The world’s biggest nuclear power plant is set to restart on Wednesday for the first time since the 2011 Fukushima disaster, its Japanese operator said, despite persistent safety concerns among residents.

The governor of Niigata province, where the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa plant is located, approved its resumption last month, although public opinion remains sharply divided.

After receiving the final green light Wednesday, Tokyo Electric Power (TEPCO) said they were “proceeding with preparations… and plan to remove the control rods after 7:00 pm today and start up the reactor”.

On Tuesday, a few dozen protesters — mostly elderly — braved freezing temperatures to demonstrate in the snow near the plant’s entrance, whose buildings line the Sea of Japan coast.

“It’s Tokyo’s electricity that is produced in Kashiwazaki, so why should the people here be put at risk? That makes no sense,” Yumiko Abe, a 73-year-old resident, told AFP.

Around 60 per cent of residents oppose the restart, while 37 per cent support it, according to a survey conducted in September.

Kashiwazaki-Kariwa is the world’s biggest nuclear power plant by potential capacity, although just one reactor of seven is restarting Wednesday.

The facility was taken offline when Japan pulled the plug on nuclear power after a colossal earthquake and tsunami sent three reactors at the Fukushima atomic plant into meltdown in 2011.

However, resource-poor Japan now wants to revive atomic energy to reduce its reliance on fossil fuels, achieve carbon neutrality by 2050, and meet growing energy needs from artificial intelligence.

Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi has voiced support for the energy source.

Fourteen reactors, mostly in western and southern Japan, have resumed operation since the post-Fukushima shutdown under strict safety rules, with 13 running as of mid January.

The Kashiwazaki-Kariwa unit would be the first run by Tokyo Electric Power (TEPCO) — which also operates the stricken Fukushima Daiichi plant, now being decommissioned — to restart since 2011.

Nearly fifteen years after the disaster, “the situation is still not under control in Fukushima, and TEPCO wants to revive a plant? For me, that’s absolutely unacceptable,” said Keisuke Abe, an 81-year-old demonstrator.

‘Anxious And Fearful’

The vast Kashiwazaki-Kariwa complex has been fitted with a 15-metre-high (50-foot) tsunami wall, elevated emergency power systems, and other safety upgrades.

However, residents raised concerns about the risk of a serious accident, citing frequent cover-up scandals, minor accidents, and evacuation plans they say are inadequate.

“I think it’s impossible to evacuate in an emergency,” Chie Takakuwa, a 79-year-old resident of Kariwa, told AFP.

On January 8, seven groups opposing the restart submitted a petition signed by nearly 40,000 people to TEPCO and Japan’s Nuclear Regulation Authority.

The petition said the plant sits on an active seismic fault zone and noted it was struck by a strong quake in 2007.

“We can’t remove the fear of being hit by another unforeseen earthquake,” it said.

“Making many people anxious and fearful so as to send electricity to Tokyo…is intolerable.”

Before the 2011 disaster — which killed around 18,000 people — nuclear power generated about a third of Japan’s electricity.

String Of Scandals

Japan’s nuclear industry has also faced a string of scandals and incidents in recent weeks, including data falsification by Chubu Electric Power to underestimate seismic risks.

At Kashiwazaki-Kariwa, TEPCO said Saturday that an alarm system failed during a test.

“Safety is an ongoing process, which means operators involved in nuclear power must never be arrogant or overconfident,” TEPCO President Tomoaki Kobayakawa said in an interview with the Asahi daily.

READ ALSO: Audi Unveils New Car For 2026 Formula One Season

Japan is the world’s fifth-largest single-country emitter of carbon dioxide, after China, the United States, India, and Russia, and is heavily dependent on imported fossil fuels.

Nearly 70 per cent of its electricity in 2023 came from coal, gas, and oil — a share Tokyo wants to slash to 30-40 per cent over the next 15 years as it expands renewable energy and nuclear power.

Under a plan approved by the government in February, nuclear power will account for around a fifth of Japan’s energy supply by 2040 — up from around 8.5 per cent in the fiscal year 2023-24.

