In other news

The brother of Israel's intelligence chief, David Zini, has been charged with smuggling cigarettes into Gaza, allegedly profiting Hamas. Bezalel Zini, a reservist in the Israeli military, is accused of smuggling 7,000 packets of cigarettes worth $117,000 in exchange for hundreds of thousands of shekels. The charges are part of a larger investigation into an organized crime ring smuggling goods into Gaza, including iPhones and car parts. Zini's lawyers deny the charges, arguing that applying a terrorism law to cigarette smuggling is inappropriate.

The Japanese city of Fujiyoshida has cancelled its annual cherry blossom festival due to a surge in tourist numbers, which has led to chronic traffic congestion, litter, and anti-social behavior. The city's mayor cited concerns over the impact on local residents' lives and the need to protect their dignity and living environment. The festival's cancellation is the latest measure taken by Japanese authorities to address the issue of overtourism, with other towns and cities also introducing measures to manage tourist numbers.

Dozens of Muslims were killed in a ferocious shooting attack on two villages in Nigeria's western state of Kwara after they refused to join Boko Haram. The governor of Kwara state, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, reported that 75 local Muslims were massacred, while a state lawmaker stated that 78 people had been buried so far and the death toll could rise to 170. The attack was blamed on Islamist militant group Boko Haram, and President Bola Tinubu deployed an army battalion to the affected area. The assault was one of several across Nigeria in the last few days, with other attacks reported in Katsina and Borno states. The Nigerian government has faced criticism for its handling of security challenges, including criminal gangs, Islamist insurgency, and separatist unrest. The US has increased its military involvement in Nigeria, with a recent deployment of troops and joint training programs with Nigerian forces.

Lebanon has accused Israel of spraying southern villages with a concentrated herbicide, raising concerns about food and environmental security. The Israeli military declined to comment on the allegations. Laboratory tests confirmed the substance was glyphosate, with concentrations 20-30 times higher than accepted levels. President Joseph Aoun condemned the spraying, calling it a violation of Lebanese sovereignty and an environmental and health crime. The incident has complicated the challenges faced by tens of thousands still displaced after hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah in 2023-24. Experts warn of harm to local ecosystems and broader economic consequences for Lebanon's farming sector, which suffered over $700m in damage and losses in 2024. Environmental groups expressed concern about the impact on agricultural production and soil fertility. The Lebanese foreign ministry intends to submit a formal complaint to the UN Security Council.

In the Spiti Valley of Himachal Pradesh, India, a group of local women have taken on a crucial role in protecting the endangered snow leopard species. Working with the forest department and conservationists, they track and monitor snow leopards using camera traps, contributing to a significant increase in the population. The women's efforts have not only helped in conservation but also transformed the community's perception of the snow leopards, from being viewed as a threat to being recognized as an important part of the ecosystem. The initiative has also provided the women with a source of income and a sense of purpose, highlighting the importance of community participation in conservation efforts.

The UK Home Secretary, Shabana Mahmood, has secured agreements with three African countries - Namibia, Angola, and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) - to accept the return of foreign offenders and illegal migrants after threatening them with visa penalties. The UK government had warned that it would stop granting visas to citizens of these countries if they did not improve cooperation on removals. The agreement is expected to lead to the removal or deportation of over 3,000 people from these countries. The Home Secretary has indicated that countries refusing to work with the UK on returns can expect visa restrictions, with several other countries potentially facing sanctions.

The US healthcare system is widely regarded as broken, with high costs and inadequate coverage for many Americans. Despite bipartisan recognition of the need for reform, there is disagreement on the best solutions. The system is complex, with multiple overlapping programs and a large private insurance industry. Many Americans struggle to pay medical bills, and some have turned to alternative, cost-sharing plans. President Donald Trump has proposed a 'Great Healthcare Plan' that includes sending citizens money to help pay for health insurance, but experts say it lacks details. Frustrations with the system are rising, with some people even celebrating the murder of a UnitedHealthCare CEO as a reaction against the system.

A BBC investigation has uncovered a thriving spy-cam porn industry in China, where hidden cameras in hotel rooms capture intimate moments of unsuspecting guests, which are then livestreamed and sold online. The investigation found that thousands of recent spy-cam videos were available on multiple sites, with some agents earning significant sums of money. The industry appears to be organized, with camera owners, agents, and subscribers involved. Victims, including a couple from Hong Kong, have been left traumatized after discovering they had been filmed. Despite government regulations, the issue persists, and experts warn that demand for removal of explicit footage is rising.

The Netherlands' Queen Maxima has joined the country's army as a reservist, citing concerns about national security. She will undergo training at the Royal Military Academy in Breda and be promoted to Lieutenant Colonel. This move is part of a broader trend in Europe, where countries are re-evaluating their defense strategies in light of Russia's invasion of Ukraine and the perceived unpredictability of the US as a NATO ally. Several European countries are considering or have already introduced mandatory military service or joint military forces.

