Japan PM plans snap election, party official says
TOKYO, Jan 14 - Japan's Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi plans to dissolve parliament next week and call a snap general election, the secretary general of her ruling party said on Wednesday.
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Wellington Cesar becomes Brazil's new Justice Minister
Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva confirmed on Tuesday the appointment of Wellington César Lima e Silva as the new Minister of Justice and Public Security in lieu of the resigning Ricardo Lewandowski, who cited personal reasons and political hurdles.
Pressure mounts for Foreign med students in Paraguay to be proficient in Spanish and Guarani
The Paraguayan Medical Circle (CPM) has issued a formal demand for strict linguistic competency requirements for all foreign medical students. The guild insists that non-native speakers must obtain official certifications in Spanish and Guaraní as a prerequisite for enrollment
Boric endorsing Bachelet for UN top post beyond his own term
Chile’s outgoing President Gabriel Boric Font confirmed on Tuesday that his administration would formalize the candidacy of former President Michelle Bachelet for Secretary-General of the United Nations (UN).
Indonesia asked to buy US-made drones for surveillance in waters near South China Sea
The demand, among others, is a condition for lowering reciprocal tariffs, ST has learnt.
Malaysia police rule out foul play in fatal KL university air-con explosion
One person was killed in the incident, while nine others, including four students, were injured.
Some personnel were advised to leave U.S. military base in Qatar, diplomats tell Reuters
DOHA, Jan 14 (Reuters) - Some personnel were advised to leave the U.S. military's Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar by Wednesday evening, three diplomats told Reuters. The U.S. embassy in Doha had no immediate comment. Al Udeid is the Middle East's largest U.S. base housing around
ChatGPT controversy: Stranger Things creators accused of using AI to write divisive series finale
Stranger Things fans are accusing the Duffer Brothers of using ChatGPT to write the divisive show finale, following a now viral screenshot from Netflix's behind-the-scenes documentary.
A Russian city gets a taste of the cold devastation to Ukraine’s power grid
Russia’s Belgorod is experiencing the power and heat outages that are normally inflicted by Russian forces on neighboring Ukraine.
Iran’s opposition is clamoring for leaders but hobbled by divisions
As anti-government protests spread amid a lethal crackdown, Iran’s opposition and its most prominent leader, Reza Pahlavi, face differences within its ranks.
Crop droughts set to worsen—even as rainfall increases
Europe and western North America will experience more frequent and severe crop droughts as Earth warms, even in places where yearly rainfall increases.
Measuring movement creates a new way to map indoor air pollution
University of Birmingham scientists have developed a new way of measuring and analyzing indoor air pollution that—in initial trials—has established a clear link between office occupancy, physical activity, and air quality.
Vance steps in to host White House talks on Greenland’s future
Visiting officials appeared unnerved by the vice president’s planned involvement after they had sought a meeting with Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
Indonesian ride-hailing industry set for shake-up under draft presidential decree, sources say
The decree under consideration would slash caps on commissions - the amount ride-hailing companies take from drivers for each trip - to 10 per cent from the current 20 per cent.
Africa: Africa's 2026 Elections - Navigating Complexity to Build Responsiveness to Citizens
[ACSS] Africa's 2026 elections must navigate a diverse array of complexities from conflicts to entrenched incumbents, growing youth restlessness, and external actor influences for citizens to be heard.
Fallout Season 2 episode 5 finally mentions Forced Evolutionary Virus, an integral part of the Wasteland and the source of the Super Mutants
Never trust a West Tek scientist.
Uganda shuts down internet two days before election
As President Yoweri Museveni contests for the seventh term, regulators cite misinformation risks for internet shutdown. Rights groups say it undermines free and fair voting.
'We are facing thousands of deaths' in Iran, MEP tells Euronews
The regime in Tehran is deliberately blocking communications to transmit its propaganda while preventing the truth from reaching the world, especially on the death toll which is reportedly still rising, MEP Hanna Neumann, who chairs the European Parliament's delegation to Iran,
Report: Ubisoft laying off staff at Abu Dhabi studio
The news comes amid layoffs at other Ubisoft studios around the world.
China probes largest online travel agency Trip.com over suspected monopoly
Chinese authorities have in the past targeted big tech companies to curb what they see as unfair competition.
2025 was third hottest year on record: EU, US experts
The planet logged its third hottest year on record in 2025, extending a run of unprecedented heat, with no relief expected in 2026, US researchers and EU climate monitors said Wednesday.
Democrats confront an ICE dilemma: To rein it in, they have to fund it
It's not clear a Homeland Security funding bill can get done, but furious negotiations are underway.
Scientist wins 'Environment Nobel' for shedding light on hidden fungal networks
Beneath the surface of forests, grasslands and farms across the world, vast fungal webs form underground trading systems to exchange nutrients with plant roots, acting as critical climate regulators as they draw down 13 billion tons of carbon annually.
