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Daily Briefing

Welcome back. We start the year with two stories from Japan, where a plane was engulfed in flames at a Tokyo airport and rescuers rush to reach earthquake survivors. We also have the latest on the wars in Gaza and Ukraine.

Plus, a look at Myanmar's "watermelons" – soldiers on the outside, rebels inside.

By Edson Caldas

Today's Top News

Firefighters work at Haneda International Airport. REUTERS/Issei Kato

All 379 passengers and crew of a Japan Airlines plane escaped a devastating fire that erupted after it collided with a smaller coast guard aircraft at Tokyo's Haneda airport. However, five out of the six crew of the coast guard aircraft died, while the captain escaped, Japan's transport minister said.
At least 48 people were killed after a powerful earthquake hit Japan on New Year's Day. Rescue teams are struggling to reach isolated areas where buildings had been toppled, roads wrecked and power cut to tens of thousands of homes. We have a factbox on major Japanese quakes in the last 30 years.
South Korea's opposition leader Lee Jae-myung was stabbed in the neck during a visit to the southern city of Busan and was airlifted to Seoul after receiving emergency treatment. The country has a history of political violence dating back to its founding in 1948. Here are some of the most recent incidents.
Israel said its troops had killed dozens of militants in the north of the Gaza Strip in the past day, while its aircraft and tanks stepped up strikes in the south of the Palestinian enclave. Residents said heavy fighting was also raging in central areas, citing shelling of parts of the Al-Bureij refugee camp.
In more news from Israel, the country's Supreme Court struck down a highly disputed law that rolled back some of the court's power and sparked months of nationwide protests. Senior Correspondent Dan Williams tells the daily Reuters World News podcast what the decision means. Listen now.
Heavy missile and drone strikes on Kyiv and the northeastern city of Kharkiv killed two civilians, wounded dozens and caused widespread damage, Ukrainian officials said. The attacks, which come after Russia stepped up air strikes over the New Year period, struck residential buildings and civilian infrastructure.
Hong Kong tycoon and pro-democracy advocate Jimmy Lai pleaded not guilty in his landmark trial, where he is accused of endangering China's national security. Lai, a leading critic of the Chinese Communist Party, faces two counts of conspiracy to collude with foreign forces.
Bitter disputes on how to handle relations with China and avoid conflict are dominating the final stretch of election campaigning in Taiwan. Some polls show a tight race between the main two contenders to be the island's next president. China called on Taiwan's people to promote a "peaceful reunification."

Business & Markets

The world's biggest cryptocurrency started the New Year with a bang. Bitcoin stormed above $45,000 for the first time since April 2022, buoyed by optimism around the possible approval of exchange-traded spot bitcoin funds.
China urged the Netherlands to "respect market principles" a day after chip machine maker ASML said the Dutch government had revoked an export license covering the shipment of some of its equipment to China.
Global mega-cap companies, led by the technology sector, posted solid gains in 2023, boosted by optimism over artificial intelligence, that inflation was peaking and on hopes for further economic stimulus from central banks.
Meanwhile, global factories had a weak finish to the year, with euro zone activity contracting for an 18th straight month in December and Asia's manufacturing powerhouses taking a hit due to China's patchy economic recovery.

Soldier on the outside, rebel inside

Former Myanmar police officer Yan at an undisclosed location. REUTERS/Staff

For about two years, says 24-year-old Yan, a former Myanmar police officer, he risked his life pretending to serve the military junta while secretly spying for the armed resistance. "I freed myself from unfair orders."

The country's junta is facing the fiercest threat to its power since seizing control in a 2021 coup as it battles an unprecedented alliance of opponents while weakened by some internal dissent and defections.

Read our report.

And Finally...

Fireworks over the Sydney Opera House and Harbour Bridge. AAP Image/Dan Himbrechts

The world welcomed 2024 with a mix of celebration and somber reflection. Here's how places and people around the world bid farewell to 2023. We also have a photo gallery with some of the best firework shows.

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