Meanwhile, Japan still faces the daunting task of decommissioning the Fukushima plant, a project expected to take decades.

AFP

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German manufacturer Audi, which will make its Formula One debut this season after acquiring the Sauber team, unveiled its first-ever single-seater on Tuesday and declared its ambition to “win championships by 2030”.

The livery of the car, named the Audi R26, features a predominantly grey colour scheme and displays the four rings of the German brand’s logo in red on its rear wing and was designed to be “the most elegant and striking on the grid.”

Last year’s Sauber drivers, Nico Huelkenberg and Gabriel Bortoleto, will remain at the team in 2026 following the rebranding.

“The 2026 regulations created the perfect moment to enter Formula 1,” said Italian Mattia Binotto, the project’s chief.

READ ALSO: Netflix Shares Fall As Revenue Appears To Stall

Team principal Jonathan Wheatley added, “This car is the physical embodiment of thousands of hours of hard work from a hugely talented group of people across our facilities.

“Today, we start this journey with immense pride, but also with humility. This is just day one of a long campaign. Our mission is to embed a championship DNA into every fibre of this team.

“A culture of resilience, precision, and relentless curiosity where we stop at nothing to find performance. For everyone here, the excitement comes from this challenge: to build a team that gets stronger with every lap, every debrief, and every race. We will turn our long-term ambition into on-track reality, day by day, decision by decision.”

Like the other ten F1 teams, this new car will make its track debut next week during closed-door tests at the Barcelona-Catalunya circuit.

AFP

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Netflix shares fell more than five percent on Tuesday as the streaming entertainment giant said it expected revenue to be essentially flat in the current quarter after years of growth.

Netflix reported a profit of $2.4 billion on revenue of $12 billion in the final three months of last year and forecasted revenue of $12.1 billion for this quarter.

Shares were down more than 4 per cent to $83.07 in after-market trades.

Netflix is focused on improving its core business by increasing the variety and quality of shows and films, and also strengthening its ad business, co-chief executive Ted Sarandos said during a streamed earnings interview.

The streaming giant aims to double revenue from its ad business to $3 billion this year, according to Netflix chief financial officer Spencer Neumann.

“The top line numbers generally look pretty healthy,” Gabelli Funds portfolio manager John Belton said of Netflix’s earnings report, noting that an updated subscriber number topping 325 million showed solid membership growth last year.

Sarandos touted a strong lineup of shows, including upcoming new seasons of “Bridgerton” and “One Piece,” as well as a deal to stream the coming World Baseball Classic to viewers in Japan.

Warner Brothers Saga

The earnings report came as Netflix presses a bid to buy television and film titan Warner Brothers Discovery (WBD).

“Big picture, we just saw a tremendous and achievable opportunity in bringing these two businesses together,” Netflix co-chief executive Greg Peters said on the earnings call.

Netflix on Tuesday revised the terms of the proffered deal to make it all-cash and to provide WBD shareholders with more certainty about the transaction, the company said in a release.

The revision is expected to enable a shareholder vote on the deal, backed by WBD’s board, by April of this year.

“The WBD board continues to support and unanimously recommend our transaction, and we are confident that it will deliver the best outcome for stockholders, consumers, creators, and the broader entertainment community,” Sarandos said in a release.

“The acquisition will also significantly expand US production capacity and investment in original programming, driving job creation and long-term industry growth.”

Paramount Skydance said earlier this month that it has filed a lawsuit against WBD as it presses an unwelcome bid to buy the CNN-parent company.

Paramount’s suit seeks to compel the WBD board to provide certain information to shareholders that it argues will cast its offer in a more favorable light.

The suit, and a letter to WBD shareholders by Paramount Skydance chief executive David Ellison, are moves in a saga spanning several months.

Television and film titan WBD put out word in late October that it was open to acquisition offers, with its board subsequently accepting a bid by streaming giant Netflix.

WBD formally rejected an offer from Paramount Skydance for the entire company.

