February 1, 2026
Japan
•01.02.2026
•Sunday
•Today
•⌨
On February 1, Japanese editorial attention focused on the final Sunday of the February 8 general election campaign. Morning headlines highlighted a shift in the race, with polling from Asahi and Kyodo suggesting a possible landslide for the LDP and Japan Innovation Party, potentially securing over 300 seats. This momentum was complicated by Prime Minister Takaichi’s sudden withdrawal from an NHK debate; editors tracked her explanation on X (formerly Twitter) regarding a rheumatoid arthritis flare-up caused by campaign handshaking.
In the afternoon, the media prioritized a tragic domestic incident in Musashino, where a mother was arrested for the fatal stabbing of her daughter. Simultaneously, police reporting evolved regarding the transnational robbery syndicate linked to Haneda and Hong Kong, with investigators suggesting separate execution teams were used for different heists. The day concluded with heavy coverage of regional election results in Kawaguchi and Gifu, and the reported death of media personality Morley Robertson.
In the afternoon, the media prioritized a tragic domestic incident in Musashino, where a mother was arrested for the fatal stabbing of her daughter. Simultaneously, police reporting evolved regarding the transnational robbery syndicate linked to Haneda and Hong Kong, with investigators suggesting separate execution teams were used for different heists. The day concluded with heavy coverage of regional election results in Kawaguchi and Gifu, and the reported death of media personality Morley Robertson.
China
•01.02.2026
•Sunday
•Today
•⌨
On February 1, 2026, Chinese state media executed a highly synchronized editorial pivot, shifting from the previous day's focus on a 'financial powerhouse' to a singular obsession with 'future industries.' Beginning in the early morning, Xinhua, People's Daily, and CCTV flooded channels with reports on the Politburo’s first collective study session of the year. This coordinated narrative framed Xi Jinping’s directives as a strategic blueprint for technological self-reliance, specifically targeting breakthroughs in AI and manufacturing resilience.
By the afternoon, while mainland outlets remained locked into this industrial messaging, regional and international sources highlighted the frictions omitted by the state monolith. The South China Morning Post and Hong Kong Free Press prioritized stories on social displacement in Tai Po and the domestic ethical debate over surrogacy in Taiwan. Simultaneously, military-focused outlets introduced a geopolitical counter-narrative, reporting on the expansion of U.S. forces in South Korea and issuing warnings against the resurgence of Japanese militarism.
By the afternoon, while mainland outlets remained locked into this industrial messaging, regional and international sources highlighted the frictions omitted by the state monolith. The South China Morning Post and Hong Kong Free Press prioritized stories on social displacement in Tai Po and the domestic ethical debate over surrogacy in Taiwan. Simultaneously, military-focused outlets introduced a geopolitical counter-narrative, reporting on the expansion of U.S. forces in South Korea and issuing warnings against the resurgence of Japanese militarism.
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