Japan will hold a snap election on Sunday, with opinion polls suggesting a major victory for Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP). The country’s first female prime minister, Takaichi, has seen her popularity rise sharply in recent months, according to an AFP report. The 64-year-old leader, who took office last October as Japan’s fifth prime minister in five years, has gained strong appeal among younger voters and on social media.

Pre-election surveys indicate that the LDP and its coalition partner, the Japan Innovation Party (JIP), could win more than 300 of the 465 parliamentary seats, securing a two-thirds majority. Meanwhile, the main opposition alliance, formed by the CDP and Komeito under the new Centrist Reform Alliance, may lose about half of its current 167 seats.

Despite her growing domestic support, uncertainty remains over Japan’s relations with China. Takaichi’s past visits to the Yasukuni Shrine and her remarks suggesting possible military intervention if China moves on Taiwan have drawn attention. Economically, her $135 billion stimulus plan has unsettled investors, though experts believe market forces will restrain any risky fiscal moves.

Israel has returned the bodies and remains of 54 Palestinian prisoners who had been held in its prisons. Gaza’s Health Ministry announced on Wednesday that the handover took place through the International Committee of the Red Cross. Forensic examinations of the bodies have begun, after which families will be allowed to identify their relatives according to established procedures.

A Palestinian official said the transfer occurred amid Israel’s continued violations of the phased ceasefire agreement that took effect on October 10. Under that deal, Israel was expected to withdraw additional troops from Gaza and begin reconstruction efforts. According to United Nations estimates, rebuilding Gaza could cost around 70 billion US dollars.

Despite the US-brokered ceasefire, Israeli airstrikes early Wednesday killed at least 21 Palestinians, including women and children, and injured many others. The attacks targeted tents of displaced people, a house, and a civilian gathering. The Palestine Red Crescent Society reported that shelling in the Al-Mawasi area of Khan Younis killed two people, including a paramedic, and wounded 12 others.

A total of 379,924 postal ballots from expatriate voters have arrived in Bangladesh ahead of the upcoming 13th National Parliament election and referendum. The information was confirmed on Thursday by Salim Ahmad Khan, team leader of the OCV-SDI project on expatriate voter registration. As of 9:30 a.m., 766,862 ballots had been sent to registered expatriate voters through the ‘Postal Vote BD’ app, with 526,008 ballots received and 480,416 votes already cast. Additionally, 444,952 expatriate voters have submitted their ballots to postal authorities in their respective countries, and 107,168 ballots have been received by returning officers in Bangladesh.

The Election Commission has also begun sending postal ballots to domestic voters registered under the ICPV system. So far, 662,191 ballots have been dispatched within the country, with 260,447 voters receiving them. Among these, 211,122 have voted, and 168,519 have submitted their ballots to post offices or drop boxes. Returning officers have received 27,367 domestic ballots.

According to Salim Ahmad Khan, a total of 1,533,684 voters, both domestic and expatriate, have registered through the ‘Postal Vote BD’ app to participate in the election and referendum via postal ballots.

Venezuelan interim president Delcy Rodríguez has met with senior executives from Spain’s Repsol and France’s Maurel & Prom to discuss the country’s energy sector. The state-owned oil company PDVSA confirmed the meetings on Wednesday, describing them as the new administration’s first major talks with foreign investors since the ouster of Nicolás Maduro one month ago.

According to PDVSA’s separate statements, discussions with Repsol focused on ensuring Venezuela’s energy security and sovereignty while maintaining mutual interests and profitability. Talks with Maurel & Prom emphasized strengthening strategic partnerships aimed at increasing Venezuela’s oil production capacity.

Both Repsol and Maurel & Prom have long been involved in Venezuela’s oil production and trade, though their operations have faced disruptions in recent years due to strict U.S. sanctions.

BNP candidate and central treasurer M Rashiduzzaman Millat in Jamalpur-1 (Dewanganj-Bakshiganj) constituency has drawn controversy after a video of his campaign speech went viral on social media. In the video, recorded Monday night at Haruabarhi Rahmani Madrasa field, Millat is heard saying that police have been instructed not to arrest or harass Awami League supporters and that they can vote freely. He urged them to support the BNP’s ‘sheaf of paddy’ symbol, claiming Awami League would not win elections for at least 20 years.

The remarks triggered widespread debate across the district, with many voters expressing surprise and anger. Some Awami League activists reportedly began openly campaigning for Millat, while others criticized the move as political opportunism. Dewanganj Upazila BNP leaders confirmed that some Awami League members were joining BNP activities under local approval.