READ ALSO: Netflix Shares Fall As Revenue Appears To Stall

The Netflix offer favoured by the board does not include buying WBD television properties such as CNN and Discovery, which would belong to a newly created and publicly traded company called Global Networks if the deal is sealed.

“We are committed to seeing our tender offer through,” Ellison said in the letter to WBD shareholders.

“If WBD calls a special meeting ahead of its annual meeting to vote on the Netflix Agreement, Paramount will solicit proxies against such approval.”

AFP

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Asian equities stabilised Wednesday after a rough start to the week, fuelled by Donald Trump’s Greenland-linked tariff threats, though uncertainty rattling through trading floors saw safe-haven precious metals hit fresh record highs.

Japanese bond yields also settled back following Tuesday’s surge on the back of a pledge by Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi to cut taxes.

The US President injected a fresh dose of volatility into markets Saturday after threatening to hit several European countries — including France, Germany, Britain, and Denmark — with up to 25 per cent tariffs over their opposition to his takeover of Greenland.

The move has sparked a warning of retaliation, with French President Emmanuel Macron raising the possibility of deploying an unused, powerful instrument aimed at deterring economic coercion.

And speaking at the Davos gathering in Switzerland, European Union chief Ursula von der Leyen warned Washington that hitting allied nations with punitive tariffs over Greenland would be a “mistake”.

In response, US Treasury chief Scott Bessent said Monday that any retaliatory EU tariffs would be “unwise”.

Markets have sunk globally this week, and Wall Street’s three main indexes tanked on Tuesday as they reopened after a long weekend.

But Asia saw a mixed performance in early trade Wednesday.

Tokyo, Sydney, Singapore, Taipei, and Manila fell, while Hong Kong, Shanghai, and Jakarta rose. US futures advanced.

However, concerns about the outlook and concerns the crisis could grow saw precious metals — a go-to in times of turmoil — continue to hit new peaks.

Gold topped out at $4,836.80, and silver touched $95.89 an ounce.

Eyes are now on Trump’s visit to the World Economic Forum at Davos later in the day.

“Traders continue to monitor the prospects for an agreement around Trump’s claim on Greenland, alongside the ongoing pricing of risk that Trump subsequently raises tariffs on European imports… and whether Europe responds with impactful tariffs of its own,” wrote Chris Weston at Pepperstone.

“The focus from traders now turns to Trump’s scheduled speech in Davos, but prior to that, the reaction and the ensuing price action through the Asian session.”

Bond markets also saw some calm following Tuesday’s rally in Japanese yields to record highs after Takaichi called a snap election for February 8 and said she would suspend an eight percent sales tax on food and beverages for two years if she wins a fresh mandate.

Her comments saw 40-year yields surge more than a quarter of a percentage point to a record on Tuesday, marking the biggest jump since Trump’s “Liberation Day” tariff bombshell in April.

The moves saw US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent call Japanese Finance Minister Satsuki Katayama following a lift in Treasury yields.

But they fell back Wednesday after Katayama called for “everyone in the market to calm down” and highlighted rising tax revenues and the country’s lowest reliance on debt issuance in three decades.

However, Katsutoshi Inadome at Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Asset Management warned: “Katayama’s comments will have some impact on the market, but these are not the type of moves that can be stopped with just verbal intervention.

“Bonds will likely be bought today, but the upside momentum is likely to gradually fade.”

READ ALSO: Trump Heads For Davos Maelstrom Over Greenland

Key Figures At Around 0230 GMT

Tokyo – Nikkei 225: DOWN 0.6 per cent at 52,693.43 (break)

Hong Kong – Hang Seng Index: UP 0.2 per cent at 26,536.78

Shanghai – Composite: UP 0.4 per cent at 4,131.77

Euro/dollar: UP at $1.1729 from $1.1719 on Tuesday

Pound/dollar: UP at $1.3454 from $1.3433

Dollar/yen: DOWN at 158.00 yen from 158.21 yen

Euro/pound: DOWN at 87.18 pence from 87.23 pence

West Texas Intermediate: DOWN 1.0 per cent at $59.75 per barrel

Brent North Sea Crude: DOWN 1.2 per cent at $64.18 per barrel

New York – Dow: DOWN 1.8 per cent at 48,488.59 (close)

London – FTSE 100: DOWN 0.7 per cent at 10,126.78 (close)

AFP

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US President Donald Trump descends on Davos for a showdown with European leaders Wednesday as his bid to seize Greenland threatens to tear the transatlantic alliance apart.

