China has removed sanctions on six members of the UK Parliament after discussions between British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and Chinese President Xi Jinping. These sanctions had been placed on four Conservative MPs and two peers in 2021. The UK has not lifted any sanctions on Chinese individuals.
Key Facts
China lifted sanctions on six British MPs and peers.
British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer announced the change during a visit to China.
The sanctions included bans on travel to China, Hong Kong, and Macau, and freezing of property in China.
The MPs and peers affected include four Conservative MPs and two peers from the House of Lords.
The sanctions were initially imposed in 2021 due to the MPs spotlighting human rights violations in Xinjiang.
The Chinese foreign ministry stated that both countries agreed to resume normal legislative exchanges.
British MPs have expressed they prefer to remain sanctioned rather than be used as bargaining tools.
The UK has maintained its sanctions against Chinese officials.
The Trump administration plans to convert industrial warehouses into immigration detention centers across the United States. This move is facing opposition from local residents, officials, and lawmakers due to concerns about conditions and community impact. The plan aims to increase detention capacity significantly.
Key Facts
President Trump's administration is turning industrial warehouses into immigration detention centers.
There is opposition from local communities and officials across the country.
ICE plans to repurpose 23 warehouses, potentially holding tens of thousands of immigrants awaiting deportation.
The Department of Homeland Security has purchased facilities in Maryland and Arizona for these purposes.
Concerns include potential impact on local infrastructure, zoning issues, and suitability for human use.
Some communities, like those in New Hampshire, have protested these warehouse conversions.
DHS claims facilities will meet federal standards for medical care, recreation, and legal access.
Critics argue the converted warehouses may not be suitable for long-term detention.
Urban Meyer, a well-known college football coach, is worried about a problem in college football called "tampering." Tampering is when people try to contact players who are not officially allowed to transfer to another school. Meyer believes this issue is growing because there are no strict rules to stop it.
Key Facts
More than 6,700 Division I college football players entered the transfer portal this offseason.
Tampering involves contacting players who are not officially in the transfer portal.
Clemson's coach, Dabo Swinney, accused Ole Miss of tampering.
Urban Meyer predicts the number of tampering cases could increase dramatically.
Meyer criticizes the NCAA for not enforcing rules to prevent tampering.
Some suggest appointing a commissioner for college football, but Meyer doubts its effectiveness.
Meyer wants NCAA President Charlie Baker to take action against tampering.
Meyer discusses his concerns on "The Triple Option" podcast, which he co-hosts.
Celtic will compete against Stuttgart, and Nottingham Forest will face Fenerbahce in two-legged play-offs to advance to the last 16 of the Europa League. The play-off matches are scheduled for February 19 and 26.
Key Facts
Celtic will play Stuttgart in a Europa League play-off.
Nottingham Forest will face Fenerbahce in their play-off match.
The first leg for Celtic will be at Celtic Park.
The winners of Celtic's tie will play either Porto or Braga in the last 16.
Forest will play either Midtjylland or Real Betis if they win against Fenerbahce.
The play-off matches will be on February 19 and 26.
Celtic qualified for the play-offs by beating Utrecht 4-2.
Forest secured their play-off spot by defeating Ferencvaros 4-0.
The 2026 Europa League final will be in Istanbul, Turkey.
The U.S. Department of Education missed a deadline to process applications for student loan forgiveness as part of a legal settlement. This could lead to automatic loan forgiveness for some borrowers. The delay affects a group within the Sweet v. Cardona case, with potential financial relief for many people.
Key Facts
The Education Department missed a deadline in a settlement under the Sweet v. Cardona case.
The settlement relates to Borrower Defense to Repayment, a program to cancel loans if schools misled students.
More than 40 million Americans have student loan debt.
Borrowers affected by the missed deadline may get full loan forgiveness automatically.
The missed decision deadline was January 28, 2023.
Forgiveness applies to those who applied before June 22, 2022, and attended specific schools.
The Education Department requested a deadline extension but was denied by a judge.
Current negotiations aim to sort through 207,000 borrower applications.