Police officials, including the Dewanganj officer-in-charge and Jamalpur superintendent of police, denied Millat’s claims, stating that regular arrest operations continue and no such instructions were given. Jamaat candidate Nazmul Haque Sayeedi accused Millat of betraying political commitments and demanded the removal of the Dewanganj police chief for alleged bias.

Former England captain Nasser Hussain has voiced concern over what he sees as inconsistency and double standards in the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) decision-making. Speaking on a Sky Sports podcast, he said recent actions by the ICC and some powerful cricket boards suggest unequal treatment that could undermine fairness and balance in world cricket. Hussain acknowledged the ICC’s challenges when teams cancel tours at the last moment but questioned whether the same strictness applies to all nations equally.

He cited a hypothetical scenario where a strong cricketing nation, such as India, might withdraw from a tournament citing government restrictions, asking whether the ICC would respond with the same firmness. Hussain emphasized that rules should be applied consistently to all teams and called for transparency and fairness in cricket governance.

Referring to a recent controversy, he mentioned that the issue began when the BCCI removed Mustafizur Rahman from Kolkata Knight Riders’ IPL squad, citing the current situation between Bangladesh and India. Hussain warned that such board-level decisions are affecting on-field behavior and damaging cricket’s image, urging the ICC to adopt uniform policies for all nations.

Pakistan has decided to boycott its cricket match against India in protest of Bangladesh’s exclusion from the T20 World Cup. The decision was announced by Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, who told his cabinet that politics should not interfere with sports and that Pakistan should stand firmly beside Bangladesh. He described the move as a well-considered and appropriate decision.

In response, Dr. Asif Nazrul, the interim government’s adviser on law, justice, parliamentary affairs, and sports in Bangladesh, publicly thanked Pakistan for its stance. He expressed his appreciation through a verified Facebook post on Thursday, acknowledging Pakistan’s solidarity with Bangladesh following the controversial exclusion.

The development highlights a rare show of regional support in international cricket, with Pakistan aligning itself with Bangladesh’s position against perceived politicization in the sport.

Iran has unveiled a new underground missile base as tensions with the United States continue to escalate. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps announced the development on Wednesday, February 4, during an official ceremony attended by Iran’s Armed Forces Chief Abdolrahman Mousavi and Aerospace Division head Sayed Majed Mousavi. Senior military officials reviewed the Guard’s missile readiness and capabilities during the event.

During the inspection, the Armed Forces Chief stated that Iran is fully prepared to face any potential threat. He explained that following a 12-day conflict with Israel in June of the previous year, Iran shifted its military strategy from a defensive to an offensive posture, enhancing its ability to conduct large-scale operations in a short time. The new approach also includes plans for asymmetric warfare and countering enemy strategies.

In recent days, the United States has increased its military presence around Iran, deploying warships and other assets. Although both countries have agreed to hold talks, concerns remain that U.S. forces could strike Iran if negotiations fail. Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei warned that any U.S. attack could ignite a wider regional war.

U.S. President Donald Trump said it is time for the country to move on from the Jeffrey Epstein case after the Justice Department completed its mandatory review of millions of documents related to Epstein’s sex trafficking investigation. Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche confirmed that the review, required under a law passed by Congress last November, found no grounds for new prosecutions. Despite this, the House of Representatives continues its own inquiry, summoning former President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to testify later in February.

Some lawmakers and Epstein’s victims are demanding the release of additional unreleased files. The documents mention Trump over 6,000 times, reflecting his past friendship with Epstein during the 1990s, which he says ended in the early 2000s. The Justice Department also published unverified FBI source lists containing unsubstantiated allegations against Trump and other influential figures, later temporarily removed from its website. The department stated those claims were false and lacked evidence.

While Trump appears politically unscathed, other high-profile individuals named in the documents, including Prince Andrew, Larry Summers, and Bill Gates, have faced professional and personal fallout.

The United States has returned the entire $500 million from an initial oil sale to the Venezuelan government as part of an agreement between Caracas and Washington. A U.S. official, speaking anonymously on Tuesday, confirmed that the final $200 million had already been transferred to Venezuela. The funds were returned under a deal reached last month following the January 3 U.S. military operation in which Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro was detained.

According to the U.S. official, the arrangement was designed to allow Venezuela to generate revenue from its own oil to pay salaries for teachers, firefighters, and police officers, and to maintain government operations. The money had been temporarily held in Qatar as a short-term measure to ensure that Venezuela could access the funds necessary for running its administration.

