Japan’s Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi has dissolved the country’s lower house of Parliament, triggering a snap federal election scheduled for Feb. 8, just three months after she took office. The decision is widely seen as an effort to take advantage of early public support for Takaichi and to help the long-governing Liberal Democratic Party recover from significant electoral losses suffered in recent years. Analysts say the move carries political risk but could strengthen the government’s mandate if voters respond positively. The snap election, however, will delay parliamentary debate on

The death toll from a deadly fire at a shopping plaza in Pakistan’s southern port city of Karachi has risen to at least 67, according to police and hospital officials, as rescue teams continue to search the damaged building for additional victims. Authorities said dozens of newly recovered remains were found inside Gul Plaza, where the fire broke out over the weekend. Police surgeon Dr. Summaiya Syed confirmed that many of the remains were severely burned and fragmented, making the identification process slow and challenging. Rescue workers were still combing through the structure on Thursda

U.S. President Donald Trump announced the launch of a new international initiative called the ‘Board of Peace’ on Thursday during meetings in Davos, saying the body will focus on enforcing a ceasefire in Gaza and addressing other ongoing global conflicts. According to the White House, invitations were sent to 60 countries to participate in the board, though representatives from about 20 nations attended the launch event. Leaders present included Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, along with officials from Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Argentina and Paraguay. Trump cla

Three people were killed and another man was seriously injured following a shooting in the small New South Wales community of Lake Cargelligo on Thursday, according to state police. Emergency crews were called to a residential address in the town, located about 600 kilometres west of Sydney, after reports of gunfire. Police said two women and one man were pronounced dead at the scene. A fourth victim, a man, was taken to hospital with serious but stable injuries. Authorities said the suspected shooter or shooters had not been located as of Thursday evening. New South Wales Police established a

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says his government has agreed to participate in former U.S. president Donald Trump’s Board of Peace, signalling a willingness to engage with the initiative despite earlier reservations about its structure. In a statement released Wednesday by the Prime Minister’s Office, Netanyahu confirmed Israel’s decision to join the body, which Trump has promoted as a framework for advancing stability in the Middle East. The announcement followed recent Israeli criticism that the proposed Gaza executive component of the board did not adequately reflect Israe

U.S. President Donald Trump says his administration will not pursue military action regarding Greenland, but maintains the Arctic territory remains critical to American national security. Speaking during an address at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Trump said the United States would seek dialogue rather than force in dealing with Greenland, which is an autonomous territory of Denmark. He argued that Greenland’s strategic location makes it essential to U.S. security interests, particularly in the Arctic region. Trump told the audience that, in his view, no other country is capable of prov

A Japanese court has sentenced the man who admitted to assassinating former prime minister Shinzo Abe to life in prison, bringing a formal conclusion to one of the most shocking crimes in the country’s modern political history. Public broadcaster NHK reported that the Nara District Court delivered the verdict on Tuesday. Tetsuya Yamagami, 45, pleaded guilty to fatally shooting Abe in July 2022 while the former leader was delivering a campaign speech in the western city of Nara ahead of a national election. Prosecutors had sought a life sentence, citing the targeted nature of the attack and i

The future of Greenland is set to be discussed at a high level meeting in Davos after U.S. President Donald Trump and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte held a phone conversation earlier this week, according to public statements released by both sides. Trump said he raised concerns about Greenland’s strategic importance during the call, telling Rutte that the Arctic territory plays a critical role in both U.S. national security and broader global stability. Greenland’s location has long been viewed as vital for military surveillance and Arctic shipping routes as climate change reshapes the

Rescue crews in Pakistan’s largest city recovered additional bodies from the ruins of a multi storey shopping plaza in Karachi, raising the confirmed death toll from a major fire to at least 15 as dozens of people remain unaccounted for. Officials warned the number of fatalities could still increase as search operations continue inside the damaged building. Firefighters brought the blaze at Gul Plaza under control late Sunday, nearly a full day after it first erupted, allowing emergency teams to enter areas that had been inaccessible because of intense heat and smoke. Provincial authorities