Politics

Explosions were reported in Kyiv overnight, with officials saying at least four people were injured and air raid alerts active across Ukraine; Ukrainian negotiators are due to meet US and Russian delegations in Abu Dhabi on Wednesday and Thursday.

The US deputy attorney general said the legal review of the Epstein Files was "over," while survivors including Lisa Philips say the process is not finished and are calling for more transparency.

The Los Angeles Times reported that two insiders said Mayor Karen Bass sought edits to the LA Fire Department's October after-action report on the Pacific Palisades fire; Bass has denied directing changes.

The New START treaty between the United States and Russia has expired, removing binding limits on their strategic nuclear arsenals; UN Secretary‑General António Guterres described the timing as "grave" and urged both powers to return to negotiations for a successor framework.

Residents of Tavriiske and nearby villages are leaving as local transport has stopped and evacuations are under way; U.S.-brokered talks between Russia and Ukraine are due to begin in Abu Dhabi.

A video filmed on January 8 in Ardabil shows a truck driving into a crowd; independent reporting says one woman was killed and three people were injured.

A public consultation has opened on a proposed 1.68-mile (2.7km) walking and cycling route linking the Govan-Partick bridge with Pollok Country Park; the scheme is the first element of the Connecting Greater Govan active travel project and the consultation closes at the end of March.

Ukraine-born Aonishiki, a 21-year-old ozeki who has won two consecutive grand tournaments, is training in Tokyo ahead of the spring Osaka tournament where a win would make him eligible for promotion to yokozuna.

Authorities say a Hindu man was killed in December and the interim government ordered an investigation; rights groups report a wider rise in attacks on Hindus as Bangladesh prepares for a Feb. 12 national election.

Sir Brian Leveson's final review warns the England and Wales court system is "on the brink of collapse" as Crown Court backlogs reached 79,619 cases and are projected to approach 100,000 by next November; the report recommends 130 efficiency changes.

A U.S. district judge issued a 14-day temporary restraining order limiting Immigration and Customs Enforcement from using chemical or projectile munitions at protests outside the Portland ICE building unless there is an imminent threat of physical harm.

Donald Trump said on a conservative podcast that Republican officials should 'take over' and 'nationalize' elections in 15 states; Democrats and other officials criticised the remarks and said they would oppose efforts to nationalize election administration.

Senator Mitch McConnell, 83, checked himself into a local hospital after experiencing flu-like symptoms and his office said his prognosis is positive.

Human Rights Watch says the world is in a 'democratic recession' with about 72% of people living under autocratic rule, and it reports that actions by the Trump administration, Russia and China are straining the rules-based international order.

Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed told parliament that Eritrean troops were involved in the Tigray war and accused them of mass killings; Eritrea denied the allegation. Renewed clashes in Tigray have been reported and flights to the region were canceled.

Health Secretary Neil Gray announced an independent oversight group for the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital to boost public confidence; prosecutors are investigating seven deaths for possible links to the hospital environment.

A US release on 30 January added millions of Epstein-related pages, images and videos and listed additional prominent figures; appearing in the documents is not evidence of wrongdoing. Some lawmakers say further documents may still be withheld.

Letters say the new Rainbow Way council homes show council housing can transform lives, and note the government funds 18,000 social rent homes a year while about 1.3 million households remain on waiting lists.

A French investigating magistrate has issued summonses to Nili Kupfer‑Naouri and Rachel Touitou over alleged complicity in genocide linked to attempts to block humanitarian aid to Gaza. The summonses reportedly require both to appear before a magistrate but do not at this stage require arrest.

ExxonMobil’s Fife Ethylene Plant at Mossmorran stopped production on February 2, and Unite says the plant was closed earlier than planned; the company says decommissioning will continue with work expected to finish by early 2028.

As of September 2025, 10,480 children and 18,092 households were living in temporary accommodation in Scotland, the highest recorded levels; open homeless cases and reports of rough sleeping also rose.

Scottish Government figures show 10,480 children were in temporary accommodation on 30 September 2025, a record high. Housing Secretary Mairi McAllan has sought an urgent meeting with the UK immigration minister and Glasgow City Council.

Russian forces launched a large aerial attack on Ukrainian power plants and energy infrastructure during extreme cold, leaving over 1,000 residential buildings in Kyiv without heating; negotiators from Russia and Ukraine are due to meet in Abu Dhabi later this week.

DTEK's CEO Maxim Timchenko said the company needs a break from months of attacks to restore damaged power facilities; President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said Russia had largely observed a ceasefire on Ukraine's energy infrastructure.

Taylor Rehmet, a U.S. Air Force veteran and union machinist, defeated Republican activist Leigh Wambsganss in a Texas Senate special election on Feb. 1, marking the first Democratic win in that seat in decades.

President Masoud Pezeshkian instructed his foreign minister to pursue "fair and equitable" negotiations with the United States, saying talks should occur in a suitable environment free from threats. The U.S. has not publicly confirmed such talks, while a U.S. envoy is traveling in the region and expected to meet Israeli officials this week.

A federal judge issued a temporary stay blocking Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem's decision to end Temporary Protected Status for up to 350,000 Haitians, and the judge said the termination is null and void while the stay remains in place.

Officials said Russian forces struck Kyiv with missiles early on Tuesday, damaging several buildings; attacks were also reported in Kharkiv and parts of south‑east Ukraine.

President Donald Trump announced the Kennedy Center will close on 4 July for a two-year renovation, and the article reports the venue was recently renamed and faced several performer cancellations.

A coalition of immigration groups, lawyers and US citizens filed a federal lawsuit in New York challenging a State Department order that paused immigrant visa processing for nationals of 75 countries, saying the move is discriminatory and lacks legal authority.