A ruling party partner said he met Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi and 'wouldn't be surprised' if she called a snap Lower House election for Feb. 8 or Feb. 15; the yen weakened after the reports.
President Trump said he is inclined to keep ExxonMobil from operating in Venezuela after the company's CEO described the country as uninvestable; the president also signed an executive order intended to protect Venezuelan oil revenue held in U.S. accounts.
Spot gold briefly rose above $4,600 per ounce and silver hit an all-time high as geopolitical tensions and growing bets on U.S. interest-rate cuts supported precious metals.
President Trump warned Iran it was close to crossing a 'red line' and said the US was reviewing "very strong options"; human rights groups reported roughly 490–500 protesters killed amid a security crackdown.
Amy Scott, the New South Wales police officer who confronted the Bondi Junction attacker in April 2024, has been diagnosed with a rare and aggressive form of breast cancer; NSW Police Legacy has raised almost $65,000 to support her and her family.
Saracens defeated Toulouse 20-14 in a Champions Cup match dominated by a physical contest between brothers Tom and Jack Willis, with Tom carrying strongly, scoring one try and playing through a back injury. The result secured Saracens a place in the knock-out stages while Toulouse must beat Sale to progress.
Authorities say a Texas middle school teacher has been charged with aggravated sexual assault after alleged sexual contact with a 14-year-old and an investigation involving multiple students; she is due back in court the first week of April.
Jerome Powell is reported to be under criminal investigation, with the probe overseen by the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Columbia, and some senators have raised concerns about the implications for the Federal Reserve and the Justice Department.
An undercover Mail investigation reports people advertising on Facebook have offered to arrange UK visas for migrants for sums from about £12,000, using sham job offers and forged documents. The Home Office says it is investigating and a Commons report found widespread abuse of the skilled worker route and gaps in exit checks.
Singles play at the 2026 Australian Open begins next Sunday at 11 a.m. local time, with U.S. TV coverage on ESPN and Tennis Channel.
