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.