall. The two powerhouses clashed at Lusail stadium on Sunday. Argentina is third in the FIFA rankings while defending champion France is fourth. 2. Britain and the United States are stepping up their military aid to Ukraine as Russia continues missile attacks on Ukraine’s cities and infrastructure.
3. Record snowfalls for a 24-hour period have been observed in Fukushima Prefecture, northeastern Japan, and Niigata Prefecture, on the Sea of Japan coast. Weather officials are urging caution for the possible impacts of accumulated snow and icy roads on public transport as well as blackouts and avalanches.

1.The UN General Assembly has adopted for the 18th straight year a resolution urging North Korea to immediately return all foreign nationals it has abducted. The assembly adopted the resolution without a vote on Thursday. It has been submitted by the European Union every year. More than 60 countries, including Japan and South Korea, co-sponsored the resolution this year. 2. In a major milestone in efforts to revamp Japan’s defense strategy – the Cabinet is set to approve three key documents which reimagine how the nation should be able to defend itself and provide a plan to pay for some big changes. The National Security Strategy and the National Defense Strategy outline a new policy that would give Japan the ability to launch counterstrikes – only under specific circumstances. They would be limited to self-defense and would never be preemptive.
3. Experts tasked with assessing the coronavirus situation in Tokyo are calling on residents to be on the alert for a resurgence of infections. They say the number of new daily cases may double from the current figure to reach nearly 30,000 in mid-January.

1. Defending champions France are through to the World Cup final in Qatar after a 2-nil win over tournament surprise package Morocco. The match was billed as a battle between French superstar Kylian Mbappe and Moroccan goalkeeper Yassine Bounou who had conceded just once in five games that included a penalty shootout. But it took France just 5 minutes to beat him. A goalmouth scramble saw the ball fall to defender Theo Hernandez who angled a shot home. 2. Participants of a UN Security meeting have called for urgent reform of the body. Observers say the council is failing to take united action over the situation in Ukraine and other matters due to disagreements between member states with veto power.
3. Post offices across Japan started accepting New Year’s greeting cards on Thursday. In this age of social media, the postal service is encouraging people to give their greetings in the traditional way by sending “nengajo.”

1. The Bank of Japan said on Wednesday that its Tankan survey shows that business sentiment among major manufacturers worsened for the fourth straight quarter. The BOJ polled over 9,000 companies from early November to early December.
2.Dozens of countries have pledged over 1 billion euros, or about 1.1 billion dollars, in additional aid to Ukraine to help the people there survive the freezing winter weather. France initiated an aid conference for Ukraine, as Russian missile attacks have left Ukrainian citizens desperately short of power, heat and water across the country. 3. Superstar Lionel Messi led Argentina into the final of the FIFA World Cup with a 3-0 win over 2018 runner-up Croatia. Argentina is seeking its first World Cup championship since 1986.

1. Japan’s Foreign Minister Hayashi Yoshimasa says the government is considering supporting the African Union’s admission to the Group of 20 economies. The African Union comprises of 55 members and is one of the largest regional blocs in the world. US President Joe Biden has indicated that he will announce support for its membership. 2.The United States has announced that it plans to give Africa 55 billion dollars in aid over the next three years. US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan made the announcement on Monday, as President Joe Biden was preparing to host the US-Africa summit in Washington. 3.Ukraine is once again pressing its Western allies for help to battle back Russia’s invasion. The Group of Seven responded with a pledge to bolster Ukrainian air defenses and push Moscow to work for peace. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy addressed the leaders online Monday. He asked for more air defense systems, howitzers and long-range rockets.

1.China’s official coronavirus case count has dropped, but the actual number is believed to be much higher after the government eased its zero-COVID policy. The Chinese government says more than 8,000 new cases were confirmed on Sunday. The daily tally dropped to about one-fifth of the figure when the infection peaked in late November. But the case count is believed to have fallen partly because fewer people are taking PCR tests, after authorities stopped requesting people to present negative test results at may public places. 2. The US government says it has taken custody of a Libyan man accused of being involved in making the bomb that destroyed Pan Am flight 103 over Lockerbie, Scotland, in 1988. 3. Japanese venture firm has successfully launched what could become the first privately-funded spacecraft to land on the moon.

1. Japan’s Empress Masako marked her 59th birthday on Friday. In a statement released by the Imperial Household Agency, the Empress said she feels deep sorrow over the fact that the lives of many people, including children, have been lost due to wars and conflicts around the world. 2. Japan’s Finance Minister Suzuki Shunichi says the government must sincerely explain to the public its plan to raise taxes to finance the country’s growing defense budget. Prime Minister Kishida Fumio instructed ministers and the ruling coalition parties to raise Japan’s defense budget amid the increasingly severe security environment surrounding the country. 3.Chinese President Xi Jinping is exploring new territory during what he has called a “pioneering” trip to Saudi Arabia. He has signed dozens of deals to “usher in a new era” in relations with the Arab world.

1. Russian President Vladimir Putin says the risk of nuclear war is on the rise, but he insists his country sees its arsenals as purely defensive deterrent. At Russia’s Human Rights Council on Wednesday, Putin said he understands “what nuclear weapons are.”
2. Japan’s Lower House has passed a bill that would regulate donations to religious entities. They include the controversial group formerly known as the Unification Church. The bill has been sent to the Upper House and is expected to be enacted on Saturday. 3. Peru’s Congress voted on Wednesday to oust President Pedro Castillo during an impeachment trial that was prompted by allegations of corruption. Vice President Dina Boluarte was sworn in to replace Castillo.

1. In the United States, the Democratic incumbent has won Tuesday’s Senate runoff in the state of Georgia. The result is a setback for former President Donald Trump, who had backed the Republican candidate. The race in Georgia came to a runoff after none of the candidates won the required majority of votes in last month’s midterm elections. 2. Japan faces a rising tide of aging infrastructure that cannot be repaired due to tight budgets and worker shortages. Local authorities are required to inspect bridges and tunnels every five years, following a fatal tunnel collapse a decade ago. The accident in the Chuo Expressway’s Sasago Tunnel in Yamanashi Prefecture killed nine people. 3. Business leaders across the US saw a shortage of semiconductors put a wrench in global supply chains already disrupted by the pandemic. They and President Joe Biden are hoping the world’s largest contract chipmaker can help. On Tuesday, Biden visited a plant in Arizona being built by Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company. Executives have spent 12 billion dollars on the facility and hope to have it running in 2024. They have also announced they will build another factor nearby. Their investment of 40 billion dollars is one of the largest outlays by a foreign company in US history.

1. Chinese President Xi Jinping and other members of the country’s leadership have paid tribute to former President Jiang Zemin, who died last Wednesday. He was 96. Jiang was appointed General Secretary of the Chinese Communist Party by then-supreme leader Deng Xiaoping after the Tiananmen Square incident in June of 1989. Pro-democracy demonstrators were militarily cracked down in the incident. He promoted economic reforms that involved the introduction of a market economy under socialism.
2. Japan has missed its chance to advance to the quarterfinals at the men’s soccer World Cup in Qatar. The Samurai Blue lost to Croatia on penalties. This was the third World Cup to pit Japan against Croatia which was the runner-ip in 2018. Japan’s Maeda Daizen opened scoring just before half time. Croatia equalized the score in the 55th minute. 3. Hundreds of soccer fans witnessed Japan’s heartbreaking World Cup defeat to Croatia at a public viewing spot in Tokyo. Their reaction to the loss, however, was largely positive. The crowd roared when Maeda Daizen netted the opener in the first half. But the fans turned jittery again after Croatia got the equalizer to take the game into extra time. There was a sigh of disappointment after Japan lost in the penalty shootout. But it was soon followed by a round of applause.

1. Authorities in China have begun loosening some measures against coronavirus infections across the country. The move comes as the government indicated its intention to “optimize” anti-infection measures last week. Beijing’s strict “zero-COVID” policy has recently sparked protests in various cities.
2. Japan’s ruling and opposition parties are closer to an agreement on a bill that would regulate religious group’s questionable solicitation practices. The government submitted the bill to help people who have suffered financially from the actions of the former Unification Church.
3. A fierce battle continues in eastern Ukraine as Ukraine and Russia fight for gains in areas they will control during the winter months. Russian forces are mounting incessant attacks on Ukrainian-controlled Bakhmut in the eastern region of Donetsk.

1.In the men’s soccer World Cup, Japan again came from behind to seize victory. Japan defeated former champion Spain 2-1 in a Group E match, advancing to the knockout stage. Spain took the control of the game at the beginning, with Alvaro Morata scoring in the 11th minute. The tide turned when Japan sent in two attackers at the start of the second half. Japan took the ball with aggressive defense, and Doan Ritsu scored a game-tying goal in the 48th minute. Just three minutes later, Mitoma Kaoru turned a cross ball, and Tanaka Ao pushed it in.
2.History was made on Thursday when a female referee took charge of a men’s World Cup match for the first time. Frenchwoman Stephanie Frappart oversaw the game between Germany and Costa Rica.
3.British defense analysts said on Thursday that Russian forces are striking Ukrainian energy infrastructure to “demoralize” the populace and force their leaders to “capitulate.” However, they say the strategy has likely been “blunted.”

1.Kyiv is calling for all-out resistance against Russian attacks on Ukrainian infrastructure and Washington has announced new aid to help Ukraine restore its energy facilities. Ukraine’s Deputy Prime Minister Iryna Vereshchuk on Tuesday posted on social media that the country would not succumb to cold and darkness. She called on citizens to hold tight for 100 days until spring arrives.
2.The death of former Chinese President Jiang Zemin is expected to help President Xi Jinping to further consolidate his power base. China’s state-run Xinhua News Agency reported that Jiang died of leukemia in Shanghai on Wednesday. He had been seen as an influential counterweight to Xi’s power.
3.NATO leaders are concerned about the risks around depending too much on China. That’s one of the big takeaways from a two-day meeting of foreign ministers.

1.Factory activity in China shrank for the second-straight month in November. Lockdowns amid a new wave of coronavirus infections weighed on the economy.
2.Tokyo police say the suspect who stabbed a university professor on Tuesday may have known the victim’s work scheduled in advance. The attacker is still at large.
Sociologist and Tokyo Metropolitan University Professor Miyadai Shinji was stabbed by a man at the university’s Minami-Osawa campus in the city of Hachioji.
3.China has announced that three astronauts have successfully docked with the country’s orbiting space station to finish the facility’s assembly.

1.Protests against China’s tough COVID restrictions have spread to Hong Kong. Many people gathered near a station in central Hong Kong Island on Monday night with flowers in a response to an online call to hold a vigil for the victims of an apartment fire in China’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. Dozens of them held up blank sheets of paper in a silent show of protest for the victims in the city of Urumqi.
2.US government officials have backed the right of people to “peacefully protest” in China as protesters in multiple Chinese cities have demonstrated against the government’s “zero-COVID” policy.
3.British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has said “the golden era” with China is over in his response to Beijing’s crack-down on massive protests against its zero-COVID policy. Sunak said on Monday that Britain needs to evolve its approach to China, saying “the so-called golden era is over, along with the naïve idea that trade would lead to social and political reform.”

1.Japan’s Emperor Naruhito has left a Tokyo hospital after undergoing a prostate biopsy, or examination of tissue samples. Earlier this month, the Emperor had an MRI prostate scan at the same hospital after a blood test showed a level of protein, called PSA, was a little higher than normal.
2.Japan’s top government spokesperson says the government will promote comprehensive measures to help increase the number of childbirths. The health ministry released a preliminary report last week which said the number of babies born with Japanese nationality in the whole of the year could be fewer than 800,000 for the first time since record-keeping began.
3.Female leaders from African countries attending an international conference in Tokyo have stressed the need to take measures to ensure a stable food supply. The first Asia Pacific and Africa Women’s Economic Exchange Summit opened on Monday. In the summit, Fatoumatta Bah-Barrow, the wife of the Gambian president, expressed concern about the current food situation.

1.The United Nations Human Rights Council has decided to establish an independent mission to probe Iran’s alleged suppression of ongoing mass protests. The public anger in Iran was sparked by the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini, who was arrested for allegedly improperly wearing her hijab headscarf. Her death has led to protests across Iran for more than two months. The UN and human rights groups say Iranian security authorities have been cracking down on demonstrators, killing more than 300 people.
2.Authorities have raided Dentsu, one of Japan’s major ad agencies, over alleged bid-rigging involving test events for the Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games. Tokyo prosecutors and the Japan Fair Trade Commission searched Dentsu’s head office and an event-organizing firm, both in the capital, on Friday. Authorities suspect the two violated Japan’s anti-monopoly law.
3.Artisans in a city north of Tokyo are busy producing traditional daruma dolls in a bid to root for the Japan squad in the FIFA World Cup soccer tournament in Qatar. Takasaki City in Gunma Prefecture is the top producer of the dolls, which are a symbol of good luck. They are modeled after the legendary Buddhist monk Dharma. A local workshop has been producing the dolls to support Japan’s national team since the 2006 World Cup tournament in Germany.

1.In the World Cup, Japan pulled off its biggest upset since first appearing in the tournament back in 1998. The Samurai Blue came from behind in Wednesday’s Group E clash to defeat four-time champion Germany 2-1.
2.Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has condemned Russian attacks on his country’s energy-related infrastructure as “energy terror.” The president said Ukraine was hit by almost 70 missiles on Wednesday alone, affecting hospitals, schools, transport, and residential areas.
3.Russian President Vladimir Putin has stressed the unity of former Soviet republics as an alliance sharing a common history. The Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) is a Russian-led military alliance of former Soviet states.

1.People in Ukraine are bracing for the toughest winter ever, following Russian missile attacks that have knocked power supplies down to half their original level. Residents are trying to save energy and stocking up on clothes and blankets. They have been told to expect power outages through the end of March.
2.In the soccer World Cup in Qatar, Saudi Arabia has pulled off what is being called one of the biggest upsets in tournament history. On Tuesday, Saudi Arabia took on Argentina, ranked third in the world and one of the pre-tournament favorites. Argentina took control early with superstar Lionel Messi scoring on a penalty kick. But early in the second half, Saudi Arabia tied the game. Then just five minutes later, Salem Al-Dawsari scored from distance to complete the stunning comeback.
3.Japan’s soccer squad faces a crucial World Cup opener against four-time champions Germany. The Group E match is set for Wednesday in Qatar. The Samurai Blue has a history of relying on first match results in the tournament.

1.The death toll from a powerful earthquake that struck the Indonesian island of Java on Monday has risen to 62. The magnitude 5.6 quake hit western Java in the afternoon. The National Disaster Management Agency said 62 people had been confirmed dead in the Cianjur district of West Java province.
2.The World Health Organization says this winter “will be life-threatening” for millions of people in Ukraine. It cites as reasons Russia’s attacks against energy infrastructure and over 700 medical facilities.
3.Japan’s education and culture minister, Nagaoka Keiko, says she will exercise the government’s legal authority on Tuesday to question the religious group formerly known as the Unification Church. The group is accused of soliciting large donations from followers and conducting dubious marketing practices known as spiritual sales.

1.The FIFA men’s soccer World Cup finals got underway on Sunday in Qatar amid some controversial changes. It’s the first time the tournament has been awarded to a Middle Eastern country, and also the first held outside the traditional European summer window. The opening ceremony featured a taste of the local culture alongside a lineup of international artists.
2.A member of Iran’s national soccer team is speaking out on the eve of the country’s opening game at the World Cup. The player voiced concern about deadly anti-government protests at home. Iranian captain and defender Ehsan Hajsafi told a news conference that players support Iranians who are suffering. He said they have to accept that conditions in Iran are not right and that people are not happy.
3.Japan’s Prime Minister Kishida Fumio on Monday appointed former Foreign Minister Matsumoto Takeaki as the new internal affairs minister. Matsumoto is replacing Terada Minoru, who had come under fire over a series of problems linked to political funds.

1.Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio and Chinese President Xi Jinping have met in Bangkok. It marks the first bilateral in person summit for their countries in three years. Kishida said, “It is important for both sides to accelerate efforts to build constructive and stable Japan-China relations.” Xi said, “We want to grasp the direction of bilateral ties from a strategic point of view and build relations that meet the demands of the new era.”
2.Russia’s economy shrank for the second consecutive quarter as it continued to feel the impact of Western sanctions imposed in response to its invasion of Ukraine. The Russian federal statistics service said gross domestic product shrank 4 percent year-on-year in the July-September period.
3.Japan’s top government spokesperson says what appeared to be an intercontinental ballistic missile was fired from near the west coast of the Korean Peninsula at around 10:14 a.m. on Friday. Chief Cabinet Secretary Matsuno Hirokazu added that the missile likely landed at around 11:23 a.m. inside Japan’s exclusive economic zone, in waters about 200 kilometers west of Oshima-oshima in Hokkaido.

1.The United States and Britain have criticized Russia over the recent deadly missile explosion in Poland in the UN Security Council. Russia has argued that Ukraine’s air defense fired the missile. Britain’s UN Ambassador Barbara Woodward called the incident “a tragedy that indisputably stems from Russia’s illegal and unjustified invasion.”
2.A spokesperson for Myanmar’s military has told NHK that Japanese journalist Kubota Toru will be released from detention on Thursday under amnesty. The Japanese Embassy in Myanmar said on Thursday it had been notified by Myanmar authorities that Kubota would be released later in the day and it is confirming the details.
3.South Korea’s military says Pyongyang has fired a ballistic missile toward its eastern waters. The launch comes four days after the leaders of the United States, Japan and South Korea held a bilateral summit.

1.The summit of the Group of 20 economies in Bali, Indonesia, came to a close on Wednesday with the leaders adopting a declaration. The declaration said, “Most members strongly condemned the war in Ukraine.” But it also acknowledged, “There were other views and different assessments of the situation and sanctions.”
2.Former US President Donald Trump has announced his bid for the 2024 presidential race, stressing that he will “make America great and glorious again.” Trump spoke to supporters on Tuesday at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida.
3.US space agency NASA says its new unmanned Orion spacecraft is on its way to the moon, after separating from a rocket. NASA’s new moon rocket, the Space Launch System, blasted off from the US state of Florida early on Wednesday.

1.Leaders of the Group of 20 major economies opened a two-day summit in Indonesia on Tuesday. The meeting is the group’s first since Russia invaded Ukraine. Indonesian President Joko Widodo welcomed world leaders including Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio, US President Joe Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping.
2.Japan’s health ministry says 11,196 new coronavirus cases were confirmed in Tokyo on Tuesday. It is the first time that the figure has exceeded 10,000 since September 14.
3.The 2024 Paris Olympics and Paralympics organizing committee on Monday unveiled the official mascots for the events. The mascots are named after Phrygian caps, which during the French revolution symbolized freedom. The committee says the two mascots named Phryges are almost identical, to reflect its policy of not differentiating between the Olympics and the Paralympics.

1.A team of experts from the International Atomic Energy Agency has arrived in Japan to inspect the project to release treated water from the damaged Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant into the sea.
2.Ukrainian officials say they are uncovering more details of life under Russian occupation in the liberated areas o the southern Kherson region. In a video address on Sunday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said, “Investigators have already documented more than 400 Russian war crimes, and the bodies of both civilians and military personnel are being found” in the Kherson region.
3.The Turkish government says it detained a female member of a Kurdish military group in connection with an explosion that killed six people and wounded 81 others in Istanbul. The blast occurred Sunday on Istiklal Avenue, a popular tourist spot, in the country’s largest city.

1.Japan’s Prime Minister Kishida Fumio has decided to dismiss Justice Minister Hanashi Yasuhiro, who has been under fire for controversial remarks. Kishida conveyed his decision to senior officials of the Liberal Democratic Party. Hanashi said on Wednesday that he has a low-profile job that makes headlines only when he authorizes executions. He made the remark at a gathering of LDP lawmakers of the Kishida faction.
2.Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has stressed that his country’s military is trying to retake territory from Russia in the southern region of Kherson and elsewhere. Zelenskyy said in his latest video message on Thursday, “The number of Ukrainian flags returning to their rightful place in the framework of the ongoing defense operation is already dozens.” He added, “41 settlements were liberated.”
3.NHK has learned that a Japanese national, who is believed to have been a “volunteer fighter” with the Ukrainian forces, has died in Ukraine. Sources close to the Japanese government say that a man in his 20s died in Ukraine on Wednesday. Details, such as where he died, are unclear. The sources say this is the first time a Japanese national involved in Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has died.

1.Russia on Wednesday ordered its troops to withdraw from the Ukrainian city of Kherson. In an online interview with NHK, Ukrainian military expert Oleg Zhdanov said the decision is “catastrophic” for Russian President Vladimir Putin. But Zhdanov told NHK that he has yet to see a large-scale withdrawal of Russian forces from the front.
2.Control of both chambers of US Congress still hangs in the balance a day after the midterm elections as vote counting continues. Voters cast their ballots on Tuesday to decide 35 of the 100 seats in the Senate and all 435 seats in the House of Representatives.
3.US President Joe Biden has described Tuesday’s midterm elections as a “good day for democracy.” Biden told reporters at the White House on Wednesday. “Our democracy has been tested in recent years, but with their votes, the American people have spoken and proven once again that democracy is who we are.”

1.Midterm election results in the United States are still coming in. The Republicans had hoped frustration over record-high inflation would fuel a red wave that decimates Democratic support in Congress. But the race is closer than they had expected.
2.Leaders of developing countries at a UN climate conference have drawn attention to severe damage from extreme weather events caused by climate change.
3.Sky watchers across much of Japan have enjoyed an enormously rare celestial spectacle—Uranus hidden by a totally eclipsed moon.

1.Voters in the United States are going to the polls on Tuesday to vote in the midterm elections. President Joe Biden, a Democrat, and Donald Trump, his Republican predecessor, have made last-minute campaign efforts to help their parties win control of Congress.
2.Former US President Donald Trump says he will make a big announcement next Tuesday. His remark is widely seen as a hint that Trump will announce he’s running for another term in the 2024 presidential election.
3.Russia’s independent media say a battalion of Russian conscripts has been nearly wiped out in the eastern Ukrainian region of Luhansk. The reports on Saturday cited a surviving soldier and others as saying that the death toll may exceed 500.

1.The annual United Nations climate conference COP27 kicked off in Egypt on Sunday. But as delegates try to find unity on ways to address climate change, there are worries the gathering will be clouded by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The conference is being attended by representatives from more than 190 countries and territories. The gathering comes amid a deepening rift between the West and Russia over the invasion.
2.Researchers at two major Japanese firms have launched tests of a promising new fuel source that could help reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Japanese machinery maker IHI and electricity producer Jera have started trials at a thermal power plant in central Japan that mixes ammonia with coal. Ammonia does not emit carbon dioxide. Researchers hope the mixture can be readily adopted at existing plants.
3.Japanese convenience-store chains have been introducing energy-saving measures to do their part for decarbonization. With around 14,000 stores nationwide, Lawson plans to upgrade its refrigerated displays. This includes adding glass doors in front of shelves for sandwiches and salads to keep in the chill. Heaters that prevent dew condensation in beverage showcases will be shrunk in size.

