Rapper Kanye West on Monday denied being a Nazi and expressed remorse over his antisemitic rants, blaming such habits — which included recording a music that celebrates Hitler…
Source
Kanye West blames bipolar dysfunction amid outrage over antisemitic rants
Victoria Beckham honored in Paris amid household rift
Victoria Beckham escaped the bitterness of a household feud with a visit to Paris on Monday to obtain an award from the tradition ministry for her contribution to…
Source
Imperial Family Stages Noh Performance to Support Disaster Area
TOKYO, Jan 27 (News On Japan) –
A Noh efficiency created to help restoration from the Noto Peninsula earthquake was staged in Tokyo on January twenty fifth after an uncommon crowdfunding marketing campaign led by a member of Japan’s Imperial household raised greater than 13 million yen in donations over three months.
The newly produced work, titled Urushi Kuyo, was offered as a prayer for reconstruction and as a means to attract consideration to Noto’s conventional lacquer craft trade, which was closely affected by the 2024 earthquake.
The piece was primarily based on a waka poem written by Princess Akiko of the Mikasa household, with Noh performer Kanze Kiyokazu serving as supervisor, and the story was constructed round a lacquer artisan as its central determine.
Scenes depicted conventional methods similar to urushi-kaki, the method of creating cuts in lacquer bushes to gather sap, highlighting each the craftsmanship and the cultural heritage behind the trade.
Many artisans in Noto suffered harm within the earthquake, elevating issues that the area’s lacquer traditions might be misplaced, and the crowdfunding effort was launched to assist help these concerned within the craft and maintain the abilities alive for future generations.
Princess Akiko mentioned she had labored towards the efficiency within the perception that providing a Noh play in solidarity with these affected, and with everybody linked to Noto’s lacquer trade, might assist in some small solution to help the restoration.
She additionally expressed hope that Urushi Kuyo will proceed to be carried out and that it will possibly at some point be staged in Noto itself.
Source: FNN
Monks Hold Firefighting Drill in Nara
NARA, Jan 27 (News On Japan) –
A water-spraying firefighting drill was held on the World Heritage-listed Horyuji Temple in Ikaruga, Nara Prefecture, on January twenty sixth, Cultural Property Fire Prevention Day, with monks and native volunteer firefighters collaborating.
The annual drill commemorates the January twenty sixth, 1949 fireplace on the temple’s Kondo (Golden Hall), through which murals have been broken whereas they have been being copied, an incident that later led to the enactment of the Law for the Protection of Cultural Properties in 1950 and the institution of Cultural Property Fire Prevention Day in 1955.
Source: Kyodo
Japan Seen Allowing Crypto ETFs as Early as 2028
TOKYO, Jan 27 (News On Japan) –
According to the Nikkei, Japan is predicted to raise its ban on exchange-traded funds (ETFs) that spend money on crypto belongings as early as 2028.
The Financial Services Agency plans to revise an enforcement ordinance underneath the Investment Trust Act so as to add crypto belongings to the listing of “specified assets,” which defines the principle funding targets for mutual funds, paving the best way for asset administration companies underneath SBI Holdings and Nomura Holdings to develop associated merchandise. The transfer would make crypto belongings equivalent to Bitcoin extra accessible to each particular person and institutional buyers, broadening the vary of funding choices in Japan’s asset administration market.
Source: テレ東BIZ
‘Very, very shut’: EU Trade Commissioner Maros Sefcovic on signing of India-EU FTA
New Delhi [India], January 26 (ANI): Maros Sefcovic, the European Union Trade Commissioner, stated in an interview to Euro News that India and EU are very shut in the direction of having a signature because the finalise the a lot anticipated free commerce settlement.
Speaking to Euro News, Sefcovic stated, ‘We are checking the newest paperwork, we’re exchanging the final numbers and I consider that we’re very, very shut.’
When requested by Euro News if the deal could be signed on Tuesday, the EU Trade Commisioner stated, ‘We do our utmost and I consider we could have a signature ‘.
Upon being requested that Indians have been powerful negotiators, he informed Euro News, ‘I feel they’re identified for being very powerful negotiators and in addition our beginning positions have been very totally different. They had a excessive tariff. They are a growing nation and we needed to respect the specificity and on the identical time to guard the European basic curiosity.’
Sefcovic, who on Monday attended the Republic Day parade on Kartavya Path earlier stated that this was becoming second to reaffirm the partnership with India.
‘Being invited as a visitor for India’s Republic Day is a profound honour. There could possibly be no extra becoming second to reaffirm our partnership and to strengthen it additional by way of the conclusion of an formidable EU-India FTA,’ he posted on X.
