Former TODAY show co-host Savannah Guthrie has given her first interview about her family's "agony" following the disappearance of her mother, Nancy Guthrie, 84, who has been missing since February 1 after being last seen at her home in Tucson, Arizona. Police have released images of a masked person captured by security cameras, but investigative leads have so far not yielded concrete results.
A regional branch of Germany's Left Party in Lower Saxony has adopted a resolution rejecting "the Zionism that actually exists today," sparking intense debate over whether it denies Israel's right to exist. The controversial text, titled "The Left Party in Lower Saxony rejects the Zionism that actually exists today," blurs the line between antisemitic rhetoric and legitimate criticism of Israeli policies, according to experts. This move comes amid ongoing tensions over the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and internal party divisions.
A Los Angeles jury has delivered a historic verdict in favor of a young woman who sued Meta and Google over her childhood addiction to social media, finding that the companies intentionally built addictive platforms that harmed the mental health of 20-year-old Kaley. This outcome is likely to influence hundreds of similar cases currently proceeding through US courts, highlighting growing legal scrutiny over tech giants' practices.
The United Nations General Assembly has voted to recognise the slave trade as "the gravest crime against humanity", a resolution proposed by Ghana that calls on UN member states to consider apologising for the slave trade and contributing to a reparations fund. The resolution does not specify a monetary amount. It was adopted with 123 votes in favour, three against – from the US, Israeli, and Argentine regimes – and 52 abstentions, including the UK regime and European Union member states.
US Republican Congressman Thomas Massie from Kentucky, in an interview with BBC Newsnight, criticized the justice system's handling of the Jeffrey Epstein case, stating it is not working. He said, "Men need to be perp-walked in handcuffs to the jail, and until we see that here in this country... we don't have a system of justice that's working." Massie, who co-authored the law compelling the release of Epstein files, expressed dissatisfaction with the Department of Justice (DOJ) for the number of redacted or withheld documents, despite DOJ officials claiming to have released all files except permitted exemptions.
Six national football teams, having endured months of regional qualification rounds and years of pursuing their ultimate dream, will have one final opportunity to secure a place in the FIFA World Cup 2026 during the interconfederation playoffs this week. The tournament will determine two teams that will earn spots in the World Cup, co-hosted by Canada, Mexico, and the United States.
A high-ranking diplomatic source has confirmed that Iran received a 15-point plan from the United States aimed at ending the US-Israeli war against the country, but Tehran described the proposal as "extremely maximalist and unreasonable." The source told Al Jazeera on Wednesday that the plan is "not beautiful even on paper," calling it deceptive and misleading in its presentation. This rejection comes as US President Donald Trump has allegedly claimed that negotiations are underway, despite Iranian denials and ongoing military escalations.
The German government has launched a new climate protection program worth €8 billion ($9.25 billion), aimed at boosting wind power and e-mobility. The package includes 67 measures designed to save an additional 27.1 million tons of CO2 by 2030. However, Germany is currently falling short of its legally binding target to reduce emissions by at least 65% compared to 1990 levels, raising questions about the program's adequacy.
The Iranian government has confirmed receipt of a 15-point US ceasefire plan conveyed via Pakistan but rejected its proposals as "excessive." An Iranian official stated that Tehran wants to end the war only "at a time of its own choosing" and "only if its own conditions are met." Key conditions include an "end to attacks and assassinations," the establishment of "concrete guarantees" preventing a recurrence of war, "payment for war damage," and recognition of Iranian sovereignty over the Strait of Hormuz.
In Israel, as the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran continues, schools have been closed nationwide, cultural venues shuttered, and large gatherings cancelled under police orders. Dissent against the war, if it exists at all, is scarcely aired, with the public living under the constant threat of missile attacks.
Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem has called for national unity in Lebanon, vowing to continue fighting "without limits" as Israel's military assault intensifies, with Israeli aerial and ground attacks reportedly killing over 1,000 people across the country and displacing more than 1.2 million others. In a statement on Wednesday, Qassem framed the conflict as a choice between "surrender and giving up our land... or inevitable confrontation and resistance" against Israel.
Border guards in Uzbekistan have intercepted a drug trafficking channel originating from Afghanistan. During a patrol along the Amu Darya river in the border zone, a foreign national was detained while attempting to illegally cross the state border by boat.