1.Japanese Foreign Minister Hayashi Yoshimasa has urged China to fulfill its responsibility as a major power at a Group of Seven meeting in Germany. The G7 foreign ministers exchanged views on China and the Indo-Pacific region on Thursday.
2.The International Atomic Energy Agency says its inspections of three Ukrainian locations have found no indications of undeclared nuclear activity or materials. Earlier, Russia accused Ukraine of planning to use a so-called dirty bomb designed to disperse radioactive material. Moscow alleged that nuclear-industry-related institutions in Ukraine have been involved in preparing such a device.
3.Japanese pianist Igarashi Kaoruko has won third prize in the Geneva International Music Competition. The contest is widely viewed as a gateway to success for young musicians. The final round of the piano division in the prestigious competition took place on Thursday. Four pianists advanced to the final out of 182 contestants.

1.Russian leaders rejoined an agreement on Wednesday to export Ukrainian grain. They had pulled out of the deal on Saturday, citing an alleged drone attack on their Black Sea fleet.
2.North Korea launched several ballistic missiles on Thursday morning. Officials from Japan’s Defense Ministry say one may have been an intercontinental ballistic missile. They are trying to determine the latest details.
3.Parts of Brazil remain in chaos as protesting supporters of outgoing President Jair Bolsonaro continue to refuse to accept his defeat in Sunday’s presidential runoff.

1.Supporters of Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro are calling it “the biggest fraud in their electoral history.” The have taken to the streets to protest an election they feel was stolen. The president himself said he will comply with the results—but has yet to concede defeat.
2.Exit polls suggest former Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is on course for victory and could return to power after the election on Tuesday. Natanyahu is currently on trial over allegations of corruption. He denies the charges against him.
3.South Korea’s military says North Korea fired three short-range ballistic missiles from the country’s east coast on Wednesday morning. It says that one of the three missiles crossed the de facto maritime border set up by the United Nations and fell near South Korea’s territorial waters for the first time.

1.Democratic and Republican candidates were still trying to win over undecided Americans on Monday, with a week to go before the midterm elections. Both sides know these votes are typically approached as referendums on the party in power.
2.The 22nd soccer World Cup, to be held in Qatar, will be the first in the event’s history to take place in the Middle East. Thirty-two teams will compete for the top spot at eight venues in the capital Doha and four other cities from November 20 to December 18.
3.A theme park featuring the world of Studio Ghibli’s animated films opened in central Japan on Tuesday. Three areas of Ghibli Park, “Ghibli’s Grand Warehouse,” “Hill of Youth” and “Dondoko Forest,” opened to fans at 10 a.m. on the site of the 2005 Expo in Nagakute City, Aichi Prefecture.

1.Ukraine is rushing to repair central heating infrastructure damaged or destroyed by Russian attacks to prepare for the full-fledged start of winter. Russian shelling hit the roof of a boiler house in the city of Irpin near the capital Kyiv during fierce fighting in the early stages of the invasion. Most of its windows were shattered. The damage has largely been mended, with workers now engaged in a finishing painting process.
2.Brazil’s election board says leftist Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has won Sunday’s presidential runoff election. The 77-year-old former president beat right-wing incumbent Jair Bolsonaro in a close race. The board says that with 99.1 percent of the ballots counted, Lula garnered 50.84 percent, compared with Bolsonaro’s 49.16 percent. The election focused on how to rebuild the Brazilian economy, which has been battered by the coronavirus pandemic.
3.The South Korean media are questioning whether authorities could have anticipated that more than 100,000 people would gather in Seoul’s Itaewon district for Halloween. At least 154 people, many of them youths, died on Saturday night in a massive crowd surge in the popular entertainment district. Two Japanese women are among the victims.

1.The Bank of Japan is sticking with its massive monetary easing, despite growing pressure to raise interest rates as the yen weakens. BOJ board members decided to keep the short-term interest rate in negative territory and will also continue buying government bonds to hold long-term rates around zero percent.
2.US media have reported that billionaire Elon Musk has completed his 44 billion-dollar acquisition of Twitter. Washington Post and other news outlets reported that Musk has acquired all shares of the social media platform.
3.Investigators probing the 2013 killing of the head of a popular restaurant chain say he was shote shortly after getting out of his car at a parking lot in front of the headquarters of the firm, Ohsho Food Service, in Kyoto City.

1.The Washington Post has reported that, according to US officials, the head of a Russian private military company told President Vladimir Putin his military chiefs are mismanaging the war in Ukraine. The US newspaper published the report about the remarks by Yevgeny Prigozhin, the founder of Wagner Group, on Tuesday.
2.Researchers from the World Health Organization and other institutions are urging action to prevent climate change from further impacting people’s health. The researchers published a report of their analysis in the British medical journal The Lancet on Tuesday.
3.US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has expressed wariness about China’s third-term leadership under President Xi Jinping, warning that China is seeking to
speed up reunification with Taiwan.

1.Britain has a new leader. Rishi Sunak has officially been appointed prime minister. He is pledging to restore public trust in politics. Rishi Sunak went to Buckingham Palace on Tuesday to meet King Charles, who invited him to form the next government. It is the first time the new king has appointed a leader.
2.Ukraine’s state nuclear power company—Energoatom–says Russian troops occupying the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant in the country’s south have been doing unauthorized construction work.
3.New British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak spoke with Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy by phone on Tuesday, and informed him of London’s continued support for Kyiv.

1.Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen has stressed that Taiwan will not bow to pressure from China, which has made clear it will not renounce the use of force to achieve reunification.
2.A eulogy for former Japanese Prime Minister Abe Shinzo was read at a plenary session of the Lower House of the country’s Diet on Tuesday. Abe was fatally shot in July while making a campaign speech in western Japan. Former Prime Minister Nod Yoshihiko of the Constitutional Democratic Party delivered the address as Abe’s wife and others looked on.
3.Britons are set for their third leader in less than two months. Rishi Sunak will become the youngest prime minister in centuries and the first British Asian to lead the country. Sunak lost out to Liz Truss in September in the last race for the leadership. He became a favorite when she announced on Thursday that she would resign. Then, he saw other contenders withdraw in an effort to end the chaos in the Conservative Party.

1.Chinese President Xi Jinping begins a third term in office with the country facing economic challenges. The Communist Party selected seven members of its top leadership on Sunday. The new lineup is dominated by Xi’s close aides, including subordinates who worked under him in the past.
2.British media reports suggest former Treasury chief Rishi Sunak appears set to become the country’s new prime minister. The speculation comes after Boris Johnson pulled out of the Conservative leadership race. A statement from the former prime minister said his return wouldn’t be “right,” suggesting his party would not unite behind him.
3.Japanese Economic Revitalization Minister Yamagiwa Daishiro has handed in his resignation to Prime Minister Kishida Fumio after a series of revelations about his links with the religious group previously known as the Unification Church.

1.British Prime Minister Liz Truss told lawmakers on Wednesday that she is “a fighter, not a quitter.” Less than a day later, she announced her resignation. She has spent six weeks in office – the shortest tenure for any British prime minister. Truss set out a vision for growing the economy, by cutting taxes. However, her plans alarmed investors and drove the British pound to a record low. She was forced to reverse the policies and, now, to resign.
2.Japan’s latest consumer price index released on Friday shows a rise of 3 percent, an increase not seen in 31 years, excluding the effect of consumption tax hikes.
3.The United States says the sanctions and export controls it and its allies have imposed on Russia for its aggression in Ukraine have had “significant and long-lasting consequences” on Russia’s defense industry. The US State Department said on Thursday that Russia is struggling to import semiconductors and other key components, and has had to “cannibalize” existing aircraft parts.

1.Japanese companies which source products from overseas have been hit hard by the yen’s depreciation. Funasho Shoji is one of them. The company is based in central Tokyo and imports oranges, grapes and other fruit from the United States and South America.
2.The Japanese yen weakened to the 150 level against the US dollar at one point during Tokyo trading on Thursday. It is the first time the currency has dropped to this level in 32 years. The yen has now depreciated about 30 percent against the dollar this year.
3.The latest data shows Japan’s trade deficit rose to a record level in the first six months of the fiscal year, underscoring the extent to which a weakening yen is undermining the country’s purchasing power.

1.An organization of about 8,000 municipalities around the world lobbying for the abolition of nuclear weapons gathered in Hiroshima, Japan, to discuss what each of them can do toward their cause. Representatives from 93 municipalities of nine countries attended the general conference of Mayors for Peace on Wednesday. Many others took part online.
2.The pro-Russian head of the Ukrainian region of Kherson says residents as well as administrative bodies there are being evacuated to a safer area. The announcement comes amid major counteroffensives by Ukraine’s forces to retake the region annexed by Moscow. Ukrainian forces are believed to be preparing to advance to the region’s main city of Kherson as part of their counteroffensives.
3.The number of foreign visitors to Japan is on the rise thanks to eased border controls. Foreign arrivals in September topped 200,000 for the first time since February 2020, before the coronavirus pandemic had a major impact. The Japan National Tourism Organization estimates that 206,500 people visited the country last month. That’s up 21.6 percent from August.

1.A Russian warplane crashed into an apartment building in the southern Russian region of Krasnodar on Monday, killing 13 people. Local officials say the nine-story residential building in the city of Yeysk was engulfed in flames. They say 13 residents, including children, were killed and about 19 others were injured.
2.Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio says he will instruct the government to submit bills aimed at providing relief to the victims of the shady practices of the former Unification Church, possibly during the current session of the Diet. The religious group is under close scrutiny for alleged shady marketing practices, including the solicitation of large donations from followers.
3.The Ukrainian foreign ministry has urged Iran to immediately stop supplying Russia with suicide drones. Demonstrations against Iran have taken place in Kyiv. The foreign ministry stated on Monday that in the last week alone, Russia used more than 100 Iranian drones to strike residential buildings, power stations and other facilities in a number of cities.

1.An online petition has been launched to call on Japanese authorities for a court order to “disband” the former Unification Church under the Religious Corporations Act. The campaign, which started on Monday, is organized by 39 individuals and groups, including supporters of former followers and their families, children of the members of the religious group, scholars and journalists.
2.The Ukrainian government says the country’s capital of Kyiv has come under attack by so-called suicide drones. Multiple explosions were heard on Monday morning. The chief of Ukraine’s presidential office, Andriy Yermak, said Russia carried out attacks using unmanned aerial vehicles.
3.Chinese President Xi Jinping has expressed his commitment to achieving the goal of building China into what he calls a “great modern socialist country” by mid-century. Referring to Taiwan, Xi said that China “will continue to strive for peaceful reunification with the greatest sincerity and the utmost effort.” But he added that China “will never promise to renounce the use of force.”

1.Japan’s Chief Cabinet Secretary Matsuno Hirokazu says a government analysis showed that North Korea fired one ballistic missile early Friday. Matsuno told reporters that Pyongyang’s repeated launches of ballistic missiles can never be tolerated.
2.The Japanese government says the actual cost of former Prime Minister Abe Shinzo’s state funeral last month was over 1.2 billion yen, or more than 8 million dollars. Chief Cabinet Secretary Matsuno Hirokazu said on Friday that the actual cost was about 400 million yen lower than the previous estimate of 1.66 billion yen.
3.Japan’s government has adopted a new set of suicide prevention guidelines that include more support for women. The guidelines note that the number of women who kill themselves has been on the rise since 2020. The coronavirus pandemic is cited as a factor behind the trend.

1.Two of Japan’s industrial giants Sony Group and Honda Motor launched a joint venture on Thursday that aims to deliver advanced electric vehicles by 2026. The new company is called Sony Honda Mobility. Mizuno Yasuhide, Chairman and CEO of Sony Honda Mobility said “We will try to offer high-value-added products and services that overturn conventional ideas, and build new relationships with customers.”
2.The Japanese government’s coronavirus advisory panel has come up with measures to respond to a possible double outbreak of COVID-19 and influenza. The expert panel met on Thursday to discuss how to reduce the burden on designated fever clinics if a simultaneous outbreak occurs this winter.
3.The Japanese government plans to abolish health insurance cards in the fall of 2024 by integrating them into “My Number” ID cards. Digital Transformation Minister Kono Taro said My Number cards will serve as something like a passport to the creation of a new digital society.

1.Russian missiles continue slamming into cities across Ukraine despite a wave of condemnation from abroad. Troops launched multiple attacks on Ukrainian cities for the second day in a row.
2.The International Monetary Fund is warning of grim times ahead for the global economy. It has downgraded its growth forecast for next year, citing inflation and other factors. The IMF released its latest World Economic Outlook on Tuesday. Chief Economist Pierre-Olivier Gourinchas said, “The worst is yet to come, and for many people, 2023 will feel like a recession.”
3.The coronation of Britain’s King Charles III will be held in May of next year. King Charles ascended to the throne on September 8 following the death of his mother, Queen Elizabeth II.

1.Russia is facing mounting criticism from the international community over its massive attacks on Kyiv and other parts of Ukraine on Monday. Russian missiles hit th4e Ukrainian capital Kyiv, the western region of Lviv and others, with targets including not only energy facilities but also a park and a museum in the capital. The Ukrainian State Emergency Service said 14 people were killed and 97 others were injured in the attacks.
2.The UN General Assembly has begun debate on a draft resolution to condemn Russia for its unilateral declaration to annex four Ukrainian regions. The draft demands that Moscow immediately reverse the move. The General Assembly convened an emergency session on Monday.
3.Foreign visitors arriving at Narita Airport, near Tokyo, have been saying they welcome Japan’s lifting of most of its COVID-19 border controls. People who arrived from other countries were heading to immigration counters at the airport on Tuesday morning after showing proof of vaccination or a negative test result.

1.South Korea’s Yonhap News Agency says North Korea appears to have used its recent missile launches to demonstrate progress in its tactical nuclear weapons development. Yonhap said the test firings may be an attempt by the North to show it can mount small nuclear warheads on various missiles.
2.A series of explosions rocked the center of Ukraine’s capital Kyiv on Monday morning. Authorities say at least 9 people died. Russian President Vladimir Putin said he has retaliated for Saturday’s explosion on a key bridge linking Russia and Crimea. Kyiv’s mayor says the explosions occurred in two districts of the capital, and that one of them is only about a kilometer from the presidential office.
3.Three US-based economists have won this year’s Nobel Prize in Economic Sciences. They include the US Federal Reserve’s former chair Ben Bernanke. The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences said on Monday that they are being recognized for their research on banks and financial crises.

1.Sweden’s security agency says leaks from two undersea gas pipelines linking Russia and Germany were caused by detonations. The Swedish Security Service said on Thursday investigations were analyzing material to determine who was behind the leaks from the Nord Stream pipelines.
2.French President Emmanuel Macron has seen the Russian invasion of Ukraine threaten security, energy and food. In May, he pitched the idea of a community stretching across the continent. Now, leaders of what’s being called the European Political Community met for the first time in Thursday in Prague. Officials from the 27 countries in the European Union welcomed those from 17 others including Ukraine, which is waiting to join the EU.
3.A former police officer went on a rampage at a daycare center in Thailand on Thursday. Thirty-five people were killed, including more than 20 children. About 10 others were injured.

1.Atomic bomb survivors and anti-nuclear NGOs have urged senior officials at Japan’s foreign ministry to take concrete measures toward abolishing nuclear weapons. Kawasaki Akira, a leader of the Japan NGO Network for Nuclear Weapons Abolition, told officials that action is urgently needed to abolish nuclear weapons amid the tensions over Ukraine and North Korea’s missile launches.
2.Spain and Portugal say they will bid with Ukraine to jointly host the 2030 FIFA World Cup. The Spanish Football Federation and the Portugal Football Federation said on Wednesday that the aim is to help rebuild Ukraine.
3.The Japanese Defense Ministry says North Korea launched two more ballistic missiles on Thursday morning, but this time, they are believed to have landed in the Sea of Japan. Defense officials think both projectiles fell outside of Japan’s exclusive economic zone. This is the 6th North Korean launch in 12 days.

1.Indonesia’s professional soccer association says officials from FIFA are expected to inspect the site of Saturday’s deadly stadium stampede in East Java. The incident occurred after a professional soccer league match in Malang city. Fans of the team that lost entered the pitch and created chaos.
2.Italy’s right-wing leader Giorgia Meloni, who will shortly become the country’s prime minister, expressed her support for Ukraine in a telephone conversation on Tuesday with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Sources say Meloni pledged full support for the freedom of the Ukrainian people. She also said Russia’s annexation of four Ukrainian regions holds no legal or political weight.
3.Japanese electronics giant Sony has developed a device to measure an individual’s sense of smell. The company hopes it will eventually be used at hospitals as olfactory measurement could help with the elderly detection of dementia.

1.The chief of the UN nuclear watchdog says the head of the Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant has been released. International Atomic Energy Director General Rafael Grossi wrote that he has received confirmation that Ihor Murashov, director general of the Zaporizhzhia plant, “has returned to his family safely.”
2.The Japanese government says a North Korean missile has flown over Japan and fallen into the ocean. Officials believe the ballistic missile passed over the country’s northeast before falling outside Japan’s Exclusive Economic Zone.
3.McDonald’s Japan says it will stop offering plastic straws and cutlery to customers. It is switching to tableware made of paper or wood in an attempt to reduce plastic waste. The hamburger chain said Tuesday it will provide paper straws and wooden spoons and forks at its roughly 2,900 restaurants across Japan starting from Friday.

1.Indonesian police say 125 people have died as a result of chaos that followed a professional soccer match in the province of East Java. Police say spectators invaded the pitch after a match at a stadium in Malang city on Saturday night. Host Arema FC lost to Persebaya Surabaya. Police responded by firing tear gas, causing a stampede among panicked fans.
2.Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says the country’s forces have been successful in taking back a number of settlements in eastern and southern regions from Russian control. Zelenskyy cited the names of liberated settlements in the Kherson region in a video message released on Sunday, and said that “the successes of our soldiers are not limited to Lyman.”
3.Brazil’s presidential election is headed for an October 30 runoff between leftist former president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and right-wing incumbent Jair Bolsonaro after neither candidate won a majority of votes on Sunday.

1.Russian President Vladimir Putin will officially annex four regions of Eastern Ukraine, after holding a series of widely condemned referendums. Putin says he will sign documents formalizing the annexation of the four occupied regions on Friday. The areas being taken by Russia have been fully or partially occupied for months.
2.US President Joe Biden has criticized Russia for moving ahead with its plan to annex four eastern Ukrainian regions. Biden stated on Thursday that the United States will never recognize Russia’s “claims on Ukraine sovereign territory.” He said, “This so-called referenda was a sham – an absolute sham.” He added that the results were “manufactured in Moscow.”
3.Russian President Vladimir Putin says all mistakes made during the partial mobilization of reservists for the military operation in Ukraine should be corrected. He said people suffering from chronic illness and those who are past conscription age have been called up. He said all mistakes need to be corrected and people who were called up without appropriate reasons should be returned home.

1.The leaders of Japan and China have stressed the importance of developing bilateral ties for a new era as their countries marked 50 years since normalizing diplomatic relations. Japan’s Prime Minister Kishida Fumio and Chinese President Xi Jinping exchanged messages on the 50th anniversary on Thursday.
2.The US space agency NASA has released footage of the aftermath of its first-ever planetary defense test, designed to see whether asteroids and other celestial bodies can be prevented from colliding with the Earth. NASA on Monday crashed a 570-kilogram spacecraft into Dimorphos, an asteroid with a diameter of roughly 160 meters located about 11 million kilometers away from Earth. The test’s aim was to see whether the impact could change the asteroid’s orbit.
3.Japan’s Lower House Speaker Hosoda Hiroyuki has admitted attending gatherings hosted by a group related to the controversial former Unification Church. Hosoda made the admission in a comment released through his office on Thursday. He had been quiet on the matter despite reports that he had attended such meetings and calls from the opposition to explain himself.

1.Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has called Russia’s referendums in occupied territories a “brutal violation” of the UN Charter and an attempt to steal the territory of another state. He called for Russia to be excluded from all international organizations.
2.Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio is holding a third day of meetings with foreign dignitaries who are in Tokyo for the state funeral of former Prime Minister Abe Shinzo. Kishida held separate talks with six world leaders on Wednesday morning.
3.Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud has been named as the kingdom’s new prime minister. The Saudi government announced on its state-run news agency on Tuesday that King Salman bin Abdulaziz had ordered a cabinet reshuffle and appointed his son, Crown Prince Mohammed, to replace him as prime minister.

1.People in Japan have been placing flowers on altars to honor former Prime Minister Abe Shinzo since Tuesday morning. Two altars have been set up at Kudanzaka Park, which is located near Nippon Budokan in central Tokyo. Abe’s state funeral will be held at Nippon Budokan on Tuesday afternoon.
2.People in Japan are bidding a final farewell to the country’s longest-serving prime minister at his state funeral. Abe Shinzo was shot and killed during a political rally in July. More than 4,000 people have gathered at the Nippon Budokan arena in central Tokyo. Prime Minister Kishida Fumio, along with the heads of the Upper and Lower Houses, as well as the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, are attending. Former Prime Minister Suga Yoshihid3e is due to deliver a eulogy on behalf of Abe’s friends.
3.Abe’s state funeral is expected to be an important one for Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio on the world stage. Some 700 foreign dignitaries and ambassadors are attending. The prime minister is meeting with about 40 of them.

1.Russian protests continued across the country against a partial mobilization of reservists announced by President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday. Videos posted on social media show people confronting police in Makhachkala in the southern republic of Dagestan on Sunday. The protesters include women chanting “no to war” and “no to mobilization.”
2.Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio is holding a series of separate talks with foreign dignitaries visiting Japan for Tuesday’s state funeral of former Prime Minister Abe Shinzo. About 40 meetings are scheduled over the three days through Wednesday.
3.Japanese automaker Mazda is in talks to end production at a joint venture in Russia’s Far East. The company says the war in Ukraine has made the plant unsustainable. Mazda and the Russian automaker Sollers set up their joint venture in Vladivostok in 2012 to assemble SUVs and other cars for the Russian market using parts shipped from Japan. They produced about 29,000 vehicles last year.

1.The yen has rallied against the dollar after Japanese authorities intervened in the currency market. It’s the first time in 24 years that Japan has waded into the currency market to buy yen—which briefly climbed back to the 140 level. The dramatic move came hours after the yen had tumbled to the upper 145-yen level against the greenback.
2.Japanese weather officials say a tropical storm has formed over the sea to the south of Japan. The Meteorological Agency says Tropical Storm Talas was located about 300 kilometers off Kochi Prefecture in western Japan at 9 a.m. local time on Friday.
3.Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has strongly condemned Russia for moving ahead with plans to hold referendums in parts of Ukraine that it controls. Pro-Russian separatists in the eastern regions of Donetsk and Luhansk, southeastern region of Zaporizhzhia and Kherson in the south, plan to hold votes on joining Russia starting Friday through Tuesday.

1.Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio and US President Joe Biden have confirmed that they will work together to reform the UN Security Council. The two leaders are in New York for the UN General Assembly.
2.Russian President Vladimir Putin has resisted ordering the country’s people into military service to reinforce his troops in Ukraine. But he has ratcheted up the war effort, announcing plans to call up 300 thousand reservists.
3.Protesters are taking to the streets across Russia after President Vladimir Putin announced a partial mobilization of military reservists on Wednesday. In central Moscow, security forces detained demonstrators shouting anti-war and anti-mobilization slogans and shoved them into vehicles.

