Japan’s first female prime minister stakes her future on snap elections
Japan’s first female premier has called snap elections for Sunday. She seeks a mandate for what could be sweeping changes and possibly a lurch to the political right.
World
Where things stand after U.S. and Iranian officials’ indirect talks in Oman
The U.S. and Iran sat down for high-stakes talks as the U.S. builds up military forces in the region.
Photos: Highlights from the Winter Olympics opening ceremony
Athletes from around the world attended the 2026 Winter Olympics opening ceremony in Milan.
Gazans returning through Rafah crossing describe checks by Palestinian militia
One Palestinian woman said members of the Israel-linked militia searched them and their belongings at an Israeli checkpoint inside Gaza.
What the Super Bowl means to American fans
NFL fans have flocked to California for Super Bowl LX, where the New England Patriots and Seattle Seahawks will face off at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara.
Suspected Chinese spies arrested in quiet French town
Intelligence experts believe south-west France’s proximity to defence and aerospace sites makes it a target for espionage.
News24 | Activists plan ‘largest ever’ international flotilla to break Gaza blockade in March
A flotilla of pro-Palestinian activists who attempted to reach Gaza last year will set sail for the besieged territory again next month, one member told AFP on Friday.
Watch: Ukrainian soldier thought to be dead calls his family
Nazar Daletskyi’s relatives were told he had been killed in 2022, the first year of Russia’s full-scale invasion.
News24 | Pardoned US Capitol rioter pleads guilty to threats against top Democrat Hakeem Jeffries
A 6 January 2021 rioter, who was pardoned by US President Donald Trump, pleaded guilty to a harassment charge after being accused of threatening to kill US House of Representatives Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, prosecutors said.
Suicide bombing at a Shiite mosque on Islamabad’s outskirts kills at least 31
It was a rare attack in the capital of Pakistan as its Western-allied government struggles to rein in a surge in militant attacks across the country.
Savannah Guthrie’s brother renews plea for proof mother is alive
Nancy Guthrie, the 84-year-old mother of an NBC News presenter, is believed to have been abducted from her home in Tucson, Arizona.
U.S., Iran to hold nuclear program talks. And, Dems unveil new list of DHS demands
The U.S. and Iran begin high-stakes talks today over Iran’s nuclear program. And, Democrats unveil a detailed list of demands to change how DHS immigration enforcement officers operate.
News24 | AI tools allow ‘bad actors’ to easily create images of prominent politicians with Epstein
AI tools can easily fabricate convincing images of Jeffrey Epstein with world leaders, a study showed, following a surge of manipulated photos falsely linking prominent politicians to the convicted sex offender.
TikTok told to change ‘addictive design’ by EU or face massive fines
TikTok says it plans to challenge the “categorically false and entirely meritless” accusations.
Fisherman fleeing elephants killed by crocodile in Zambia
The fisherman ran into a stream near the river after he and two friends encountered a herd of elephants.
Coin portrait of late Queen draws criticism in Australia
The Royal Australian Mint has defended the design of the coins, which mark 100 years since Queen Elizabeth II’s birth.
More than 20 killed in blast at Pakistan mosque, officials say
The cause of the explosion was not immediately clear, however reports have suggested it was carried out by a suicide bomber.
FBI fugitive found hiding in Wales can be extradited to USA
Daniel Andreas San Diego was on the run from the FBI for 21 years and was found in a cottage in north Wales in 2024.
‘La cosa’: In Cuba, this single phrase carries coded truths
In Cuba, “la cosa” speaks louder than words. That single phrase carries the weight of daily struggle, coded truths and the country’s unspoken realities.
Iran and US to hold talks in Oman about Iran’s nuclear program
The stakes are high as the U.S. and Iran begin negotiations Friday on Iran’s nuclear program. If they can’t reach a deal, President Trump could order a military strike.
Former National Security adviser on the nuclear talks between the US and Iran
NPR’s Steve Inskeep talks to former National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan about the negotiations between the U.S. and Iran ahead of Friday’s talks in Oman.