Japan top spokesman Kihara meets GCC diplomats

Japan top spokesman Kihara meets GCC diplomats

Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara (C) poses with diplomats from the Gulf Cooperation Council countries at the prime minister's office in Tokyo on March 12, 2026. They expressed solidarity amid escalating Middle East tensions during their meeting.

LDP No. 2 Aso meets with U.S. envoy Glass

LDP No. 2 Aso meets with U.S. envoy Glass

Taro Aso (L), deputy president of Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party, and U.S. Ambassador to Japan George Glass (R) are pictured at the LDP headquarters in Tokyo on March 12, 2026, following their meeting ahead of Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's visit to the United States later March for talks with President Donald Trump.

U.N. resolution on Iran's attacks on neighbors

U.N. resolution on Iran's attacks on neighbors

Russia's U.N. Ambassador Vasily Nebenzya (front, C) announces Russia will abstain from a vote on a proposed U.N. Security Council resolution demanding a halt to Iran's attacks on Gulf neighbors during a meeting at the U.N. headquarters in New York on March 11, 2026.

Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference

Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference

Chinese President Xi Jinping attends the closing ceremony of a weeklong meeting of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, China's top political advisory body, at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on March 11, 2026.

Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference

Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference

Chinese President Xi Jinping (L in 2nd row) attends the closing ceremony of a weeklong meeting of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, China's top political advisory body, at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on March 11, 2026.

Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference

Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference

Chinese President Xi Jinping (C in 2nd row) attends the closing ceremony of a weeklong meeting of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, China's top political advisory body, at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on March 11, 2026.

Japan Finance Minister Katayama meets press after G7 talks

Japan Finance Minister Katayama meets press after G7 talks

Japanese Finance Minister Satsuki Katayama speaks at a press conference at the Finance Ministry on March 9, 2026, after an online meeting of Group of Seven finance ministers. The ministers discussed a possible coordinated release of oil reserves amid the U.S.-Israeli war with Iran.

IAEA Director General Grossi

IAEA Director General Grossi

International Atomic Energy Agency Director General Rafael Grossi speaks during a press conference following an IAEA Board of Governors meeting in Vienna on March 2, 2026.

IAEA Director General Grossi

IAEA Director General Grossi

International Atomic Energy Agency Director General Rafael Grossi attends an extraordinary meeting regarding U.S. and Israeli attacks on Iran, ahead of an IAEA Board of Governors meeting in Vienna on March 2, 2026.

U.S. first lady Melania Trump at U.N. meeting

U.S. first lady Melania Trump at U.N. meeting

Melania Trump (C), first lady of the United States, speaks during a United Nations Security Council meeting at the U.N. headquarters in New York on March 2, 2026.

Japan cross-party council discusses food tax cut

Japan cross-party council discusses food tax cut

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi speaks at the first meeting of a cross-party "national council" to discuss her pledge to suspend the consumption tax on food for two years at the premier's office in Tokyo on Feb. 26, 2026.

Japan cross-party council discusses food tax cut

Japan cross-party council discusses food tax cut

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi speaks at the first meeting of a cross-party "national council" to discuss her pledge to suspend the consumption tax on food for two years at the premier's office in Tokyo on Feb. 26, 2026.

Japan cross-party council discusses food tax cut

Japan cross-party council discusses food tax cut

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi speaks at the first meeting of a cross-party "national council" to discuss her pledge to suspend the consumption tax on food for two years at the premier's office in Tokyo on Feb. 26, 2026.

Japan cross-party council discusses food tax cut

Japan cross-party council discusses food tax cut

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi speaks at the first meeting of a cross-party "national council" to discuss her pledge to suspend the consumption tax on food for two years at the premier's office in Tokyo on Feb. 26, 2026.

Japan cross-party council discusses food tax cut

Japan cross-party council discusses food tax cut

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi speaks at the first meeting of a cross-party "national council" to discuss her pledge to suspend the consumption tax on food for two years at the premier's office in Tokyo on Feb. 26, 2026.

Japan cross-party council discusses food tax cut

Japan cross-party council discusses food tax cut

Takahiro Anno (2nd from R), leader of Team Mirai, speaks at the first meeting of a cross-party "national council" to discuss Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's pledge to suspend the consumption tax on food for two years at the premier's office in Tokyo on Feb. 26, 2026.

Japan cross-party council discusses food tax cut

Japan cross-party council discusses food tax cut

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi (2nd from L) speaks at the first meeting of a cross-party "national council" to discuss her pledge to suspend the consumption tax on food for two years at the premier's office in Tokyo on Feb. 26, 2026.

Japan cross-party council discusses food tax cut

Japan cross-party council discusses food tax cut

Takahiro Anno, leader of Team Mirai, speaks at the first meeting of a cross-party "national council" to discuss Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's pledge to suspend the consumption tax on food for two years at the premier's office in Tokyo on Feb. 26, 2026.

