TOKYO/MANILA – Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, a 69-year-old native of Chicago, was elected as the 267th pope of the Roman Catholic Church on May 8, making history as the first American to assume the papacy. He has taken the name Pope Leo XIV.

MANILA – Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba met with Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. in Manila on Monday to bolster bilateral ties, agreeing to deepen defense, economic and regional cooperation as the two countries mark nearly 70 years of diplomatic relations.

MANILA – Philippine Secretary of National Defense Gilberto Teodoro Jr. said the forthcoming entry into force of the Philippines-Japan Reciprocal Access Agreement (RAA) will significantly boost the defense partnership between the two countries.

TOKYO – Philippine Ambassador to Japan Mylene Garcia-Albano met with the media on March 10 at Kudan, her official residence, to discuss the country’s participation in Expo 2025.