Tens of thousands of people have been without electricity for six days following a severe winter storm that affected parts of the eastern United States. The Carolinas and Virginia are preparing for another incoming winter storm that could bring significant snowfall and cold temperatures. Mississippi and Tennessee have seen widespread power outages, and officials are working to provide aid to those affected by the cold weather.
Key Facts
Over 230,000 homes and businesses are without power, mostly in Mississippi and Tennessee.
The National Weather Service forecasts heavy snow in the Carolinas, Virginia, and northeast Georgia.
Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, which usually deals with hurricanes, expects 6 inches of snow.
The potential for blizzard conditions exists due to expected strong winds and snow.
Mississippi has opened about 80 warming centers to help those affected by the cold.
The National Guard in Mississippi is distributing meals, blankets, and other supplies.
Tennessee has provided more than 600 units of warming supplies and over 2,200 gallons of fuel.
Medical experts warn that extended exposure to cold can lead to hypothermia, even in healthy individuals.
The 68th Annual Grammy Awards will take place this Sunday with a diverse lineup of performers and presenters. There are notable artists like Lady Gaga and Kendrick Lamar, who has nine nominations, and others from genres such as K-pop and country music. The event will have performances, award presentations, and an "In Memoriam" segment.
Key Facts
The 68th Annual Grammy Awards are scheduled for this Sunday.
There are 18 or 19 performances planned for the event.
Lady Gaga, who is the second most nominated artist this year, will perform.
Kendrick Lamar leads with nine nominations and could be the third rapper to win Album of the Year.
If Bad Bunny wins Album of the Year, it will be the first time an all-Spanish-language album has won.
No K-pop artist has won a Grammy, but there are several nominations from this genre.
The Academy has split the country music awards to include Best Contemporary and Best Traditional Country Album.
Trevor Noah will host the ceremony, airing on CBS and Paramount Plus.
Israeli airstrikes and military actions in Gaza have resulted in at least five fatalities and injured 11 people, despite a ceasefire. The strikes affected locations like the Maghazi refugee camp and Rafah, a key border town with a crossing into Egypt. The ongoing violence continues amid both sides accusing each other of violating the ceasefire agreement brokered by the United States.
Key Facts
Israeli strikes in Gaza killed at least five people and wounded 11 others.
These events occurred at the Maghazi refugee camp and the city of Rafah in Gaza.
Rafah is a strategic location with a border crossing to Egypt, crucial for aid.
Israeli officials reported killing three individuals they identified as "terrorists" in Rafah.
Israeli gunboats fired on fishing boats near Rafah, with no reported injuries.
The al-Mawasi refugee camp, labeled a ‘humanitarian zone,’ also experienced shelling.
Since the ceasefire began in October, 492 Palestinians have died, and 1,356 have been injured.
The ceasefire, brokered by the U.S., has been active for over three months, but both sides claim violations.
Shelisa Demuth, the daughter of Minnesota House Speaker Lisa Demuth, publicly criticized her mother's Facebook post that condemned anti-ICE protesters. Shelisa's comment highlighted the role of protests in securing civil rights and questioned the political framing of dissent. This family disagreement occurred against the backdrop of increased protest activity in Minnesota.
Key Facts
Lisa Demuth is the Minnesota House Speaker and a gubernatorial candidate.
She criticized protesters who disrupted a church service in St. Paul over immigration enforcement.
Lisa Demuth’s Facebook post emphasized freedom of speech and religion.
Her daughter, Shelisa Demuth, responded by highlighting the importance of protests in civil rights.
Shelisa Demuth expressed her views to Newsweek, emphasizing respectful disagreement.
The incident occurred amid increasing protests over federal immigration actions in Minnesota.
Lisa Demuth is aligned with President Donald Trump and supports law-and-order policies.
Newsweek did not receive a comment from Lisa Demuth's office at the time of publication.
The New York Knicks are no longer a top choice for trading with Milwaukee Bucks star player Giannis Antetokounmpo. The Bucks are asking for a high price that the Knicks might not be able to match, especially after trading away many future draft picks. Other teams like the Golden State Warriors and Miami Heat are now seen as more likely options for acquiring Giannis.
