Japan

Spiritual leader of the Ashaninka people in Brazil, Benki Piyãko has been promoting reforestation, environmental education, and the transmission of indigenous knowledge for over 15 years, becoming an internationally recognised voice for the defence of the Amazon.

The government has identified the site, Minamitorishima, Japan’s easternmost island. Uninhabited and off-limits to tourists, it has “some unexplored landmass capable of hosting a facility,” according to Japan’s Industry Minister.

The latest official demographic data show opposite trends in the two East Asian countries. Despite government measures and some tentative signs regarding fertility rates, Japan is failing to reverse the trend. South Korea is experiencing a rise in births among women over 30, but the country is still the most affected by the demographic winter.

Over the years, Japan has built a figure skating tradition capable of producing champions much loved at home. These successes are rooted in rigorous training and early selection. Since the 1990s, the Japan Skating Federation has built a national team that teaches athletes how to cope with pressure from a young age.

With yesterday's landslide victory, Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi will be able to advance her electoral platform, potentially opening the door to constitutional reform. The prime minister has also proposed cutting consumption taxes and boosting the defence forces. Analysts believe that tensions with China in recent months had an impact on results.

On 8 February, Japan will see a snap election for the lower house of parliament, called by the prime minister to capitalise on her popularity. The minimum target (well within reach according to the polls) is 261 seats for the coalition, which would allow it to govern with greater ease. However, the Liberal Democratic Party's individual results will also carry a lot of weight. Takaichi is counting on young people returning to the polls. The unknown factor of the far right Sanseito

Human rights and religious organisations denounce the increase in xenophobic rhetoric ahead of the 8 February vote. In a joint statement, they call on parties, candidates and the media to condemn hate speech. Criticism of the government's policies Takaichi: ‘We want a society where the human dignity of all is guaranteed’.

The prime minister announced the early dissolution of the lower house, elected in October 2024. The next election is set for 8 February. She explicitly asked voters to give her a strong mandate. Initial polls are mixed: half of voters did not want an early vote, but few consider the new centrist alliance formed by the two main opposition parties a serious challenger.

The main opposition party and Komeito, which left the governing coalition government, plan to create a new political entity to stand against the ruling LDP. Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi plans to call a snap election to capitalise on her current honeymoon with voters to get a strong majority. The vote, which could come as early as 8 February, risks complicating the short-term management of the country’s economic crisis.

The South Korean president's trip to China marked a significant diplomatic rapprochement between Seoul and Beijing after years of frostiness, but leaves fundamental strategic issues unresolved. Despite attempts to engage on the Pyongyang dossier, the Chinese government avoids any reference to denuclearisation. Economic agreements signed by Korean conglomerates on rare earths and strategic minerals

China cites "international law” and “the UN Charter" to stand with Venezuela (while not respecting it in the South China Sea). Xi Jinping calls on South Korean President Lee to make the “right strategic choices”. A former Japanese defence minister is concerned about a possible domino effect involving Taiwan. India is cautious in order to keep a door open for Trump on tariffs.

Some 15,000 people gathered in Hanoi at the shrine of the Vietnamese martyrs to celebrate the conclusion of a Holy Year marked by more than a thousand pilgrimages. Celebrations were also held in dioceses in mainland China. In Japan, Cardinal Kikuchi addressed the Church of Tokyo: "May the flame of hope never be extinguished.”