China closed off a city of more than 11 million people today in an unprecedented effort to try to contain a deadly new viral illness that has sickened hundreds and spread to other cities and countries in the Lunar New Year travel rush. Read more
Three firefighters from the United States were killed on Thursday when a large plane carrying fire retardant went down in the mountains south of Canberra, the Australian capital. Read more
China’s health commission, which has tightly controlled news about the toll of the outbreak, Thursday released details about 17 confirmed deaths from the disease. Read more
A California man has been arrested after a traffic stop along Interstate 80 southwest of Des Moines turned up more than 430 pounds of marijuana. Read more
“Sopranos” actress Annabella Sciorra confronted Harvey Weinstein from the witness stand, testifying that the former Hollywood studio boss overpowered and raped her and made other crude overtures. Read more
It’s entrance exam season in Japan, and students and their families are turning to tradition in hopes of beckoning a bit of good luck to boost success. Read more
Toyota Motor Corp. plans to start construction of a prototype “city of the future” featuring state-of-the-art technology in Susono, Shizuoka Prefecture, in early 2021, the company said this month. Read more
The Japanese government last month set a goal that would have 30% of male employees taking paternity leave by 2025. Read more
Snow-capped and awe-inspiringly tall, Mount Fuji has for centuries provided the Japanese with something of a spiritual backbone, attracting hundreds of thousands of climbers each year. Read more
A Utah teenager shot and killed his mother and sister as they returned from school pickup, then waited for two more siblings to come home and killed them, prosecutors said today. Read more
Aerosmith’s drummer, Joey Kramer, is suing his bandmates because they won’t let him play as the band is set to perform and be honored at Grammy events this week. Read more
The discredited practice of conversion therapy for LGBTQ children is now banned in Utah, making it the 19th state and one of the most conservative to prohibit it. Read more
Hundreds of Central American migrants who entered southern Mexico in recent days have either been pushed back into Guatemala by Mexican troops, shipped to detention centers or returned to Honduras, officials said today. An unknown number slipped past Mexican authorities and continued north. Read more
Taylor Swift has revealed in a new interview that her mother has a brain tumor. Read more
The man streaming on Facebook Live looked straight into his cellphone camera and promised the footage to come would be outrageous. “Share what you’re about to see,” he urged his viewers. Read more
James Mitchell will be the first witness to describe the torture of detainees in the secret prisons — some at his own hands — in the trial of the men accused of plotting the Sept. 11 attacks. Read more
Shin Kyuk-ho, who built a chewing-gum business into the hugely successful Lotte Group in South Korea and Japan, only to see his sons squabble over the corporate empire, died Sunday. Read more
After years of doubts about its authenticity, experts in Amsterdam have confirmed that a Vincent van Gogh self-portrait was indeed painted by the Dutch master as he recovered in a French asylum from a mental breakdown. Read more
The men bringing James Dean back to life for a forthcoming film are aiming not just to give his digital likeness a role, but a whole new career. Read more
A wrongful death lawsuit filed by Prince’s family members has been quietly dismissed in recent months, suggesting family members have reached settlements with defendants. Read more
Construction of new homes surged in December to the highest level in 13 years, capping a year in which falling mortgage rates and a strong labor market helped lift the prospects of the housing industry. Read more
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