1.Russia’s President Vladimir Putin has said that he had signed a decree on partial mobilization beginning on Wednesday to bolster forces in Ukraine. Putin made the announcement in a televised address to the nation on the day. He accused Western countries of trying to weaken, divide and ultimately destroy Russia.
2.China has urged efforts toward a peaceful end to the fighting in Ukraine, after pro-Russian separatists in Ukraine unilaterally decided to hold referendums on joining Russia. China’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin told reporters on Wednesday that China respects the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all countries.
3.A panel of experts at Japan’s health ministry has expressed concerns over a possible simultaneous outbreak of seasonal influenza and COVID-19 this autumn or later. The experts proposed on Wednesday that necessary measures be taken on the assumption that the flu may spread earlier than usual and prevail along with coronavirus infections.

1.British citizens continue to pay their respects to the late Queen Elizabeth a day after her state funeral. The funeral was held at Westminster Abbey in central London on Monday. Her coffin was laid to rest next to her late husband Prince Philip at St. George’s Chapel of Windsor Castle, near London. The castle was her home in her later years.
2.Concerns are growing again over nuclear safety in Ukraine following reports of a Russian missile strike near a nuclear power plant in the country’s south. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in a social media post on Monday that a missile fell 300 meters from the South Ukraine Nuclear Power Plant in the Mykolaiv region, causing a short-term power outage.
3.The price hikes hitting Japanese consumers how no signs of abating. One supermarket in Tokyo is planning more price hikes from October. The retailer in Koto Ward has raised prices for about half of the products in the store since spring, including essentials such as noodles, bread, and cooking oil.

1.Japan’s Emperor has attended a reception hosted by Britain’s King Charles III ahead of the state funeral for Queen Elizabeth II. Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako are in London to attend the funeral of Britain’s longest-serving Queen.
2.Severe Tropical Storm Nanmadol is making its way up western Japan, bringing violent winds to almost all of Kyushu and parts of the nearby Chugoku and Shikoku regions.
3.US President Joe Biden has indicated that US forces would defend Taiwan in the event of an unprecedented attack by China. Asked if, unlike Ukraine, US forces would defend Taiwan in the event of a Chinese invasion, Biden responded “yes.”

1.Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says a mass grave has been found in a liberated key stronghold city. Zelenskyy said, “Bucha, Mariupol, now, unfortunately, Izyum… Russia leaves death everywhere. And it must be held accountable for that.”
2.NHK has learned that Tokyo prosecutors have questioned former Japanese Olympic Committee President Takeda Tsunekazu about sponsorship contracts for the Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics. Sources close to the matter tell NHK that Takeda was questioned on a voluntary basis.
3.Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping have held their first face-to-face meeting since Russia launched its invasion of Ukraine. They reaffirmed their ties amid tensions with Western leaders. The leaders met during a summit of the economic and security group, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization.

1.A US Senate committee has approved legislation that would increase US military support for Taiwan, amid heightened tensions between the US and China. The bill would allocate 4.5 billion dollars in military assistance for Taiwan over four years, designate Taiwan as a major non-NATO ally and support Taiwan’s participation in international organizations.
2.Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has stressed that his country’s forces have retaken much of Kharkiv region in the east from Russian occupiers. Zelenskyy on Wednesday visited the recaptured key city of Izyum, where he observed a moment of silence for soldiers killed in the fighting and raised the Ukrainian flag.
3.Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio has ordered officials to come up with specific measures to achieve sustained wage hikes and to boost the nation’s earning power by taking advantage of the weak yen. Kishida said it is necessary to control the situation in which an outflow of national income to foreign countries is continuing due to rising import prices.

1.Tokyo prosecutors have arrested the chairman of major Japanese publisher Kadokawa on suspicion of bribing a former executive of the Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics organizing committee over a sponsorship deal.
2.Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has stressed that stabilization measures are moving forward in territories that have been liberated from Russian control.
3.Japan’s Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako will attend the state funeral of late British Queen Elizabeth II. The funeral is scheduled for Monday.

1.Russia has reiterated its resolve to continue the military operation in Ukraine despite recent setbacks in the eastern Ukrainian region of Kharkiv. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said on Monday that the military operation will continue until all goals are achieved. Ukrainian counteroffensives are apparently pushing Russian troops out of Kharkiv.
2.People in Scotland are divided in their support for the British monarchy. Still, thousands turned out on Monday to mourn Queen Elizabeth. They tried to catch a glimpse as her coffin began its journey from Balmoral Castle to her final resting place at Windsor Castle.
3.A World Food Programme official has warned that foot shortages around the world could worsen next year, despite the resumption of Ukraine grain exports last month. Corinne Fleischer, WFP Regional Director for the Middle East, Northern Africa and Eastern Europe, told NHK on Monday that the resumption of agricultural exports out of conflict-hit Ukraine was a major step forward. But Fleischer said the Russian invasion created havoc for farmlands and infrastructure in Ukraine.

1.Ukrainian forces are stepping up a counteroffensive to take control of wider areas in the eastern region of Kharkiv, including the key strategic area of Izyum. However, a Ukrainian military expert indicated that the country needs a long-term strategy and more military assistance from the West to take back control of more territories.
2.The hearse carrying the coffin of Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II has arrived in the Scottish city of Edinburgh. The convoy left Balmoral Castle on Sunday, the Queen’s summer home in Scotland, after she died there on Thursday at age 96. Her coffin was draped in the Royal Standard of Scotland with a wreath of flowers, including her favorite, placed on top of the flag. Mourners lined the route of the convoy to pay tribute to the Queen for her 70 years on the throne.
3.Japan’s National Center for Global Health and Medicine says an increasing percentage of people are dying after developing moderate symptoms of COVID-19. It also says many of them had pre-existing conditions that worsened after they became infected. The center analyzed the data of 2,861 COVID-19 patients who died after being admitted to hospitals across the country through late August.

1.Canadian media reports say the final suspect in a mass stabbing rampage is dead. The reports say the man died of self-inflicted injuries after police located him and drove his vehicle off the road. The stabbing spree on Sunday killed 10 people and rattled the country.
2.Japan’s current account balance has gone into the black for the first time in two months, but surging energy prices made it the smallest surplus for July on record.
3.Researchers in Japan say their 20-year-long study shows that people who east lots of fruit and vegetables are at lower risk of death compared to those who eat little of such food.

1.Japan’s ruling and opposition camps have agreed to hold a meeting on Thursday to discuss the state funeral of later former Prime Minister Abe Shinzo.
2.The UN Security Council has met to discuss security at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant in Ukraine. This comes amid mounting concerns that continued shelling in the area could trigger a catastrophe.
3.Britain’s new Prime Minister Liz Truss has reiterated her country’s support for Ukraine’s freedom and democracy in her first phone call with a foreign leader since taking office. Truss spoke with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Tuesday, and the leaders discussed measures needed to cut off the funds Russia is using to pay for the war.

1.The Japanese government says the total cost of the state funeral for later former Prime Minister Abe Shinzo is estimated at about one billion 660 million yen, or around 11.8 million dollars. The funeral for Abe, who was fatally shot during an election campaign speech in July, is scheduled for September 27 in Tokyo. The government will foot the entire bill.
2.Tokyo prosecutors have arrested two former senior officials of major Japanese publisher Kadokawa on suspicion of bribing a former executive of the Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics organizing committee. Former Kadokawa executive Yoshihara Toshiyuki and former senior official Maniwa Kyoji were arrested on Tuesday.
3.A pro-Russian hacker group says it has attacked a Japanese government website. The Killnet group posted a message on social media shortly after 4:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Japan time, saying it attacked the “e-Gov” portal site run by the government. NHK tried to access the site, and found part of it temporarily inaccessible.

1.Liz Truss has been elected as the next leader of Britain’s Conservative Party. She will become prime minister on Tuesday, succeeding Boris Johnson.
2.Russia’s president is taking part in an international economic forum in the country’s Far East. Vladimir Putin says the event will focus on moving away from what he calls an “obsolete unipolar model.” Top officials from China’s Communist Party, and the military junta in Myanmar, will also attend.
3.The Canadian police say a series of stabbing attacks in the central province of Saskatchewan have left at least 10 people dead and 15 more wounded. The police have identified two suspects, age 30 and 31, who remain at large. They are calling on residents to remain alert.

1.Russia’s presidential office says President Vladimir Putin will not attend the funeral of Mikhail Gorvachev, the last leader of the Soviet Union. Gorvachev, who brought the Cold War to an end, died on Tuesday at the age of 91. His funeral is scheduled to take place on Saturday in Moscow.
2.A survey by an independent Russian polling organization shows that the public in the country is divided over whether Moscow should continue its military actions in Ukraine or engage in peace negotiations. The Levada-Center has been conducting face-to-face interviews with more than 1,600 people in Russia toward the end of every month since the invasion of Ukraine began.
3.Students in Ukraine and Russia have received special visitors to start their school terms. They welcomed in the leaders of their countries. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy visited a school in Irpin on Thursday that, like thousands of others, was damaged in the fighting. In Kaliningrad on Thursday, Russian President Vladimir Putin had his own message for students. He used a back-to-school ceremony to talk about the invasion of Ukraine, which he calls the “special military operation.” He said people in “the territory of Ukraine” have begun to create an “anti-Russian enclave that threatens our country.”

1.Two-way baseball star Ohtani Shohei of the Los Angeles Angels has become the first Japanese player to hit 30 home runs in the Major League for two seasons in a row. Ohtani reached the milestone with a three-run homer in a game against the New York Yankees on Wednesday.
2.Typhoon Hinnamnor is expected to re-approach Japan’s southern prefecture of Okinawa after briefly moving away to the south. Japan’s Meteorological Agency says as of Thursday morning the violent typhoon was moving southwest at a speed of 25 kilometers per hour over waters 250 kilometers south of Miyakojima Island.
3.A team of experts from the International Atomic Energy Agency is expected to begin inspecting the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant in southeastern Ukraine from Thursday. The IAEA team on Wednesday arrived in the city of Zaporizhzhia about 60 kilometers from the plant.

1.Russian media outlets have reported the death of Mikhail Gorbachev, the last
leader of the Soviet Union, as breaking news. A Russian state-run television broadcast a special program looking back on his political career and his activities after retirement.
2.Japan’s Prime Minister Kishida Fumio says he will attend lawmakers’ meetings while the Diet is out of session to further explain the significance of holding a state funeral for former Prime Minister Abe Shinzo. Kishida noted on Wednesday that Abe had assumed a heavy responsibility as the country’s longest-serving prime minister.
3.Japan’s Defense Ministry is requesting a record high budget allocation of nearly 5.6 trillion yen, or about 40 billion dollars, for next fiscal year. The ministry made the budget request on Wednesday as part of its drive to drastically enhance Japan’s defense capabilities over the next five years.

1.The UN Security Council is calling on the global community to provide aid to Afghanistan. This comes as Kabul marks one year since the United States completely withdrew its troops from the country.
2.Ukrainian forces have launched a new counter-offensive against Russian troops in the country’s southern Kherson region. Media outlets in Ukraine reported on Monday that Ukrainian troops had breached the first line of Russian defenses and forced part of the Russian forces to retreat from their positions in Kherson.
3.International Atomic Energy Agency officials have worried fighting around Europe’s largest nuclear plant could spark a catastrophe. Inspectors arrived in Ukraine on Monday to check on the Zaporizhzhia complex for themselves. IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi is leading the team. They’ll survey the damage, evaluate working conditions, and check on safety measures.

1.The International Atomic Energy Agency says its expert team will visit the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant in southeastern Ukraine this week. The plant has been under the control of Russian forces since early March.
2.Shares in Tokyo started the week sharply lower following a broad sell-off in New York on Friday. The Nikkei 225 dropped by more than 800 points within an hour of the open on Monday.
3.Britain’s Foreign Secretary Liz Truss remains the frontrunner in the race to choose a successor of Prime Minister Boris Johnson. About 160,000 members of Britain’s ruling Conservative Party are choosing between Truss and former Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak. Economic policy is a key issue in the race as Britain faces steep inflation.

1.The head of the International Atomic Energy Agency says it is likely that the organization will send an expert team to the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant in southeastern Ukraine within a few days.
2.The Japanese government will spend about 1.8 million dollars on a state funeral for former Prime Minister Abe Shinzo, who was fatally shot in July. All expenses for the funeral will be paid from state coffers.
3.The Japanese government has selected 10 universities and laboratories where it will create world-class research centers for vaccine development.

1.The head of Japan’s police agency says he intends to resign over last month’s fatal shooting of former Prime Minister Abe Shinzo. The announcement comes following the release of a review of the security at the time of the incident. Nakamura Itaru’s resignation is expected to be approved at a Cabinet meeting on Friday.
2.President Volodymyr Zelenskyy warned Russian forces might do something “particularly ugly” on Ukraine’s Independence Day. And they did. A missile attack on Wednesday killed 22 people at a train station in the eastern Dnipropetrovsk region. Zelenskyy says it was a reminder of the perils faced by civilians across the country.
3.The Japanese government will soon formally approve costs for the state funeral for former Prime Minister Abe Shinzo in late September. Abe was fatally shot in Nara City, western Japan, on July 8 while making a campaign speech for a candidate in the Upper House election.

1.Ukraine is bracing for possible intensified attacks by Russia on Wednesday, which marks six months since the invasion began. It is also the day Ukrainians celebrate their independence from the now-defunct Soviet Union. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy warned that “hideous Russian provocations and brutal strikes are possible.”
2.Officials in the US say they are preparing what could be their largest package of military aid since the Russians invaded Ukraine. The assistance to equip and train Ukrainian forces would be worth 3 billion dollars. The goal is to help shore up Ukrainian defenses over the medium to long term.
3.A senior Ukrainian official has stressed that the country has reached a phase of taking the offensive to take back territories captured by Russia, including Crimea. Ukraine’s presidential adviser Mykhailo Podolyak said the Ukrainian military are using weapons provided by the United States and other Western nations to focus on destroying Russia’s arms depots, fuel storage facilities and strategic command posts to drive Russia into withdrawal.

1.Japan’s Prime Minister Kishida Fumio has ordered the government to continue providing support to Ukraine and imposing sanctions on Russia by closely coordinating with other Group of Seven partners. The prime minister, who is now isolating due to catching the coronavirus, attended a meeting of relevant Cabinet ministers online.
2.Police searched the offices of a bus operator on Tuesday, a day after a fatal crash on an expressway in Nagoya City, central Japan. Aoi Kotsu, or Aoi Traffic Corp., in Komaki city, north of Nagoya, was the operator of the bus. The bus overturned and caught fire on Monday morning. It was heading for Nagoya Airport from the city center. Two people on the bus died. Six passengers and the driver of a vehicle that collided with the bus were injured.
3.Ukrainians will mark their independence from the Soviet Union on Wednesday, the same day they’ll mark a half year of war. But authorities have banned them from celebrating because of a heightened risk of attack. Residents of the capital, Kyiv, came out on Monday to look at Russian weapons destroyed in the fighting. “They must know their history,” one father said of his children.

1.The United States and South Korea have kicked off joint military drills with scenarios assuming an emergency on the Korean Peninsula. The drills are scheduled from Monday through September 1.
2.US President Joe Biden has discussed the situation in Ukraine with leaders of Britain, France, and Germany. According to a statement issued by the White House on Sunday, “The leaders affirmed their continued support for Ukraine’s efforts to defend itself against Russian aggression,” and “They also discussed the situation at the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, including the need to avoid military operations near the plant.”
3.Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has issued a warning that Russian forces could intensify attacks on his country this week. Wednesday marks six months since Russian forces invaded Ukraine. It is also Ukraine’s independence day, commemorating its departure from the Soviet Union.

1.Russian and Ukrainian forces have traded fire around the largest nuclear plant in Europe. And they are trading accusations over who is to blame for shelling that has sparked fears of a global disaster. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has used a visit to Ukraine to call for both sides to pull out of the area.
2.Workers at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant in southeastern Ukraine have posted on social media an appeal for cooperation from the international community. The plant has been under Russian control since the early days of the Russian invasion.
3.Russia has dismissed a proposal by the UN chief to demilitarize Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant. Russia now controls the plant in southeastern Ukraine.

1.Officials of China’s Foreign Ministry say the country’s top diplomat has told the head of Japan’s National Security Secretariat that the Taiwan question bears on the basic trust between the two countries. Chinese Communist Party Politburo member Yang Jiechi was quoted as making the remark in the talks with Akiba Takeo, the secretariat’s secretary-general, in Tianjin on Wednesday.
2.World-renowned Japanese fashion designer Mori Hanae has died at the age of 96. She was known for her signature butterfly motifs. Mori was born in the western Japanese prefecture of Shimane in 1926. She took the first step in her long career with the opening of a studio in Tokyo’s Shinjuku district in 1951.
3.UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres is in Ukraine for talks with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Guterres arrived in the western Ukrainian city of Lviv on Wednesday. Guterres will hold a meeting with Zelenskyy and Erdogan on Thursday. They will exchange views on exports of agricultural products agreed upon by Russia and Ukraine and mediated by Turkey and the UN.

1.South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol has stressed his intention to resolve the wartime labor dispute before relevant Japanese companies’ assets in his country are liquidated under a possible finalized court order. Yoon spoke at a news conference to mark his first 100 days in office on Wednesday.
2.Rainfall is intensifying in many parts of Japan, triggering warnings of landslides and flooding. Some places on the southwestern island of Kyushu have had torrential downpours.
3.Iran has responded to what the European Union calls a “final” proposal to revive the 2015 nuclear deal. The agreement was aimed at curbing Tehran’s nuclear activities in return for a lifting of sanctions by the international community. The deal has been dysfunctional since US President Donald Trump withdrew the United States from it in 2018. Iran responded by stepping up its nuclear development.

1.A group of 42 nations is calling for the immediate withdrawal of Russian troops from the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant in southeastern Ukraine. The 42 countries, including European Union member states, Japan and the United States, made the appeal in a joint statement issued on Friday. The countries said that the deployment of Russian military personnel and weaponry at the nuclear facility is “unacceptable and disregards the safety, security and safeguards principles” that need to be respected.
2.The Chinese military announced on Monday that it carried out exercises near Taiwan. The announcement comes after a bipartisan group of five US congressional lawmakers, led by Senator Ed Markey, arrived in Taiwan on Sunday.
3.Japanese teenager Baba Saki has won the 122nd US Women’s Amateur golf championship. The 17-year-old high school student on Sunday became the first Japanese player to win the title since Hattori Michiko in 1985. The tournament is regarded as one of the world’s top championships for female amateur golfers.

1.People in Japan are observing a solemn anniversary this Monday. On August 15, 1945, a statement from Emperor Showa was broadcast on the radio, announcing that the country had surrendered in World War Two. Nearly eight decades later, Japan marks the end of that war… and prays for peace. Japan’s government holds a ceremony in Tokyo every year to remember the approximately 3.1 million people who died in the war.
2.Ukraine’s deputy prime minister has called on people in the southern region of Kherson to evacuate as the government expects fighting against Russian forces there to drag on. Iryna Vereshchuk made the appeal on Sunday, saying a hard winter is coming. She said the government needs to save the residents from the cold and the Russian invaders.
3.Monday marks one year since the Taliban retook power in Afghanistan. But Taliban rulers remain under growing international criticism for restricting the rights of girls and women. The Islamist group took over the capital, Kabul, on August 15, 2021 amid the withdrawal of US forces from the country.

1.US Attorney General Merrick Garland has confirmed that the Federal Bureau of Investigation searched the Florida resort home of former President Donald Trump. The top US law enforcement officer told reporters on Thursday that he had personally authorized the decision to order the search. Trump had earlier said that his Mar-a-Lago estate was raided by FBI agents on Monday.
2.Japanese weather officials are forecasting more heavy rain in the northeastern prefectures of Aomori and Akita. The Meteorological Agency says a low-pressure system approaching northern Japan brought developed rain clouds over the two prefectures overnight into Friday.
3.The head of the International Atomic Energy Agency has called for cooperation from Russia and Ukraine to allow its inspectors access to the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant in Ukraine, following a recent series of shellings there.

1.Major US newspapers have suggested Ukrainians were involved in the explosions that rocked a Russian air base in Crimea on Tuesday. Russia unilaterally annexed the region in southern Ukraine eight years ago. Russia’s defense ministry denied the air base was attacked. It said the explosions were caused by detonation of aircraft ammunition.
2.Weather officials in Japan are urging people to stay alert for heat stroke due to persistently high temperatures. The mercury on Thursday has already topped 35 degrees Celsius across wide areas from Kanto to Kyushu.
3.The Russian TV journalist who protested her country’s invasion of Ukraine live on state television in March has been charged with spreading false information about the Russian military. Russian media has quoted Marina Ovsyannikova’s lawyer as saying that she was charged after posting a photo on social media last month showing her near the Kremlin holding a poster saying Russian President Vladimir Putin is a killer.

1.The Chinese government says in a white paper that it will pursue the peaceful unification of Taiwan but will not renounce the use of force.
2.Japan’s Prime Minister Kishida Fumio has shaken up his Cabinet. He says his new lineup will address challenges at home and abroad. He said, “I have established an experienced and capable LDP-Komeito coalition government that has the ability to overcome what is said to be the most difficult time in several decades. We are faced with various historic challenges at home and abroad such as the coronavirus, Ukraine crisis, US-China tensions over Taiwan and global surge in prices.”
3.The Family Federation for World Peace and Unification, formerly known as the Unification Church, says there were no political interventions nor irregularities in the approval process for tis name change in 2015.

1.People in Japan are remembering the victims of one of history’s most catastrophic wartime attacks. Tuesday marks 77 years since the atomic bombing of Nagasaki during World War Two.
2.Taiwan’s Foreign Minister Joseph Wu says China’s real intention behind its military exercises around Taiwan is to “alter the status quo in the Taiwan Strait and the entire region.” Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, Wu referred to the large-scale military exercises China launched in response to the visit to Taiwan by US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. He said China is using Pelosi’s visit as “a pretext.”
3.A senior US official has suggested that Russia has seen a “tremendous” number of casualties since the country’s invasion of Ukraine began in February. US Undersecretary of Defense for Policy Colin Kahl told reporters on Monday that the Russians have probably had 70,000 or 80,000 casualties in less than six months.

1.The second straight day of shelling near the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant in Ukraine has fueled concerns in the international community. Ukraine’s nuclear power company Energoatom says an area near a storage facility for spent nuclear fuel came under attack on Saturday.
2.Worshipers gathered on Sunday for the first summertime cleaning in three years of the Great Buddha statue in the ancient capital of Nara in western Japan. The cleaning of the 15-meter-high statue is designed to refresh the Buddha’s appearance ahead of the midsummer Bon festival, when people pay respects to their ancestors.
3.The US Senate has approved a 430-billion-dollar bill to combat climate change and lower healthcare costs. The legislation calls for spending to promote renewable energy use and other measures while raising taxes on major businesses to fund them.

1.Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio plans to reshuffle his Cabinet and executives of the governing Liberal Democratic Party as early as next Wednesday. Observers will be closely watching how much Kishida will change his Cabinet lineup.
2.The fatal shooting of Japan’s former Prime Minister Abe Shinzo has stirred media attention. It has put a spotlight on the relationship between a controversial religious group and certain members of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party. Now, a former education minister is being questioned over his role in allowing the notorious former Unification Church to officially change its name.
3.Former Vice Admiral of Japan’s Maritime Self-Defense Force Koda Yoji says China’s ballistic missile launches on Thursday were aimed at showing Beijing’s anger with Washington over US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s visit to Taiwan. But he also points out that Beijing gave some consideration to avoiding provoking the United States too much, noting that the missiles were not the latest models.

