Can Japan cling to its Olympic dream with a pandemic raging?
Officials firmly deny a report that, privately, they know the Summer Games are doomed, but they look increasingly cornered by COVID-19, and public opinion.
Tokyo Olympics
Japan's leaders stubbornly insist Olympics "definitely" going ahead
As a 3rd wave of COVID-19 infections drives a widening state of emergency, the government is forging ahead with the Summer Games against the will of its people.
Most Japanese say postpone or cancel the Olympics as COVID surges
Overwhelming response to polling by Japanese news outlets is bad news for Tokyo organizers, who keep pushing for the delayed summer Games despite the pandemic.
U.S. won't punish athletes for peacefully protesting at Olympics
Fencer Race Imboden, who was penalized last year for taking a knee during the Pan American Games medal ceremony, told CBS News that the decision was a "shifting of the moral compass."
Track star Semenya "will continue to fight" after legal setback
"I will continue to fight for the human rights of female athletes, both on and off the track, until we can all run free the way we were born," she said.
Simone Manuel still sometimes feels excluded as a Black swimmer
The 23-year-old says swimming "definitely has a long way to go when you're talking about diversity and inclusion."
Olympics chief accepts it's 2021 for the Tokyo Games, or bust
"You cannot forever employ 3,000 or 5,000 people in an organizing committee," IOC president Thomas Bach says, bowing to Japanese officials' assessments.
Beach volleyball star reacts to Olympics being postponed
Kerri Walsh Jennings said she still plans to compete in 2021.
Tokyo Olympics postponed until 2021
IOC President Thomas Bach has agreed "100%" to a proposal of postponing the Tokyo Olympics for about one year until 2021, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said.
World
What caused the Azerbaijan Airlines crash? Here's what we know so far.
Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan and Russia all opened investigations into the cause of the crash of Azerbaijan Airlines Flight 8243.
Marc Fogel designated as "wrongfully detained" in Russia
Marc Fogel, a Pennsylvania man imprisoned in Russia, has been designated as "wrongfully detained," according to the U.S. Department of State.
Italian government says journalist detained in Iran
Italy's Foreign Ministry says it's trying to "clarify the legal situation of Cecilia Sala" more than a week after she was detained while reporting in Iran.
Former Suzuki Motors CEO Osamu Suzuki dies at 94
Osamu Suzuki, the charismatic former boss of Japanese mini-vehicle maker Suzuki Motor Corp., has died.
Scientists say people hit with 41 extra days of dangerous heat this year
Researchers say human-caused climate change dealt people an average of nearly six weeks of extra extreme heat in 2024, while also fueling more destructive storms.
Dozen skeletons found in hidden graves in Mexico near U.S. border
Authorities have found 12 skeletons buried in clandestine graves in Mexico's northern Chihuahua state near the U.S. border, officials say.
Experts doubt Russian claims of bird strike in Kazakhstan plane crash
Experts say evidence in the Azerbaijan Airlines plane crash in Kazakhstan points to a possible midair explosion, not an encounter with a flock of birds.
South Korea's acting president impeached after just 2 weeks in office
South Korea's opposition-controlled National Assembly voted to impeach acting President Han Duck-soo, further deepening the country's political crisis.
Japan's "Black Widow" death row inmate dies at 78
Japanese death-row inmate Chisako Kakehi, dubbed the "Black Widow" after she used cyanide to kill her elderly lovers, has died in a detention center at age 78, officials say,
U.S.
More U.S.
Greg Gumbel, CBS Sports broadcasting legend, dies at 78
Greg Gumbel, the renowned CBS Sports anchor and commentator, has died of cancer at the age of 78.
Toddler nearly falls from 400-foot cliff while family visits erupting Kīlauea
Kilauea Volcano in Hawaii started erupting on Dec. 23rd, after a three-month pause.