Japan cross-party council discusses food tax cut

Japan cross-party council discusses food tax cut

Takahiro Anno (R), leader of Team Mirai, speaks at the first meeting of a cross-party "national council" to discuss Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's pledge to suspend the consumption tax on food for two years at the premier's office in Tokyo on Feb. 26, 2026.

Japan cross-party council discusses food tax cut

Japan cross-party council discusses food tax cut

Photo taken on Feb. 26, 2026, shows the first meeting of a cross-party "national council" to discuss Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's pledge to suspend the consumption tax on food for two years at the premier's office in Tokyo.

Japan cross-party council discusses food tax cut

Japan cross-party council discusses food tax cut

Photo taken on Feb. 26, 2026, shows the first meeting of a cross-party "national council" to discuss Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's pledge to suspend the consumption tax on food for two years at the premier's office in Tokyo.

Japan cross-party council discusses food tax cut

Japan cross-party council discusses food tax cut

Fumitake Fujita (L), co-leader of the Japan Innovation Party, attends the first meeting of a cross-party "national council" to discuss Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's pledge to suspend the consumption tax on food for two years at the premier's office in Tokyo on Feb. 26, 2026.

Japan cross-party council discusses food tax cut

Japan cross-party council discusses food tax cut

Photo taken on Feb. 26, 2026, shows the first meeting of a cross-party "national council" to discuss Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's pledge to suspend the consumption tax on food for two years at the premier's office in Tokyo.

Japan cross-party council discusses food tax cut

Japan cross-party council discusses food tax cut

Fumitake Fujita, co-leader of the Japan Innovation Party, attends the first meeting of a cross-party "national council" to discuss Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's pledge to suspend the consumption tax on food for two years at the premier's office in Tokyo on Feb. 26, 2026.

Japan cross-party council discusses food tax cut

Japan cross-party council discusses food tax cut

Fumitake Fujita (C), co-leader of the Japan Innovation Party, and Takahiro Anno (L), leader of Team Mirai, attend the first meeting of a cross-party "national council" to discuss Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's pledge to suspend the consumption tax on food for two years at the premier's office in Tokyo on Feb. 26, 2026.

U.N. General Assembly agrees to demand cease-fire in Ukraine

U.N. General Assembly agrees to demand cease-fire in Ukraine

Ukrainian Deputy Foreign Minister Mariana Betsa addresses the U.N. General Assembly meeting on the 4th anniversary of Russia's invasion of Ukraine at the U.N. headquarters in New York on Feb. 24, 2026.

Japan gov't economic, fiscal policy meeting

Japan gov't economic, fiscal policy meeting

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi (2nd from L, front row) attends a Council on Economic and Fiscal Policy meeting at the premier's office in Tokyo on Feb. 24, 2026.

Japan gov't economic, fiscal policy meeting

Japan gov't economic, fiscal policy meeting

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi speaks at a Council on Economic and Fiscal Policy meeting at the premier's office in Tokyo on Feb. 24, 2026.

Japan gov't economic, fiscal policy meeting

Japan gov't economic, fiscal policy meeting

Bank of Japan Governor Kazuo Ueda attends a Council on Economic and Fiscal Policy meeting at the prime minister's office on Feb. 24, 2026.

U.N. Security Council meeting on Palestine

U.N. Security Council meeting on Palestine

A U.N. Security Council meeting on the situation in Gaza and the West Bank is held on Feb. 18, 2026, at the U.N. headquarters in New York.

U.N. Security Council meeting on Palestine

U.N. Security Council meeting on Palestine

Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar speaks at a U.N. Security Council meeting on the situation in Gaza and the West Bank on Feb. 18, 2026, at the U.N. headquarters in New York.

U.N. Security Council meeting on Palestine

U.N. Security Council meeting on Palestine

Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar speaks at a U.N. Security Council meeting on the situation in Gaza and the West Bank on Feb. 18, 2026, at the U.N. headquarters in New York.

New Takaichi Cabinet inaugurated

New Takaichi Cabinet inaugurated

Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi (C) attends a Cabinet meeting at the prime minister's office in Tokyo with her ministers on Feb. 19, 2026, a day after her new Cabinet was inaugurated following her reelection as Japan's leader in parliament.

New Takaichi Cabinet inaugurated

New Takaichi Cabinet inaugurated

Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi (C) attends a Cabinet meeting at the prime minister's office in Tokyo with her ministers on Feb. 19, 2026, a day after her new Cabinet was inaugurated following her reelection as Japan's leader in parliament.

New Takaichi Cabinet inaugurated

New Takaichi Cabinet inaugurated

Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi (C) attends a Cabinet meeting at the prime minister's office in Tokyo with her ministers on Feb. 19, 2026, a day after her new Cabinet was inaugurated following her reelection as Japan's leader in parliament.

