England's cricket captain Harry Brook admitted he lied about being alone during a nightclub altercation in New Zealand. He initially claimed he was by himself to protect his teammates, who were also present. The incident may lead to an investigation by the cricket regulator.
Key Facts
Harry Brook is the captain of England's white-ball cricket team.
The altercation happened on November 1, before a one-day match in Wellington, New Zealand.
Brook initially said he was alone, but later admitted teammates Jacob Bethell and Josh Tongue were with him.
He lied to protect his teammates from being involved in the situation.
Brook was fined and received a warning for his conduct.
The incident became public more than two months later.
The cricket regulator might investigate the incident.
Brook acknowledged the need to improve his off-field responsibilities as a captain.
The Buffalo Bills and Baltimore Ravens have both fired their longtime head coaches and hired new ones. They are both interested in hiring Jim Leonhard, a coach from the Denver Broncos, to improve their teams' defensive strategies. Leonhard has interviewed with the Ravens, but not yet with the Bills.
Key Facts
The Buffalo Bills and Baltimore Ravens recently fired their head coaches after disappointing seasons.
Both teams hired new head coaches: Jesse Minter for the Ravens and Joe Brady for the Bills.
The Ravens and Bills are interested in Jim Leonhard, a Denver Broncos' coach, for their defensive coordinator roles.
Jim Leonhard has already interviewed with the Ravens for the open defensive coordinator position.
The Bills want Leonhard to lead their defense, as Joe Brady will focus on offense.
The Ravens did not make the playoffs, while the Bills did not advance past their division in the playoffs.
A strong storm called a bomb cyclone is predicted to affect the entire U.S. East Coast, bringing cold temperatures and heavy snow. This storm could lead to dangerous conditions, like blizzards and low temperatures, from the Ohio Valley to the Southeast. Various states are preparing with weather warnings for snow, wind, and cold.
Key Facts
The storm is expected to become a powerful nor’easter, causing blizzards in some areas.
Cold, Arctic air will affect states from the Ohio Valley to the Southeast.
Florida could experience single-digit temperatures over the weekend.
The National Weather Service issued gale warnings for parts of Georgia, the Carolinas, and Virginia.
Mid-Atlantic states have storm and winter warnings in place.
New York and other northeastern states have coastal and cold weather advisories.
Airline delays and road travel disruptions are likely due to the storm.
During a visit to China, sanctions were lifted on Baroness Helena Kennedy and other UK parliamentarians who had criticized China's human rights record. The move was part of efforts to improve UK-China relations, though some critics believe not enough was achieved, especially regarding human rights issues like the case of pro-democracy campaigner Jimmy Lai.
Key Facts
Baroness Helena Kennedy was sanctioned by China in 2021 for speaking against its treatment of the Uyghur minority.
During the UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer's visit to China, these sanctions were lifted.
Critics, including Baroness Kennedy, believe the sanctions' removal is insufficient without addressing wider human rights issues.
The UK Prime Minister discussed human rights issues, including the case of imprisoned pro-democracy activist Jimmy Lai, with China's President Xi Jinping.
This was the first visit to China by a UK prime minister since 2018.
As a result of the visit, China will halve import taxes on British whisky starting next week.
There is still no agreed start date for a deal on visa-free travel for British citizens to China.
Some UK politicians remain critical of the UK's diplomatic gains from the visit.
Houston voters will hold a special runoff election to fill a vacant U.S. House seat after their representative passed away. Two Democrats, Christian Menefee and Amanda Edwards, are running to replace Sylvester Turner. The election will temporarily reduce the Republican majority in the House.
Key Facts
A special runoff election will take place in Houston to fill a U.S. House seat.
Sylvester Turner, a Democratic congressman, died in March 2025, leaving the seat vacant.
Christian Menefee and Amanda Edwards are the Democratic candidates in the runoff.
The special election was needed because no candidate won the majority in the initial race.
The election will temporarily decrease the Republican majority in the House.
Voters in the Fort Worth area will also elect a new state senator.
There are currently three other vacant congressional seats in California, Georgia, and New Jersey.
