The Russian Far East, China, and Japan are suffering from extreme winter conditions caused by the strongest snowfall in 60 years and an Arctic cyclone. The bad weather has led to massive disruptions in transport and paralyzed the life of entire regions.
In 2025, Japan welcomed over 40 million foreign tourists for the first time, reaching 42. 7 million. At the same time, in December, the number of Chinese visitors decreased by 45%.
Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi announced the dissolution of the House of Representatives on January 23 and the calling of snap elections. The reasons cited were political instability and the need to ascertain the will of the voters.
Donald Trump has invited a number of countries to his "Peace Council for Gaza" to implement a 20-point plan. The signing ceremony is scheduled for this Thursday in Davos.
Ukraine national team forward Artem Dovbyk underwent surgery after an injury sustained in the match against Lecce. The recovery period is unknown, but his participation in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers is questionable.
The US Department of Commerce and Taiwan have reached an agreement on tariff reduction and investment. Taiwan has pledged to invest $500 billion in the US technology sector.
The Japanese Ministry of Defense confirmed the presence of a Russian Vishnya-class reconnaissance ship near the islands of Yonaguni and Miyako from January 13 to 15. The vessel with hull number 535 was observed by the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force.
Japan has transferred the final batch of 14 units of special equipment to Ukraine, completing the implementation of an additional aid package. The cargo included trucks, high-mobility vehicles, and tracked transporters.
This refers to fifty foreign machine tools that are operating for the Russian military-industrial complex. Among them are equipment of Czech, American, and Chinese production, which is used for manufacturing weapons.
The Trump administration is finalizing negotiations with Taiwan to reduce tariffs by 5% in exchange for expanding semiconductor production. TSMC commits to building five new factories in Arizona.
The drone is controlled by an operator in real time and uses Chinese components.
Asian stock markets opened the week with gains due to positive US employment data. Oil prices are rising amid escalating protests in Iran.
Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi may call early general elections in February 2026 to convert high approval ratings into a stable majority. The vote could take place on February 8 or 15.
France has postponed the G7 summit by one day to avoid coinciding with Donald Trump's 80th birthday and a UFC tournament at the White House. The event will take place on June 15-17, 2026, in Évian-les-Bains.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy highly praised the meeting of the Coalition of the Willing in Paris on January 6, where 27 heads of state, the EU, NATO, and other representatives were present. He emphasized the importance of joint declarations and the readiness to deploy coalition forces for real security.
G7 foreign ministers will hold a conference call tonight. The discussion will focus on Venezuela and Ukraine.
On January 6, dangerous meteorological phenomena are expected in Ukraine, including ice, fog, and black ice on roads in a number of regions. Level I danger - yellow - has been declared, which may complicate the operation of enterprises and traffic.
Western Japan was shaken by a 6. 2 magnitude earthquake, with its epicenter in Shimane Prefecture. Four people were hospitalized with minor injuries, and there was no tsunami threat.
Japan's Ministry of Defense recorded a group of Chinese military aircraft, including H-6 bombers and J-16 fighters, flying between the islands of Okinawa and Miyako. In response, the Japan Self-Defense Forces scrambled fighter jets for observation.
The leaders of China and South Korea have agreed to intensify trade cooperation and protect regional stability. The visit of South Korean leader Lee Jae-myung took place against the backdrop of North Korea's ballistic missile tests.
At the first auction of 2026 in Tokyo, a 243 kg tuna was sold for $3. 2 million to Kiyomura Corp. The owner of the Sushi Zanmai sushi bar chain set a new record, surpassing his 2019 figure.
On January 4, the DPRK launched several ballistic missiles towards the Sea of Japan. The launches were recorded from the Pyongyang area at about 07:50 a.m. local time.
Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi will meet with President Donald Trump this spring. The meeting will take place amid escalating regional tensions due to Chinese military exercises around Taiwan.
The US dollar started 2026 with a strengthening after last year's difficulties, while the yen approached a 10-month low. Traders are awaiting US economic data to forecast changes in interest rates this year.
Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te has vowed to defend the island's sovereignty, citing China's expansionist ambitions. This came after Beijing concluded live-fire military exercises off Taiwan's coast.
Bloomberg presented a review of the 11 most anticipated hotel properties scheduled to open in 2026. The list includes private island resorts and renovated historic palaces in major metropolises.
The first to welcome 2026 were Oceania and Asia, where celebrations are accompanied by pyrotechnic shows and traditional rituals. New Zealand greeted the year with a five-minute fireworks display over Sky Tower, while Sydney honored the victims of the terrorist attack with a minute of silence and projections on the Harbour Bridge.
Japan, South and North Korea officially entered the New Year. Traditional ceremonies were held in Seoul and Japan, and a large-scale fireworks display in Pyongyang.
Japan has transferred approximately 47. 7 million euros for the reconstruction of Ukraine. The funds will be directed to support humanitarian demining, maintenance of energy infrastructure, and restoration of water supply systems.
In 2025, Ukraine attracted over $52. 4 billion in external aid, of which more than 70% came from frozen Russian assets. These funds allowed for the full provision of social and humanitarian expenditures, while domestic resources were directed to security and defense.