Russian investigators have foiled an attempt to smuggle a 2.8-ton fragment of the Aletai meteorite to the United Kingdom by disguising it as a garden ornament. The meteorite, believed to be worth approximately $4.2 million, was discovered during a routine inspection at the port of Saint Petersburg. The fragment is thought to have come from one of the largest known iron meteorites on Earth, discovered in western China in 1898, and is estimated to be at least 4.5 billion years old. Prosecutors have opened a criminal investigation into the smuggling attempt. The sale of meteorites has raised ethical concerns among scientists, as they are often valuable for research purposes and provide important insights into the early solar system.

A Russian stand-up comedian, Artemy Ostanin, has been sentenced to nearly six years in a penal colony for a joke about a war veteran who lost his legs. The joke was deemed to be an insult to Russian soldiers wounded in the war in Ukraine. Ostanin was also found guilty of inciting hatred and insulting religious feelings over a separate joke about religion. The conviction is part of a broader crackdown on dissent in Russia, with many others being punished for speaking out against the war in Ukraine. The judge who handed down the sentence has been sanctioned by the US Treasury for her role in the arbitrary detention of a Moscow city councilor who opposed the war.

The US is transferring nearly 7,000 ISIS suspects from Syria to Iraq amid concerns over security and due legal process. The operation follows a mass escape from a prison in Syria and comes as Iraq has vowed to put the prisoners on trial. Human rights organizations have raised concerns about the fairness of the trials, citing previous cases where defendants were tortured and sentenced to death without proper evidence. The Iraqi government has assured that it can provide fair and decisive trials, but critics argue that the justice system is still flawed.

The release of new AI tools by Anthropic has triggered a broad sell-off in software and data stocks, with the S&P 500 Software & Services Index falling over 4% on Thursday. Executives and analysts are divided on the long-term impact of these AI tools on the industry. While some, like Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang, believe that AI will enhance existing software tools rather than replace them, others warn of margin and pricing pressure. Investors are reassessing which software firms can coexist with AI in the long term. The sell-off has spread to Asian IT firms, with shares of Thomson Reuters, Salesforce, and LegalZoom among the hardest hit.

European stock markets opened lower on Friday as corporate earnings reports continued to influence share prices. The Stoxx 600 was down 0.28%, while the FTSE 100 dropped almost 0.5%. Mining giants Rio Tinto and Glencore abandoned merger talks, citing disagreements over terms. The Bank of England and European Central Bank held interest rates steady on Thursday. The British pound was 0.3% higher against the U.S. dollar. Key earnings updates are expected from companies like Societe Generale and Orsted. The week's earnings reports have been significant, with companies like LVMH, Novo Nordisk, and Shell releasing their results.

Stellantis, the automaker behind Jeep, expects to take a $26 billion hit from overhauling its business to accelerate the rollout of electric and hybrid vehicles. The company cited over-estimating the pace of the energy transition and poor operational execution as reasons for the charge. Shares dropped over 14% in European trading. Stellantis also anticipates a net loss for 2025, has suspended its dividend for 2026, and plans to raise up to $6 billion by issuing hybrid bonds. Despite the challenges, the company reported a return to positive volume growth in 2025 and an increase in its U.S. market share.

Toyota Motor announced that CEO Koji Sato will step down and be replaced by CFO Kenta Kon, marking the company's second CEO transition in three years. The change is aimed at speeding up decision-making amid industry challenges. Sato will assume the role of vice chairman and chief industry officer, while Kon will focus on internal company management. Toyota raised its full-year operating profit forecast despite pressure from U.S. tariffs, citing a weak yen and cost reductions. The company has been increasing its focus on electrified vehicles, with nearly half of its retail vehicle sales coming from EVs and hybrids in the first three quarters of its fiscal year.

The article discusses the potential risks facing big tech companies, particularly in the digital advertising sector. While the artificial-intelligence boom is a concern, another risk lies beneath the surface: digital advertising, which accounts for a large share of big tech's revenues, may not be as recession-proof as previously thought. The article suggests that digital ads may take a serious hit during the next economic downturn, having previously shrugged off the 2008-10 and 2020 downturns. This vulnerability is a concern for companies like Meta and Google, which rely heavily on digital advertising revenue.

The article discusses the decline of global press freedom and its implications. It highlights that while journalists can be infuriating at times, they play a crucial role in holding those in power accountable. The decline in trust in the news media, fueled by social media, has led to a decrease in scrutiny of those in power, allowing corrupt politicians to rejoice. The article emphasizes that it is in the public's interest to care about the state of journalism as it is essential for a functioning democracy.