Trump opposes TikTok ban, asks Supreme Court for time to resolve via negotiations
The Supreme Court will hear arguments Jan. 10 in TikTok's challenge of a law that could lead to a ban of the widely popular platform.
Here's what the H-1B visa debate with Musk and Ramaswamy is about
Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy are calling for the U.S. to admit more foreign tech workers. Not all Republicans agree with them.
Mega Millions jackpot jumps to $1.22 billion for Friday's drawing
A winner of the Mega Millions jackpot could either take the cash payout of $549.7 million or the $1.22 billion annuity paid out over 30 years.
MoneyWatch
More MoneyWatch
Janet Yellen tells Congress that U.S. could hit debt limit in mid-January
Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said her agency will need to start taking "extraordinary measures" or special accounting maneuvers intended to prevent the nation from hitting the debt ceiling by mid-January.
Here's what the H-1B visa debate with Musk and Ramaswamy is about
Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy are calling for the U.S. to admit more foreign tech workers. Not all Republicans agree with them.
Homelessness jumped to a new record this year as housing costs soared
Federal officials say homelessness rose 18% in 2024, driven mostly by a lack of affordable housing.
FDA wants new testing to detect asbestos in products with talc
The proposed rule is required under a law passed by Congress last year, and is intended to ensure the safety of makeup and baby powder.
What to know about returning unwanted holiday gifts
The National Retail Federation expects about 17% of sales to be returned this year.
Politics
More Politics
Capitol Hill lawmakers experiencing surge of swatting calls, bomb threats
In a Dec. 11 Senate hearing, U.S. Capitol Police Chief Thomas Manger testified that there had been more than 50 so-called "swatting" attacks on members of Congress over the previous month.
Janet Yellen tells Congress that U.S. could hit debt limit in mid-January
Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said her agency will need to start taking "extraordinary measures" or special accounting maneuvers intended to prevent the nation from hitting the debt ceiling by mid-January.
Trump opposes TikTok ban, asks Supreme Court for time to resolve via negotiations
The Supreme Court will hear arguments Jan. 10 in TikTok's challenge of a law that could lead to a ban of the widely popular platform.
Marc Fogel designated as "wrongfully detained" in Russia
Marc Fogel, a Pennsylvania man imprisoned in Russia, has been designated as "wrongfully detained," according to the U.S. Department of State.
Trump picks Miami-Dade commissioner as ambassador to Panama
Cabrera is county commissioner of District 6, which represents parts of Coral Gables, Hialeah and the City of Miami.
HealthWatch
More HealthWatch
FDA wants new testing to detect asbestos in products with talc
The proposed rule is required under a law passed by Congress last year, and is intended to ensure the safety of makeup and baby powder.
Systane eye drops recalled due to potential fungal contamination
Fungal contamination of an eye product is known to potentially cause eye infections, which may be vision- or life-threatening, according to the FDA.
Is multitasking a myth? Here's what research shows.
Busy lives have many of us juggling multiple tasks at once, but is that really multitasking? Here's what expert Linda Stone has learned about the myth of multitasking.
Why some children are turning to GLP-1 drugs
A growing number of young people are receiving prescriptions for GLP-1 weight loss medications like Ozempic and Wegovy. Janet Shamlian examines why.
Pet food brand issues recall over bird flu contamination
A voluntary recall was issued for a line of raw and frozen pet food after a cat died of bird flu.
World
More World
What caused the Azerbaijan Airlines crash? Here's what we know so far.
Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan and Russia all opened investigations into the cause of the crash of Azerbaijan Airlines Flight 8243.
Marc Fogel designated as "wrongfully detained" in Russia
Marc Fogel, a Pennsylvania man imprisoned in Russia, has been designated as "wrongfully detained," according to the U.S. Department of State.
Italian government says journalist detained in Iran
Italy's Foreign Ministry says it's trying to "clarify the legal situation of Cecilia Sala" more than a week after she was detained while reporting in Iran.