In a big transfer to bolster ties between two of the world’s largest democracies, the European Union (EU) and India are set to unveil a ‘Security and Defence Strategic Partnership’ and are closing in on a landmark Free Trade Agreement (FTA) in the course of the upcoming summit, EU official confirmed.
Terming the present interval as a ‘end result of exceptional intensifying relations,’ the official famous that either side now acknowledge that their safety and prosperity are basically linked in a shifting international panorama.
A key deliverable of the summit would be the signing of the Security and Defence Partnership by the EU’s HRVP Kaja Kallas and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh. This marks solely the third such complete settlement the EU has signed in Asia, following Japan and the Republic of Korea.
President of the EU Commission, Ursula von der Leyen stated yesterday that Europe and India have chosen strategic partnership, dialogue and openness.
Von der Leyen stated that India and Europe are constructing mutual resilience.
Earlier in Davos, von der Leyen said the European Union is near finalising a Free Trade Agreement with India and famous that some describe it ‘the mom of all offers’
Addressing the World Economic Forum in Davos, she harassed Europe’s intent to broaden commerce and worldwide cooperation
She additionally referred to the size of the proposed commerce cope with India.
‘There continues to be work to do. But we’re on the cusp of a historic commerce settlement. Some name it the mom of all offers. One that will create a market of two billion folks, accounting for nearly 1 / 4 of world GDP,’ von der Leyen stated.
President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen and President of the European Council, Antonio Luis Santos da Costa, have been the Chief Guests for the 2026 Republic Day celebrations.
India’s 77th Republic Day parade concluded on Monday after a spectacular showcase of the nation’s army may and various tradition at Kartavya Path.
Republic Day, noticed yearly on January 26, marks the day India adopted its Constitution in 1950, formally turning into a sovereign, socialist, secular, and democratic republic. The day holds immense historic significance because it represents the end result of India’s lengthy battle for independence and the institution of constitutional governance primarily based on justice, liberty, equality and fraternity.
While independence on August 15, 1947, ended colonial rule, it was the adoption of the Constitution that accomplished India’s transition to self-governance primarily based on legislation, institutional accountability, and the need of the Indians. (ANI)
Snowy Sprint Drills Keep Farm Horses Healthy in Hokkaido
HOKKAIDO, Jan 27 (News On Japan) –
A horse train occasion geared toward stopping a scarcity of exercise amongst working farm horses is being opened to the general public in Otofuke, Hokkaido, by weekdays till February twentieth.
The “umaoi” horse-chasing train is held every year round this time on the Livestock Improvement Association’s Tokachi Station ranch to assist maintain agricultural horses in form and cut back the danger of inauspicious births for pregnant mares.
On the day of the occasion, 77 horses had been divided into three teams and ran three laps on an 800-meter observe, kicking up snow as they charged down the course.
An Australian couple watching the train mentioned it was “really great” and “moving,” including that seeing the horses up shut was particularly spectacular because of their dimension.
The ranch will proceed providing public viewing on weekdays till February twentieth.
Source: HBCニュース 北海道放送
(SP)THE PHILIPPINES-MANILA-TENNIS-WTA PHILIPPINE WOMEN’S OPEN-SINGLES
(260126) — MANILA, Jan. 26, 2026 (Xinhua) — Simona Waltert hits a return in the course of the girls’s singles spherical of 32 match between Lanlana Tararudee of Thailand and Simona Waltert of Switzerland on the WTA Philippine Women’s Open in Manila, the Philippines, Jan. 26, 2026. (Xinhua/Rouelle Umali)
Gion Tsujiri Removes ‘Uji Tea’ From Its Logo as Matcha Boom Intensifies
OSAKA, Jan 27 (News On Japan) –
The world matcha growth is exhibiting no indicators of slowing, with producers saying demand has surged to unprecedented ranges and costs have jumped sharply, elevating considerations that the development is shifting from a growth right into a bubble.
Behind the matcha frenzy, nevertheless, the pressure is spreading to on a regular basis tea, a staple of day by day life in Japan, because the influence of hovering demand begins to succeed in even merchandise historically valued for his or her affordability.
Changes are actually showing at well-known tea manufacturers, together with Gion Tsujiri, which has eliminated the phrases “Uji tea” from its brand, signaling a shift in how the corporate presents itself amid the quickly evolving market.
A senior government at Gion Tsujiri stated the model had lengthy promoted itself as “Uji tea’s Gion Tsujiri,” however has now dropped the Uji tea wording from its brand, as the corporate navigates an business being reshaped by runaway world demand.
