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- Shares in Tokyo fell for a third day on Wednesday as concerns about energy supplies from the Middle East continue to roil financial markets globally.
- The Tokyo High Court has issued an order to disband the group formerly known as the Unification Church.
- Energy prices in Europe are surging as the conflict in the Middle East disrupts supplies. Shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, a key channel for gas and oil transport, has been disrupted as the United States and Israel continue the conflict with Iran.
- The United States and Israel have been intensifying their attacks on Iran after they killed the country’s top leader. US President Donald Trump said on Monday that he thinks the operation could take four to five weeks, or more. He said that the US is ensuring that “the world’s number one sponsor of terror can never obtain a nuclear weapon.”
- China’s foreign ministry says Foreign Minister Wang Yi spoke by phone on Monday with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi. Araghchi told Wang that the United States has violated all international laws and crossed Iran’s red lines. He said Iran has no choice but to defend itself with all its might. Wang said Beijing supports Iran in safeguarding its sovereignty, security, territorial integrity and national dignity. He added that China has urged the US and Israel to immediately halt military operations.
- At an event in the city of Ise in central Japan’s Mie Prefecture, families snapped photos of their children dressed as traditional “hina” dolls. In many households, hina dolls are displayed ahead of the festival to pray for the health and happiness of young girls.
- France, Germany and Britain have strongly condemned Iran over what they described as indiscriminate attacks in the region.
- China’s foreign ministry says Foreign Minister Wang Yi spoke by phone on Sunday with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov about the US and Israeli strikes on Iran. The ministry quotes Wang as saying it is unacceptable for the United States and Israel to launch the strikes during Iran-US negotiations.
- Japan’s Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae says Japan will make every necessary diplomatic effort with the international community to quickly help calm the situation over Iran. She also said Japan will spare no efforts to secure the safety of its nationals in the region.
- The US trade representative says Washington is set to raise import tariffs to 15 percent from 10 percent, a move that could affect Japan and many other countries. The levies replace some of the previous tariffs imposed by the Trump administration, which were struck down by the Supreme Court last week.
- Senior US and Iranian officials wrapped up their nuclear talks on Thursday in Geneva. The Iranian side described the session as “one of the most serious” exchanges they have had.
- Private-sector weather firms in Japan have released their latest forecasts for when the buds on cherry trees in the country will start to open this spring.
- North Korean media report that leader Kim Jong Un has said Pyongyang will continue to pursue nuclear and missile development, but indicated it could improve relations with the United States.
- Chinese President Xi Jinping and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz have confirmed that their countries will strengthen economic and other cooperation.
- Japanese Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae has said there is no legal problem with her distribution of gift catalogs to lawmakers of her Liberal Democratic Party. Takaichi posted on the social media platform X on Tuesday night that she sent the catalogs to all LDP lawmakers in the Lower House of the Diet after this month’s general election.
- US President Donald Trump is delivering the annual State of the Union address to a joint session of Congress. He will likely use the speech to tout his achievements since taking office last year. The address comes at the midterm elections are looming in November. Last week, the US Supreme Court struck down the tariffs he had imposed under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act. He reacted quickly and signed an order for a new 10-percent global duty using a different law.
- European leaders have gathered in Kyiv to mark a somber milestone, the 4th anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. They also held a summit to discuss how to boost support for the country. During the summit, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy thanked the leaders for the latest air defense package. He also said Ukraine needs a European Union loan package, worth 90 billion euros, or about 106 billion dollars.
- The UN General Assembly passed a resolution calling for an immediate, full and unconditional ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine on Tuesday. The United States abstained, after expressing reservations about parts of the text. Ukraine’s Deputy Foreign Minister Mariana Betsa submitted a draft resolution stressing the importance of Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
- A survey by a private researcher suggests that only about a quarter of firms expect positive effects from a possible cut in Japan’s consumption tax. Nearly half of respondents anticipate no impact.
- Japan’s Trade Minister Akazawa Ryosei said he asked his US counterpart to make sure the latest developments on tariffs will not affect existing agreements between the nations.
- Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney will visit Japan next week for talks with Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae. It will be his first visit to Japan since he took office.
- The UNESCO world heritage city of Verona in northern Italy was the stage for the closing ceremony of the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games on Sunday. Athletes and volunteers carrying the flags of participating countries and territories marched into the arena. They included Japanese figure skater Sakamoto Kaori, who won two silver medals, and Japanese speed skater Morishige Wataru.
- Ukraine says Russia’s forces attacked railway and water facilities in the country ahead of the fourth anniversary of Moscow’s military invasion. The Ukrainian Air Force says Russia’s forces launched an attack on the capital Kyiv and other places through Sunday morning. It notes the forces used 50 missiles and nearly 300 drones.
- Japan’s Emperor Naruhito turned 66 on Monday. Ahead of his birthday, he spoke to reporters at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo. This year marks 15 years since the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake and 10 years since the 2016 Kumamoto Earthquake. The Emperor said his heart aches even now to think that the disasters caused enormous damage in various places.
- Japan has collected two medals in the women’s single figure skating at the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games. Sakamoto Kaori won the silver and Nakai Ami won the bronze. The gold medal went to Alysa Liu of the United States.
- Japan’s government has submitted a record draft budget to the Diet for the fiscal year starting in April. It amounts to 122.3 trillion yen, or 789 billion dollars. More than 30 percent of the expenditure is allocated to social security, reflecting the aging of the population. Almost 58 billion dollars is earmarked to significantly upgrade defense capabilities.
- A Japanese health ministry expert panel has conditionally endorsed two products using iPS cells, paving the way for the world’s first practical use of iPS cell-derived products.
- Former South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol has been sentenced to life in prison on a charge of leading an insurrection by declaring martial law.
- A court in South Korea has sentenced former Prime Minister Han Duck-soo to 23 years in prison for playing a key role in an insurrection related to former President Yoon Suk-yeol’s declaration of martial law in December 2024.
- Japan’s education ministry has decided to allow three national universities to take in more students from abroad, amid intensifying international competition to attract foreign students. The ministry says there were a record 336,708 foreign students in Japan in 2024. It aims to increase the figure to 400,000 by 2033.