J

Japan Today

January 2026

Thousands demonstrate in Minnesota and across U.S. to protest ICE

I’m out here because I’m going to fight for the American dream that my parents came here for,
Don Lemonformer CNN anchor
I will not be silenced. I look forward to my day in court."
Donald Trumppresident
These are paid insurrectionists, paid troublemakers,

Arab allies urge restraint from U.S. and Iran as Trump demands deal on nuclear program

Only they know for sure,
Donald Trumppresident
Hopefully Iran will quickly ‘Come to the Table’ and negotiate a fair and equitable deal — NO NUCLEAR WEAPONS — one that is good for all parties,
The Islamic Republic of Iran, just as it is ready for negotiations, it is also ready for war,
Donald Trumppresident
If we don’t make a deal, we’ll see what happens.”
Hopefully Iran will quickly ‘Come to the Table’ and negotiate a fair and equitable deal — NO NUCLEAR WEAPONS.”
If negotiations are fair and equitable, Iran is ready to participate in such talks,

Olympic dream 'not over', Vonn says after crash

Lindsey Vonnskier
I crashed today in the downhill race in Switzerland and injured my left knee,
Following difficulties experienced by the first six racers, the jury interrupted the race due to growing safety concerns. Athlete safety remained the top priority, with the jury ultimately deciding to cancel the competition,
Trond Floberghagennorwegian team doctor
So far, there are no findings of injuries to the head or face,
Race should be cancelled before you start!"... Yes."

Venezuela announces amnesty bill that could lead to mass release of political prisoners

May this law serve to heal the wounds left by the political confrontation fueled by violence and extremism,
Alfredo Romero (activist)penal President
A general amnesty is welcome as long as its elements and conditions include all of civil society, without discrimination, that it does not become a cloak of impunity, and that it contributes to dismantling the repressive apparatus of political persecution,
We recall that these people were arbitrarily imprisoned for exercising rights protected by international human rights instruments, the National Constitution, and Venezuelan laws,

Judge blocks additional citizenship provisions in latest setback to Trump's election executive order

A federal judge on Friday blocked certain federal agencies from requesting citizenship status when distributing voter registration forms, the latest blow to a wide-ranging executive order on elections President Donald Trump signed last year

The Constitution does not allow the President to impose unilateral changes to federal election procedures,

Sundance Film Festival: Channing Tatum drama ‘Josephine’ wins top jury and audience awards

Beth de Araújo’s potent family drama “Josephine,” about an 8-year-old girl who witnesses a sexual assault, won top prizes at the 2026 Sundance Film Festival

David Alvaradodirector
It shows the full commitment to the Latino story that Sundance has always championed,
Beth de Araújodirector
It’s very hard to talk about rape. Even just saying the word makes people uncomfortable. But because of this there only leaves more shame and silence for survivors,
Gabriela Osio Vandenco-director
It took us 10 years to make this movie,

'Schitt's Creek' star Catherine O'Hara dies at 71

Macaulay Culkinhome Alone co-star
Mama. I thought we had time. I wanted more,
Over 5 decades of work, Catherine earned her place in the canon of Canadian comedy — from the iconic Toronto production of Godspell to SCTV to Schitt's Creek,
Catherine O'Haraactor
I used to mostly get people named Kevin who'd come up to me and ask me to yell 'Kevin!' in their faces,... Now it's mostly about (her character) Moira and 'Schitt's Creek.' I've never gotten this kind of attention in my life. It's crazy."
Christopher Guestdirector
I am devastated. We have lost one of the comic giants of our age,
You want to be part of something good, and that's how you go,

Kendrick Lamar, Bad Bunny, Lady Gaga face off at Grammys

Lauron J. Kehrermusicologist
The Grammys are more reactionary than anything else,
Lauron J. Kehrermusicologist
It was a very exciting album,
Lauron J. Kehrermusicologist
It touched on so much in terms of thematic material and musical material,

What's behind Trump's risky cheap dollar dalliance?

While U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent backed a strong dollar the very next day, market watchers viewed Trump's remark as the latest sign the president sees a lower greenback as connected to goals of lowering the trade deficit and boosting U.S. manufacturing

If you have the rest of the world investing trillions in the US bond market, that's keeping borrowing rates in the U.S. low,
The risk of a falling dollar is that that inflation re-accelerates,
Donald Trumppresident
No, I think it's great,

U.S. keeps Japan on currency manipulator watchlist

In its biannual report to Congress, China, Germany, Ireland, Singapore, South Korea, Switzerland, Taiwan, Thailand and Vietnam are also included on the "monitoring" list

China stands out among our major trading partners in its relative lack of transparency around its exchange rate policies and practices."
Japan is very transparent with respect to foreign exchange operations, publishing the total value of its foreign exchange interventions each month and the specific daily amounts and currencies used on a lagged quarterly basis."

Djokovic outguns Sinner to set up Australian Open final with Alcaraz

I rank this one in the top position of one of the best matches that I have ever won,
I’m lost for words right now, to be honest,
I have tremendous respect for him, he pushed me to the limit,

Trump's choice of Warsh to lead Fed could reshape the world's most influential central bank

Donald Trumppresident
I have known Kevin for a long period of time, and have no doubt that he will go down as one of the GREAT Fed Chairmen, maybe the best,
Inflation is caused when government spends too much and prints too much,
Donald Trumppresident
Anyone who disagrees with me will never be the Fed chairman!”
I don’t know how to interpret that, except to say, that’s exactly what a sock puppet does,

Justice Department says it's releasing 3 million pages from its Jeffrey Epstein files

Today's release marks the end of a very comprehensive document identification and review process to ensure transparency to the American people and compliance,

Russia, Ukraine halt energy strikes, but differences emerge on moratorium

Across all our regions, since the night into Friday, there were truly no strikes on energy facilities — almost none,
The date or the location may change — because, in our view, something is happening in the situation between the United States and Iran. And those developments could likely affect the timing,
Kostiantynkyiv pensioner
I trust neither Putin nor Trump, so I think that even if he (Putin) complies now, he will stockpile ⁠missiles and will still keep firing,
Dmitry Peskovspokesperson
President Trump did indeed make a personal request to President Putin to refrain from striking Kyiv for a week until February 1 in order to create favourable conditions for negotiations,
In all our regions, there were indeed no strikes on energy ⁠facilities from Thursday night to Friday,

Justice Department has opened a federal civil rights probe into the killing of Alex Pretti

Donald Trumppresident
Alex Pretti’s stock has gone way down with the just released video of him screaming and spitting in the face of a very calm and under control ICE [Immigration and Customs Enforcement] Officer, and then crazily kicking in a new and very expensive government vehicle, so hard and violent, in fact, that the taillight broke off in pieces,
We’re looking at everything that would shed light on what happened that day and in the days and weeks leading up to what happened,
We will continue to follow the investigation that the FBI is leading and giving them all the information that they need to bring that to conclusion, and make sure that the American people know the truth of the situation and how we can go forward and continue to protect the American people,
President Trump has said repeatedly, ‘Of course, this is something we’re going to investigate,

Takaichi hoping election will give her new clout to counter China

Weeks after taking office last year, Takaichi touched off the ‌biggest diplomatic dispute with Beijing in over a decade, by publicly outlining how Tokyo might respond to a Chinese attack on Taiwan, the self-ruled island claimed by China

Jeremy Chansingaporean actor and host
If she is able to do this, it would signal to Beijing that she will likely remain as prime minister for a few years and China’s pressure campaign against her has backfired,
Abe kept winning elections and built an extremely solid political base,