Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi resigned with her cabinet on Wednesday.
Cabinet ministers of the Takaichi administration submitted letters of resignation en masse at a cabinet meeting, which started shortly after 09:00 local time, as parliament is set to convene for a new session in the afternoon to elect a new prime minister.
After the vote, the new premier will finalize cabinet appointments, and the chief cabinet secretary is scheduled to announce the lineup.
Takaichi, president of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, is expected to be reinstated as prime minister, given that her party currently holds more than two-thirds of the seats in the powerful lower house.
With Takaichi's cabinet appointed just months ago in October and the ruling coalition winning the Feb. 8 general election, changes to the lineup are unlikely, local media said.
Japanese PM Takaichi's cabinet resigns
China's diplomatic offices across various countries have celebrated the Chinese New Year, or the Spring Festival, with a series of receptions and colorful cultural events.
Landing on Feb 17 this year, the Spring Festival is the most important holiday in China, celebrated with family reunions, New Year delicacies, and wishes for good luck in the coming year.
The Chinese Embassy in the DPRK hosted a Spring Festival reception on Thursday, bringing together about 150 guests.
Attendees included some DPRK officials, as well as representatives from Chinese-funded institutions, media, overseas Chinese, and Chinese students in the DPRK.
Addressing the reception, Chinese Ambassador to the DPRK Wang Yajun extended Chinese New Year greetings to people from all walks of life in the DPRK and to compatriots in the country. He expressed China's willingness to work together with the DPRK to implement the important consensus reached by Xi Jinping, Chinese president and general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, and Kim Jong Un, general secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea and president of the State Affairs of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, aiming to further advance China-DPRK relations.
Kang Yun Sok, vice chairman of the Standing Committee of the Supreme People's Assembly said that the DPRK is willing to work together with China to continuously strengthen and develop the friendly cooperative ties between the two countries.
The reception also featured splendid artistic performances.
A landmark Chinese New Year celebration has also been held at the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Secretariat Headquarters in Jakarta, Indonesia, for the first time ever at the organization's central office. The event, titled "Steeds Herald Spring, Blessings Fill ASEAN", came at a significant moment. The year 2026 also commemorates the 35th anniversary of the China-ASEAN dialogue partnership and the 5th anniversary of the China-ASEAN Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.
More than 250 guests attended the celebration, including diplomats from 11 ASEAN member states and partner nations such as Russia, the United Kingdom, Australia, South Korea, and Brazil. Also present were officials from the ASEAN Secretariat, regional media representatives, local university faculty and students, and Chinese business representatives.
"Wishing you prosperity. I wish everyone lots of happiness and prosperity and may our cooperation and friendship grow across the years," said Datin Sarah Nava Rani Al Bakri Devadason, Permanent Representative of Malaysia to ASEAN.
The Consulate-General of China in Sydney also hosted a Spring Festival reception last Wednesday, attracting over 500 guests.
Attendees included representatives from the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, the NSW Parliament, local councils, as well as representatives from businesses, universities, culture, research, think tanks, and media, members of the consular corps in Sydney, overseas Chinese communities, Chinese-funded institutions, and Chinese students.
Spring Festival-themed celebrations were also held in the Russian capital of Moscow and Canada's Toronto, featuring traditional Chinese cultural performances and firework show.
China's diplomatic offices across various countries spread festive cheers of Chinese New Year