Former Suzuki Motors CEO Osamu Suzuki dies at 94
Osamu Suzuki, the charismatic former boss of Japanese mini-vehicle maker Suzuki Motor Corp., has died.
Scientists say people hit with 41 extra days of dangerous heat this year
Researchers say human-caused climate change dealt people an average of nearly six weeks of extra extreme heat in 2024, while also fueling more destructive storms.
Entertainment
More Entertainment
Entertainment
Extended interview: Robert Eggers
Filmmaker Robert Eggers sits down with "CBS Saturday Morning" to discuss his adaption of the supernatural horror flick "Nosferatu," his passion for storytelling, what he'd like to tell superfans and more.
Cheyenne Grace topping the charts
Cheyenne Grace, a rising star from North Texas who is a high school student, is topping the iTunes charts with her debut holiday album, "Home for Christmas."
NFL doubleheader on Christmas Day sets streaming viewership records
Baltimore's victory over Houston averaged 24.3 million viewers, while Kansas City's win at Pittsburgh averaged 24.1 million, according to early viewer figures released by Nielsen.
Judge rules that accuser in rape suit against Jay-Z, Diddy can remain anonymous
A judge ruled that a woman who says she was raped by Jay-Z and Sean "Diddy" Combs when she was 13 can proceed anonymously, for now, in her lawsuit against the rap moguls.
"Baby Driver" actor Hudson Meek, 16, dies after falling from a moving vehicle
Hudson Meek, the 16-year-old actor known for his performance in the 2017 film "Baby Driver," died Dec. 21 in Alabama, authorities said.
Technology
More Technology
Technology
Trump seeks pause of possible TikTok ban
President-elect Donald Trump asked the Supreme Court Friday to pause a potential U.S. ban on TikTok from taking effect. In his brief, he said he said he wants to delay the ban in order to give time for his incoming administration to "pursue a negotiated resolution."
ChatGPT recovers after being hit by outages, OpenAI says
The OpenAI issue was caused by an "upstream provider," according to the artificial intelligence organization.
How AI powered robots are helping small farms
From labor shortages to environmental impacts, farmers are looking to AI to help revolutionize the agriculture industry. One California startup, Farm-ng, is tapping into the power of AI and robotics to perform a wide range of tasks, including seeding, weeding and harvesting.
AI features dominating tech heading into 2025
New artificial intelligence features appeared across the tech landscape this year, from the latest iPhone to chatbots like Google's Gemini. Adam Auriemma, the editor-in-chief at CNET, joins CBS News 24/7 with more.
Researchers develop robot to help people walk
A robotic exosuit may seem like science fiction, but a team of South Korean researchers is turning the concept into reality. CBS News' Leah Mishkin explains how the new tech is helping people with disabilities walk on their own.
Science
More Science
Science
California's mandatory clothing recycling program
Americans throw away billions of pounds of used clothes every year. But now, California is the first state to hold textile companies responsible for their products from start to finish. CBS News' Danya Bacchus explains.
These space missions will take off in 2025
Space agencies worldwide are gearing up missions in 2025 to expand humanity's horizons, from the moon and Mars to asteroids and beyond.
Orca who carried her dead calf for 17 days has a new baby
Tahlequah has a newborn girl, years after she made headlines for carrying her dead calf for 17 days.
2,600-year-old shipwreck is raised from waters off Spain
An ancient shipwreck that dates back to the 7th century B.C.E. has been removed from waters off Spain, two decades after its discovery in 1994.
What to know about the winter solstice, 2024's shortest day
The 2024 winter solstice, the shortest day of the year, happens on Saturday, Dec. 21, and is marked with traditions and celebrations around the world.
Crime
More Crime
Crime
Man indicted in NYC subway burned woman case
A man accused of setting a woman on fire in a New York City subway train has now been indicted on state murder charges. CBS News New York reporter Hannah Kliger has more.