With abroad patrons reportedly requesting purchases as massive as 100 kilograms of tea leaves, specialists warn that costs are unlikely to stabilize anytime quickly, underscoring how the matcha-driven surge is reworking the tea market in unpredictable methods.
Source: KTV NEWS
Hockey India applauds coach Baldev Singh and Savita Punia on Padma Shri recognition
New Delhi [India], January 26 (ANI): Hockey India prolonged its warmest congratulations to veteran hockey coach Baldev Singh and Indian girls’s hockey goalkeeper Savita on being conferred with the distinguished Padma Shri award, recognising their excellent contributions to Indian hockey and sport at massive, based on a launch.
Hockey India underscored the contribution of veteran hockey coach Baldev Singh, who was the power behind establishing Shahabad Markanda, a hamlet in Haryana, because the nursery for ladies’s hockey. Under Baldev’s watchful eyes, the hockey academy in Shahabad created greater than 80 worldwide hockey gamers, together with eight gamers who went on to captain the Indian workforce.
His tutelage not solely helped gamers of their formative days as hockey gamers, however he additionally contributed in direction of lifting the gamers from poverty to fame, making hockey their livelihood, and one of many largest examples of that is the rise of former India Captain Rani.
He ran the academy for over twenty years, throughout which quite a few stars emerged from his academy, together with former drag-flick specialist Sandeep Singh, former Indian Women’s Team Captain Rani, Didar Singh, Sanjeev Kumar Dang, Harpal Singh and Navjot Kaur. For his immense contribution to teaching and participant growth, Baldev Singh was earlier conferred with the Dronacharya Award in 2009.
He was additionally honoured with the distinguished Hockey India Jaman Lal Sharma Award for Invaluable Contribution in 2015/2016 for his immense dedication to growing girls’s hockey.
The Padma Shri award is a befitting recognition to this legendary coach who modified the stereotype round girls’s hockey, significantly in Haryana.
Another instance of breaking stereotypes is India’s ace goalie Savita.
She made her senior worldwide debut at 20 and has since established herself as one of many most interesting goalkeepers on this planet. Renowned for her composure, consistency and management, Savita has been on the coronary heart of India’s resurgence on the worldwide stage over the previous decade.
In 2025, she additionally grew to become solely the second Indian goalkeeper, after PR Sreejesh, to achieve 300 worldwide caps, becoming a member of an elite membership and underlining her outstanding longevity and consistency on the highest stage.
She additionally performed a pivotal position in India’s historic fourth-place end on the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, a landmark marketing campaign that elevated the stature of Indian girls’s hockey worldwide. Her expertise and presence between the posts have been additionally invaluable in qualifying for the Rio 2016 Olympics for the primary time in 36 years and the 2018 Hockey Women’s World Cup, the place India reached the Quarter-Finals.
A former captain of the Indian Women’s Hockey Team, Savita led the facet to a number of memorable achievements, together with a Bronze medal on the 2022 Birmingham Commonwealth Games and a title-winning marketing campaign on the FIH Nations Cup.
With her assist, India additionally clinched back-to-back Gold medals on the Women’s Asian Champions Trophy in 2023 and 2024, underlining the workforce’s rising dominance in Asia.
In recognition of her excellence, Savita was additionally honoured with the Arjuna Award in 2018 and is a two-time recipient of the Hockey India Balbir Singh Senior Award for Player of the Year (2022, 2023). Her brilliance between the posts has additionally earned her the FIH Goalkeeper of the Year award for 3 consecutive seasons (2020-21, 2021-22, 2022-23).
Congratulating the duo, Hockey India President Dr. Dilip Tirkey stated, ‘The Padma Shri for Shri Baldev Singh and Savita is a second of immense satisfaction for the complete hockey fraternity. Savita has redefined goalkeeping requirements in world hockey and has been a star in each sense for the Indian girls’s workforce. Her achievement of greater than 300 worldwide caps speaks volumes about her dedication and excellence. Baldev Singh’s legacy as a coach is unparalleled — generations of Indian hockey gamers have benefited from his information, self-discipline and imaginative and prescient.’
Hockey India Secretary General Shri Bhola Nath Singh added, ‘Savita’s journey displays the ability of dedication and perseverance, and her achievements proceed to encourage younger athletes throughout the nation. Baldev Singh has devoted his life to nurturing expertise and constructing Indian hockey from the grassroots to the worldwide stage. This honour is well-deserved and recognises a long time of selfless service to the game.’ (ANI)