Trump mocked the Europeans a day before heading to the World Economic Forum, where he will be the star of a dark, self-made drama over the fate of the autonomous Danish territory.

But leaders gathered at the Swiss ski resort have closed ranks against Trump’s aggressive stance, with French President Emmanuel Macron vowing to stand up against “bullies” and the EU promising an “unflinching” response.

Asked how far he was prepared to go to acquire Greenland from Denmark, a fellow NATO member, Trump told reporters: “You’ll find out.”

Later, as he left the White House, the president admitted he had “no idea” how the trip to Davos would pan out.

It got off to an inauspicious start when a “minor electrical issue” forced his presidential jet to turn back shortly after takeoff, and Trump and his entourage had to switch to another plane.

Trump’s eagerly awaited speech at the annual gathering of the world’s economic and political elite, which he is attending for the first time in six years, is scheduled for 2:30 pm (1330 GMT).

But as the biggest rift opens between Washington and Europe in decades over his Greenland ambitions, Trump said he would have a number of meetings on the issue at Davos.

‘Downward Spiral’

Trump insists mineral-rich Greenland is vital for US and NATO security against Russia and China as a melting Arctic opens up and the superpowers jostle for strategic advancement.

He has turned up the pressure by threatening tariffs of up to 25 percent on eight European countries for backing Denmark, prompting Europe to threaten countermeasures against the United States.

Trump dismissed European threats to fire a trade “bazooka” at the United States.

“Anything they do with us…all I have to do is meet it, and it’s going to go ricocheting backward,” he said in an interview with News Nation.

“But we’re not looking into that. We’ll probably be able to work something out, possibly even during the next few days,” he added.

At Davos on Tuesday, Macron, in sunglasses because of a burst blood vessel, warned against US attempts to “subordinate Europe”, and blasted Trump’s tariff threats as “unacceptable.”

Macron was the subject of Trump’s mockery as he publicly revealed a text message from the French leader proposing a G7 summit in Paris on Thursday, on Greenland, as well as on Ukraine.

Trump later said he would not join any such meeting, while Macron clarified to AFP that no gathering was scheduled.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, meanwhile, warned that Trump risked plunging US ties with the European Union into a “downward spiral”.

And Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney — who has sought to reduce his own country’s dependence on Washington since Trump called for it to become the 51st US state — won a standing ovation at Davos for his stance.

“Canada stands firmly with Greenland and Denmark,” Carney said.

In his Davos speech, the White House said Trump wanted to focus on the US economy amid a cost-of-living crisis that threatens his Republicans in the 2026 midterms.

But the US president’s extraordinary assertion of US power on the world stage one year into his second term, means Greenland will form the backdrop to the address.

READ ALSO: Davos: FG Aims For Less Borrowing, More Investment — Wale Edun

‘End Of NATO’

Greenland’s prime minister said on Tuesday his tiny population of 57,000 must be prepared for military force.

Lithuania’s President Gitanas Nauseda told AFP at Davos that any such move by the United States against a fellow ally “would be the end of NATO.”

Trump said he had done “more for NATO than anyone” and questioned whether allies would help the United States — despite the fact that Denmark was among those who did after the September 11, 2001 attacks.

On Thursday, meanwhile, Trump is set to formally announce the first charter of his so-called “Board of Peace,” a body for resolving international conflicts with a $1 billion price tag for permanent membership.

The board was originally conceived to oversee the rebuilding of Gaza, but a draft of the charter seen by AFP does not appear to limit its role to the occupied Palestinian territory.