At least 28 killed after crane collapses on train in Thailand
Sixty-four people were left injured, including a one-year-old and an 85-year-old.
China’s J-20 upgrades to anchor networked air war over Taiwan
China’s decision to upgrade the J-20 with advanced radar, engines and AI signals a shift from platform competition to system-level air warfare as it prepares for a Taiwan contingency. This month, the South China Morning Post (SCMP) reported that China plans to upgrade its J-20
Syria asks Lebanon to hand over Assad-era officers after Reuters report
By Feras Dalatey and Maya Gebeily DUBAI, Jan 14 (Reuters) - Syrian authorities have asked Lebanese security forces to hand over more than 200 senior officers who fled to Lebanon after the fall of Bashar al-Assad, following a Reuters investigation that showed how the
With this record wind power auction, we’ve proved the rightwing doubters wrong | Ed Miliband
The only way that Britain’s energy bills can come down is if we are no longer reliant on fossil fuels. Today marks a big step towards that goal Offshore windfarm contracts to fuel 12m homes in Great Britain after record auction In the 18 months since I became energy secretary,
President Trump again eases restrictions on H200 chip exports to China
While some lawmakers fear what Beijing will do with the advanced tech, others stress that restrictions will only force China’s homegrown industry to innovate.
A Chinese path to peace on the Korean Peninsula
South Korea and China have designated each other as their first summit counterparts of 2026. Media outlets in both countries have interpreted the meeting as a foregone conclusion that the decade-long chill in bilateral relations is nearing its end. Amid escalating tensions
EU crackdown on ‘forever chemicals’ in drinking water not 'robust' enough to prevent contamination
Experts warn that the EU's new rules on 'forever chemicals' do not go far enough to protect Europeans from drinking 'poison'.
Economic confrontation biggest threat to global stability in 2026, World Economic Forum report says
Geoeconomic confrontation — ranging from sanctions to tariffs — is the top threat, found the World Economic Forum (WEF)'s Global Risks Report on the eve of its annual meeting gathering the world's business and political elites, set to take place in Davos next week.
Vienna battles deep freeze as Danube ice threatens shipping
Austria faced overnight disruption into Tuesday morning as black ice continued to refreeze roads and pavements, while icebreaking operations protected cruise ships on the Danube.
Madison Beer Showcases Lovelorn Anthem ‘Bad Enough’ on ‘Fallon’
The singer's third full-length album, Locket , will be released on Jan. 16
Death toll from Iran approaches 2,600, rights group reports
By Nayera Abdallah and Maayan Lubell DUBAI/JERUSALEM, Jan 14 (Reuters) - The death toll from unrest in Iran climbed to almost 2,600, a rights group said on Wednesday, as Tehran stepped up diplomatic contacts with U.S.-allies in the region over a crisis that has drawn threats of
When Pianist Maria João Pires Prepared to Perform the Wrong Mozart Concerto, Then Recovered Miraculously
Imagine, if you will, taking a seat at the piano before a full house of 2,000 music lovers ready to hear Mozart’s Piano Concerto No. 20 in D minor — and, more importantly, on stage with an orchestra and conductor more than ready to play it. That would be difficult enough, but
Trump vows 'very strong action' if Iran executes protesters
Relatives of 26-year-old Erfan Soltani, who was detained last week, have told BBC Persian he is due to be executed on Wednesday.
“Riders on the Storm” Performed by John Densmore, Robby Krieger and 20+ Musicians Around the World
Formed in 1965, the Doors burned hot until Jim Morrison died in 1971, and the band finally broke up in 1973. The group left behind more than a few fine songs—“Light My Fire,” “Break On Through (To the Other Side),” “L.A. Woman,” and “Roadhouse Blues,” to name a few. Above, the
‘Adolescence’ and ‘A Thousand Blows’ Duo Stephen Graham and Hannah Walters Sign Disney+ First-Look Deal (EXCLUSIVE)
Disney+ has signed a first-look deal out of the U.K. with Matriarch Productions, the company behind “Adolescence” and “A Thousand Blows” founded by award-winning acting and producing husband-and-wife duo Stephen Graham and Hannah Walters. The two-year deal will span both
No more buildings casting shadows on Rio beaches
Rio de Janeiro Mayor Eduardo Paes signed this week a new law prohibiting the construction of any building that casts shadows on the city’s sand or boardwalks, a measure unanimously approved by the City Council last month.
UK and EU tree planting pledges face reality check as scientists warn the climate window is closing
The UK and EU both have ambitious targets for planting new trees to help meet climate targets. But how much progress has actually been made?
Farmers leave Paris but tensions rise in Toulouse over EU-Mercosur trade deal
Farmers from FNSEA and Jeunes Agriculteurs unions left Paris after protesting rising costs. Tractors entered Toulouse, defying a local ban, under police watch.