News

Global equity markets dipped sharply as concerns over an escalating trade war, rising inflation, and slowing U.S. consumer activity spurred investors to seek safe havens like gold. The downturn was broad, impacting Asian indices, European shares, and U.S. benchmarks, while external factors such as a damaging earthquake and ongoing tariff debates further intensified market volatility.

Astroscale Japan Inc. successfully approached a fast-moving piece of space debris at a distance of about 15 meters to inspect and analyze it, marking a significant milestone in space debris removal technology. The company plans to capture such debris and safely re-enter Earth's atmosphere by March 2028, paving the way for future satellite refueling services and a comprehensive "space road service."

Nissan Motor Corp. showcased experiments with self-driving cars on city roads in Yokohama, Japan, aiming to develop transportation services using autonomous driving technologies within three years. The company plans to increase the number of self-driving cars and start transportation services in multiple municipalities as early as fiscal 2027.

The government has initiated the release of its massive stockpile of rice stored in Saitama Prefecture in response to soaring prices caused by supply chain disruptions. The agriculture ministry's revised policy now allows emergency reserve distribution through auctions, with the first phase already underway and further releases planned.

Asian markets largely gained ground on Tuesday as investor optimism grew following Wall Street's upward trend, with significant moves noted in Japan and Hong Kong. Meanwhile, preparations for key monetary policy announcements in Japan and the United States, along with mixed retail signals and ongoing tariff concerns, are keeping investors alert to potential economic shifts.