Activists on woman burned alive in NYC
Medical examiners are using DNA evidence in hopes of identifying the woman who was burned alive on a New York City subway. CBS News legal contributor Jessica Levinson has more. Plus, more details on allegations against music mogul Jay-Z.
Tennessee to introduce a new lethal injection method
More than 2 years after Tennessee abruptly halted the execution of Oscar Smith, the state announced a new lethal injection method.
Dozen skeletons found in hidden graves in Mexico near U.S. border
Authorities have found 12 skeletons buried in clandestine graves in Mexico's northern Chihuahua state near the U.S. border, officials say.
Man accused of burning woman on subway indicted for murder, arson
A grand jury has indicted the man accused of setting a woman on fire aboard a Brooklyn subway train, Brooklyn DA Eric Gonzalez announced Friday.
Space
More Space
NASA spacecraft safe after historic closest-ever approach to sun
NASA's Parker Solar Probe hurtled through the sizzling solar atmosphere and passed within a record-breaking 3.8 million miles of the sun's surface.
These space missions will take off in 2025
Space agencies worldwide are gearing up missions in 2025 to expand humanity's horizons, from the moon and Mars to asteroids and beyond.
Discovery of "tipped over" black hole surprises NASA scientists
New analysis techniques and decades-old research helped NASA scientists identify an unusual black hole in a distant galaxy.
Why are the Boeing Starliner astronauts stuck in space?
Here's why NASA astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore are stuck, but not stranded, at the International Space Station after launching into space in June.
NASA delayes return date for astronauts
NASA has delayed the return date for Boeing's Starliner astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams. CBS News' Manuel Bojorquez reports on the decision to keep the two in space.
Latest Galleries
More Latest Galleries
Notable Deaths in 2024
A look back at the esteemed personalities who've left us this year, who'd touched us with their innovation, creativity and humanity.
The Scott Peterson case: New evidence?
Peterson's death sentence for the murder of his pregnant wife Laci has been overturned. Now his supporters are pushing for a complete retrial.
The troubled marriage of Ashley and Doug Benefield
The seesaw marriage between the former ballerina and her much older husband only lasted four years, until she shot him on Sept. 27, 2020.
Texas couple investigates teen daughter's unusual death
Cayley Mandadi's mother and stepfather go to extreme lengths to prove her death was no accident.
Serial killer Rodney Alcala's secret photos
See some of convicted serial killer Rodney Alcala's photographs that were discovered by detectives in a Seattle storage locker.
Latest CBS News Videos
More Latest CBS News Videos
Latest CBS News Videos
Trump seeks pause of possible TikTok ban
President-elect Donald Trump asked the Supreme Court Friday to pause a potential U.S. ban on TikTok from taking effect. In his brief, he said he said he wants to delay the ban in order to give time for his incoming administration to "pursue a negotiated resolution."
Babies dying of hypothermia in Gaza hospitals
Houthi rebels in Yemen say an airstrike hit the capital Sana'a after the Iran-backed group claimed to have attacked Israel. Both sides have increased fighting in recent days. Meanwhile, a new front has opened up in the war in Gaza — a battle of the elements. Holly Williams reports.
Congress on edge over rampant "swatting" incidents
A new Congress is set to be sworn into office next week, ending a tumultuous campaign year. For those who hoped the end of the election would break the fever of politically violent threats and rhetoric, there are new signs the opposite has happened. Scott MacFarlane reports on a surge in bomb threats and so-called "swatting" attacks on elected officials.
Homelessness surged a record 18% in 2024
Homelessness in the U.S. jumped 18.1% this year, hitting a record level, with the dramatic rise driven mostly by a lack of affordable housing and devastating natural disasters, officials say. Lilia Luciano has the story.
Speculation over Russia's role in plane crash
Speculation is mounting that Russia's military could have had a role in the Azerbaijan Airlines plane crash that killed 38 people and left 29 survivors injured in Kazakhstan on Christmas Day. Moscow initially suggested a bird strike was to blame.