A small Australian town named Licola, located in Victoria, is up for sale because the local Lions Club, which owns it, can no longer afford to maintain it. The sale has caused concern among the town's few residents, especially Leanne O'Donnell, who runs the local general store but may have to leave if the town is sold to developers.
Key Facts
Licola is a very small town with only five residents.
The town includes a general store, caravan park, and petrol station.
The town is owned by a local Lions Club, which decided to sell due to financial difficulties.
Licola has a history of hosting programs for disadvantaged young people.
Leanne O'Donnell and her family are the town's only permanent residents.
O'Donnell fears being evicted if the town is sold to developers.
The Lions Club told O'Donnell that the business has been unprofitable for several years.
O'Donnell offered to help raise funds, but the Lions Club decided to proceed with the sale.
Michigan State Spartans and Michigan Wolverines, two top college basketball teams, will face each other in a Big Ten Conference game on January 30, 2026. The game will take place at the Breslin Center, and viewers can watch it on FOX or stream it live on Fubo.
Key Facts
The basketball game features Michigan State Spartans (ranked No. 7) and Michigan Wolverines (ranked No. 3).
The game will occur on January 30, 2026, at 8:00 PM ET.
The location for the match is the Breslin Center.
The game will be broadcast on FOX and available for live streaming on Fubo.
Michigan State has won their last four games against Michigan.
Michigan State’s Jeremy Fears Jr. leads the team with averages of 14.1 points and 8.9 assists.
Michigan's Yaxel Lendeborg averages 14.2 points per game.
Michigan has a current winning streak of five games.
A woman bought a wardrobe at a Goodwill store, but when she returned to pick it up, it was gone because someone had re-priced and sold it to another buyer. Although her money was refunded, she was disappointed with the experience. The incident highlights challenges with Goodwill's system for selling large items, as stores sometimes have problems marking sold items clearly.
Key Facts
A 19-year-old woman purchased a wardrobe from a Goodwill store, which was later sold to another person.
The wardrobe had no price tag initially, so a store employee priced it for her.
When she returned to collect the wardrobe, it was missing because someone else bought it.
The Goodwill store refunded her payment, but the situation left her upset.
Goodwill stores can hold paid items for up to 24 hours, but if they are not marked as sold, they might be mistakenly resold.
Goodwill explained that items are sold "as-is" with no returns, and policies vary by region.
The story shows an issue with marking and securing sold items in resale stores.
The article discusses a promotional offer from Bet365, where users can sign up using the bonus code WEEK365 to receive $200 in bonus bets after placing an initial $5 bet on NBA games. The article highlights the Pistons-Warriors game as a major matchup among the nine NBA games scheduled. The promotion allows users to make various types of bets without being concerned about the outcome of their initial wager.
Key Facts
Bet365 is offering a bonus where users receive $200 in bonus bets after betting $5.
The promotion is tied to NBA games, including the Pistons vs. Warriors game.
Users must register with the code WEEK365 to access this offer.
The promotion includes betting on game winners or individual achievements, called prop bets.
The initial $5 bet automatically unlocks the $200 bonus without needing to wait for the bet result.
There are boosted odds for certain player achievements and team wins.
Users must use their bonus bets within one week to avoid expiration.
Signing up involves entering personal details and making a first deposit.
The Senate passed a funding package to keep most of the U.S. government running until the end of September. This decision followed an agreement between President Trump and Democrats to separate Homeland Security funding temporarily and discuss new limits on immigration enforcement. The deal prevents an immediate government shutdown.
Key Facts
The Senate voted to keep the federal government funded through September.
President Trump and Democrats agreed to separate Homeland Security funding for now.
The agreement allows for a debate on new rules for immigration raids.
Homeland Security will be funded at current levels for two weeks.
The Senate passed the measure with a 71-29 vote.
The funding package now goes to the House for consideration.
There is still a chance of a partial government shutdown until the House acts.
The U.S. Justice Department is investigating the shooting death of a nurse named Alex Pretti in Minneapolis. More arrests have been made in Minnesota related to protests, as nationwide discontent with immigration enforcement increases.