1.Weather officials have revised their highest-level emergency rain alert for Niigata Prefecture…to a warning. They are still urging people to watch for further potential hazards, with downpours forecast to continue across parts of the Hokuriku region.
2.China is ratcheting up military pressure on Taiwan following US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s visit. Pelosi left Taiwan on Wednesday after meeting with Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen. She became the first speaker of the US House of Representatives in 25 years to visit Taiwan.
3.The US government has criticized China’s increasing military activity around Taiwan, which came in response to US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s visit to Taipei. White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre stressed again that there is no change in the One China policy of the US. She said the speaker’s visit is consistent with the longstanding policy.

1.Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has stressed that the country’s gain exports must continue in a stable manner. The first ship carrying Ukrainian grain since the Russian invasion began arrived in waters off Turkey on Tuesday.
2.US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has met with Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen, and stressed America’s solidarity with Taiwan. At the outset of the talks, Tsai welcomed the first visit by an incumbent US House Speaker in 25 years. She presented Pelosi with an award for promoting US-Taiwan ties, calling the speaker Taiwan’s most devoted friend.
3.Foreign ministers from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations have kicked off a series of meetings in the Cambodian capital Phnom Penh.

1.US President Joe Biden has announced the death of Al-Qaeda’s leader Ayman al-Zawahiri. Ayman al-Zawahiri was killed in a US drone strike in the Afghan capital Kabul on Sunday – more than a decade after the group’s previous head was killed.
2.A senior official in the Ukrainian grain industry welcomed the departure of a ship loaded with grain from the port of Odesa. It was the first shipment since Russia blocked exports in February.
3.Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio says his speech at the review meeting of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons was to show Japan’s strong resolve to uphold the treaty along with other parties. Kishida told reporters after addressing the NPT review conference on Monday that he will lay out a realistic road map to achieve a world without nuclear weapons.

1.Ukraine’s infrastructure minister says a ship loaded with thousands of tons of corn has departed from the southern port of Odesa. It is the first since Russia blocked shipments through the Black Sea in February. The cargo vessel ‘Razoni’ sailed from the port on Monday. It is the result of a deal between Ukraine and Russia, which was brokered by Turkey and the UN last month.
2.Local authorities in central Japan have ordered a real estate company to remove soil mounds that remained after a deadly mudslide last year. Shizuoka Prefecture on Monday issued the order to Shinkansen Building. The company built the mounds on an elevated piece of land it owned in the city of Atami. The mudslide in July last year left 27 people dead and one person missing. The prefecture estimates that the mounds still contain 21,000 cubic meters of soil.
3.Delegates of parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons are gathering in New York to discuss global nuclear arms reductions. The NPT review conference is to open on Monday at the United Nations headquarters, with a speech by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. The treaty has 191 states parties. It obliges the five nuclear powers – the United States, Russia, Britain, France and China – to negotiate for nuclear arms reduction, while banning others from developing or possessing nuclear weapons.

1.US Commerce Department officials reported on Thursday that the economy has contracted for a second consecutive quarter. They report output from April through June fell at an annualized pace of 0.9 percent. Gross domestic product is the broadest measure of the nation’s production of goods and services. GDP in the first quarter had dropped 1.6 percent. The second quarter decline brought the economy in line with a common definition of recession.
2.The Tokyo Metropolitan Government confirmed 36,814 new cases of coronavirus infections on Friday. Five deaths were reported. The daily tally was up by 1,819 cases from the same day last week. It was the tenth consecutive day that the count was higher than the previous week.
3.Russian forces continue their attacks on Ukraine’s east and south, while the United Nations says grain exports from Ukraine will be able to resume as early as Friday.

1.Russia continues to attack infrastructure in eastern and southern Ukraine while Ukrainian forces intensify their counter-offensive in an effort to retake the southern region of Kherson. Russia is trying to seize full control of the Donetsk region in eastern Ukraine and consolidate its hold over southern regions.
2.Railway workers in Britain staged a walkout on Wednesday to demand higher wages to cope with surging inflation. A labor union says about 40,000 members across the country joined the strike that brought much of the network to a halt.
3.US President Joe Biden has emerged from isolation and resumed in-person duties after contracting COVID-19. Biden tested positive for the coronavirus on July 21. He has since been working in isolation at the White House. His doctor announced on Wednesday that Biden’s symptoms had largely disappeared and he tested negative that morning and the previous night.

1.The Ukrainian ambassador to Japan has appealed to the public to continue paying attention to “Russian war crimes and crimes against humanity” in Ukraine. Sergiy Korsunsky spoke at the Japan National Press Club in Tokyo on Tuesday. He also showed photos of what he described as victims and destruction from the past five months of Russian attacks.
2.A senior White House official says US President Joe Biden and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping are expected to discuss Taiwan and Ukraine by phone or online later this week. White House national security spokesperson John Kirby told reporters on Tuesday that the discussion will cover “everything from the tensions over Taiwan, to the war in Ukraine, as well as how we better manage competition between our two nations, certainly in the economic sphere.”
3.A magnitude 7.0 earthquake struck the northern Philippine island of Luzon on Wednesday. Local media say no major damage has been confirmed so far. The US Geological Survey says the quake was shallow but powerful. Tremors were felt hundreds of kilometers away in the capital, Manila. But officials say there is no threat of tsunami.

1.The Pope has apologized to Indigenous Canadians for decades of abuse. He asked for their forgiveness on Monday for what he called the “evil” they suffered at residential schools. Starting in the late 1800s, authorities forcibly removed at least 150 thousand First Nations, Metis, and Inuit children from their homes. They put them into state schools in what members of a national commission called “cultural genocide.”
2.Tokyo prosecutors have raided the home of a former executive of the Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic organizing committee suspected of receiving a lucrative consulting fee from a sponsor. The prosecutors searched Haruyuki’s residence, the headquarters of Tokyo-based advertising agency Dentsu, and other sites on Tuesday.
3.The Japanese government on Tuesday carried out the death sentence of a man convicted of going on a deadly stabbing rampage 14 years ago in Tokyo’s busy Akihabara shopping district. Kato Tomohiro was charged with ramming a truck into a crowd of shoppers in June 2008, and then indiscriminately stabbing passersby. Seven people were killed and 10 others were wounded.

1.Myanmar’s state media says the ruling junta has executed four people, including pro-democracy activists. According to local media, it is the first time the death penalty has been carried out in the country in over 30 years. The military announced the planned executions last month, drawing a firestorm of international criticism.
2.Russia attacked a key grain port in Ukraine Saturday, jeopardizing an agricultural export deal brokered a day earlier with the United Nations and Turkey. Ukraine said the missile attack in Odesa also caused injuries and damaged infrastructure.
3.The Japan Meteorological Agency says a volcanic eruption occurred on Sakurajima in southwestern Japan’s Kagoshima Prefecture on Sunday evening. The agency estimates that imminent massive eruptions from the volcano are unlikely.

1.Japan has stressed in its annual defense white paper that the international community should not tolerate Russia’s military invasion of Ukraine. The report says that if Russia’s invasion is tolerated, it could carry the wrong implication that a unilateral change in the status quo is allowed in other regions including Asia.
2.Civil groups in Japan have protested the government’s decision to hold a state funeral for former Prime Minister Abe Shinzo. Organizers of the rally said that about 400 people, including members of 11 organizations and individuals, took part. They gathered in front of the prime minister’s office in Tokyo on Friday.
3.Japan’s health ministry plans to offer fourth coronavirus vaccine shots to healthcare workers and staff at facilities for the elderly from Friday amid a rapid resurgence of infections. Currently, people who are eligible for a fourth shot are those aged 60 and older, those aged 18 and older with underlying diseases, and those aged at least 18 who are deemed by doctors to have a high risk of becoming seriously ill.

1.The head of the International Monetary Fund says it will lower its global economic outlook again. The IMF’s last downgrade was in April, when it projected 3.6 percent growth in 2022. The new outlook comes out next week.
2.US President Joe Biden says he expects to speak with Chinese President Xi Jinping within the next 10 days. Their discussion will likely be online or by telephone. The Biden administration has been mulling a partial lowering of tariffs on goods imported from China to help ease inflation in the US.
3.The First Lady of Ukraine has told US lawmakers that the Russians are “destroying” her people. Olena Zelenska said, “Help us to stop this terror against Ukrainians. And this will be our great joint victory in the name of life, freedom and the pursuit of happiness.”

1.Sri Lanka’s lawmakers have chosen Ranil Wickremesinghe as their new president. The political veteran has been acting in the role since Gotabaya Rajapaksa fled the country and resigned amid growing protests.
2.The Japanese government is finalizing arrangements to hold a state funeral for former Prime Minister Abe Shinzo on September 27 at Nippon Budokan in Tokyo. Abe was fatally shot in Nara City, western Japan, on July 8 while making a campaign speech for a candidate in the Upper House election.
3.A senior US official says Russia appears to be preparing to annex Ukrainian territory that it now has under its control. National Security Council Coordinator for Strategic Communications at the White House, John Kirby said, “Russia is laying the groundwork to annex Ukrainian territory that it controls in direct violation of Ukraine’s sovereignty.”

1.Japan’s Prime Minister Kishida Fumio has asked South Korean Foreign Minister Park Jin to make efforts to resolve outstanding bilateral issues. Relations between the two countries are said to be at their lowest since the end of World War Two.
2.Ukraine’s first lady, Olena Zelenska, has appealed for US aid for her country on her visit to Washington. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken harshly condemned Russian attacks on Ukraine, which continue to wound and kill innocent civilians, and stressed the US will continue to provide assistance to Ukraine, including supporting Zelenska’s mental health initiative for citizens affected by the war.
3.In the leadership race of Britain’s ruling Conservative Party, former finance minister Rishi Sunak has won the most support in the third round of the vote. Sunak led other four contenders by securing 115 votes after finishing in top place in the first and second rounds. Junior trade minister Penny Mordaunt came in second with 82 votes, followed by Foreign Secretary Liz Truss with 71 votes.

1.Grudges against a religious group were expressed in social media posts believed to have been written by the man accused of murdering former Prime Minister Abe Shinzo. Investigators have learned that the suspect, Yamagami Tetsuya, had developed animosity toward the Family Federation of World Peace and Unification, formerly known as the Unification Church, to which his mother had donated money. The 41-year-old was arrested at the scene of the fatal shooting of Abe in Nara City on July 8.
2.A memorial service was held on Monday for people killed in an arson attack at a western Japan animation studio three years ago. The fire at Kyoto Animation on July 18 in 2019 killed 36 people and injured 32.
3.Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has fired the country’s prosecutor general and the head of the state security service. He announced the decision to remove Prosecutor General Iryna Venediktova and dismiss the head of the security service, Ivan Bakanov, in a video post on Sunday.

1.Gotabaya Rajapaksa has officially stepped down as president of Sri Lanka. This comes after months of anti-government protests over a worsening economic crisis. Sri Lanka’s parliamentary speaker officially accepted Rajapaksa’s resignation on Friday. Earlier this week, the now-former leader fled the country with his wife. He is now reportedly in Singapore.
2.China’s economy grew at its second-slowest pace in 30 years in the last quarter compared to a year ago. The blame mainly goes to the stifling effects of the country’s strict coronavirus measures.
3.Consumer prices in financially-strapped Argentina have made their biggest leap in 30 years, sparking protests by the public. The national statistics bureau announced on Thursday that the consumer price index rose in June from a year earlier by a whopping 64 percent. That’s the biggest margin of increase since January 1992. There are growing concerns about the future of the national economy.

1.President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says he is thankful to the UN and Turkey for their efforts to help grain exports resume from Ukraine. Zelenskyy expressed his gratitude on Wednesday for their negotiations to help end Russia’s blockade of Ukrainian agricultural shipments passing through the Black Sea. The blockade has raised concerns over food insecurity worldwide.
2.Energy ministers from the so-called Quad nations have agreed to promote the use of ammonia and other clean fuels. The ministers from Japan, the US, Australia and India met in Sydney. They discussed how they can cooperate in the energy sector at a time when Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has created instability in international energy markets.
3.Researchers in Japan say the BA.5 subvariant of the coronavirus Omicron variant may be more pathogenic, or more likely to cause disease.

1.Investigators in the killing of former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe say the suspect had wanted to attack a religious group leader. The suspect told police that his mother became an avid follower of the religious group and made huge donations to it, which ruined the family’s life. The suspect also said he believed Abe was close to the group.
2.The Tokyo District Court has ordered four former directors of Tokyo Electric Power Company to pay about 97 billion dollars in damages to the utility. The shareholders claimed the company incurred massive losses from the 2011 accident at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant.
3.A district court in Nagano Prefecture, central Japan, has dismissed a damages lawsuit filed by relatives of victims of the eruption of Mount Ontake eight years ago. The volcanic mountain straddling Nagano and Gifu prefectures erupted in September 2014, leaving 63 people dead or missing.

1.Officials of Japan’s main ruling Liberal Democratic Party say about 1,000 people offered incense at Tuesday’s funeral of former Prime Minister Abe Shinzo. About 200 of them attended the service inside a Buddhist temple in Tokyo.
2.Sri Lanka’s economic turmoil and political chaos have continued, amid conflicting reports about whether President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has fled or remains in the country. Rajapaksa reportedly announced that he would resign on Wednesday. The presidential office has not commented about his whereabouts.
3.Japanese Finance Minister Suzuki Shunichi has met with US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen in Tokyo. The pair said in a statement that their countries will increase sanctions against Russia over its invasion of Ukraine.

1.Japan’s ruling coalition scored a sweeping victory in Sunday’s Upper House election. The Liberal Democratic Party was able to win more than half the open seats without the help of its coalition partner, Komeito. Prime Minister Kishida Fumio promised to address the biggest issues facing the nation, including the pandemic, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the soaring cost of living. He vowed to revive the Japanese economy.
2.Japanese business leaders are welcoming Sunday’s Upper House election results. They are urging the administration of Prime Minister Kishida Fumio to act boldly to tackle major challenges.
3.The head of Japan’s central bank has reiterated it is sticking with its massive monetary easing policy as the economy continues to face great uncertainty.

1.People across Japan are coming to terms with the shocking death of one of the nation’s most influential modern leaders. Former Japanese Prime Minister Abe Shinzo was shot and killed at a Friday campaign event. His alleged attacker was arrested at the scene.
2.China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi has said his country opposes any act that tries to take advantage of the Ukraine situation to instigate a Cold War mentality and fuel confrontation. He was apparently referring to moves by Western countries.
3.Russian President Vladimir Putin has warned that Moscow has barely started its military operation in Ukraine, and challenged the West to take on its forces. Referring to the invasion, the president said, “Everybody should know that, by and large, we haven’t started anything yet in earnest.”

1.The Russian invasion of Ukraine has left European Union leaders scrambling for other sources of energy, even as they try to tackle climate change. Now, they have decided to label natural gas and nuclear plants as “green.”
2.Infections with Omicron subvariant BA.4 or BA.5 are now estimated to account for 70 percent of new cases in the United States. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that the BA.5 subvariant is now responsible for 53.6 percent of new cases nationwide, while BA.4 makes up 16.5 percent.
3.Kabuki Actor Ichikawa Ebizo says he will work hard to live up to the prestigious centuries’ old stage name of Ichikawa Danjuro he will assume in November. Ebizo was set to become the 13th Ichikawa Danjuro in a performance in May 2020. But the show was postponed due to the spread of the coronavirus.

1.South Korea’s President Yoon Suk-yeol has ordered the country’s military to “swiftly and firmly” punish North Korea if it carries out any provocation. Yoon stressed a firm stance against Pyongyang’s nuclear and missile development, saying the threats are increasing.
2.Russia is carrying out missile attacks as it steps up its offensive in Ukraine, mainly in eastern parts of the country. Russia’s defense ministry announced on Tuesday that troops had conducted missile strikes in the regions of Donetsk and Kharkiv in eastern Ukraine, and the Mykolaiv region in the south.
3.Representatives at an international conference on Ukraine’s reconstruction after the Russian invasion have wrapped up two days of talks with a pledge to support a recovery process led by the Ukrainians. Tue Ukraine Recovery Conference was held in the southern Swiss city of Lugano on Monday and Tuesday.

1.The Japan Meteorological Agency says tropical storm Aere has become a low pressure system after making landfall in Nagasaki Prefecture in western Japan early Tuesday. Weather officials continue to warn of heavy rainfall in many parts of the country.
2.Police have taken a man in custody who is suspected of having opened fire on an Independence Day parade in the US Midwestern state of Illinois on Monday. Local authorities say at least six people have been killed and more than 20 others, including children, injured.
3.Ukraine’s government estimates the cost of rebuilding the country following Russia’s invasion at 750 billion dollars. Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal revealed a recovery plan at a conference in the southern Swiss city of Lugano on Monday. The plan is split into three phases. The first stage involves the reconstruction of lifeline infrastructure, including water supply and bridges, followed by the rebuilding of such facilities as schools and hospitals.

1.Tropical storm Aere is heading north toward Japan’s southwestern main island of Kyushu after passing near Okinawa. It is expected to come very close to Kyushu, possibly making landfall there on Tuesday. 台風４号（アイレー）
2.The Russian defense ministry says its forces are in “full control” of Luhansk. It is one of Ukraine’s two neighboring eastern regions Russian forces have been trying to seize.
3.Japan’s Defense Ministry says a Chinese and a Russian naval vessel were spotted just outside Japan’s territorial waters off the Senkaku Islands in the East China Sea on Monday.

1.The former British colony of Hong Kong is marking 25 years since its return to Chinese rule. Anniversary events have kicked off, and China’s president is making his first visit since 2017. Chinese President Xi Jinping said that the “one country, two systems” policy has been recognized as a success.
2.Russia’s forces are intensifying their offensive in the eastern Ukrainian region of Luhansk, while Ukraine says it has taken back a key island in the Black Sea. The city of Lysychansk in Luhansk has been coming under heavy attacks. According to the head of Ukraine’s presidential office, Ukrainian troops have recaptured Snake Island. This island off the coast of Odesa in southern Ukraine was seen as a key stronghold of the Russian troops.
3.The Russian government will establish a new firm that will take over the operation of the Sakhalin-2 oil and natural gas development project. Japanese companies are major stakeholders in the project.

1.NATO leaders have wrapped up their summit in Madrid, with a renewed commitment to defend both member states and their partners. They say that commitment extends far beyond the North Atlantic. NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said, “Both Moscow and Beijing are using economic leverage, coercion and hybrid approaches to advance their interest in the region.”
2.NHK has learned that UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres will attend the peace memorial ceremony in Hiroshima city, western Japan, on August 6 this year to mark the US atomic bombing of the city in 1945.
3.China’s President Xi Jinping has arrived in Hong Kong for a ceremony on Friday to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the territory’s return to China. Xi arrived at the West Kowloon high-speed railway station in Hong Kong on Thursday. He got off his train wearing a face mask as Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam and local citizens welcomed him by waving national flags.

1.The leaders of North Atlantic Treaty Organization member states have begun their talks in Madrid, Spain. NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said at the start of the talks that the leaders will make key decisions to keep NATO strong and ready in a more dangerous and competitive world.
2.Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio is expected to confirm a major revision to a document that specifically outlines Japan’s cooperation with the North Atlantic Treaty Organization at a two-day summit in Madrid, starting on Wednesday. Kishida will be the first Japanese prime minister to attend the NATO talks.
3.Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio and his British counterpart Boris Johnson have agreed to swiftly move forward with the signing of a bilateral defense cooperation agreement. Kishida expressed his gratitude for the United Kingdom’s decision to lift import restrictions on food products from Fukushima Prefecture, which were introduced after the 2011 nuclear accident. The easing took effect on Wednesday.

1.A Russian missile strike on a shopping mall in central Ukraine has killed at least 18 people. Ukraine’s president has described it as “one of the most daring terrorist attacks in European history.” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the mall held no strategic value to justify the Russian attack. U.S. National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan on Monday said the Biden administration is finalizing another weapons package for Ukraine. It will include long-range air-defense systems specially requested by Zelenskyy.
2.Leaders at the G7 summit in Germany are accusing Russia of causing a global food crisis. They are also warning that new sanctions will be imposed, if the Russians continue their aggression in Ukraine.
3.Moldovan President Maia Sandu met Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy during a visit to Ukraine on Monday,and toured heavily affected areas. Sandu tweeted that she was “left speechless by the level of violence and destruction” and that “It’s an unimaginable tragedy.”

1.Speaking in Germany, US President Joe Biden condemned an attack on Kyiv as an act of “barbarism.” That’s after a salvo of Russian missiles shattered weeks of relative calm in Ukraine’s capital. Officials say at least two residential buildings were struck and a nearby kindergarten was damaged.
2.A heat wave hit wide areas of Japan on Monday, while weather officials announced that the rainy season apparently ended unusually early in some regions. Meteorological Agency officials said the rainy season has ended in the Kanto-Koshin region, which includes Tokyo, as well as in the Tokai and southern Kyushu regions.
3.NHK has learned that Japan plans to provide a bout 200 million dollars to help address a global food crisis amid Russia’s ongoing invasion of Ukraine. Prime Minister Kishida Fumio is expected to announce the plan when the G7 leaders discuss Ukraine and food security in Schloss Elmau, southern Germany, on Monday. Officials say the fund would probably be used to help build storage facilities for wheat and other crops in Ukraine, whose exports have been disrupted by Russia’s blockade of sea ports.

1.Humanitarian agencies are struggling to get help to areas devastated by Wednesday’s earthquake in Afghanistan. At least 1,000 people were killed and survivors living in remote villages are running out of essential supplies.
2.Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says the decision by leaders of the European Union to grant Ukraine membership candidate status is a victory for his country. Zelenskyy said, “Today you have adopted one of the most important decisions for Ukraine in all 30 years of independence of our state.”
3.An opinion poll has shown that about two thirds of respondents in Ukraine believe it will take at least six months for the country to win the war against Russia. The survey showed 93 percent of the respondents believe that Ukraine will be able to “repel Russia’s attack.”

1.People in Japan’s southern prefecture of Okinawa are observing the 77th anniversary of the end of the Japanese military’s combat against US forces in the closing days of World War Two. The Battle of Okinawa in 1945 left more than 200,000 people dead. One in four of the residents were killed.
2.The Myanmar military has moved the country’s ousted de-facto leader Aung San Suu Kyi from a secret detention location to a prison in the capital Naypyitaw. Aung San Suu Kyi was detained on February 1 last year when the military seized power from her elected government.
3.A Japanese government survey shows nearsightedness is starting to occur at an early age, affecting 6th-graders at the same level as adults. The national survey of children was the first to examine the length of the eyeball axis, between the cornea and retina, as a measure of nearsightedness.

1.Campaigning has officially started for Japan’s Upper House election. Voters head to the polls in about two-and-a-half weeks. Party leaders are already making their pitches to the public.
2.A strong earthquake in eastern Afghanistan early on Wednesday has reportedly killed at least 255 people. The US Geological Survey says the quake’s magnitude was estimated at 5.9. Its focus was about 10 kilometers below Khost Province.
3.Russia is still fighting for complete control of the eastern Ukrainian region of Luhansk. Its troops and artillery have failed so far to dislodge the Ukrainian defenders, who are holding on to the last stronghold in the besieged city of Severodonetsk.