AFP

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Holders Paris Saint-Germain fell 2-1 to Sporting Lisbon on Tuesday, making their chances of direct qualification for the Champions League last-16 more difficult.

Luis Suarez scored twice for Sporting in the second half, sealing victory with a 90th-minute header after substitute Khvicha Kvaratskhelia had equalised for PSG after 79 minutes.

The French club are fifth with 13 points. They face Newcastle next Wednesday in their last group stage fixture.

More to follow…

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Gabriel Jesus pushed Arsenal into the last 16 of the Champions League with a double in Tuesday’s 3-1 win at Inter Milan which made the Gunners mathematically sure of a top-eight finish.

Two close-range finishes in the first half gave Arsenal a deserved seventh straight league phase win at the San Siro and manager Mikel Arteta a selection conundrum with Manchester United visiting the Emirates Stadium on Sunday.

Jesus started in place of summer signing Viktor Gyokeres, who has struggled this season but made sure of the win with a fine shot in the 84th minute, and the former Manchester City striker offered a threat all game.

The 28-year-old had only started twice this season before Tuesday’s win but appears to be back to his best after coming back from a cruciate ligament tear which kept him out of action for nearly a year.

READ ALSO: Bodo/Glimt Stun Man City In Epic Champions League Upset

Arsenal are now on 21 points and were effectively in the last 16 before kick-off as 16 points was enough to be in the top eight last season.

But the 28-year-old was key to Arsenal going six points clear at the top of the classification ahead of second-placed Bayern Munich’s home fixture with Union Saint-Gilloise on Wednesday night.

Inter, who levelled through a fabulous Petar Sucic strike in the 18th minute, sit eighth after losing a third straight match in Europe’s elite club competition for the first time in their history.

The Serie A leaders look set to drop out of the top eight on Wednesday with five teams that can overtake them, and their maximum possible points tally of 15 — should they win at Borussia Dortmund next week — makes a playoff spot likely.

More worryingly it was another big game defeat for Cristian Chivu’s team who have struggled in high-profile contests and were sloppy for both of Jesus’ goals.

Arsenal looked like they would stroll to victory when Jesus poked home the Gunners’ opener in the 10th minute, the Brazilian pouncing on Jurrien Timber’s mishit shot to score his first Champions League goal November 2023.

But his goal was quickly cancelled out by Sucic’s thumping drive as Inter abandoned their initial cautious strategy and began to cause Arsenal problems.

Sucic spurned a perfect chance to unleash another shot in the 27th minute when sent charging through by Lautaro Martinez, but he dawdled and then played a poor pass to Marcus Thuram who slashed his effort high and wide.

Inter were punished for spurning that opportunity four minutes later by Jesus, who was left completely unmarked near the goalline for one of Arsenal’s special set-piece routines.

Bukayo Saka’s deep, looping corner was headed back onto the crossbar by Leandro Trossard and the ball fell straight to Jesus who made no mistake.

Inter didn’t roll over, with Federico Dimarco and substitute Pio Esposito both going close with angled drives, but Gyokeres struck on the break to seal the deal and allow fans to look ahead to United.

AFP

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Kylian Mbappe struck twice against his former side Monaco as Real Madrid romped to an emphatic 6-1 Champions League victory on Tuesday to ease tensions around the club.

AFP 

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The former governor of Lagos State, Babatunde Fashola, has recommended reputation management education for the newly appointed ambassadors before their deployment to enable them represent Nigeria well on the global stage.

Fashola gave this recommendation when he delivered the keynote address during the Nigeria Reputation Summit 2026 hosted by the Nigeria Reputation Management Group in Abuja.

Other dignitaries who were present at that event include the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris; the Chairman of Channels Media Group, Dr John Momoh; President of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations, Dr Ike Neliaku, among others.

Watch the video below:

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Manchester City suffered a humiliating 3-1 defeat against Bodo/Glimt on Tuesday as the Norwegian minnows caused one of the biggest shocks in Champions League history.

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