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.