August 31, Friday, 2018 (2:00 p.m.) Read by Ms. Emma Howard and Mr. Raja Pradhan

  1. The U.N. special envoy for Syria has warned against the potential use of chemical weapons in the country’s civil war.
  2. Japanese Finance Minister Taro Aso has agreed with Chinese vice premiers that protectionist trade policies will help no one.
  3. Japan’s Meteorological Agency says torrential rain has caused rivers to overflow in the Ishikawa and Yamagata Prefectures on the Sea of Japan coast.

August 30, Thursday, 2018 (2:00 p.m.) Read by Mr. Raja Pradhan and Ms. Hiroko Kitadai

  1. People at a public hearing in Fukushima have criticized a plan to release water containing radioactive tritium into the ocean from the prefecture’s crippled nuclear plant.
  2. Workers have begun removing nuclear fuel at the Monju fast-breeder reactor in central Japan.
  3. A senior Japanese Foreign Ministry official has flown to Beijing with the apparent purpose of coordinating Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s visit to China.

August 29, Wednesday, 2018 (2:00 p.m.) Read by Mr. Raja Pradhan and Ms. Mariko Kojima

  1. A U.S. newspaper is reporting that senior U.S. officials expressed irritation that Japan concealed a meeting with North Korea last month.
  2. U.S. Defense Secretary James Mattis has suggested that the United States may resume military exercises with South Korea.
  3. Japan’s vice-minister for foreign affairs will travel to China on Wednesday to lay the groundwork for a possible visit to the country by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe later this year.

August 27, Monday, 2018 (2:00 p.m.) Read by Mr. Yoshi Ogasawara and Ms. Emma Howard

  1. The state-run Korean Central News Agency reported on Sunday night that North Korea has decided to deport a Japanese man who has been held in custody.
  2. Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has announced that he will seek a third consecutive term of the presidency of the main ruling Liberal Democratic Party.
  3. Japan plans to extend emergency aid to a U.N. agency for Palestinian refugees amid growing concern over the agency’s financial difficulties caused by the U.S. freezing its financial assistance.

August 24, Friday, 2018 (2:00 p.m.) Read by Ms. Emma Howard and Ms. Sara Macdonald

  1. U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo says he will visit North Korea next week for negotiations on denuclearizing that country.
  2. The United States and China have ended their latest round of trade talks with no apparent progress.
  3. The Australian Broadcasting Corporation reports the country’s treasurer Scott Morrison will become Australia’s new prime minister.

August 23, Thursday, 2018 (2:00 p.m.) Read by Ms. Hiroko Kitadai and Ms. Yuka Matsumoto

  1. The U.S. government of President Donald Trump has launched a second round of additional tariffs on imports from China.
  2. Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has discussed North Korea-related issues with U.S. President Trump.
  3. NHK has learned that Chinese President Xi Jinping is preparing to attend a ceremony in Pyongyang on September 9th to mark the 70th anniversary of North Korea’s founding.

August 22, Wednesday, 2018 (2:00 p.m.) Read by Mr. Michael Reese and Ms. Eriko Kojima

  1. Japan’s Defense Ministry plans to request a record-high budget for next fiscal year to shore up the country’s defense capabilities against missile attacks and other threats.
  2. Top defense officials of Japan and Sri Lanka have confirmed that a Sri Lankan port leased to China should be open to all countries to ensure freedom of navigation.
  3. The U.N. nuclear watchdog says there have been indications that North Korea continues to operate its nuclear facilities despite its promise to abandon its nuclear program.