Key Facts
The New York Knicks were once a preferred option for Giannis Antetokounmpo in a trade.
Giannis Antetokounmpo may be open to leaving the Milwaukee Bucks.
The Knicks are ranked low as a potential trade partner by CBS Sports.
The Knicks traded away many future draft picks, making it hard to meet the Bucks' demands.
Other teams like the Golden State Warriors and Miami Heat are now getting more attention in the trade talks.
The Knicks have strengthened their team with players like Karl-Anthony Towns, OG Anunoby, and Mikal Bridges.
Despite trade talks, the Knicks remain strong contenders in the Eastern Conference.
Twenty penguins at the Long Island Aquarium in New York were moved indoors due to extremely cold weather. The penguins, native to warm climates, cannot handle the freezing temperatures caused by an Arctic cold front hitting the area.
Key Facts
The Long Island Aquarium brought their penguins inside because it got too cold.
Temperatures in Riverhead, Long Island dropped to 20 degrees below zero.
The U.S. National Weather Service issued a cold weather advisory due to the chill.
The penguins at the aquarium are South African black-footed penguins that prefer warmer climates.
These penguins already spend nights indoors, so they are comfortable with the indoor setting.
Guests can still see the penguins inside through special programs.
The penguins have features like waterproof feathers and flippers, suited for swimming.
A storm is expected to bring snow and strong winds to eastern Long Island.
Georgia Fort, an independent journalist, was arrested by federal agents after covering an anti-ICE protest in Minnesota. The arrest has raised questions about press freedom and First Amendment rights, with concerns about the Trump administration's actions.
Key Facts
Georgia Fort is an independent journalist based in Minneapolis.
She was arrested at her home after covering a protest against ICE at a church in St. Paul.
Fort shared a video showing agents at her door and mentioned her concerns about press freedom.
Other journalists and activists, including Don Lemon, were also involved in the protest coverage.
The Trump administration launched a civil rights investigation into the protest.
Fort is expected to make a court appearance and her lawyer expects her release.
The protest targeted the local ICE field office after an ICE-related shooting incident.
The FACE Act is being used by the DOJ and FBI to charge some protestors.
Israel plans to reopen the Rafah border crossing with Egypt on Sunday for limited movement of people. This opening is part of a U.S.-brokered ceasefire deal to help stop the war between Hamas and Israel and allow humanitarian aid into Gaza.
Key Facts
Israel will reopen the Rafah border crossing on Sunday after nearly two years.
The crossing connects Gaza with Egypt.
Only limited movement of people will be allowed at the crossing.
The opening is part of a ceasefire agreement brokered by the United States.
The goal of the reopening is to assist in providing humanitarian aid to Gaza.
Gaza has about 2 million displaced people who need food, shelter, and medicine.
Microsoft and Meta both increased their spending on AI, but their stock prices reacted differently. While Microsoft saw a significant drop, Meta's stock went up as investors believe its AI investments will boost its advertising revenue. This shows how investors are assessing the potential of AI investments in terms of immediate and future returns.
Key Facts
Microsoft increased its AI spending, but its stock fell by nearly 12%.
Meta's stock price rose as it announced over $115 billion in AI spending for the year.
Microsoft's cloud revenue grew by 39%, but this growth was mainly from non-AI services.
Investors are concerned about the value of software companies due to the rise of AI.
Meta's strong advertising revenue helps offset concerns about its large AI investments.
Analysts use discounted cash flow models to estimate company values based on future cash.
Meta's AI investments are seen as contributing positively to its future cash flow.
Microsoft's AI spending is viewed as risky due to uncertain and delayed returns.
Southwest Airlines started using assigned seating instead of its old open seating policy. The change had mixed reactions from passengers, some liked it and others did not. Southwest made this switch to align with other airlines and potentially increase profits.
Key Facts
Southwest Airlines switched from open seating to assigned seating on January 27.
The change aims to align with airlines like Delta and United.