1.Russia is concentrating its forces and firepower on the last Ukrainian stronghold in the eastern region of Luhansk. While the battle for Severodonetsk hits maximum intensity, Ukrainian forces are pushing to recapture the southern region of Kherson.
2.Japan Coast Guard officials say two Chinese government ships have entered Japan’s territorial waters near the Senkaku Islands in the East China Sea. The officials said the ships entered waters off Uotsuri Island at around 4:10 a.m. on Tuesday, Japan time. They added that the ships apparently tried to approach a Japanese fishing boat operating in the area.
3.The last British governor of Hong Kong says China is behaving “dishonorably and dishonestly” in relation to the Sino-British joint declaration on the territory. Chris Patten said that in 1997 he was hoping that the Chinese Communist Party would stand by its word and would continue to give Hong Kong a high degree of autonomy and defend its freedoms under the rule of law.

1.A strong earthquake has hit the Noto region in central Japan. No tsunami alert has been issued. The magnitude 5.0 quake struck Ishikawa Prefecture at 10:31 a.m. on Monday. In Suzu City, the quake registered upper 5 on Japan’s seismic intensity scale of zero to 7.
2.The central alliance of French President Emmanuel Macron has suffered a major setback in the final round of the parliamentary election and has lost its majority in the National Assembly. The French interior ministry says that Macron’s party and its coalition partners have secured 245 seats, down from 345 before the election.
3.A Japanese survivor of the 1945 atomic bombing of Hiroshima has urged the world to reject what she calls the “dangerous myth” about nuclear weapons. Setsuko Thurlow, who lives in Canada, made the appeal in an online speech on Saturday at an event sponsored by the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons, or ICAN.

1.Skepticism about the invasion of Ukraine appears to be on the rise in Russia, prompting elite businesspeople and oligarchs to leave the country. This is likely to exacerbate the war’s long-term damage to the nation’s economy. According to an intelligence update from the British defense ministry, the war has accelerated Russia’s long-term trajectory towards authoritarianism. Efforts are underway to criminalize speaking out against the invasion and the state.
2.Delegates from around the world have wrapped up a ministerial World Trade Organization conference in Switzerland. They’ve emerged from several days of tough negotiations with breakthrough deals on a range of subjects. High on the agenda was food security. It’s an issue that’s taken on added importance since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine cut off grain shipments from Black Sea ports.
3.Policymakers at the Bank of Japan have agreed to keep their short-term benchmark interest rate in negative territory. BOJ Governor Kuroda Haruhiko has repeatedly indicated he will stay the course in a bid to boost Japan’s pandemic-battered economy.

1.Several European leaders are now visiting Ukraine. As Russian forces step up their offensive in the country’s east, the leaders want to convey a clear message. The European Union stands together in helping Ukraine. Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi, French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz arrived in Kyiv by train Thursday morning.
2.Japan’s political parties are set to begin their campaigning for the Upper House election scheduled for July 10. The 150-day ordinary session of the Diet ended on Wednesday. Official campaigning for the Upper House race kicks off next Wednesday.
3.Policy-makers at the US Federal Reserve have spent months trying to overcome concerns about inflation. However, prices have risen beyond even their own expectations. Now, they are moving aggressively to bring them down. They decided to raise the benchmark interest rate by three-quarters of a percentage point.

1.Key economic indicators show that China’s zero-COVID policy continued to weigh heavily on both consumption and production in the country in May. The National Bureau of Statistics say China’s retail sales last month fell 6.7 percent from a year earlier, marking a decrease for the third straight month.
2.Ukrainian leaders are pleading for outside help to repel Russian attacks that have cut off escape routes in a key eastern city. NATO leaders will soon meet to discuss how they can help. Russian troops have pushed deep into Severodonetsk, forcing hundreds to shelter in a chemical plant. They are calling on the Ukrainians to surrender. Local officials say constant bombardments mean mass escape is now impossible.
3.Prosecutors and police in Ukraine are investigating suspected war crimes that Russian troops are alleged to have committed in towns near the capital Kyiv. The troops previously occupied those towns.

1.Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has appealed for a faster supply of weapons to help his nation “liberate” territories occupied by Russia. He voiced concern over the lack of information about what was happening in regions of Ukraine currently occupied by Russian troops.
2.Amnesty International reports that Russian forces have used cluster munitions seven times in Ukraine’s second largest city Kharkiv, killing a number of civilians. International conventions currently ban the use of cluster munitions, which eject smaller submunitions, on the basis of indiscriminate cruelty.
3.A US Congressional panel investigating the 2021 Capitol riot on Monday presented more video testimony by close aides to former President Donald Trump. The aides said Trump ignored their repeated advice that his claims of election fraud were unfounded.

1.Russia intensified its attacks in eastern Ukraine on Sunday, while holding events to celebrate a Russian national holiday in areas that Moscow claims are now under its control. In the city of Severodonetsk in the eastern region of Luhansk, Russian shelling destroyed a bridge amid intense fighting. Luhansk Governor Serhiy Haidai told local media on Sunday, that he expects Russia to go all out soon to capture Severodonetsk.
2.A World Trade Organization ministerial conference began in Geneva on Sunday. On the first day of the four-day meeting, representatives discussed the challenges facing the multilateral trading system. The WTO aims to promote international trade through the system. But this fundamental principle has been shaken by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
3.The yen fell to a 24-year low against the US dollar on Monday. Investors sold the Japanese currency and bought the greenback to lock in higher US yields on a widening interest-rate gap between the two countries. The US Federal Reserve appears more committed to tighten policy to curb inflation. The Bank of Japan, by contrast, is sticking to its easy-money stance.

1.Japan has eased its anti-coronavirus border controls to start accepting overseas tourists for the first time in about two years. The government on Friday reopened the borders to foreign sightseers from 98 countries and regions deemed to be at the lowest risk of spreading COVID-19. They include the United States, South Korea and China.
2.Japan is one of the countries that have been voted to a two-year term on the United Nations Security Council. General Assembly President Abdulla Shahid made the announcement. The other countries are Ecuador, Malta, Mozambique, and Switzerland. Their term begins on January 1, 2023.
3.Researchers who have analyzed samples from the Ryugu asteroid say its parent body is believed to have had large amounts of water. The samples were collected and brought back to Earth by Japan’s Hayabusa 2 space probe in 2020. Eight teams in Japan have been analyzing the materials. A team says 23 different amino acids, including glutamic acid and aspartic acid, have been found in the samples.

1.A pro-Russian separatist leader reported that a close aide to President Vladimir Putin visited the eastern Ukrainian city of Mariupol, apparently in a show of Russian control over the region. Denis Pushilin posted a video of First Deputy Chief of Staff Sergei Kiriyenko on social media on Wednesday. Kiriyenko traveled in a car marked with the letter “Z”—a symbol of Russia’s military operation in Ukraine.
2.Inflation in Russia remained high last month due to tough international sanctions imposed in response to the country’s invasion of Ukraine. Russia’s statistics agency said on Wednesday the consumer price index in May rose 17.1 percent from a year earlier. Food prices surged 20.05 percent.
3.Farmers in Ukraine work in what has been called the “breadbasket of Europe.” But now, many of them are looking into their fields of grain and seeking risks. The Russian invasion has stopped the flow of vital food supplies. Ukrainian leaders have accused the Russians of blocking grain shipments out of ports on the Black Sea. The Russians say Ukrainian mines have made potential shipments too dangerous.

1.Japan’s Cabinet has approved plans for what Prime Minister Kishida Fumio calls a “new form of capitalism.” The strategies are aiming to double people’s incomes from assets. The government wants to grow the economy while dealing with issues like climate change and digital transformation.
2.Russia’s Foreign Ministry says it will suspend the implementation of a 1988 agreement with Japan that allows Japanese fishing boats to operate safely near the four Russian-held islands claimed by Japan.
3.Ukraine is the setting of Russia’s months-long invasion, but the impacts are being felt far beyond. Key shipments are being blocked, driving up food costs and putting people in danger of going hungry.

1.The governors of the International Atomic Energy Agency have outlined a range of nuclear threats across the world. They gathered in Vienna on Monday for their quarterly meeting. The governors worry about what might happen after the biggest nuclear plant in Europe fell into Russian hands. They want to send a team of experts to the site in Zaporizhzhia, Ukraine.
2.Government data for April painted a discouraging picture for Japanese households. Figures showed workers made slightly more than in the same month a year earlier, but that in real terms their wages were down.
3.Ukraine’s president has warned that Russia’s blockade of ports in southern Ukraine could prevent the country from exporting 75 million tons of grain by autumn. Volodymyr Zelenskyy told reporters in Kyiv on Monday that roughly 22 to 25 million tons of grain have already been blocked from export. He suggested that the amount may increase to 75 million tons by autumn.

1.Fierce fighting continues in Ukraine, with Russian forces carrying out missile attacks in Ukraine’s capital Kyiv. In the key eastern city of Severodonetsk, they have met fierce resistance.
2.South Korea and the United States have fired eight ground-to-ground missiles toward the Sea of Japan in response to North Korea’s missile launches a day earlier.
3.Russian President Vladimir Putin has warned that his country will strike facilities if long-range rocket systems are supplied to Ukraine. Putin made the comments in an interview aired by Russia’s state-run TV on Sunday. The US government announced last week that it would send four High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems, or HIMARS, to Ukraine.

1.Huge crowds have gathered outside Buckingham Palace to celebrate Queen Elizabeth’s 70 years on the British throne. Celebrations for the Platinum Jubilee began on Thursday, with a large number of military personnel marching outside Buckingham Palace in London. The Queen appeared on the balcony of the palace and received a salute from guards. She also waved to cheering crowds.
2.A US magazine has quoted senior US intelligence officials as saying Russian President Vladimir Putin has undergone treatment for advanced cancer.
3.Military analysts expected Russian troops crossing over into Ukraine would overwhelm any defenses. By Friday, Ukrainian forces had held on for 100 days. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the Russians control almost 20 percent of the territory, almost 125,000 square kilometers. Zelenskyy said Ukrainians are fighting a “war of courage.” He said the Russians have lost more than 30,000 soldiers. And he said tens of thousands of Ukrainians have been killed.

1.The Ukrainian national soccer team has beaten Scotland 3-1 in their World cup playoff, putting it one win away from qualifying for the competition in Qatar later this year. The match was held in Scotland on Wednesday after being postponed due to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. It was originally scheduled to take place in March. The Ukrainians made a good start with an opener in the 33rd minute by veteran captain Andriy Yarmolenko. They added two more goals in the second half, clinching their victory.
2.The number of confirmed cases of monkeypox has now exceeded 550 worldwide. The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control said on Tuesday that 321 cases of monkeypox has been confirmed in 12 European Union countries.
3.Tokyo police have arrested a tax bureau official and six others on suspicion of fraud for illegally receiving government subsidies for businesses affected by the coronavirus pandemic.

1.Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Russia’s attack of Severodonetsk in the Donbas region is “simply madness.” Zelenskyy also said in the newly released video on Tuesday that the situation in the Donbas region is “very tough.”
2.The governor of the eastern Ukrainian region of Luhansk said on Tuesday that Russian forces attacked a chemical plant in Severodonetsk, causing a toxic gas leak. Governor Serhiy Haidai said in a message posted on social media that a Russian strike hit a tank containing nitric acid at the plant. Two posted pictures show a rosy cloud billowing above what appears to be an apartment complex.
3.The Ukrainian state nuclear company has warned of a possible disaster at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant that is under the occupation of Russian forces. It says the Russians have explosives and weapons on the premises of the facility.

1.European Union leaders have reached a compromise to impose a partial oil embargo on Russia in the wake of its invasion of Ukraine. But it’s not a total ban. They’re allowing a temporary exemption for imports by pipeline. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said, “Council should now be able to finalize a ban on almost 90% of all Russian oil imports by the end of the year. This is an important step forward.”
2.Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Russia is causing a global food crisis by blocking his country’s ports. Zelenskyy said the blockade is destabilizing the situation on a global scale and, as a result, food is becoming increasingly expensive in different countries.
3.A Japanese Defense Ministry think tank says Russia likely launched its invasion of Ukraine without fully understanding the capabilities of Ukrainian forces. The report compiled by the National Institute for Defense Studies concludes that Russia began the invasion because President Vladimir Putin was determined to annex Ukraine. However, Russian forces underestimated Ukraine’s military capabilities and their operations lacked sufficient preparation.

1.Japan’s top government spokesperson says the maritime survey South Korea conducted in Japan’s exclusive economic zone near the Takeshima Islands is unacceptable as no prior consent was given. South Korea controls the islands in the Sea of Japan. Japan claims them.
2.Russian troops are intensifying their offensive in Severodonetsk. The city is seen as Ukraine’s last stronghold in the eastern region of Luhansk. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says his country is trying to obtain more modern weapons. He says peace will return to Ukraine in the end. Russia is stepping up operations and trying to surround Severodonetsk in order to gain full control of Luhansk.
3.Authorities in Shanghai say restrictions on businesses will be removed from Wednesday, for the first time since the city was hit by a recent coronavirus outbreak. The decision comes following two months of lockdown measures for the Chinese commercial hub.

1.Finnish Prime Minister Sanna Marin visited Ukraine’s capital, Kyiv, on Thursday and held a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Ukraine’s presidential office reported that Marin said, “The heroic spirit of the Ukrainian people, who are fighting for their freedom and the whole of Europe, is admirable.”
2.Small groups of foreigners have been arriving in Japan to take part in government-sponsored guided tours, as the country prepares to welcome tourists next month. A participant from a travel agency in Australia said, “we really hope that the Japanese people are excited about having tourism back in the country again.”
3.US Secretary of State Antony Blinken says the most serious long-term challenge to the international order is the one posed by China. Blinken said US officials can’t rely on the Chinese to change their trajectory. So, he said, the Americans want to shape the strategic environment to advance their vision of an open and inclusive international system.

1.US media say the 18-year-old gunman who attacked an elementary school in the state of Texas on Tuesday had been bullied at school for a speech impairment. Salvador Ramos, who was a student of a local high school, broke into an elementary school in Uvalde and shot to death 19 children and two teachers.
2.The mayor of Hiroshima says he decided not to invite Russian President Vladimir Putin to the annual ceremony marking the US atomic bombing of the city to ensure the event can be held smoothly. Matsui Kazumi explained the reason for not inviting Putin at a news conference on Thursday.
3.Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has asked for more military aid, saying his country’s forces are far outnumbered by Russian troops and military equipment in some eastern regions.

1.Three months of fighting in Ukraine have left thousands dead and millions fleeing to other countries. The conflict shows no signs of ending but Russian military officials say they remain confident they will achieve their goals on the battlefield in the long run. Commanders in the east say their troops destroyed an arms depot. Now, they’re making a push for the Ukrainian stronghold of Severodonetsk.
2.Nineteen students and two other people have been killed in a mass shooting at an elementary school in the US state of Texas. Local authorities say the suspect is an 18-year-old high school student. He is believed to have been shot dead by police at the scene. The incident took place around noon on Tuesday in the city of Uvalde.
3.Ukrainian President Volodymryr Zelenskyy sat down for an exclusive interview with NHK on Tuesday. After months of war, his defiance is undimmed. Zelenskyy said, “The world initially thought Ukraine would only last for three days after Russia invaded. But much to the surprise of the world, we have fought not for three days, not 30 days but already three months. The interview took place in Kyiv. Zelenskyy suggested peace in Ukraine must come without ceding any land.

1.The leaders of Japan, the United States, Australia and India say they’ll work closer on economic development, climate change and security. The Quad summit touched on fears that fighting in Ukraine could spark unrest elsewhere with Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio presenting a united front.
2.Colombia’s defense ministry on Monday announced it will dispatch a team of demining experts to train Ukrainian troops. Colombia, a NATO partner, reportedly made the decision at the request of US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin. Eleven Colombian military engineers will be dispatched to a NATO member neighboring Ukraine.
3.Western countries and Russia traded accusations Monday at a UN Security Council meeting over information warfare and cyberattacks in relation to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The exchanges came during a session on the use of digital technologies to maintain peace.

1.The leaders of Japan and the US have committed to boosting regional defense. Prime Minister Kishida Fumio met with President Joe Biden amid rising tensions in the Indo-Pacific. Kishida said, “I announce my resolve to secure a larger defense budget, and President Biden strongly supported this. We also agreed to expand and deepen our Japan-US cooperation to ensure security.”
2.Tuesday’s Quad meeting will be a major test for Australia’s new prime minister, Anthony Albanese, who is attending the summit less than a week after taking office.
Speaking in his first news conference as prime minister, he said his government would stand up for Australian values and he singled out China.
3.Russian commanders have found victories in Ukraine have not come easy. On Monday, they marked three months since they invaded. They’ve killed thousands of civilians. But military success has eluded them. The Russians have launched a series of assaults on Sievierdonetsk, one of the last cities in the region under Ukrainian control. But, once again, they’re facing determined resistance.

1.Japan’s Prime Minister Kishida Fumio has agreed with the head of the international nuclear watchdog to work together to ensure the safety of Ukraine’s nuclear power plants. Kishida Fumio said, “Japan highly appreciates the IAEA’s efforts to ensure the safety of nuclear facilities in Ukraine.”
2.The United Nations Security Council held a ministerial meeting on Thursday to discuss the issues of food security and conflict. This comes amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Russia and Ukraine are major exporters of wheat, other grains and fertilizer. But Russia’s invasion has disrupted exports from the two countries. this has caused prices to soar and raised concerns about food shortages.
3.Russian forces appear poised to intensify their offensive to capture the whole of the eastern Ukrainian regions of Donetsk and Luhansk as more Ukrainian fighters surrender at a steel plant in Mariupol. But Ukrainian forces may be preparing to mount counterattacks on all fronts.

1.Japanese experts on coronavirus infections are offering new advice on face masks. They say there may be more situations where people do not need to wear them. Health ministry experts say people don’t necessarily need to wear masks outdoors as long as they and people around them are not talking much. They say that applies even when people can’t social-distance.
2.The head of the International Atomic Energy Agency has visited the crippled Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant to assess progress in its decommissioning and preparations for releasing treated water from the plant. Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi, along with four other IAEA officials, spent two hours inspecting the plant on Thursday morning. The visit was Grossi’s first to the plant since February 2020.
3.Russia is poised to take full control of the port of Mariupol, but Ukraine says it is not giving up on the city. The mission to defend its final stronghold ended this week, leading the way for Kremlin’s biggest victory so far. Fighters have been emerging from the devastated steel plant for days.

1.Japan’s nuclear regulator has approved a plan to release treated water from the crippled Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant into the ocean. At a meeting on Wednesday, members of the authority concluded they could find no problems in the submitted document. Their review included how to check the levels of tritium and other substances before releasing treated water into the sea. They also discussed effects on the surrounding environment and people.
2.Finland and Sweden have officially applied for NATO membership. NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg in Brussels called it a “historic moment” and said he warmly welcomes the requests by Finland and Sweden to join NATO. He added, “You are our closest partners, and your membership in NATO will increase our shared security.”
3.Mariupol has become both a symbol of Ukrainian resistance and a sign of Russia’s relentless military drive. Now a final stronghold has fallen. Ukrainians who fought for weeks to defend a steel mill have been carried out on stretchers.

1.Ukrainian forces say that they have ended a combat operation aimed at defending a steel plant in the strategic port city of Mariupol. The General Staff of Ukraine’s Armed Forces issued a statement on Tuesday. It said, “The Mariupol garrison has fulfilled its combat mission.” It was referring to the troops at the steel plant.
2.North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has expressed dissatisfaction that medical supplies are not being delivered swiftly enough as more than one million people have developed what the regime refers to as a fever in recent weeks. Kim criticized the Cabinet and health authorities for the slow distribution of medicines, and ordered the mobilization of the military’s medical corps.
3.Authorities in the Chinese city of Shanghai are planning for a return to normal life in June after a prolonged lockdown to combat coronavirus. The daily count of new cases last month often exceeded 20,000. But on Sunday, the figure dropped to below 1,000 for the first time since March 23.

1.An adviser to the mayor of Mariupol in Ukraine says Russia’s military used incendiary or white phosphorus bombs against the defenders of the city. Petro Andryushchenko said the bombs burn at a temperature of 2,000 to 2,500 degrees Celsius, and that the combustions are almost impossible to stop.
2.Sweden’s ruling Social Democratic Party decided on Sunday to support the country’s plan to apply for NATO membership, reversing its previous opposition to the move. Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson said that joining NATO would be the best thing for the security of Sweden and the Swedish people.
3.Russian troops aiming to seize control of eastern Ukraine appear to be losing momentum after being pushed back in counterattacks by Ukrainian forces.

1.Russia’s presidential office says the country will host a summit meeting of a Russia-led military alliance next week. The office said on Thursday that the leaders of all six member nations of the Collective Security Treaty Organization, or CSTO, will attend the meeting in Moscow on Monday.
2.A number of countries have accused the Russian military of taking the lives of many Ukrainian children in its invasion of Ukraine. An official of the United Nations Children’s Fund said that in the last month the United Nations has verified nearly 100 child deaths from the fighting, with an actual figure that is likely to be considerably higher.
3.Finland’s Foreign Minister Pekka Haavisto says his country will officially file an application to join NATO as early as next week. Finnish President Sauli Niinisto and Prime Minister Sanna Marin had earlier announced their country would apply for NATO membership without delay.

1.The International Labor Organization estimates that nearly a third of Ukraine’s jobs have been lost due to the Russian aggression. In a brief released on Wednesday, the ILO said 4.8 million jobs have been lost in Ukraine since the start of Russia’s invasion in February. That accounts for 30 percent of the pre-conflict employment in Ukraine.
2.The wives of Ukrainian fighters holed up in a besieged steel plant in Mariupol have appealed to the Pope for help to evacuate the soldiers safely. Kateryna Prokopenko and Yuliia Fedusiuk met with Pope Francis on Wednesday in the Vatican. Their husbands are among the Azov battalion fighters at the Azovstal steel plant, which is surrounded by Russian troops.
3.Ukraine says it is negotiating with Russia over the evacuation of seriously injured Ukrainian fighters from a steel plant in Mariupol in exchange for captured Russians. Ukraine’s Deputy Prime Miniser Iryna Vereshchuk said in a messaging app post on Wednesday that Ukraine has offered the exchange and negotiations are underway.

1.Japan’s government is considering raising the cap on new arrivals per day from the current 10,000 to 20,000, starting next month. Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio said during a visit to Britain last week that his government will ease coronavirus restrictions so that entry into Japan will be as smooth as in other Group of Seven nations.
2.Toyota Motor say it posted record group sales and net profit for fiscal 2021 despite a global shortage of semiconductors. That is due to robust sales in North America and Asia as well as a weaker yen against the dollar.
3.The draft of Japan’s annual defense white paper refers to the Russian invasion of Ukraine. It stresses that similar events should never occur in the Indo-Pacific region. The draft white paper has a new section to discuss the Russian invasion. It says unilateral attempts to forcibly change the status quo cannot be tolerated and would shake the foundation of the international order.