The article discusses how the US Congress defended American science during Donald Trump's presidency, but notes that their work is not over. In 2025, the Trump administration cancelled thousands of grants and withheld billions of dollars from researchers, causing labs to close and American scientists to look abroad for jobs. The article argues that Congress can do more to resist Trump's assault on science and highlights the need for continued support for scientific research.

The article 'Stop panicking about AI. Start preparing' published in The Economist on January 29th, 2026, discusses the growing anxiety about the social consequences of generative AI. While leaders like Kristalina Georgieva, Sir Demis Hassabis, and Jamie Dimon express concerns about job displacement and societal upheaval, the article argues that there is time to adapt to the changes brought about by AI. It emphasizes the need for wise use of this time to prepare for the future rather than panicking about the potential consequences.

China's state-backed SuperComputing Network (SCNet) has deployed a new node for beta testing, powered by the country's largest domestically made artificial intelligence computing cluster. The node, located in Zhengzhou, central Henan province, consists of three scaleX platforms from Chinese supercomputer developer Sugon, supporting over 30,000 AI acceleration cards. With a potential combined computing power of 15 eflops, this development is a significant push in China's AI infrastructure. The new node is designed for large-scale AI scenarios, including trillion-parameter model training and high-throughput inference. This move underscores China's efforts to enhance its computing capabilities, with the new node's power potentially surpassing that of the world's current most powerful supercomputer, El Capitan, which achieved 1.8 eflops.

The US has defended its new critical minerals alliance, Forge, against claims that it is targeting China. The alliance aims to diversify supply chains and reduce dependence on China, which controls nearly 60% of global critical mineral production and 80% of refining. Deputy State Department spokeswoman Mignon Houston stated that the initiative is a national security measure to secure supply chains against shocks and price coercion, not an attempt to form an exclusive bloc.

The Hong Kong government has repealed a law requiring bus passengers to wear seat belts after discovering it only applied to vehicles registered since late January 2026. The law, which was introduced through subsidiary legislation, sparked complaints over uncomfortable restraints, hygiene risks, and fears that unbuckling before alighting would violate the law. Secretary for Transport and Logistics Mable Chan stated that the legislation was flawed as it failed to reflect the policy's intent to require all passengers on public and private buses to wear seat belts where available.

The US government has pledged an additional $6 million in food aid to Cuba amidst escalating tensions between the two countries. The aid is intended for those affected by Hurricane Melissa in Cuba's eastern region and will be delivered by the Catholic Church and Caritas. Cuba's deputy foreign minister has criticized the move as 'two-faced' and 'hypocritical', given the US's simultaneous efforts to restrict Cuba's fuel supply, which Cuba's president has termed an 'energy blockade'.

An Australian man, 27, has been charged with 596 child abuse-related offenses after an investigation uncovered over 23,000 videos and images linked to 459 victims, some as young as seven. The suspect allegedly used multiple online profiles to target children on social media and gaming platforms between 2018 and 2025. Queensland Police are working with international partners to identify and support the victims.

Heavy flooding caused by Storm Leonardo has resulted in one death and one missing person in Spain and Portugal. A 70-year-old man died in Portugal's Alentejo region after his car was swept away, while a girl is missing in Spain's Malaga province after being washed away while trying to rescue her dog. Thousands have been evacuated, and widespread damage has been reported across the Iberian Peninsula. The region has been hit by a series of storms, with more expected in the coming days.

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) president Kirsty Coventry has urged spectators to show respect to American officials and athletes during the Winter Olympics opening ceremony in Milan, amid protests against the deployment of US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) staff. The presence of ICE agents has raised concerns among locals, with some calling them a 'militia that kills'. Coventry hopes the opening ceremony will be an opportunity for people to be respectful of each other. The IOC is also facing pressure from members in Africa to address concerns about the impact of US travel bans on delegations.

The Washington Post laid off a third of its staff, sparking outrage among media elites. The author argues that the Post's demise is a result of its own doing, citing its history of journalistic lapses, biased reporting, and propagation of misinformation. The Post's coverage of topics like Russia collusion, Kavanaugh accusations, and the Hunter Biden laptop story are highlighted as examples of its dishonest reporting. The author also criticizes the Post's practice of using partisan 'experts' as opinion writers and its 'fact-checking' methods. The article concludes that the Post's loss of audience is due to its failure to maintain factual coverage and its shift towards propaganda.

A 17-year-old Florida teen, Bradey Ming, was arrested for felony aggravated battery after he allegedly set his friend on fire during a prank on Kauffman Island in Lake Kerr, Florida. The incident was caught on camera, showing Ming pouring gasoline on the fire and then dumping it on his friend's feet and legs, causing severe burns. The victim was hospitalized with second-degree burns and deep full-thickness burns on his legs and thigh. Ming turned himself in to the police and is being held without bail. The incident has raised concerns about the severity of the prank and the consequences of such actions.

Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford was honored as the NFL's MVP after a stellar season where he threw for 4,707 yards and 46 touchdowns. In his acceptance speech, Stafford expressed his eagerness to return next season, stating his desire to lead the Rams to a different outcome after losing in the NFC title game. With the return of Stafford, head coach Sean McVay, wide receiver Puka Nacua, and a strong defense, the Rams are expected to be Super Bowl contenders next year.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese signed a new security treaty with Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto in Jakarta, describing it as 'very significant'. The treaty aims to enhance defence cooperation and integration between the two nations. Meanwhile, in Australian politics, the Liberals and Nationals are discussing a potential reconciliation, with Nationals MP Darren Chester expressing hope for a reunion. However, a senior Liberal frontbencher suggested the party could succeed without the Nationals. Other news includes a police shooting on the mid-north coast of New South Wales, a plunge in Australian shares, and controversy surrounding the Newcastle writers' festival lineup.

Dozens of people have died in Japan due to record-breaking snowfall in the north, with 35 reported deaths and nearly 400 injuries since January 20. Most deaths occurred while people were clearing snow from their homes. Two Australians, Michael Hurst and Brooke Day, were among the fatalities. Officials warn that warmer temperatures may lead to new accidents, such as avalanches and slippery surfaces. The heavy snowfall has affected 15 of Japan's 47 prefectures, causing widespread disruptions, including power outages and transportation cancellations.

A sewage leak in Wellington, New Zealand's capital, has been described as an 'environmental disaster' after millions of litres of untreated sewage flowed into the sea due to a failure at the Moa Point wastewater treatment plant. Residents have been advised not to enter the water, collect seafood, or walk their dogs on local beaches. The leak is expected to take months to repair, with Wellington Water working to restore operation of the long outfall pipe and screening system.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) announced that it has eliminated Muhammad Issam Hassan al-Habil, a Hamas terrorist who murdered Corporal Noa Marciano while she was held captive in Gaza. Al-Habil was a key Hamas cell commander and was killed in an airstrike in Gaza City's Shati refugee camp. Marciano, 19, was abducted from the Nahal Oz outpost during Hamas's October 7th massacre and was later taken to Shifa Hospital in Gaza City, where she was murdered. The IDF stated that al-Habil's elimination brings closure to the Marciano family and that they will continue to operate against any terrorist involved in the October 7 massacre.

The UK's Labour government, led by Prime Minister Keir Starmer, is facing criticism for not outlawing Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). Critics argue that the delay allows Iranian influence operations to continue in the UK. A London-based Islamic center, allegedly linked to Iran, has been accused of selling merchandise supporting terrorism, including Hezbollah phone cases and pro-Iranian regime key rings. Experts warn that the UK government's inaction on designating the IRGC as a terrorist organization enables hostile Iranian networks to operate under the guise of civil society.

Indian spiritual guru Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh, jailed for life for rape and murder, has been released on parole for the 15th time. Critics argue that his repeated releases demonstrate the enduring power of spiritual influence in India and the potential for the scales of justice to be tipped by the vast political reach and capital of so-called 'godmen.' Singh has spent over 400 days outside prison since his initial jailing in 2017. Relatives of his victims have expressed anger over his latest release, while the Dera Sacha Sauda organization claims he was entitled to parole like other prisoners. The article explores the context of India's spiritual marketplace and the influence of charismatic gurus.

A new Bollywood film, 'The Taj Story', has reignited a long-standing conspiracy theory that the Taj Mahal was originally a Hindu temple or palace, rather than a Mughal tomb. The film, directed by Tushar Amrish Goel, follows a tour guide who questions the historical narrative behind the monument and takes his suspicions to court. The theory, promoted by pseudo-historians and Hindu nationalists, has been repeatedly debunked by historians and art historians, but continues to be pushed by some lawyers and politicians, including those affiliated with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party. The film's release has stoked tensions between Hindus and Muslims in India, with some critics calling it 'communal poison' intended to divide the nation.

The article explores the complexities of identity and politics in Kelantan, Malaysia, where a small Chinese minority is navigating the challenges of living under Islamist rule. The state's Chinese community has a deep history dating back to the 17th century and has developed a unique cultural identity that blends Chinese and Malay traditions. However, recent policies by the Kelantan government, led by Parti Islam SeMalaysia (PAS), have raised concerns among the Chinese community about their future in the state. The policies, including the requirement for non-Muslim businesses to obtain halal certification, have led to a decline in Chinese wedding dinners and a sense of encroachment on Chinese spaces. Despite this, many Chinese Kelantanese are proud of their heritage and are working to preserve their culture through social media and other initiatives.