Social media reactions varied; some passengers liked the new system, and others did not.
A TikTok user reported being put on standby and getting a middle seat just hours before her flight.
Some flight attendants did not allow passengers to move to empty seats in premium areas.
The new system involves eight boarding groups based on ticket type or extras like credit card perks.
Southwest hopes the new seating plan and fees will improve profitability.
The airline forecasts a significant profit increase this year but anticipates challenges in maintaining it in the future.
Train services on the West Coast Main Line between Euston station and Watford Junction are disrupted due to a fire in north London. About 70 firefighters are working to control the fire at a commercial building in Chalk Farm, affecting services to several major UK cities.
Key Facts
A fire started around 09:30 GMT in Chalk Farm, north London.
About 70 firefighters are working to put out the fire.
Train services from Euston station are facing major disruption.
Delays are expected until at least 15:00 GMT, according to National Rail.
Avanti West Coast suggests using tickets with other operators due to the disruption.
London Northwestern Railway trains from Euston are also suspended.
Southern trains between Clapham Junction and Watford Junction are not running.
WWE "SmackDown" will take place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, and air at different times across regions. The show will feature several wrestling matches and notable WWE stars, leading up to the "Royal Rumble 2026" event.
Key Facts
WWE "SmackDown" will be live from Riyadh at noon ET.
The episode airs at 8 p.m. ET in the United States.
Undisputed WWE Champion Drew McIntyre will meet Sami Zayn.
Cody Rhodes will discuss his recent fight and aim to be a three-time Royal Rumble winner.
Carmelo Hayes will defend his WWE United States Championship in an open challenge against Rey Fenix.
Additional matches include Ilja Dragunov vs. The Miz and Johnny Gargano vs. Axiom.
Newsweek Sports provides live updates on "SmackDown."
Queen Camilla attended a memorial service at Southwark Cathedral in London for Dame Jilly Cooper, a well-known British author who passed away at 88 years old. Cooper was famous for her successful books, including "Riders" and "Rivals," selling over 11 million copies in the UK. The service included various celebrity guests who came to honor her life and contributions to literature.
Key Facts
Queen Camilla attended a memorial service for author Dame Jilly Cooper in London.
Dame Jilly Cooper died at the age of 88 in October 2025 after a fall.
Cooper was a best-selling author known for her books "Riders" and "Rivals."
Her works focused on the lives of the wealthy and horse-loving circles.
"Rivals" was adapted into a successful TV series on Disney+ in 2024.
The memorial had celebrity guests, including actors and friends of Cooper.
Dame Jilly was honored as a CBE and later made a dame for her contributions to literature and charity.
She sold over 11 million books in the UK and is survived by her two children.
Lindsey Vonn had a crash during a downhill ski race in Switzerland, causing her to be airlifted to a hospital. The incident raises questions about her participation in the upcoming Winter Olympics. The race was canceled after several skiers crashed in difficult conditions.
Key Facts
Lindsey Vonn crashed during a World Cup downhill race in Crans-Montana, Switzerland.
The crash happened just before the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics, raising doubts about her participation.
After the crash, Vonn limped and was later airlifted to a hospital.
The race was canceled after three of the first six skiers crashed.
Vonn is 41 years old and recently returned to skiing after a partial right knee replacement.
She has been successful this season, with two wins and three other podium finishes.
Vonn planned to compete in multiple events at the Olympics, including the women's downhill and super-G.
The crash occurred under challenging conditions with poor visibility.
The Department of Justice (DOJ) confirmed it is releasing about three million files related to the Jeffrey Epstein investigations and clarified that it is not trying to protect President Donald Trump in this process. Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche stated that the DOJ aims to be transparent and has not received any oversight from the White House regarding which documents to release.
Key Facts
The DOJ is releasing about three million files related to the Jeffrey Epstein investigations.
U.S. Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche clarified that President Trump is not being protected in the process.
The DOJ is following legal requirements for document release.
President Trump directed the DOJ to be transparent about the files.
The White House has not overseen the document review process.
There is high public interest in the Epstein-related documents.