The official emphasized that the return of the funds was intended to prevent institutional collapse in Venezuela while maintaining essential public services.

A prolonged strike at Chattogram Port has escalated into a national crisis, disrupting supply chains and threatening market stability ahead of Ramadan. The strike, initially an eight-hour protest, has turned indefinite following opposition to the government’s plan to lease the New Mooring Container Terminal to foreign operator DP World. As a result, over 120 ships are waiting to unload, including at least 35 carrying essential Ramadan goods such as dates, lentils, chickpeas, sugar, and edible oil. Importers face rising storage costs, and analysts warn that these expenses will likely push consumer prices higher.

The port’s operations have slowed to half capacity, causing severe congestion and revenue losses at the Chattogram Customs House. Business leaders and shipping agents report that each day of delay costs importers tens of thousands of dollars, which will ultimately burden consumers. The government has banned gatherings near the port, ordered regular labor bookings, and formed a six-member committee to assess revenue losses and identify those responsible.

Labor leaders insist the strike will continue until the lease plan is canceled, while port authorities have declined to comment on the pending agreement with DP World.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced that Turkey and Egypt are working together to establish peace in Gaza and ensure stability in neighboring Libya. He made the remarks during a joint press conference with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi in Cairo on Wednesday, according to Anadolu Agency. Erdogan emphasized that the two countries share a common goal of preserving Libya’s unity and territorial integrity to achieve lasting stability.

Expressing concern over the humanitarian situation in Gaza, Erdogan noted that despite several months of ceasefire, the humanitarian crisis continues. He reaffirmed Turkey’s commitment to ongoing cooperation with Egypt in efforts to restore peace in the region.

On bilateral trade, Erdogan said Egypt is already Turkey’s largest trading partner in Africa. Ankara aims to increase the current trade volume of 8–9 billion dollars to 15 billion dollars. He also expressed interest in expanding cooperation in maritime trade, transportation, freedom of navigation, and maritime security.

Operations at Chattogram Port’s New Mooring Container Terminal (NCT) have come to a standstill due to an indefinite strike called by the Nationalist Workers Party and the Sramik Oikya Parishad (SKOP). The strike, initially an eight-hour work stoppage, escalated into a full shutdown after the government decided to appoint a foreign operator at the terminal. Despite warnings and transfer orders from the Ministry of Shipping, protesting workers have refused to leave their posts. The port has now accumulated 37,000 containers, with 120 cargo ships waiting offshore.

The unrest follows a High Court ruling on November 30 that upheld the legality of hiring a foreign operator, prompting preparations for a contract between Chattogram Port Authority and global terminal operator DP World. However, the agreement, scheduled for February 1, was postponed amid the protests. Business leaders and port users have expressed concern over the prolonged disruption, warning of severe impacts on trade and the national economy.

Port officials say the situation is being monitored by the government’s top level, while industry associations caution that continued paralysis could damage Bangladesh’s global trade reputation and cause market instability.

German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul on Thursday called on China to show restraint in weapons development and to join future arms control initiatives. Speaking to reporters in Canberra during his visit to Australia, he warned that the expiration of the last U.S.-Russia nuclear treaty, New START, on February 5 has raised the risk of a renewed global arms race.

Disarmament advocates have expressed concern that the end of the treaty could encourage major nuclear powers to expand their arsenals, with China potentially accelerating its buildup. Wadephul emphasized that any future arms control framework must include China, noting that Beijing often speaks in favor of multilateralism and should now demonstrate its commitment by investing in trust and restraint in international relations.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio also recently called for a new agreement that includes China, arguing that meaningful 21st-century arms control is impossible without its participation. Experts cited in the report estimate China currently possesses about 550 strategic nuclear launch systems, fewer than the roughly 800 each held by the United States and Russia.

Russia announced that its last nuclear arms treaty with the United States has expired, ending mutual obligations on the number of deployed nuclear weapons. Moscow stated on Wednesday that the 2010 agreement, known as the New START treaty, officially expired on Thursday, freeing both sides from previous restrictions. The Russian Foreign Ministry said the United States did not respond to President Vladimir Putin’s proposal to extend the limits on missiles and warheads for another 12 months.

The New START treaty, signed in 2010 by then US President Barack Obama and Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, came into force in 2011 and was extended for five years in 2021 under President Joe Biden. The agreement had set specific limits on the number of nuclear weapons each side could deploy.

UN Secretary-General António Guterres expressed concern over the treaty’s expiration and called on Moscow and Washington to begin discussions without delay on a new framework for nuclear arms control.