May 31, Friday, 2019 (2:00 p.m.) Read by Ms. Sara Macdonald and Ms. Emma Howard

  1. An international conference on Asa-Pacific security challenges will open in Singapore on Friday, with top defense officials from the United States and China attending.
  2. The foreign and defense ministers of Japan and Russia remain at odds over some security issues, including the Russian-controlled islands claimed by Japan.
  3. The Internal Affairs Ministry said on Friday that Japan’s unemployment rate in April marked its first decline in two months.

May 30, Thursday, 2019 (2:00 p.m.) Read by Ms. Yuka Matsumoto and Ms. Hiroko Kitadai

  1. A video of a man randomly attacking a group of schoolchildren waiting for a school bus in Kawasaki, near Tokyo, on Tuesday was captured on the onboard camera of the bus.
  2. Japanese and Russian foreign and defense ministers are scheduled to meet on Thursday in Tokyo.
  3. The Dow Jones industrial average fell more than 200 points for the second straight day on global concern over global economic slowdown.

May 29, Wednesday, 2019 (2:00 p.m.) Read by Mr. Michael Reese and Ms. Mariko Kojima

  1. Police in Japan have begun searching the home of the man who stabbed school children on Tuesday as they were waiting for a bus.
  2. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has called on relevant cabinet ministers to discuss how to ensure the safety of school children on their commutes following a stabbing spree.
  3. An official of Iran’s foreign ministry says the country is negotiating with Japan to fix a date for a visit to Iran by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.

May 28, Tuesday, 2019 (2:00 p.m.) Read by Ms. Hiroko Kitadai and Ms. Fumiko Konoe

  1. Police say an elementary school girl and a 39-year-old man have been confirmed dead, following a mass stabbing near Tokyo.
  2. The leaders of Japan and the United States have highlighted the strength of their countries’ alliance aboard a Japanese destroyer.
  3. The Nissan Motor president is planning to meet with top executives of its alliance partner Renault on Wednesday. Their agenda is expected to focus on a merger proposal from Fiat Chrysler Automobiles.

May 27, Monday, 2019 (2:00 p.m.) Read by Mr. Yoshi Ogasawara and Ms. Emma Howard

  1. The leaders of Japan and the U.S. have highlighted the strength of their countries’ alliance as they sat down for formal talks.
  2. Iran’s foreign minister has underscored the country’s determination not to yield to growing pressure from the United States.
  3. The grand coalition of two pro-EU centrist blocs is expected to lose its combined majority in the European Parliament.

May 26, Sunday, 2019 (2:00 p.m.) Read by Mr. Hirokazu Sakamaki and Ms. Keiko Kitagawa

  1. U.S. President Donald Trump is scheduled to spend a full day with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Sunday, ahead of their summit on Monday.
  2. Sunday is the last day of the European Parliament elections. Citizens from 21 countries will be casting ballots.
  3. The disorder caused by video game addiction has been officially recognized as a disease by the World Health Organization.

May 24, Friday, 2019 (2:00 p.m.) Read by Ms. Emma Howard and Mr. Raja Pradhan

  1. Japan’s Foreign Minister Taro Kono says maintaining the liberal international order will be at the top of the agenda for the Group of 20 summit in Osaka next month.
  2. India’s ruling party led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has won a historic single majority of seats in general elections, paving the way for him to stably serve a second term.
  3. U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said he expects more companies to stop doing business with China’s Huawei.

May 23, Thursday, 2019 (2:00 p.m.) Read by Mr. Raja Pradhan and Ms. Hiroko Kitadai

  1. Japanese electronics manufacturer Panasonic says it is ending its business with Huawei, following the U.S. decision to ban sales of parts to the Chinese tech giant.
  2. Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Kono has asked the World Trade Organization to improve its dispute settlement system.
  3. Ministers from Japan and France have reconfirmed their support for the Renault-Nissan alliance.

May 22, Wednesday, 2019 (2:00 p.m.) Read by Ms. Emma Howard and Ms. Mariko Kojima

  1. Japan’s latest trade data shows a sharp decline in the surplus. That’s as semiconductor-related exports to China plummeted.
  2. The OECD kicks off its ministerial meeting in Paris on Wednesday against a backdrop of simmering trade tensions.
  3. Top US. officials have briefed Congress on the threat posed by Iran in a bid to defuse skepticism among lawmakers about the government’s handling of tensions.