26.01.2026 – WEEKLY BRIEFING

Japan PM Takaichi dissolves parliament, paving way for snap election – 23.01.2026

Japan’s Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi has dissolved the lower house of parliament ahead of a snap election scheduled for February 8, aiming to capitalize on her strong approval ratings of around 70 percent after only three months in office to strengthen the position of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), which governs in coalition with the Japan Innovation Party and currently holds only a slim majority; the election campaign is expected to focus mainly on rising living costs and growing tensions with China following Takaichi’s November remarks about possible Japanese involvement in a conflict over Taiwan, which triggered diplomatic and economic retaliation from Beijing; although inflation slowed in December to 2.4 percent thanks to government energy subsidies, high food prices-especially rice-continue to fuel public discontent, prompting both government and opposition camps to consider scrapping the consumption tax on food; meanwhile, the main opposition Constitutional Democratic Party has formed a new alliance with Komeito to attract swing voters, but analysts say that while the race could be close, the opposition’s chances of winning remain limited.

Row erupts within UK’s governing Labour Party after popular mayor blocked from upcoming election – 25.01.2026

A dispute has erupted within Britain’s governing Labour Party after Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham was blocked from standing in a by-election to return to Parliament, a decision taken by the party’s National Executive Committee on the grounds that it would trigger a costly and “unnecessary” mayoral election and strain campaign resources; Burnham, who has led Greater Manchester since 2017 and has previously expressed interest in the party leadership, said he was disappointed but would focus on his current role, while the decision comes ahead of difficult local and regional elections in May, with opinion polls suggesting Labour could lose ground in Wales, fail to recover in Scotland and suffer setbacks in local elections in England, as parties such as Reform UK and the Greens benefit from Labour’s declining support; although some party figures argued the decision would help end internal tensions and allow Labour to unite behind its candidate, others-particularly from the party’s left-criticised the move, and the controversy also reflects broader concerns about the party’s falling poll ratings since its landslide victory in July 2024 and internal disagreements, including differences between Burnham and the party leadership over economic policy.

EU, India set for historic trade deal amid US tariffs – 25.01.2026

The European Union and India are preparing to finalize a comprehensive free trade agreement and a new security and defense partnership at a summit in New Delhi this week, aiming both to deepen economic ties and to gradually draw India away from its close political and military relationship with Russia; the deal is expected to create a market of nearly 2 billion people accounting for about a quarter of global GDP, with the EU seeking cuts in India’s high tariffs on products such as cars and alcohol, while India is demanding easier access for its textiles and pharmaceuticals and more opportunities for its professionals to work in the EU. While the EU points to bilateral trade worth €120 billion in 2024 and sees India as one of the world’s fastest-growing major economies, New Delhi hopes to offset the impact of US tariffs and expand cooperation in areas such as joint defense production, as it gradually diversifies its military suppliers away from Russia. However, major disagreements remain over agriculture, steel and environmental rules, with India concerned about the impact of European farm products on millions of livelihoods and the EU under pressure to protect its own farmers, while Brussels’ higher steel tariffs and carbon tax are viewed by India as protectionist measures. Despite these obstacles, both sides say they share an interest in strengthening strategic cooperation, diversifying supply chains and reducing economic dependencies, and agree that negotiations should continue moving forward.

European leaders gather at North Sea energy summit as Greenland tensions loom – 26.01.2026

European leaders are meeting in Germany on Monday to discuss the future of clean energy and security cooperation in the North Sea, although concerns over US President Donald Trump’s stance on Greenland may overshadow the talks; the summit in Hamburg, hosted by German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, is formally focused on expanding offshore wind power, developing the hydrogen market and improving interconnected offshore infrastructure, but security issues-including suspected Russian sabotage and surveillance activities and rising geopolitical tensions in the Arctic-are also high on the agenda. While North Sea countries have set a target of 300 gigawatts of wind capacity by 2050, current trends suggest they will fall well short of interim goals by 2030, as the sector faces challenges such as port bottlenecks, parts shortages and grid limitations. The meeting brings together leaders and representatives from Denmark, Norway, the Netherlands, Ireland, Belgium, Luxembourg, NATO, the European Commission and Iceland, with Britain and France sending ministers, and officials argue that wind energy can support both climate objectives and energy security by providing a more resilient, decentralized system, even as they acknowledge that improving coordination and protection of infrastructure will involve additional costs.

Another Minnesota shooting turns immigration crackdown into a national reckoning – 26.01.2026

The killing of US citizen Alex Pretti by federal agents in Minnesota has sparked a nationwide debate over the scope and methods of the Trump administration’s hardline immigration enforcement operations, as cellphone footage of the incident spread rapidly and conflicting official statements drew public criticism; while the administration says thousands of federal agents deployed to Minnesota are targeting irregular immigration, critics argue that the operations raise serious questions about constitutional rights, proportional use of force and accountability. The fact that the investigation into Pretti’s death will again be conducted by federal agencies has further fueled concerns about transparency and trust, especially given controversy over a similar earlier case, and several politicians and former presidents have described the incident as a warning sign for democratic values. President Trump has blamed Democratic local officials and continued to defend his policies, but with his approval ratings falling, analysts say the administration’s approach risks deepening both political and social tensions.

At least seven dead and 800,000 without power as major winter storm hits US – 26.01.2026

A severe winter storm has swept across the United States, causing at least seven deaths and leaving over 800,000 households without power, while forcing widespread school and road closures and the cancellation of more than 11,000 flights, as conditions including heavy snow, sleet, and freezing rain affect an estimated 180 million Americans from Texas to New England; fatalities have been reported in Louisiana, Texas, Tennessee, Kansas, and New York, with hypothermia suspected in several cases, while authorities warn that ice accumulation poses major hazards to roads, trees, and power lines, contributing to hundreds of vehicle crashes in states such as Virginia and Kentucky. Officials have declared emergencies in nearly half of US states, including Washington, D.C., and urged residents to stay indoors, noting that unusually extreme cold is affecting southern states well below seasonal averages, with the polar vortex driving the storm and forecasts indicating that dangerously cold conditions could persist into early February.

Death toll in Philippine boat accident climbs to 15, hundreds rescued – 26.01.2026

A ferry accident in the southern Philippines has killed at least 15 people and left 28 missing, while 316 passengers have been rescued, the Philippine Coast Guard reported, as search and rescue operations continue; the MV Trisha Kerstin 3, carrying 332 passengers and 27 crew-within its authorized capacity of 352-capsized early Monday en route from Zamboanga to Jolo in Sulu province, with military aircraft and vessels assisting in recovery efforts. Authorities are investigating the cause of the accident, and officials noted that while most survivors are in stable condition, several elderly passengers required emergency medical care. Maritime accidents are common in the Philippines, an archipelago of over 7,000 islands, where safety standards are inconsistent.

Russian strike on Ukraine’s Kyiv leaves 1,330 buildings still without heat, mayor says – 26.01.2026

More than 1,300 apartment buildings in Kyiv are still without heating following recent Russian missile and drone attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, Kyiv Mayor Vitalii Klitschko said, noting that utility workers have restored heat to about 2,000 buildings but 1,330 remain affected; the strikes, which left around 1.2 million properties nationwide without power during sub-zero winter temperatures, came as Ukrainian, Russian and US representatives were holding talks in Abu Dhabi on possible ways to end the war. President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said Russia has sharply intensified attacks on energy and civilian infrastructure, reporting that in just one week hundreds of drones, guided bombs and dozens of missiles were launched, while authorities said repair efforts are continuing to mitigate the impact on civilian life.