Heavy snowfall across Japan has claimed at least 45 lives and injured over 500 people since January 20, according to the Japan Fire and Disaster Management Agency, as the nation braces for more severe weather. The northwestern region of Niigata Prefecture recorded the highest number of fatalities, with 17 deaths and over 170 injuries. The Japan Meteorological Agency has issued warnings of further heavy snow in western and northern coastal regions.
The severe weather has caused widespread disruption, with many vehicles stranded in snowy conditions, particularly in Aomori City and Wakkanai. Euronews reported that the agency is monitoring the situation closely and providing updates as the storm progresses. The agency has not yet released details on the economic impact of the snowfall.
In other news, thousands of Romanian teachers and education staff protested in Bucharest this week against the government's planned austerity measures in the education sector, according to Euronews. The teachers are threatening to strike if the government implements the measures, which include a 10% cut. The protests followed the approval of two austerity packages by the coalition government led by Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan.
Meanwhile, the upcoming 2026 Olympic Winter Games are facing controversy as reports surface of male ski jumpers allegedly injecting their penises with fillers to gain a competitive advantage, Ars Technica reported. The rumor suggests that a larger bulge could earn jumpers extra centimeters of material in their jumpsuits, potentially increasing their surface area for gliding. A 2025 study cited by Ars Technica indicated that even a small increase in fabric could make a significant difference in the sport.
In legal news, a New York federal judge took the rare step of terminating a case this week due to a lawyer's repeated misuse of AI when drafting filings, Ars Technica reported. Judge Katherine Polk Failla ruled that the attorney, Steven Feldman, repeatedly submitted documents containing fake citations and "florid prose." The judge found the attorney's actions warranted extraordinary sanctions.
Finally, the price of Valve's upcoming Steam Machine is under review due to the rising cost of critical components like RAM and storage, Ars Technica reported. Valve announced in a blog post that they must revisit the shipping schedule and pricing for the living room-focused PC gaming box. Analysts are divided on how much of the increased component costs Valve will pass on to consumers.
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