1.A new political era is underway in South Korea. Yoon Suk-yeol was sworn in as president Tuesday morning, ushering in the country’s first conservative government in five years. One of Yoon’s main challenges will be dealing with North Korea, which is accelerating its nuclear and missile development. He said there is room for dialogue and a way for the North to benefit.
2.Local media in the Philippines project that the son and namesake of ousted dictator Ferdinand Marcos will be the country’s next president. Sixty-four-year-old Marcos will inherit a nation hit hard by the pandemic, and he’s promised to rebuild.
3.North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has reportedly sent a message to Russian President Vladimir Putin congratulating him upon the May 9 anniversary of the Soviet Union’s victory over Nazi Germany.

1.Russian President Vladimir Putin spoke in front of more than ten thousand troops at a massive military parade. He defended his country’s invasion of Ukraine. Putin said, “We saw hundreds of foreign military advisors getting involved and NATO countries regularly providing the most up-to-date weapons. That was increasing the threat day by day. Russia reacted preemptively against the aggression. It was necessary and timely decision. For Russia! For victory!”
2.In Ukraine, hostilities show no signs of letting up as Russia prepares to mark the May 9 victory of the former Soviet Union over Nazi Germany. Fighting in eastern Ukraine has been especially intense. Russian forces reportedly carried out an airstrike on a school in the Luhansk region where civilians were sheltering. The regional governor said the airstrike claimed at least two lives, and left about 60 people trapped in the rubble.
3.German Chancellor Olaf Scholz says his country will continue to provide military support to Ukraine “to defense justice and freedom.” He made the remark in a televised speech Sunday on the 77th anniversary of the end of World War Two in Europe. Scholz expressed remorse for Germany’s past, noting the Germans had perpetrated a “crime against humanity.”

1.Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has called for the immediate evacuation of civilians still trapped in a besieged steel plant in Mariupol, eastern Ukraine. Zelenskyy said in a video message released on Thursday that a rescue operation continued that day in Mariupol with the assistance of the United Nations and the International Committee of the Red Cross. Russian forces have been trying to take control of the port city.
2.Israel says its prime minister and Russian President Vladimir Putin spoke by phone on Thursday. The Israeli Prime Minister’s Office said Putin apologized to Prime Minister Naftali Bennett for the recent remarks made by Russia’s foreign minister that Adolf Hitler had “Jewish origins.” It said Bennett accepted Putin’s apology.
3.Japan’s Prime Minister Kishida Fumio has appealed for increased investment in Japan in a speech in Britain’s financial center, the City of London. The prime minister said he wants to convey a single message, which is “Invest in Kishida.”

1.US exports to Russia have posted a steep year-on-year decline of nearly 80 percent in March, mainly due to severe economic sanctions. A report released by the US Commerce Department shows that the United States exported products totaling 101 million dollars to Russia in March. That’s a drop of 78.8 percent from the same period last year.
2.Policymakers at the US Federal Reserve have seen inflation rise to its highest level in 40 years. They raised interest rates by half a percentage point on Wednesday, their biggest rate hike in 22 years.
3.European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has called on European Union nations to agree to a complete ban of Russian oil imports by the end of the year. Von der Leyen made the proposal to the European Parliament on Wednesday as part of an additional package of sanctions against Russia over its invasion of Ukraine.

1.The United Nations human rights agency says that as of Monday at least 3,193 civilians, including 227 children, had been killed in Ukraine since the Russian invasion began on February 24.
2.Russian forces have launched a fresh assault on Mariupol in eastern Ukraine, despite efforts to evacuate civilians trapped in a steel plant in the besieged city. Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in a video message released on Tuesday that 156 civilians have managed to evacuate from the Azovstal steel plant to the Ukraine-held city of Zaporizhzhia in the southeast.
3.A Japanese Self-Defense Forces aircraft carrying aid supplies for Ukrainian evacuees has arrived in Poland. Japanese government officials say the supplies will initially be stored in a warehouse in the airport, before being transported to a number of areas.

1.Prosecutors in Ukraine say the Russian invasion has killed at least 219 children and injured 405 as of Monday. The Ukrainian prosecutor general’s office says the eastern region of Donetsk had the highest number of child casualties at 139, followed by the Kyiv region at 115, the eastern region of Kharkiv at 95, and 68 in the Chernihiv region in the north.
2.An evacuation effort has been underway for those trapped in a steel plant in the eastern Ukrainian city of Mariupol. But there are fears that more people may not be able to leave as Ukrainian officials said Russian troops have resumed shelling.
3.The founder of a major Russian bank says he was forced to sell his stake in the entity after criticizing Russian President Vladimir Putin’s administration for invading Ukraine. Oleg Tinkov, the founder of one of Russia’s major banks, slammed Russia’s invasion of Ukraine as “crazy” in a social media post last month. He also wrote that 90 percent of Russians don’t support the war.

1.Japan’s Prime Minister Kishida Fumio held talks on Monday with his Thai counterpart Prayut Chan-o-cha in Bangkok. At the outset of the talks, Kishida said that together with Prayut, he wants to further strengthen friendship with Thailand, a strategic partner of Japan.
2.Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has expressed hope that civilian evacuations from the Azovstal steel plant in Mariupol will continue on Monday. Zelenskyy said in a video message on Sunday that the evacuation corridor had finally started working, and more than a hundred civilians had already been evacuated.
3.Ferdinand Marcos Jr., the eldest son of a former Philippine president, is maintaining his lead in the latest opinion poll, one week before the country’s presidential election. Filipinos will vote on May 9 to choose a successor to Rodrigo Duterte, as presidents are limited to serving a single six-year term. Ten candidates are vying for the country’s top office. Major campaign issues include Duterte’s authoritarian rule, and how to deal with China.

1.The Japan Coast Guard has confirmed that the object found on the seabed off the coast of Hokkaido in northern Japan is the tour boat that went missing on April 23. The 19-ton “KAZU I” was carrying 24 passengers and two crew members. Fourteen people were confirmed dead as of Thursday. The others remain unaccounted for, and search operations are continuing.
2.Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says five Russian missiles struck Kyiv immediately after his talks with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres in the capital.
3.Russia fired two missiles at Kyiv during UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres’ visit to the Ukrainian capital. Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko posted on social media that two Russian missiles landed near a residential building in the city’s Shevchenko district. Ukrainian authorities say at least 10 people were wounded in the attacks.

1.Japan’s Prime Minister Kishida Fumio has met with his German counterpart Olaf Scholz. They discussed Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and other security issues including China’s increasing maritime assertiveness.
2.The United Nations Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, has said “the worst of crimes is war itself” during a visit to Ukraine. He also called on Russia to cooperate with a war crimes international investigation into the killing of Ukrainian civilians.
3.Bank of Japan Governor Kuroda Haruhiko spoke about the rapid depreciation of the yen after the bank’s 2-day policy meeting. He said he has not changed his view that the weak yen is favorable to the Japanese economy in general.

1.The Japan Coast Guard is braving bad weather and sea conditions in search of passengers and crew of a tour boat that went missing off Hokkaido, northern Japan. The boat, named “KAZU I,” went missing on Saturday during a cruise along the Shiretoko Peninsula, a UNESCO World Heritage site.
2.The mayor of the southern Ukrainian city of Kherson is defying a Russian commander who said mayoral powers would be given to someone else. Igor Kolykhaev said in a Facebook post he is remaining in the city with the people who elected him. He stressed that Kherson belongs to Ukraine.
3.The Russian military is stepping up its offensive in eastern and southern Ukraine, claiming it has taken control of some areas and justifying the expansion of areas under its control. Elsewhere in Ukraine, Russia’s air force destroyed arms depots and surface-to-air missile systems in and near Slovyansk in the Donetsk region on Tuesday. That is according to Russia’s Defense Ministry.

1.US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and Secretary of State Antony Blinken have reiterated their intention to continue military support for Ukraine. Austin said Ukraine “can win if they have the right equipment, the right support. And we’re going to do everything we can.” Blinken said, “In terms of Russia’s war aims, Russia has already failed and Ukraine has already succeeded.”
2.UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres is meeting with world leaders to push for a diplomatic solution to the crisis in Ukraine. Guterres met with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Ankara on Monday. The two agreed that more must be done to establish safe passage for civilians caught in the fighting in Ukraine, and to deliver humanitarian aid.
3.Russian troops are now focusing their efforts on taking control of eastern Ukraine, but their advance has apparently stalled due to resistance from Ukrainian forces.

1.The Coast Guard and the Self-Defense Forces have expanded the search area for people who went missing in a boat accident off the Shiretoko Peninsula in Japan’s northernmost prefecture of Hokkaido. The 19-ton tour boat, Kazu One, with 26 people on board, went missing on Saturday after making a distress call.
2.French President Emmanuel Macron has won a second term after defeating far-right challenger Marine Le Pen in the country’s presidential runoff on Sunday. The interior ministry says Macron won 58.55 percent of the vote and Le Pen 41.45 percent.
3.US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin have reportedly held talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Kyiv. It is their first visit to the Ukrainian capital since the Russian invasion of the country began two months ago.

1.Russian forces look poised to extend areas under their control in eastern Ukraine following the Kremlin’s claim that it has seized the key port city of Mariupol. But they are facing fierce resistance from the Ukrainians, who are receiving more military aid from the West.
2.Britain’s Defense Ministry says a full ground assault by Russia on a steel plant in the eastern Ukrainian city of Mariupol “would likely incur significant Russian casualties, further decreasing their overall combat effectiveness.” The ministry on Friday released an update on the situation in Ukraine, following Russian President Vladimir Putin’s decision to blockade the Asovstal plant instead of storming it. Ukrainian troops and many civilians remain in the plant.
3.An orchestra based in the Ukrainian capital Kyiv has started a European tour to rally support for the country. The Kyiv Symphony Orchestra kicked off the tour on Thursday with a concert in Poland’s capital Warsaw, where many Ukrainian evacuees are seeking refuge.

1.France’s centrist President Emmanuel Macron and his far-right contender Marine Le Pen faced off in a fierce debate ahead of Sunday’s presidential runoff. The two candidates clashed in a TV debate on Wednesday over issues including the war in Ukraine and the soaring prices of fuel and other goods.
2.In Major League Baseball, Japanese two-way star Ohtani Shohei of the Los Angeles Angels has earned his first win of the season. Ohtani faced the Houston Astros at the starting pitcher in Texas on Wednesday. He carried a perfect game through five and 1/3 innings.
3.A Ukrainian evacuee has begun studying at the University of Tokyo. Iryna Petrychenko, a researcher from a state university in Ukraine’s capital, Kyiv, has been in Japan since March 21.

1.Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has described the situation in Mariupol as “unchanged” and “severe.”
2.Eight Russian officials have left Japan following Tokyo’s decision to expel them on April 8. It is rare for Japan to expel multiple foreign officials. The move was made to put more pressure on Moscow over tis invasion of Ukraine.
3.A local railway in Kagawa Prefecture, western Japan, is running a train in the Ukrainian flag colors of blue and yellow in a show of solidarity with railway operators in the country.

1.Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says Russian forces have launched a full-scale offensive in an effort to take over the eastern part of the country. Zelenskyy said, “We can already say that Russian troops have begun the battle for Donbas, for which they’ve been preparing for a long time. A significant part of the entire Russian army is now concentrated on this offensive.”
2.Independent media in Europe and Russia have reported that dozens of crew members died aboard the Russian cruiser Moskva, which sank in the Black Sea last week. The reports are raising doubts over Moscow’s claim that none of the crew died.
3.Japan has introduced an import ban on 38 products from Russia as an additional measure over the country’s invasion of Ukraine. It’s the first time Tokyo has imposed an import ban in connection with the conflict.

1.Ukrainian forces in the besieged port city of Mariupol have rejected Russia’s demands to surrender. Officials say Russian forces have encircled civilians and military personnel. Russia set a Sunday deadline for Ukrainian forces in the southeastern city to lay down their arms.
2.NHK has learned that at least 500 Belarusian volunteers have traveled to Ukraine to fight against Russian troops. An organization in Warsaw linked to Ukraine’s Azov Battalion has been training Belarusian fighters in Poland and sending them to Ukraine, according to the leader of the organization, Pavel Kukhta. The Azov Battalion has been putting up resistance against the Russian invasion in eastern Ukraine.
3.Japanese students studying international law at Waseda University in Tokyo have held a mock trial on Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. In March, the International Court of Justice issued a provisional order for Russia to immediately suspend its military action in Ukraine after Kyiv filed a suit asserting that Russia had no lawful basis for military action. Using the ruling as a reference, the students prepared statements.

1.Leaders of the Group of 20 nations are debating whether they want Russian officials at their table. Russian Finance Minister Anton Siluanov said he’ll take part in a meeting with his counterparts next Wednesday.
2.As Russian and Ukrainian forces fight on the ground, their leaders spar with words. Each side is claiming major victories that the other will not concede. The latest disagreement centers on the sunken flagship of Russia’s Black Sea Fleet.
3.Ukrainian officials say they are investigating about 2,000 cases of suspected war crimes by Russia in areas near Kyiv, including Makariv and Bucha.

1.US Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has indicated that a humanitarian ceasefire in Ukraine does not seem possible at the moment.
2.A draft resolution to require the five permanent members of the UN Security Council to explain their decision when they exercise veto power will be submitted shortly to the General Assembly.
3.The US Defense Department says the US will quickly send more military equipment and supplies to Ukraine in newly authorized assistance. President Joe Biden promised an additional 800 million dollars’ worth of military aid in phone talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Wednesday.

1.The total number of COVID-19 cases worldwide has surpassed 500 million, with the number of associated deaths exceeding 6.18 million.
2.Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has seen cities destroyed and thousands of civilians, including many children, killed. Millions more have fled. Now, US President Joe Biden says these attacks amount to “genocide.”
3.British newspaper The Times has reported that Russian President Vladimir Putin dismissed about 150 officials of the Federal Security Bureau and arrested some of them. The newspaper said the FSB had provided the Kremlin with misinformation about the situation in Ukraine before the invasion.

1.Japan’s health ministry has confirmed the country’s first case of the XE strain of the Omicron variant of the coronavirus. The ministry said a woman in her 30s was found to be infected with the XE strain after she arrived in Japan from the United States on March 26.
2.Russia has come under fire at the United Nations Security Council over the number of civilian casualties resulting from its military operation in Ukraine. On Monday, the Security Council discussed the situation that women and children in Ukraine are facing.
3.Japan’s government has formalized additional sanctions on Russia that include freezing the assets of President Vladimir Putin’s two adult daughters. The move comes in response to the mass killing of civilians in the suburbs of Kyiv and elsewhere amid the ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine.

1.The United Nations human rights agency says as of Saturday at least 1,793 civilians, including 142 children, had been killed in Ukraine since the Russian invasion began on February 24.
2.Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says Russian troops “will move to even larger operations” in eastern Ukraine. Zelenskyy appeared in a video released on Sunday. He suggested that Russian troops could even use more missiles and aerial bombs against his country.
3.The World Bank says Moscow’s ongoing offensive in Ukraine is likely to wipe out almost half of the beleaguered country’s economy this year. The World Bank projects in its latest report issued on Sunday that Ukraine’s GDP will contract by 45.1 percent compared with last year.

1.Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says Russia has become “the greatest threat on the planet” following the discovery of mass civilian deaths in Bucha, near Kyiv.
2.Ukrainian leaders are warning civilians in the eastern part of the country to evacuate as soon as possible. The move comes as attacks by Russian forces are expected to intensify.
3.Japan’s Economy, Trade and Industry Minister Hagiuda Koichi says Japan will work to reduce reliance on coal imports from Russia in stages, with the goal of eventually phasing them out altogether.

1.A leading Japanese manga artist, Fujiko A. Fujio, has died. He was known for such popular series as “Ninja Hattori-kun” and “Kaibutsu-kun,” or the monster kid. He was reportedly found dead at his home in Kawasaki City, near Tokyo, on Thursday morning. He was 88.
2.A group of child musicians in central Japan have raised about 1,300 dollars for displaced Ukrainians. The seven children in Takayama City in Gifu Prefecture visited the city hall on Wednesday, and handed the equivalent of 1,350 dollars to the deputy city mayor.
3.Some Ukrainian athletes are selling the medals they won at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics to raise funds to support their country amid the Russian invasion. Paralympian canoeist Serhii Yemlianov won the gold medal in the men’s kayak single 200 meters at the Tokyo Paralympics last year. He says he is selling his medal to support the “Defenders of Ukraine.” Ukrainian karate athlete Stanislav Horuna won the bronze medal in the men’s kumite in the minus 75-kilogram class at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. He is also selling his medal on an online auction site.

1.Leaders around the world are reacting to the message delivered by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to the United Nations Security Council. The president said Russia must be held accountable for what he calls “war crimes.” British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said, “All you need is a VPN connection to access independent information from anywhere in the world. And when you find the truth, share it.” At least 16 countries have announced they are expelling more than 300 Russian diplomats and officials.
2.The United States, Britain and Australia say they will jointly develop hypersonic weapons via the trilateral security alliance known as AUKUS.
3.European countries and other nations have agreed to give Moldova 659.5 million euros, or nearly 720 million dollars, in aid. Moldova has been accepting large numbers of people fleeing from Ukraine. Moldova is one of the poorest nations in Europe. It has accepted more than 390,000 evacuees from Ukraine since the Russian invasion began. That number represents 15 percent of Moldova’s population.

1.The human toll of the invasion of Ukraine is becoming ever more apparent as Russian troops pull out of the region of the nation’s capital Kyiv. In a Telegram post, Sumy Governor Dmytro Shyvytskyi confirmed that Russian forces had begun withdrawing from the region and hundreds of civilians have been killed. The post strongly condemns Russians for what the governor describes as unprecedented acts of cruelty.
2.German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock has condemned Russia for the atrocities in the Ukrainian city of Bucha, saying her country will expel a significant number of Russian diplomats based in Berlin. Baerbock said, “The images from Bucha reveal the unbelievable brutality of the Russian leadership and those who follow its propaganda.”
3.Russia is facing growing outrage and accusations that it committed war crimes in Ukraine. The Kremlin continues to deny responsibility for the deaths of hundreds of civilians in the suburbs of Kyiv. But world leaders are threatening to impose new sanctions.

1.Ukrainian authorities say they’re investigating potential war crimes after hundreds of civilians were found dead in the suburbs of Kyiv. But Russia is denying the allegations. Ukraine has retaken the region around the capital from Russian forces. Officials say when Ukrainian troops moved into the town of Bucha, they found civilians dead in the streets. The town’s mayor told Reuters that some had their hands and feet bound and had been shot at close range.
2.Hong Kong’s incumbent leader says she will not seek a second term. Carrie Lam was Hong Kong’s chief executive when massive pro-democracy protests led China to impose a sweeping national security law in the city. Lam told reporters she has decided to focus on her family.
3.The US Ambassador to the United Nations has announced an additional 50 million dollars in aid to Moldova to help the country accommodate displaced Ukrainians.

1.US President Joe Biden says he is skeptical that Russia will scale back military operations around the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv. Biden told reporters on Thursday that there is no clear evidence that President Vladimir Putin is “pulling all of his forces out of Kyiv”.
2.The Japanese government will provide blankets, plastic sheets and other emergency supplies for people who have been forced to leave their homes amid Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The government has noted that over 10 million people have been internally displaced or crossed into neighboring countries since the start of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
3.Russian forces are regrouping and shifting focus. Some Ukrainians are feeling relief, while others, especially in the east, are worried that the deadly fighting will soon get worse. Russia has promised to scale back attacks on Kyiv. But people fleeing the capital say that’s not their experience.

1.The United Nations human rights chief say there are credible allegations that Russian armed forces have used cluster munitions in populated areas in Ukraine. Cluster munitions are banned by an international convention for their cruelty.
2.Ukrainian officials are closely watching Russian movements, following promises to scale back attacks on the capital, Kyiv. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy updated US President Joe Biden on the fighting, once again, asked for help. White House officials say Zelenskyy also updated the US leader on ceasefire talks. Biden promised another 500 million dollars in aid and more money to help Ukraine’s military.
3.Russia and China have agreed to widen cooperation as the rift between Moscow and Western countries grows over the invasion of Ukraine. Russian foreign minister Sergey Lavrov and his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi exchanged views on the Ukraine situation. Russia’s Foreign Ministry says Lavrov explained the developments with Russian forces, while Wang reiterated his opposition to sanctions other countries have imposed on Russia.

1.In the ceasefire talks between Russia and Ukraine, Russian delegates are promising to withdraw some troops from positions around Kyiv. But other parts of the country are facing new attacks. Ukrainian officials reported some progress in the talks. They said they discussed a new framework to ensure that Ukraine has security without becoming a member of NATO. They named possible security guarantors, including the US, Britain, Canada, Poland and Turkey.
2.People who have flied the fighting in Ukraine still have no idea how long they will be forced to say in neighboring countries. The border between Ukraine and Moldova is crowded with evacuees heading in both directions – some fleeing Ukraine while others make brief trips home to pick up family members and belongings. As of Monday, Moldova was hosting more than 380,000 Ukrainian evacuees.
3.Russian Deputy Defence Minister Alexander Fomin said, “We have decided to drastically scale down military activity around Kiev and Chernihiv.” US officials are, however, skeptical about Russia’s pledge. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Tuesday, “I have not seen anything that suggests that this is moving forward in an effective way, because Russia – at least we have not seen signs of real seriousness.”

1.Ukraine’s besieged city of Mariupol has seen the worst of the fighting for weeks.The UN says the constant shelling has made it difficult to know just how many people have been killed. Ukrainian media outlets quoted the mayor of Mariupol as claiming that about 5,000 people have been killed since the Russian invasion.
2.A private university in Tokyo has decided to accept Ukrainian students who want to evacuate to Japan. The International Christian University says it will solicit applications with refugee support group Pathways Japan. Eligible applicants should be students at universities in Ukraine who have remained in the country or fled to another country since Russia began its invasion of Ukraine on February 24.
3.The Group of Seven countries have agreed to refuse Russian President Vladimir Putin’s demand to pay for natural gas imports in rubles. G7 ministers looked into the plans Putin revealed last week to demand ruble payments for gas sales to what Moscow has deemed “unfriendly” countries, including the US and European nations.

1.Negotiators from Russia and Ukraine are expected to hold ceasefire talks in Istanbul on Tuesday. In an interview with Russian journalists, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskky indicated that his government is prepared to discuss a new security framework, replacing Ukraine’s bid for NATO membership.
2.South Korea’s President-elect Yoon Suk-yeol has stressed the need for Japan, the United States and his country to strengthen cooperation to deal with North Korea’s nuclear and missile development.
3.The Japanese film “Drive My Car” has picked up the Oscar for best international feature film. The Hamaguchi Ryusuke-directed film is based on a short story by author Murakami Haruki. It’s about a stage director grappling with the death of his wife and his interaction with a woman assigned to be his driver.

1.The situation in Ukraine is also affecting the lives of millions of children. A NGO,Save the Children, says many are suffering and in immediate need of support. Pete Walsh, Country Director for Save the Children in Ukraine, says they face great risk while the authorities try to reunite them. He also called for a ban on adoptions of children who have been uprooted in the war.
2.Ukrainian troops are continuing their all-out defense against the invading Russians. Ukraine said on Thursday that it had destroyed a Russian landing ship in the occupied southern port of Berdyansk, less than 100 kilometers from the besieged city of Mariupol. The media is quoting Ukrainian officials as saying the country’s military also damaged two other vessels at the port.
3.A Ukrainian government official says the country has exchanged 10 prisoners of war with Russia. Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister Iryna Vereshchuk posted on social media on Thursday that the “first full-fledged exchange of prisoners of war” has taken place. She reportedly said ten Ukrainian personnel were released in exchange for ten captured Russian soldiers.

