Heavy snowfall across Japan has claimed at least 45 lives and injured over 500 people since January 20, according to reports from the Japan Fire and Disaster Management Agency and Euronews. The northwestern region of Niigata Prefecture was hit hardest, recording 17 deaths and over 170 injuries. The Japan Meteorological Agency has warned of further heavy snow in western and northern coastal regions.
The severe weather conditions have caused widespread disruption, with many vehicles stranded in the snow, as seen in Aomori City and Wakkanai. The Euronews report, updated on February 7, 2026, highlighted the ongoing challenges as Japan braced for more snowfall over the weekend.
In other news, the German army brigade in Lithuania is facing hybrid attacks, according to Euronews. Soldiers have reported mysterious phone calls and drone surveillance, raising concerns about Russian tactics. One soldier described receiving a call where they heard their own voice from a previous conversation, indicating potential digital intrusion.
Meanwhile, in the United States, enforcement of environmental laws under the Trump administration saw a significant decline, according to a report by the Environmental Integrity Project, as reported by Ars Technica. Civil lawsuits filed by the Department of Justice in cases referred by the Environmental Protection Agency dropped to just 16 in the first year after Trump's inauguration on January 20, 2025. This was a 76 percent decrease compared to the first year of the Biden administration.
The 2026 Olympic Winter Games have also been marked by controversy, with allegations of male ski jumpers injecting their penises with fillers to gain a competitive advantage, as reported by Ars Technica. The rumor suggests that a larger bulge could provide extra centimeters of material in their jumpsuits, potentially increasing surface area for gliding.
Finally, a New York federal judge took the rare step of terminating a case due to a lawyer's repeated misuse of AI in drafting filings, as reported by Ars Technica. Judge Katherine Polk Failla ruled that extraordinary sanctions were warranted after attorney Steven Feldman repeatedly submitted documents containing fake citations. One of Feldman's filings was noted for its "conspicuously florid prose."
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