New Takaichi Cabinet inaugurated

New Takaichi Cabinet inaugurated

Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi (C) holds a Cabinet meeting at the premier's office in Tokyo after her new Cabinet was inaugurated following her reelection as Japan's prime minister in parliament on Feb. 18, 2026.

New Takaichi Cabinet inaugurated

New Takaichi Cabinet inaugurated

Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi (C) holds a Cabinet meeting at the premier's office in Tokyo after her new Cabinet was inaugurated following her reelection as Japan's prime minister in parliament on Feb. 18, 2026.

Special Diet session

Special Diet session

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi (C) attends a Cabinet meeting at her office in Tokyo on Feb. 18, 2026, as a special parliamentary session convenes following the Feb. 8 general election.

Families of abductees meet with PM Takaichi

Families of abductees meet with PM Takaichi

Sakie Yokota (front R), whose daughter Megumi was abducted by North Korea in 1977 at age 13, speaks to reporters following a meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi at the prime minister's office in Tokyo on Feb. 16, 2026. Standing next to her is her son Takuya, head of a group representing the families of Japanese nationals abducted by North Korea in the 1970s and 1980s.

Families of abductees meet with PM Takaichi

Families of abductees meet with PM Takaichi

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi (L) speaks during a meeting with members of a group representing the families of Japanese nationals abducted by North Korea in the 1970s and 1980s at the prime minister's office in Tokyo on Feb. 16, 2026.

Families of abductees meet with PM Takaichi

Families of abductees meet with PM Takaichi

Takuya Yokota, head of a group representing the families of Japanese nationals abducted by North Korea in the 1970s and 1980s, meets the press following a meeting between members of the group and Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi at the prime minister's office in Tokyo on Feb. 16, 2026. His elder sister Megumi was abducted by North Korea in 1977 at age 13.

Families of abductees meet with PM Takaichi

Families of abductees meet with PM Takaichi

Takuya Yokota (R), head of a group representing the families of Japanese nationals abducted by North Korea in the 1970s and 1980s, speaks during a meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi at the prime minister's office in Tokyo on Feb. 16, 2026. Sitting next to him is his mother Sakie, whose daughter Megumi was abducted by North Korea in 1977 at age 13.

Families of abductees meet with PM Takaichi

Families of abductees meet with PM Takaichi

Sakie Yokota (C), whose daughter Megumi was abducted by North Korea in 1977 at age 13, speaks during a meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi at the prime minister's office in Tokyo on Feb. 16, 2026. Her son Takuya (R), head of a group representing the families of Japanese nationals abducted by North Korea in the 1970s and 1980s, also attended the meeting.

[Breaking News]General election in Japan

TOKYO, Japan, Feb. 9 Kyodo - Yoshihiko Noda and Tetsuo Saito, co-leaders of the opposition Centrist Reform Alliance, hold a press conference in Tokyo on Feb. 9, 2026, after expressing intention to resign from the post at the party's executive meeting following a crushing defeat in a general election. (Kyodo)

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang at APEC

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang at APEC

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi delivers a speech at a meeting of senior officials of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum in Guangzhou in Guangdong Province, China, on Feb. 10, 2026.

General election in Japan

General election in Japan

Yoshihiko Noda (L) and Tetsuo Saito, co-leaders of the opposition Centrist Reform Alliance, hold a press conference in Tokyo on Feb. 9, 2026, after expressing intention to resign from the post at the party's executive meeting following a crushing defeat in a general election.

General election in Japan

General election in Japan

Yoshihiko Noda (L) and Tetsuo Saito, co-leaders of the opposition Centrist Reform Alliance, hold a press conference in Tokyo on Feb. 9, 2026, after expressing intention to resign from the post at the party's executive meeting following a crushing defeat in a general election.

Meeting between Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Ryosei Akazawa and TSMC Chairman C.C. Wei

Meeting between Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Ryosei Akazawa and TSMC Chairman C.C. Wei

Meeting between Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Ryosei Akazawa and TSMC Chairman C.C. Wei. Photo shows C.C. Wei of TSMC (second from left front) and Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Ryosei Akazawa (third from right front).=February 5,2026,Tokyo

Meeting between Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Ryosei Akazawa and TSMC Chairman C.C. Wei

Meeting between Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Ryosei Akazawa and TSMC Chairman C.C. Wei

Meeting between Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Ryosei Akazawa and TSMC Chairman C.C. Wei. Photo shows, from left, TSMC Chairman C.C. Wei and Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Ryosei Akazawa.=February 5,2026,Tokyo

Meeting between Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Ryosei Akazawa and TSMC Chairman C.C. Wei

Meeting between Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Ryosei Akazawa and TSMC Chairman C.C. Wei

Meeting between Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Ryosei Akazawa and TSMC Chairman C.C. Wei. Photo shows TSMC Chairman C.C. Wei (front).=February 5,2026,Tokyo