Overview
- Abashiri and local partners will start independent drift‑ice observations around January 10, recording both the first and last days of ice after a January 6 briefing passed on former methods.
- Defense Minister Shinjirō Koizumi met Okinawa Governor Denny Tamaki on January 8, pledging efforts to ease the U.S. base burden and discussing stronger southwest defenses given Chinese maritime activity.
- Fukui’s gubernatorial race was formally announced on January 8 with three first‑time candidates after the previous governor resigned over a sexual‑harassment issue.
- Otaru measured about 33 centimeters of snowfall as the Sapporo District Meteorological Observatory warned the region could see blizzard conditions on January 11–12.
- Hamas senior official Muhammad Nazal said in a January 7 interview in Doha that the group retains the ability to continue resistance and is cautious about disarmament.