Japan
Japanese company NTT successfully tested the world's first drone capable of inducing and redirecting lightning to protect infrastructure. During the test on December 13, 2024, the drone withstood a strike of up to 150,000 amperes and remained in the air.
The Philippines and the US have begun joint "Balikatan" exercises involving 17,000 troops amid tensions with China. For three weeks, they will practice a battle scenario near the South China Sea to deter Beijing.
Hungary can force the EU to lift sanctions against €210 billion of frozen Russian assets. This will remove the guarantee on loans to Ukraine and shift their coverage to EU and G7 taxpayers.
China is massively implementing embodied AI, from humanoid robots to drones, to accelerate the economy and solve strategic tasks. This technological revolution is taking place against the backdrop of escalating competition with the US for leadership in key AI developments.
Trump's global trade war is leading to a fall in stocks, especially for technology companies. Nvidia expects losses of $5.5 billion, and airlines are preparing for an uncertain summer season.
A briefing for diplomats on sanctions against Russia was held in the OP. The impact of restrictions, foreign components in weapons and the confiscation of Russian assets were discussed.
Four people have been arrested in Japan on suspicion of selling AI-generated pornographic posters. They uploaded obscene images to AI, later selling posters for thousands of yen.
Icelandic whaling company Hvalur has canceled the season due to falling prices in Japan and economic uncertainty. The situation will be reviewed next year.
Britain and France will present Trump with a force plan for Ukraine, hoping to convince the United States to provide security guarantees to Kyiv. Military leaders are working out the details of the European coalition.
New US tariffs could lead to higher prices for Nintendo and Sony game consoles. The price of Switch 2 or PS5 may increase by 30% as production is concentrated in China.
Research shows that plastic recycling is hardly increasing, despite the increase in its production. In 2022, only 9.5% of new plastic was made from recycled materials.
The plant, which is part of the Russian military-industrial complex, was damaged. Ukraine, the EU, the US, Britain, Japan and Switzerland have imposed sanctions against the plant for supporting the war.
Ukraine and Japan signed an agreement to allocate $58 million for humanitarian demining, energy and infrastructure restoration. Japan has already provided Ukraine with $12 billion in aid.
Kim Jong-un's sister stated that North Korea will never abandon its nuclear program. Any negotiations on denuclearization are a denial of the country's sovereignty.
Asian countries are responding to US tariffs, protecting their financial interests. Japan is negotiating, South Korea is providing support to automakers, India is cutting rates.
Donald Trump has introduced super-high import duties for a number of countries. According to him, world leaders are ready for anything to conclude trade agreements with the United States.
New trade restrictions with ultra-high duties of 104% on Chinese imports have entered into force in the US. Financial markets have reacted with a fall in indices and currencies in Asia.
Elon Musk again criticized White House adviser Peter Navarro, calling him ignorant for statements about Tesla's production. The White House allowed "sparring", acknowledging different views.
In Wakayama Prefecture, a new railway station was built using 3D printing on the site of an old wooden building from 1948. Construction lasted only six hours.
Bessent stated the desire of nearly 70 countries to help restore world trade. The United States also plans to negotiate with Japan to implement the President's vision for a new era of trade.
A medical helicopter crashed near Japan. Three people died, including a patient, a doctor and a caretaker. The pilot, mechanic and nurse were rescued.
Due to Trump's tariffs and the trade war, the situation in the markets is deteriorating. US stocks are falling, and Asian markets are suffering from their worst week since the pandemic.
Naruhito and Masako bowed at the memorial, marking the 80th anniversary of the Battle of Iwo Jima. The island, where thousands of soldiers died, is closed to civilians.
US stock index futures and Asian stocks fell sharply after Trump announced he would maintain large-scale tariffs. The fall occurred amid fears of a global economic recession.
Nintendo has delayed pre-orders for the Switch 2 in the US due to uncertainty over Trump's tariffs. The company's shares fell by 10%, despite the planned release of the console on June 5.
Preliminary, an electric car Nissan LEAF caught fire due to a short circuit. The spokesman of the State Emergency Service denied rumors about the explosion, explaining that the bang could have been caused by a short circuit.
The foreign ministers of the G7 countries expressed concern about China's provocative actions around Taiwan. They called for peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy criticized the US ambassador for the weak reaction to the Russian attack on Kryvyi Rih. He thanked other countries for their support and called for increased sanctions.
Yesterday, Russia struck Kryvyi Rih. At least 19 people died, including 9 children. The international community expressed condolences to the families of the victims and condemned Russian aggression.
Global stock markets fell after Trump announced new tariffs. Nike, Apple, H&M and other companies that depend on imports were the most affected.