Overview
- Ukraine-based analysis group Deep State reported that Russian forces newly occupied 4,336 square kilometers in 2025, about 0.7% of Ukraine’s territory.
- Kitami in Hokkaido decided to reduce its municipal water-supply area starting in fiscal 2026 to curb future expansion and lower long-term maintenance costs.
- The city’s network spans roughly 1,200 kilometers of pipe, and officials plan to present details to the February council session with an ordinance revision targeted for September 2026.
- At the Snowboard World Cup halfpipe in Calgary, Japan’s Hakuto Shimazaki finished 10th and Koyata Kikuchihara 12th in qualifying to advance to the final.
- MLB’s official site highlighted eight 2026 storylines, including March’s World Baseball Classic with Japan seeking a title defense and Shohei Ohtani’s two-way presence, a feature echoed by Japanese outlets.