1.US Secretary of State Antony Blinken says the United States has officially determined that Russian forces are committing war crimes in Ukraine.
2.A senior US Defense Department official says that some of the Russian ground forces advancing toward Ukraine’s capital Kyiv have been pushed back by Ukrainians. The official said on Wednesday that one Russian unit that had been 20 to 30 kilometers northeast of central Kyiv is now about 55 kilometers away.
3.Britain’s Defense Ministry says Ukraine has launched a series of counterattacks against Russian forces near the capital, Kyiv. The ministry tweeted on Wednesday that Ukrainian troops are intensifying their offensive in the northeast of the city. It noted that the Russian units there are “facing considerable supply and morale issues.”

1.The head of the United Nations has called for immediate negotiations to end Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Speaking to reporters at the United Nations headquarters in New York on Tuesday, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres noted that Russia launched its invasion of Ukraine a month ago, in violation of the UN Charter.
2.Russian troops are intensifying their attacks on the besieged port city of Mariupol in Ukraine. Russia has demanded that Ukraine surrender the city, but Ukraine’s leadership has refused.
3.The office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees says that as of Monday, more than 3.53 million Ukrainians have fled their country since the Russian invasion began. Ukraine’s western neighbor Poland has taken in the largest number, at over 2 million. The Polish government says about 70,000 Ukrainian children are attending school in Poland. But many face challenges due to the language barrier.

1.A human rights group says a local official told it that more than 3,000 civilians may have been killed in Russia’s attacks on the eastern Ukrainian city of Mariupol. It says that the exact death toll in Mariupol is unknown. But a city official told the group that at least 200,000 people were still in the city as of Sunday. That figure represents half of the city’s pre-war population.
2.US President Joe Biden and four European leaders agreed on Monday to continue providing humanitarian and security assistance to Ukraine. White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki told reporters that “they discussed their serious concerns about Russia’s brutal tactics in Ukraine, including its attacks on civilians.”
3.Russia’s foreign ministry says it is suspending peace treaty talks with Japan in response to sanctions imposed by Tokyo in relation to the invasion of Ukraine. In a statement issued on Monday, the ministry says Moscow does not intend to continue peace talks, because it is impossible to discuss a fundamental document on bilateral relations with a state that holds an explicitly unfriendly position.

1.The International Atomic Energy Agency says about half of the workers at Ukraine’s Chernobyl nuclear power plant have been able to return home. The workers who left have been replaced by other Ukrainian staff.
2.The situation in Ukraine is worsening in the eastern city of Mariupol, the site of heavy shelling. The country has turned down a Russian call to surrender the city.
3.US President Joe Biden will visit Poland and meet the country’s President Andrzej Duda to discuss the Russian invasion of Ukraine. The White House says Biden will travel on Friday to Warsaw following meetings in Belgium with NATO and G7 leaders to discuss international efforts to deal with the crisis.

1.A senior US defense department official says Russian artillery units are joining forces around Kyiv in an apparent move to attack the Ukrainian capital from afar. The official said there has been basically no change in the Russian forces around Kyiv, but Russia is moving some of those forces, including artillery units, from their rear to join their advancing elements, which the official said are 15 kilometers from the city center.
2.Russian forces are lashing out at Ukrainian resistance with the relentless siege of the country’s cities. The eastern city of Mariupol has seen the worst of it. But with rescue efforts hampered by constant shelling, it’s difficult to know exactly how hard the city has been hit.
3.Western countries attending a UN Security Council meeting have condemned Russia for destroying a theater in the eastern Ukrainian city of Mariupol, where civilians were taking shelter. UN Under-Secretary-General Rosemary DiCarlo told the delegates that the use of powerful weapons in populated areas has caused many casualties.

1.People across much of eastern Japan were woken Wednesday night by a powerful earthquake. Figures gathered by NHK show it left three people dead and more than 200 injured. The quake registered 6 plus on the Japanese seismic scale of zero to 7. Damage has been reported in a number of places.
2.Russian forces are intensifying their operations in areas along the Black Sea coast in southern Ukraine three weeks into the invasion. The two sides are holding ceasefire negotiations, but there is little optimism for the talks as Russia remains staunchly opposed to US military support for Ukraine.
3.People in a village in Moldova near the border with Ukraine are offering assistance to people with children who have fled their country. The volunteers in Palanca have set up a temporary nursery in a tent near where evacuees are waiting for buses to take them to their next destination. The nursery is equipped with baby supplies, including diapers and cribs.

1.NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg has warned of a risk of “incidents and accidents,” following Sunday’s airstrikes by Russia on a Ukrainian military facility in western Ukraine. The facility is located near the border with Poland. He said, “When we see more military activities, when we see fighting going on close to NATO borders, there’s always a risk of incidents and accidents.”
2.US President Joe Biden has signed a funding bill into law that includes 13.6 billion dollars in emergency aid for Ukraine, amid Russia’s invasion of the country.
3.Japan will lift coronavirus quasi-emergency measures as scheduled for 18 prefectures. The restrictions are set to end on March 21. The quasi-state of emergency covers some of Japan’s biggest prefectures, including Tokyo and Osaka.

1.Russia’s tightly controlled TV news got a shock on Monday when an anti-war protester rushed onto the set of a live, primetime broadcast. A woman ran behind the anchor shouting “Stop the war!” Her sign read “Don’t believe propaganda. They are lying to you here.” The woman is now reportedly in police custody. Russian media have identified her as Marina Ovsyannikova.
2.Nearly three weeks have passed since Russia began its invasion of Ukraine. US officials say Russian forces are using more long-range weapons, without any apparent concern over what they hit. Ukraine’s capital Kyiv was under attack early on Tuesday. Airstrikes also continue in the country’s west.
3.The mayor of Kyiv says a 35-hour curfew will be imposed on the Ukrainian capital, starting on Tuesday night. Vitali Klitschko said the curfew order is based on an assessment by the Ukrainian military indicating the city is at high risk. He said Kyiv residents will be asked to stay home or in shelters.

1.Negotiators from Ukraine and Russia have resumed their talks amid deadly Russian assaults on Ukraine’s cities. The talks come as Russian forces step up offensives across Ukraine. They are closing in on Kyiv from three directions. They also attacked a military facility in the west of the country with missiles.
2.A Ukrainian woman sheltering in a Kyiv subway station has told NHK she will stay in the capital because it is her hometown. Alyona Bychkovska said in an interview on Sunday that she will keep trying to do her best, even though she feels scared. The Japanese language teacher is one of the many Kyiv residents who are taking shelter underground in subway stations.
3.Senior US and Chinese officials are preparing to meet, as worries grow that the Asian superpower will help Russia evade unprecedented, and punishing sanctions over its invasion of Ukraine. The talks come as Russian forces push even further west. US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan will meet with China’s top diplomat Yang Jiechi in Rome on Monday. This will be the first, senior face-to-face talks since Russia’s invasion began.

1.People are remembering the victims of a massive earthquake and tsunami that devastated Japan’s northeast. It’s been 11 years, but families affected by the disaster—and the nuclear accident it triggered—are still in mourning. Around 15,900 people were killed. More than 2,500 people are still missing. And, over the years, officials have attributed another 3,786 deaths to illnesses linked to the disaster.
2.The UN Secretary-General’s spokesperson has rejected Russia’s claim that there were no women and children at the maternity hospital that was attacked by Russia in Mariupol, Ukraine. Stephane Dujarric said in a news conference on Thursday that “a human rights team there verified and documented what they described as an indispensable air strike on the hospital, and that the hospital was serving women and children at the time.”
3.A senior US Defense Department official says Russian forces are within roughly 15 kilometers from the center of the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv. Speaking to the reporters on Thursday, the official noted that the troops are advancing from the northwest. The official also said another line of troops are advancing from the northeast and are likely to be about 40 kilometers from the capital.

1.Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba says his impression from the meeting with Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov was that Russia is not in a position at this point to establish a ceasefire. Kuleba said that Ukraine has the will to face up to the conflict and will never surrender.
2.More civilian facilities in Ukraine are under attack. Officials in the eastern city of Mariupol say three people including a child were killed in a Russian airstrike on a maternity hospital. They say 17 others were wounded.
3.The US House of Representatives has passed a massive federal spending bill that includes a 13.6 billion-dollar military and humanitarian aid package for Ukraine as it battles Russia’s invasion. The emergency aid for Ukraine includes 3.5 billion dollars for providing weapons and other military assistance, and 3 billion dollars for sending more US troops to countries around Ukraine to bolster their defense. The package also covers food, medicine and other humanitarian assistance for Ukraine.

1.A humanitarian evacuation corridor has been cleared for Ukrainian civilians fleeing the northeastern city of Sumy. The first such route was opened after an agreement between Russian and Ukrainian officials. Residents of the city fled to Poltava, to the south.
2.Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in a speech to British lawmakers via videolink that his country will fight to the end. The Ukrainian president described the 13 days of fighting as the war that “we did not start and we did not want.” He said, “But we are waging it. Because we do not want to lose what we have, what is ours – Ukraine.”
3.US President Joe Biden has announced a ban on Russian energy imports. The decision comes as the US and its allies target the Russian economy over the invasion of Ukraine. He said the US is united in its purpose to keep pressure mounting on Putin and his “war machine.” He said he is exacting the ban to inflict further pain on Putin.

1. US President Joe Biden and the leaders of Britain, Germany and France have agreed to strengthen their pressure on Russia and continue assistance to Ukraine.
2. The two leading candidates in South Korea’s presidential race have made their final appeals before voters cast their ballots on Wednesday. The election will decide a successor to President Moon Jae-in. Lee Jae-myung of the ruling Democratic Party and Yoo Suk-yeol of the main opposition People Power Party are neck and neck in the opinion polls.
3. A senior US Defense Department official says Russia has deployed almost all of its forces that had amassed around the border with Ukraine before last month’s invasion. It comes as efforts to evacuate Ukrainian civilians are underway. The official says Moscow’s advance into Ukraine has stalled north of the capital Kyiv because of heavy resistance. The airspace over the country is still contested so Russian forces are increasingly relying on missile and artillery strikes.

1. So-called humanitarian corridors of the type that Moscow has declared it will set up in Ukraine were also a feature of Russia’s intervention in the civil war in Syria. Evacuation routes for civilians were often announced before the government, backed by Russia, launched attacks on enemy strongholds.
2.Ukrainian athletes have been outstanding at the Beijing Paralympics. The country has added another gold with a win in cross country-skiing. Oksana Shyshkova finished well ahead of her rivals in the women’s long distance vision-impaired race. The 30-year old is from Kharkiv, which has been under heavy attack. She said, “It is very difficult to focus on the race but we should prove that Ukraine is a strong country.”
3.Share prices in Tokyo tumbled on Monday over fears that crude shipments from Russia could stall, pushing up oil prices further. The benchmark Nikkei Average dropped 2.9 percent to its lowest close of the year.

1.Negotiators from Russia and Ukraine have held a second round of talks. Ukraine’s Presidential Advisor Mykhailo Podolyak said, “The parties have reached an understanding about the joint provision of humanitarian corridors for the evacuation of civilians.” The head of the Russian Delegation Vladimir Medinsky said, “The positions of both sides are clear. They are written point by point. We managed to find common ground on some of them.”
2.Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba says a fire has broken out on the premises of a nuclear power plant in the country’s southeast following Russian military attacks. Kuleba tweeted on Friday that the Russian army was firing from all sides at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant in the city of Enerhodar.
3.The International Atomic Energy Agency tweeted early on Friday that regulators in Ukraine have told the agency that no change has been reported in radiation levels at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant in southeastern Ukraine.

1.The International Criminal Court in The Hague has opened an investigation into allegations of war crimes committed in Ukraine. ICC Prosecutor Karim Khan said his office has received requests to investigate the situation in Ukraine from 39 member states of the ICC, including France, Germany and the United Kingdom. Ukraine is not an ICC member, but Khan said it has agreed to the investigation.
2.Ukraine and Russia are set for a second round of talks to end the ongoing crisis nearly a week into the invasion that has left hundreds dead on both sides. Senior US defense officials say the continued military aggression is frustrating. And they are seeking options to defuse the situation.
3.The International Paralympic Committee says it has banned athletes from the Russian Paralympic Committee and Belarus from the Beijing Winter Games, reversing an earlier decision that drew criticism from many countries.

1.US President Joe Biden has stressed in his State of the Union address that the international community will be united in facing up to Russia as it invades Ukraine. Biden said in the US Capitol on Tuesday that Americans have “an unwavering resolve that freedom will always triumph over tyranny.” He added that Russian President Vladimir Putin “though he could roll into Ukraine and the world would roll over. Instead, he met a wall of strength he never imagined. He met the Ukrainian people.”
2.A number of countries have criticized Russia’s invasion of Ukraine on the second day of an emergency special session of the United Nations General Assembly. Delegates from about 60 member states addressed the session on Tuesday. Many speakers criticized Russia.
3.Russian forces in Ukraine are increasing their aerial attacks in civilian areas. They struck the main television tower in the capital, Kyiv. The tower is located near a residential area, and five people were killed.

1.Delegates from Ukraine and Russia have sat down for talks for the first time since the invasion started last week. They gathered in southeastern Belarus near the border with Ukraine on Monday. The Ukrainian side is urging an immediate ceasefire and withdrawal of Russia’s military. The Russian delegation is demanding what it calls “demilitarization” of Ukraine and a guarantee it will remain neutral. Moscow apparently wants legal assurance that Ukraine won’t join NATO.
2.Russian President Vladimir Putin has reiterated his demand for the demilitarization and neutralization of Ukraine as conditions for a ceasefire in the country. Putin talked with his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron by phone on Monday.
3.A senior US Defense Department official has said Russia was aiming to encircle the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv in the coming days. The official said nearly 75 percent of Russian troops amassed along the border were now in Ukraine. He added that Russia had fired more than 380 missiles.

1.The United Nations Security Council has voted to have the 193-member General Assembly hold an emergency special session to discuss Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The Security Council on Sunday took a vote for a request to authorize the emergency session. Permanent council members, including Russia, were not allowed to exercise their veto powers.
2.The European Union has decided to finance the purchase and delivery of weapons and other equipment to Ukraine. This is the first time the EU has decided to provide such aid to a country that is under attack. The EU says it will reimburse purchases and transfers of arms from its member nations to Ukraine.
3.Ukraine is bracing for more Russian attacks. Official from both countries are expected to hold talks in Belarus near the Ukrainian border. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says he is skeptical the meeting will achieve results. But he says he wants to try to prevent more lives from being lost.

1.Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has urged Russian President Vladimir Putin to agree to talks. Zelenskyy said in a video message on Friday that fighting is continuing across Ukraine. He urged Putin to sit at the negotiating table with him to prevent people’s lives from being lost. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov told reporters in Moscow on the same day that Moscow is ready to hold talks if the Ukrainian armed forces stop resistance and lay down their arms.
2.Officials in Ukraine say they expect Russian tanks to launch an attack on the capital city, Kyiv. An adviser to the interior minister warned on social media, “it could become the hardest day in the war.” The adviser said they were ready to defend Kyiv with anti-tank missiles supplied by other nations.
3.US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has suggested that Russian President Vladimir Putin’s aim is to topple the Ukrainian government. Blinken was asked in a TV interview with ABC News on Thursday if he was convinced Putin would overthrow Ukraine’s government. He answered, “I’m convinced he’s going to try to do that.”

1.Commanders at the Pentagon have tracked the movements of Russian forces around the Ukrainian border. They said on Wednesday that those forces are ready to invade.
2.The Kremlin says the leaders of pro-Russian breakaway regions in eastern Ukraine have asked President Vladimir Putin to help in “repelling the aggression” by Ukrainian armed forces and prevent a humanitarian disaster.
3.Japan’s Prime Minister Kishida Fumio has reacted to the Russian President Vladmir Putin’s announcement that his country’s troops will conduct what he called a “special military operation” in eastern Ukraine.

1.Japan’s Emperor Naruhito turned 62 years old on Wednesday. Ahead of the birthday, he expressed his thoughts to the media at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo. The Emperor said his heart aches when he thinks about the people who have lost their jobs due to the coronavirus pandemic and are struggling financially or facing deeper isolation.
2.US Secretary of State Antony Blinken says he has canceled plans to meet with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in Geneva on Thursday. Blinken said, “Now that we see the invasion is beginning and Russia has made clear its wholesale rejection of diplomacy, it does not make sense to go forward with that meeting at this time.”
3.The head of the United Nations has urged Russia to exercise restraint over Ukraine, criticizing Moscow’s planned deployment of what it calls a “peacekeeping” force in eastern Ukraine. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said, “Our world is facing the biggest global peace and security crisis in recent years.”

1.Leaders from across the globe are condemning a Russian move to send troops into Ukraine. President Vladimir Putin has recognized two breakaway regions as independent and ordered the deployment of what he calls a “peacekeeping” force. The move earned a barrage of economic sanctions.
2.Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenzkyy has condemned Russia’s recent action to recognize two breakaway regions in eastern Ukraine as an unequivocal violation of his country’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. Zelenskyy said in a public address on Tuesday that all responsibility for the consequences of Russia’s decisions rests with Russia’s political leadership.
3.China has called on all parties to exercise restraint and resolve differences on the Ukraine issue through dialogue and negotiation in order to defuse tensions. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin also told reporters on Tuesday that the security concerns of any country should be respected and protected. He was apparently referring to Russia’s stance of seeking a guarantee that NATO will not expand further.

1.US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has expressed concern about a possible Russian invasion of Ukraine. Russia has decided to keep its forces in Belarus even after joint military drills end.
2.The French presidential office says the presidents of the United States and Russia have agreed in principle to hold a summit about the issue of Ukraine. The White House says that the meeting will only take place, if Russia does not invade Ukraine. French President Emmanuel Macron spoke separately with Joe Biden and Vladimir Putin by telephone on Sunday. The French presidential office says Macron proposed the idea of a summit to the leaders.
3.Australia has reopened to foreign tourists who are fully vaccinated against the coronavirus after nearly two years of border closures. Australia started accepting fully immunized visa holders from the rest of the world on Monday.

1.US President Joe Biden has warned that the threat of a Russian invasion of Ukraine is “very high” and that his “sense is it will happen in the next several days.” Biden told reporters at the White House on Thursday that “Every indication we have is they are prepared to go into Ukraine, attack Ukraine.”
2.Japanese speed skating star Takagi Miho has grabbed her first gold of the Olympics by winning the women’s 1,000 meters. The race was her final chance to stand atop the podium at the Games where she had already collected three silvers. The captain of Japan’s team finished with an Olympic record time and will leave Beijing with four medals from five events. Her overall total of seven medals is the most by any winter Olympian from Asia.
3.Figure skater Anna Shcherbakova from the Russian Olympic Committee has won gold in the women’s singles event at the Beijing Olympics. The 17-year-old winner of the 2021 world championships executed two quad jumps in her routine. Japan’s Sakamoto Kaori landed seven clean jumps, including a triple jump combination, to claim the bronze.

1.Japan’s Prime Minister has announced changes to coronavirus measures, as the spread of the Omicron variant appears to slow. The moves will impact businesses in parts of the country, and some of the rules at the Japanese border. Kishida Fumio says the country remains on a gradual path back to normal.
2.Heavy snow falling along the Sea of Japan coast is intensifying. Niigata Prefecture and the Hokuriku region are receiving much more snowfall than normal for this time of year.
3.Japan’s government plans to extend its declaration of a coronavirus quasi-emergency in 17 prefectures to early next month, while lifting it in five others after Sunday.

1.Western countries remain cautious about Russia’s announcement of a partial withdrawal of troops near Ukraine. Russia’s defense ministry said on Tuesday that some of the country’s forces are pulling back after competing exercises.
2.An apparent partial Russian pullback from the Ukrainian border area is being met with skepticism from US and European leaders. Ukrainians flew their national flag in response to a call for a show of unity on Wednesday from President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
3.In Japan, more than 91, 000 new coronavirus cases were confirmed on Wednesday. But in the 7-day period through Tuesday, the number of weekly infections dropped for the first time in two and a half months. Data presented at a meeting of health ministry experts showed that new infections fell by about 10 percent from the previous week. That’s the first decline since December.

1.US President Joe Biden and British Prime Minister Boris Johnson have warned an attack on Ukraine could come within days. They discussed the crisis on Monday over the phone. Biden and Johnson agreed there remains a “crucial window for diplomacy.” They said any incursion would result in “a protracted crisis” with severe economic consequences for Russia.
2.Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has declared February 16 as the Day of Unity, a date he says he heard Russia will attack his country. Zelenskyy made the remark in a video message posted on social media on Monday. In the message, the president asked his country’s people to hoist the national flag and wear ribbons of the same blue and yellow colors on that day to show their unity to the world.
3.In the Beijing Olympics, Canada’s speed skaters overcame Japan to win gold in the women’s speed skating team pursuit. Japan was well ahead until the last lap until a fall on the final corner. Canada won in an Olympic record time of 2 minutes 53.44 seconds—0.17 seconds faster than the record Japan set in the quarterfinals.

1.Countries are evacuating staff from their embassies in the Ukrainian capital Kyiv as a Russian invasion appears increasingly imminent. Australian Foreign Minister Marise Payne announced on Sunday that she has instructed embassy staff in Kyiv to suspend operations and evacuate.
2.In the Beijing Olympics American speed skater Erin Jackson claimed gold on Sunday in the women’s 500-meter race. She became the first African-American woman to win an Olympic medal in an individual speed skating event.
3.The Court of Arbitration for Sport has ruled figure skater Kamila Valieva of the Russian Olympic Committee will be allowed to continue to compete in the Beijing Olympics despite a positive anti-doping test.

1.The top diplomats of Japan, the United States, Australia, and India have held talks on ensuring a free and open Indo-Pacific region. They also discussed the ongoing crisis in Ukraine.
2.Russian President Vladimir Putin has expressed his intent to boost military and other forms of support for Kazakhstan in an apparent bid to increase Moscow’s influence in Central Asia.
3.Japanese snowboarder Hirano Ayumu has won gold in the men’s halfpipe at the Beijing Winter Olympics. The 23-year-old took silver at the previous two Games.

1.French President Emmanuel Macron spoke by phone with his US counterpart Joe Biden on Wednesday to brief him on his recent visits to Russia and Ukraine. Macron and Biden reportedly affirmed that France will continue dialogue using a four-way framework with Russia, Ukraine and Germany, in order to achieve a breakthrough in the Ukraine crisis.
2.Several vessels carrying liquefied natural gas from Japan are expected to arrive in Europe next month. This comes as Europe could face a natural gas shortage amid the tensions over Ukraine. Russia may cut gas supplies to Europe if tensions with the West rise further over Ukraine. Japan’s Economy, Trade and Industry Minister Hagiuda Koichi told EU Ambassador to Japan Patricia Flor and US Ambassador to Japan Rahm Emanuel that Japan will provide Europe with part of its LNG at the request of the United States.
3.US superstar Nathan Chen has won the Olympic gold in men’s figure skating. Japanese skaters made up the rest of the podium but two-time defending champion Hanyu Yuzuru missed out on a medal with a fourth-place finish.

