In Tokyo, two boxers died from injuries sustained during professional bouts. Another athlete is in a coma after a fight.
Matt Smith, known for his role in "House of the Dragon", is expected to get a villain role in Lucasfilm's "Star Wars: Starfighter" film. Filming will begin in the autumn, with the premiere scheduled for May 28, 2027.
The city of Isesaki, Japan, recorded its highest temperature in history – 41. 8°C. The heat has gripped most of the country, causing heatstroke warnings.
Two barges caught fire at a fireworks festival in Yokohama, causing chaos. Five workers were rescued, one sustained minor injuries.
An opinion column by financial expert Olena Sosedka.
World Athletics has introduced mandatory gender testing for all female athletes wishing to compete in the women's category. The new rules come into effect on September 1, 2025, and will apply to the World Championships in Tokyo.
The European Union plans to impose 30% tariffs on American goods worth about 100 billion euros if the US follows through on its threat of tariffs after August 1. This will include industrial goods, cars, and whiskey, affecting a third of American exports to the EU.
Warner Bros. announced a large-scale celebration of the 20th anniversary of the film "Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire" in 2025, which will include a re-release in cinemas, fan meetings, and exclusive merchandise. Events will take place in Europe, Asia, and North America, and new 3D Bitmoji lenses for Snapchat will also be launched.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President António Costa will meet with the leaders of Japan and China. In Tokyo, agreements on cooperation in the defense industry and economic security are planned to be signed, while no significant agreements are expected from the summit in Beijing.
The third season of the Japanese series "Alice in Borderland" will be released on Netflix on September 25. The teaser shows the characters returning to the real world and Usagi's kidnapping, which forces Arisu to go back to Borderland.
Chinese fighters flew extremely close to Japanese military aircraft. Tokyo expressed serious concern and called on Beijing to prevent a recurrence of such incidents.
Zelenskyy warned that the transfer of Russian-Iranian drone technologies to North Korea poses a serious threat to Europe and Asia. He called for an immediate response before Seoul and Tokyo come under attack.
The presentation of the Nintendo Switch 2 caused a stir among fans who lined up in queues. The new console has a larger screen, improved graphics and games like Mario Kart World.
The Japanese government plans to use soil from Fukushima in the Prime Minister's garden. This should demonstrate the safety of the cleaned soil for health and the environment.
An explosion occurred at a construction site in Tokyo, presumably due to a gas leak, injuring 10 people. The incident caused a fire and damage to surrounding buildings.
Michael B. Tretow, ABBA's sound engineer, has died at the age of 81. He worked with the band from its inception and made a great contribution to the creation of hits such as "Waterloo."
Tokyo authorities are canceling water fees for 4 months to help residents survive the heat. In 2023, hundreds of people died from heatstroke in Tokyo, and the authorities allocated $250 million.
Yaroslava Mahuchikh won the Continental Tour stage in Tokyo, clearing a height of 1. 96 m. This is her fourth consecutive victory.
In Japan, the Tokaido Shinkansen train service was suspended due to a snake that caused a power outage. Traffic was restored an hour and a half later after a safety check.
Japanese director Takashi Miike will shoot a new version of "Bad Lieutenant" in Tokyo. The film will star Lily James, Shun Oguri, and Liv Morgan.
In the Japanese city of Osaka, an SUV driver ran into a group of elementary school students. Seven children sustained injuries of varying degrees of severity, including a broken jaw.
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.
Tourism in Europe is leading to a housing shortage, displacing locals. In Italy, Portugal, and Spain, city residents are protesting to ban Airbnb-like rental platforms.
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.
Rapper Kanye West has traveled to Tokyo following disputes with Kim Kardashian over their daughter North's music collaboration with Playboi Carti. West criticized Carti and stated that the man has the final say regarding the children.
Japan has created a Joint Operations Command to better coordinate troops. This is a response to challenges from China and North Korea, as well as strengthening its partnership with the United States.
Tesla plans to launch a self-driving taxi service in Austin in the summer of 2025. The company has also announced the release of the Optimus robot and large-scale production of cyber taxis by 2026.
One million people gathered in Times Square in New York to celebrate the New Year with the traditional ball drop. Despite the rain and increased security measures, the show included celebrity appearances and a ton of confetti.
Japan celebrated the New Year with traditional ringing of the bell at Tokudai-ji temple. South Korea canceled festive performances due to the Boeing 737 plane crash that killed 179 people.
British actress Olivia Hussey died at her home on December 27. During her career, she starred in more than 50 projects, including the iconic role of Juliet at the age of 15.