1.The presidents of France and Ukraine have agreed on the need to implement a ceasefire between Ukrainian forces and pro-Russian militants, as part of efforts to de-escalate tensions in the region. Emmanuel Macron held talks with his counterpart Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Kyiv on Tuesday, after a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow the previous day.
2.Japan’s Prime Minister Kishida Fumio and his Canadian counterpart, Justin Trudeau, have agreed to support Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity amid tensions between the country and Russia. They confirmed that Japan and Canada hare grave concerns over the security of Ukraine and agreed to monitor the situation and cooperate closely on it. Russia has amassed troops near its border with the country.
3.Japanese film “Drive My Car” has made history as the first movie from the country to be nominated for Best Picture at the US Academy Awards. The film directed by Hamaguchi Ryusuke gets four nominations at the 94th awards, whose shortlist was announced on Tuesday. He receives a nod for the best director Oscar, the first Japanese nominated since Kurosawa Akira in 1986.

1.One of the most decorated Winter Olympians of all time has written another chapter in her glittering career at the Beijing Games. Dutch speed skater Ireen Wust has won gold for the fifth Games in a row. PyeongChang silver medalist Takagi Miho of Japan was the favorite heading in. She holds the world record and won all three of her World Cup races in the event this season, but yet again finished a close second to Wust.
2.At the Beijing Winter Games, the gold in ski jumping’s mixed team event went to Slovenia, but there was controversy after five jumpers were disqualified. Claimed breaches of complex rules that link suits and skis to bodyweight in an effort to remove any advantage also took out Japan, Austria and two Norwegian jumpers. Japan’s Takanashi Sara was among those sidelined.
3.In the Beijing Olympics, superstar figure skater Nathan Chen of the United States eased to a world record score in the men’s short program. Rising Japanese star Kagiyama Yuma currently stands second after a personal best score. And 2018 silver-medalist Uno Shoma, also of Japan, is in third. Chen’s great Japanese rival Hanyu Yuzuru stands eighth after a mistake on a quad salchow at the start of his program. He came into the singles aiming for a third consecutive gold.

1.A security advisor to US President Joe Biden has suggested that Russia could mount a military invasion of Ukraine during the ongoing Beijing Olympics. But White House National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan stressed the US is seeking a diplomatic solution to the tensions over Russia’s troop buildup along the border with Ukraine.
2.Multiple US media outlets say senior government officials have told lawmakers that in the event of a large-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine, the capital, Kyiv, could fall within two days. The Washington Post and other media reported the updated analysis of the US military and intelligence agencies over the weekend.
3.European leaders are stepping up diplomatic efforts to deescalate tension over Ukraine. French President Emmanuel Macron will meet Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow on Monday. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and US President Joe Biden will also meet in Washington on Monday.

1.The Beijing 2022 Winter Olympic Games officially begin on Friday. Dignitaries from 25 countries, including Russian President Vladimir Putin, are scheduled to attend the opening ceremony. The ceremony begins at 8 p.m.at Beijing’s National Stadium, known as the Bird’s Nest. Chinese President Xi Jinping is to declare the opening of the Games.
2.Sweden will lift almost all restrictions against the coronavirus next Wednesday. Swedish Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson told a news conference on Thursday that it is time for Sweden to open up again. Coronavirus cases are still rising in Sweden. But the Swedish healthcare system is not under strain and more than 80 percent of people aged 12 or older have already had two vaccinations.
3.Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has visited Ukraine and offered to become a mediator to facilitate the easing of tensions with Russia. Erdogan met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Thursday in Kyiv. Their talks come amid Russia’s military buildup along its border with Ukraine.

1.The United States has announced plans to send an extra 3,000 troops to Eastern Europe amid heightened military tension over the buildup of Russian troops along their country’s border with Ukraine. Some 1,700 of the troops in the US will be dispatched to Poland, which borders Ukraine. Another 300 troops in the US will go to Germany, while 1,000 troops in Germany will be sent to Romania, also neighboring Ukraine.
2.British Prime Minister Boris Johnson says a Russian invasion of Ukraine would be a “tragic miscalculation.” He issued the warning during a phone call on Wednesday with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Johnson told Putin that he is deeply concerned about the 100,000 soldiers massed at Ukraine’s border. British officials released a statement saying the leaders agreed that aggravation was in no one’s interest.
3.Russia’s ambassador to Japan has warned Tokyo not to join Western nations in imposing sanctions on Moscow over Ukraine. Mikhail Galuzin reiterated Moscow’s stance that expansion of NATO is unacceptable to Russia.

1.China has reacted sharply to a resolution adopted by Japan’s Lower House expressing concern about the human rights situation in China, including the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region and the Tibet Autonomous Region.
2. Russian President Vladimir Putin says the interests of all parties must be taken into account, including Russia’s security concerns, to avoid worsening of tensions over Ukraine. He said Russia is thoroughly analyzing the United States’ response, which refuses to consider Russia’s demands for guarantees that NATO will halt any further expansion. He added that it became clear the US has disregarded Moscow’s fundamental concerns in the reply.
3.UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has condemned the latest launch of an intermediate-range ballistic missile by North Korea as a clear violation of UN Security Council resolutions.

1.Tensions are rising in Myanmar as people against military rule plan to hold a “silent strike” on Tuesday. The protest will mark the first anniversary of the coup that overturned the civilian government. People are calling on each other via social media to take the day off work, stay at home and close their businesses as a sign of protest.
2.More than 375 million people worldwide have been infected with the coronavirus since the World Health Organization declared an emergency two years ago. Some countries are now moving to relax restrictions in efforts to live with the virus. The WHO declared on January 30, 2020 that the outbreak of the new coronavirus constitutes a public health emergency of international concern.
3.Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says he has tested positive for the coronavirus, and urged people to get vaccinated or boosted. Trudeau tweeted on Monday, “This morning, I tested positive for COVID-19. I’m feeling fine – and I will continue to work remotely this week while following public health guidelines.”

1.Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio says that for now his government is not considering declaring a coronavirus state of emergency in Tokyo. Kishida said on Monday that intensive quasi-emergency measures are already in place in the capital.
2.Japan’s Self-Defense Forces have started administering booster shots against the coronavirus at a large-scale venue in Tokyo. The site opened at a government building in Tokyo’s Otemachi district on Monday morning to give third shots to people who want a booster.
3.The Tokyo Metropolitan Government is asking coronavirus patients under the age of 50 with no pre-existing health concerns, and who are asymptomatic or have mild symptoms, to self-monitor their health at home.

1.Police have arrested a man who was holed up in his house with a gun for eleven hours in Saitama Prefecture, near Tokyo. The individual had taken a doctor hostage the day before. The 44-year-old doctor was the man’s family physician. He was taken to a hospital and confirmed dead there.
2.The Japanese government is thinking about shortening the self-quarantine period for people who have been in close contact with those infected with the Omicron variant from the current 10 days to around one week. Prime Minister Kishida Fumio said in a TV program on Thursday night “the government is trying to cut the self-quarantine period as much as possible, while taking the characteristics of Omicron into account.”
3.Japanese police sources say a 19-year-old college student has admitted to using a smartphone to cheat on a recent standardized university entrance exam. The student, who lives in Osaka Prefecture, turned herself in at a police station in Kagawa Prefecture, western Japan, on Thursday. She said she saw news about the case and, after consulting her mother, decided to contact the police.

1.More than 180 people have reportedly been killed since the Islamic State group mounted an attack on a jail in Syria that houses the group’s members. Islamic State militants raided the prison in the northeastern region of Hasaka on Thursday last week to free its members there. Fighting is continuing between the militants and security troops.
2.Germany and France are working together to ease tensions over Ukraine. Senior diplomats from the two countries met with delegates representing Russia and Ukraine in Paris on Wednesday. After the talks, chief Russian negotiator Dmitry Kozak said the four parties agreed to continue with talks aimed at easing tensions.
3.The South Korean military says North Korea has fired two projectiles believed to be short-range ballistic missiles toward the sea off its east coast. Officials say the projectiles were launched from the eastern city of Hambung toward the Sea of Japan, traveling about 190 kilometers and reaching an altitude of about 20 kilometers.

1.The Japanese government is facing the challenge of securing proper medical services amid a surge in coronavirus infections. Noting the high transmissibility of the Omicron variant, the government is closely watching nationwide bed occupancy ratios.
2.Global demand for air travel remained sluggish last year compared to pre-pandemic levels, with the rapid spread of the Omicron coronavirus variant denting a recovery. The International Air Transport Association announced its analysis of passenger traffic in 2021 on Tuesday. Despite the resumption of economic activity, global demand for domestic and international flights was down 58.4 percent from 2019 levels, before the pandemic began.
3.The International Monetary Fund has cut its global growth forecast for 2022 to 4.4 percent, which 1.5 percentage points lower than the growth recorded last year. The IMF cites a worsening outlook for the United States and China in its latest world economic outlook report released on Tuesday.

1.Diplomatic efforts are continuing as tensions surrounding Ukraine rise amid growing fears of a
possible Russian invasion. About 100,000 Russian troops have massed near Russia’s border with Ukraine. The US and its allies are demanding their withdrawal.
2.A member of the Japan Self-Defense Force unit that was dispatched to provide assistance to disaster-hit Tonga has tested positive for the coronavirus. Japan’s Defense Ministry says a member of the Air Self-Defense Force had a fever on Monday and an antigen test came back positive. The unit is based in Australia, and the person took the test there.
3.Iran’s foreign minister said on Monday that his country was prepared to consider direct nuclear talks with the United States. Iranian foreign minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian told local media in Tehran that indirect talks between Iran and the US would soon reach saturation point. He added that Iran would be prepared to hold direct talks with the US, if it felt this could lead to a good deal with strong guarantees.

1.Japan’s government plans to expand the current quasi-state of emergency as coronavirus case numbers continue to climb. 18 more prefectures are requesting the stricter measures, which affect businesses like restaurants and bars. And three others are seeking an extension.
2.Organizers of the Beijing Winter Olympics say they have found the first coronavirus case among national team members that entered China on Sunday. The organizing committee did not disclose which team the athlete or official belongs to. It revealed that three people who were not members of a team also tested positive at an airport in Beijing.
3.Incumbent Mayor Toguchi Taketoyo of Nago City, Okinawa prefecture has secured his re-election in Sunday’s vote, supported by ruling parties. The mayoral race comes as the central and prefectural governments remain locked in a standoff over the planned relocation of US Marine Corps Futenma Air Station to the city.

1.The governments of Japan and the United States have called on all parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons to help achieve “a meaningful outcome” at its next review conference. Tokyo and Washington released a joint statement on the treaty, known as the NPT, ahead of an online summit between Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio and US President Joe Biden on Friday night, Japan time..
2.Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio has held an online summit with US President Joe Biden, Kishida says they discussed a range of global challenges including security and the economy.
3.The top diplomats of the United States and Russia have agreed to continue talks aimed at defusing military tensions over Ukraine, despite coming away from their latest meeting without a breakthrough.

1.Japan’s Defense Ministry will dispatch two aircraft as early as Thursday to transport drinking water to Tonga after Saturday’s huge undersea volcanic eruption. Defense Minister Kishi Nobuo ordered the Self-Defense Forces to carry out international emergency relief operations in Tonga. He said he expects the SDF to provide support for the people of Tonga, based on its vast experience in disaster relief at home and abroad.
2.US President Joe Biden has reflected on his first year in office by stressing his achievements in the coronavirus vaccination effort, while acknowledging that challenges remain in achieving national unity.
3.US Secretary of State Antony Blinken travelled to Kiyev on Wednesday to try to defuse the crisis in Ukraine. He met with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Blinken warned that Russian forces could attack on “very short notice.” About 100 thousand Russian soldiers have massed along the border. But their commanders have said they have no plans to invade.

1.The World Health Organization has suggested that there is no need at this time to
develop new vaccines to deal with the Omicron coronavirus variant.
2.The United States has warned that Russia could attack Ukraine at any point amid mounting tensions along the border. Western nations are calling for Russia to withdraw an estimated 100,000 troops amassed near the country’s border with Ukraine.
3.Airlines in the United States are canceling flights over worries about a new technology. They say the country’s new 5G wireless service could interfere with some aircraft instruments and are warning of “catastrophic disruptions” to travel and shipping.

1.New Zealand’s government has confirmed two deaths on volcano-ravaged Tonga and postponed delivery of relief supplies due to volcanic ash on an airport runway. New Zealand’s government on Tuesday said Tongan police reported that two people had died. One of the victims was a Tongan national, and the other a 50-year-old British woman who was swept away by a tsunami.
2.Japan’s Defense Ministry says it believes the ballistic missiles North Korea launched on Monday were a solid-fuel, short-range type that Pyongyang last tested in March 2020.
3.A suspected drone attack targeting an oil facility in Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates, has killed three people. Houthi rebels in Yemen have claimed responsibility. The UAE backs forces fighting the rebels.

1.Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio and US President Joe Biden will meet virtually on Friday, US Eastern Time.
2.Japan’s government says North Korea launched two ballistic missiles on Monday morning. Japanese Defense Minister Kishi Nobuo said North Korea fired a missile at around 8:49 a.m. Japan time, and then launched a second one at about 8:52 a.m.
3.People across China have started returning to their hometowns ahead of the Lunar New Year holidays. Meanwhile, Beijing city authorities are on a high alert for the Omicron variant of the new coronavirus. They are calling on residents to refrain from traveling to regions where cases have been confirmed.

1.Former Japanese Prime Minister Kaifu Toshiki has died at the age of 91. He was best-known for sending Japan’s Self-Defense Force to an overseas mission for the first time. Kaifu served as a cabinet minister twice before becoming the country’s prime minister in 1988. He was Japan’s first leader born in the Showa era.
2.More than 20, 000 new coronavirus infections were confirmed across Japan on Friday. The surge in cases, which is attributed to the Omicron variant, is spurring authorities to consider how to maintain social and economic activity.
3.The Japanese government says North Korea has launched what is believed to have been a ballistic missile. This is the third time Pyongyang has fired a projectile this year. The government has lodged a protest with North Korea through diplomatic channels in Beijing.

1.NATO envoys have grown increasingly concerned about the buildup of Russian forces along the border with Ukraine. They met with Russian diplomats in Brussels on Wednesday but failed to break their impasse.
2.The US government has imposed sanctions on six North Koreans and one Russian, accusing them of being involved in North Korea’s nuclear and missile programs.
3.An official with South Korea’s presidential office has revealed that President MoonJae-in is not considering attending next month’s Beijing Olympics.

1.The World Health Organization has warned that more than half of the population in Europe, Russia and Central Asia could be infected with the Omicron variant of the coronavirus in the next six to eight weeks.
2.The head of the US Federal Reserve says the economy no longer needs the same supports the central bank introduced during the pandemic. Jerome Powell warned of the “severe threat” posed by high inflation. He said the Fed would be prepared to raise interest rates repeatedly if it sees persistent inflation.
3.Japan’s foreign ministry says more than 3,600 people at US military facilities in Japan were infected with the coronavirus as of Monday afternoon. Over 60 percent of the cases were in the southern prefecture of Okinawa.

1.NHK’s latest poll shows the Cabinet of Prime Minister Kishida Fumio has an
approval rating of 57 percent, up 7 percentage points from the previous survey last month. The disapproval rating stands at 20 percent, down 6 points.
2.The Japanese government has decided to extend the border restrictions that have
resulted in a virtual ban on new foreign entrants. The measures are aimed at curbing the spread of the Omicron variant of the coronavirus.
3.Japan’s Prime Minister Kishida Fumio will unveil a new set of measures on Tuesday
to address a recent surge in coronavirus cases. NHK has learned that the measures include accelerating a booster shot campaign aimed at seniors and other citizens by utilizing nationwide stockpiles of vaccines, as some experts have said Japan is facing a sixth wave of COVID infections.

1.The Japanese feature film “Drive My Car” has won the Golden Globe award for
Best Picture in the non-English language category. The movie, directed by Hamaguchi Ryusuke, received the prestigious honor on Sunday. The Golden Globe awards are said to offer a preview of possible winners of the Academy Awards.
2.Japan plans to help Indonesia use ammonia as a mixed fuel for thermal power
generation to help promote carbon-neutral society in Southeast Asia. Japanese industry minister Hagiuda Koichi is expected to exchange a memorandum of understanding on the project with Indonesia’s energy minister during his current tour of ASEAN countries.
3.An Australian court has ruled that world number one tennis player Novak Djokovic
should be allowed to enter the country. The ruling on Monday is likely to pave the way for Djokovic to play in the Australian Open starting on January 17.

1. A Japanese government senior official says nearly 1,800 cases of coronavirus
infections have been confirmed in US military installations in Japan. Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Isozaki Yoshihiko said on Friday that the number of cases stood at 1,784 as of the previous day.
2. North Korea says it will not take part in the upcoming Beijing Winter Olympics and
Paralympics, citing the worldwide spread of the coronavirus among other reasons.
3. A Japanese expert on central Asia says the ongoing massive protests in Kazakhstan are an indication of public dissatisfaction with former President Nursultan Nazarbayev, who retains a degree of political clout in the country.

1. North Korea’s state-run media have confirmed the country test-fired a hypersonic
missile on Wednesday.
2. The president of Kazakhstan has sought help from a Russia-led security alliance of
former Soviet states to quell the unrest in his country. Protests over soaring fuel prices have been held across Kazakhstan since the beginning of this year.
3. Serbian tennis star Novak Djokovic has landed in Melbourne but was refused
permission to enter the country over an issue with his COVID-19 vaccine status. The world’s number one player arrived at Melbourne’s Tullamarine airport on Wednesday to compete at the Australian Open, but his entry was not permitted.

1. Japan’s officials are monitoring a rapid spread for coronavirus infections. Okinawa
confirmed 623 new cases on Wednesday, well over double the day before.
2. A number of European countries are reporting record levels of daily new infections
of the coronavirus. In France, the figure marked a record high of more than 270,000 on Tuesday. Britain reported more than 200,000 new cases, also the highest daily tally.
3. The World Health Organization has been alarmed by the spread of the coronavirus
Omicron variant. But the organization confirmed on Tuesday that this strain is causing milder symptoms.

1. The Japanese government is seeing an increase in COVID-19 infections. On
Monday it confirmed more than 780 new cases, the first time since October that the daily count has surpassed 700. The Tokyo Government reported 103 new cases that day—the first time the figure has risen above 100 since October 8.
2. The world’s nuclear powers have begun the New Year with a pledge to avoid arms
races. The United States, Russia, China, France and Britain have affirmed the importance of nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament. The five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council issued their joint statement on preventing nuclear war on Monday.
3. Just one month before the opening of the Beijing Winter Olympic Games, Chinese
authorities are busy implementing measures to prevent coronavirus outbreaks. This will be the first time that the Winter Olympics will be held in China. The event will start on February 4 in the capital Beijing, and the city of Zhangjiakou, in the neighboring province of Hebei.

1. A funeral has been held for South African anti-apartheid leader Archbishop Emeritus
Desmond Tutu at a cathedral in Cape Town. Tutu received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1984 for his efforts to end the country’s racial segregation policy. He died on December 26 at the age of 90.
2. The European Union has drawn up plans to promote investments in natural gas and nuclear power as environmentally sustainable economic activities. The move comes as the EU aims to bring down global warming emissions to net zero by 2050.
3. Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennet on Sunday said a fourth shot of the coronavirus vaccine will be made available to people aged 60 or over and medical staff four months after their third jab. Israel is currently experiencing a new wave of COVID-19 infections. Speaking to reporters, Bennet said the government is maintaining its goal of keeping the economy open while protecting the most vulnerable.

1. The daily numbers of coronavirus cases have reached record highs in the United States and some European countries.
2. US President Joe Biden and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin have spoken by phone on the situation surrounding Ukraine. They failed to find common ground, but agreed to continue talks in diplomatic sessions next month to decrease tension.
3. US electric carmaker Tesla is recalling more than 470,000 vehicles after problems that could affect safety came to light. It’s the largest-ever recall for the firm and about the same as the automaker’s 2020 worldwide sales.

1. Weather officials are warning of more heavy snow, mainly along the Sea of Japan coast from northern to western Japan, as a winter pressure pattern is expected to intensify again.
2. A group of researchers in Japan says its animal experiments have suggested that the Omicron variant of the coronavirus may be less pathogenic than Delta.
3. Japan’s Prime Minister Kishida Fumio has called for all-out anti-infection measures against the coronavirus in a video message ahead of the New Year holiday season.

1. The review conference of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons that begins January 4 is expected to be postponed due to the spread of the coronavirus in the United States.
2. France confirmed 179,807 new cases of the coronavirus on Tuesday, reaching a record high. The government is tightening measures to curb the infections.
3. The Japanese government is planning to recruit 2.3 million people over the next five years in an initiative to expand digital technologies in rural areas.

1. US President Joe Biden on Monday signed into law a defense bill that allocates more funds for an initiative aimed at boosting deterrence in the Indo-Pacific region. The National Defense Authorization Act for fiscal 2022 authorizes 768.2 billion dollars in defense spending.
2. Japan’s Defense Minister Kishi Nobuo has conveyed to his Chinese counterpart Wei Fenghe grave concerns over what he calls unilateral attempts by Beijing to alter the status quo by force. The two spoke by video call on Monday at Japan’s request. It was the first time they held talks since last December. Kishi raised concerns about the situation in the East China Sea, including waters around the Senkaku Islands.
3. Japanese authorities say they suspect a former student from China tried to illegally buy sophisticated computer security software sold in Japan. Investigative sources say the former student, who is in his 30s, allegedly tried to buy the software containing advanced technology in 2016. Only companies in Japan are allowed to buy it.

1.NHK has learned that laboratory tests in Japan show that two coronavirus vaccine shots are far less effective against the Omicron variant than the Delta variant.
2.A strong cold air mass brought record snows to wide areas in western and northern Japan on Monday.
3.Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio says he is considering addressing the upcoming review conference on the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons by video.

1. Japan will not send a government delegation to the Beijing Olympics and Paralympics. The decision comes amid international calls for a diplomatic boycott over China’s human rights record. Japan is still dispatching local Olympic officials to the games, which kicks off February 4. Tokyo 2020 President Hashimoto Seiko and presidents of Japan’s Olympic and Paralympic Committees will attend. Prime Minister Kishida Fumio said on Friday that his government won’t label the move with words like “boycott.” He said Japan made the decision on its own.
2. India said its senior diplomat visited Myanmar on Wednesday and Thursday, and met with the country’s military chief. India’s Ministry of External Affairs said Foreign Secretary Shri Harsh Vardhan Shringla met Myanmar’s military leader Min Aung Hlaing. The ministry’s statement said the foreign secretary emphasized India’s “interest in seeing Myanmar’s return to democracy at the earliest,” and “complete cessation of all violence.”
3. Russian President Vladimir Putin has announced that diplomats from his country and the United States will likely hold a high-level meeting in Geneva early next year to discuss the situation over Ukraine. As tensions rise over Russia’s massive troop buildup along its border with Ukraine, Putin aired strong concerns about efforts by the US and NATO to boost their ties with that country.