Key Facts
The Justice Department is looking into the death of Alex Pretti, who was a nurse.
Alex Pretti was shot and killed last weekend in Minneapolis.
There are ongoing protests in Minnesota where more people have been arrested.
The protests are linked to a broader national reaction against immigration enforcement actions.
The public response has been growing across the country.
President Trump chose Kevin Warsh to be the next leader of the Federal Reserve. Warsh has experience advising past presidents and served on the Federal Reserve Board. He would replace the current chair, Jerome Powell, if confirmed.
Key Facts
President Trump nominated Kevin Warsh for Federal Reserve chair.
Warsh was an advisor to President George W. Bush.
He served on the Federal Reserve’s Board from 2006 to 2011.
Jerome Powell is the current chair of the Federal Reserve.
If confirmed, Warsh will replace Powell when his term ends in May.
The announcement was discussed in an interview with David Wessel.
A judge decided that federal prosecutors cannot pursue the death penalty against Luigi Mangione and dropped murder and weapons charges. Additionally, a large number of homes in the Southern U.S. are still without power due to a winter storm. Russia announced a brief pause in attacks on Ukraine's capital.
Key Facts
A judge ruled against seeking the death penalty for Luigi Mangione.
Murder and weapons charges against Mangione were dismissed.
Nearly 230,000 homes and businesses in the Southern United States have been without electricity for six days.
The power outage is due to a winter storm that occurred last weekend.
Russia announced a temporary stop to attacks on Ukraine's capital, ending on Sunday.
As the Winter Olympics in Milan Cortina approach, the United Nations and event organizers are calling for a global ceasefire. This plea continues an ancient tradition from Greece aimed at pausing wars during the Olympic Games. Despite the truce's endorsement, conflicts like the ongoing fighting in Ukraine often continue, showing the challenge of enforcing these peace efforts.
Key Facts
The United Nations and Olympic organizers are calling for a 7-week pause in global conflicts, starting before the Winter Olympics.
This tradition is based on an ancient Greek practice where warring states paused conflicts during the Olympics.
The modern Olympic truce was revived in 1994 during the Lillehammer Winter Games.
A 1994 Olympic truce allowed aid delivery to Sarajevo during the siege.
Despite calls for peace, conflicts, including in Ukraine, continue, revealing the difficulty of implementing the truce.
In 2024, there were 61 active armed conflicts globally, the highest recorded for any year.
The "Doomsday Clock," indicating global danger levels, recently moved closer to midnight.
U.N. truce resolutions often pass easily, but signatory countries frequently break the ceasefire agreements.
The article discusses Kevin Durant's current performance and his rankings in NBA career points. Durant is the sixth-highest scorer and would need about 412 games to potentially reach LeBron James' all-time scoring record. Durant was recently traded to the Houston Rockets and is having a successful season.
Key Facts
Kevin Durant is the sixth-highest scorer in NBA history with 31,681 points.
LeBron James currently holds the top position with 42,810 career points.
To catch LeBron James, Durant would need to play about 412 more games at his average scoring pace.
Durant mentioned it's unlikely anyone will reach LeBron's record soon.
Recently, Durant was traded to the Houston Rockets and signed a two-year contract extension.
This NBA season, Durant averages 26.5 points per game.
The Houston Rockets are currently fourth in the Western Conference standings.
Durant is in a strong position to continue advancing on the all-time scoring list and possibly compete for a title with the Rockets.
The United States and Iran want to find a diplomatic way to resolve their disagreements. However, there are conflicting reports about how talks are going, and more military forces are being deployed, making the situation unclear.
Key Facts
The US and Iran are in a disagreement or standoff.
Both countries have expressed a desire for a diplomatic solution, meaning they want to solve it through discussion, not conflict.
There are conflicting reports about the state of the negotiations, which means there are different stories about what is happening.
There is an increase in military forces in the region, suggesting tensions are high.
Other regional countries or players are getting involved in the situation, trying to influence the outcome.
Disney+ is releasing a variety of new shows and movies in February 2026. Highlights include new episodes of the Marvel series "Wonder Man" and the premiere of a new "The Muppet Show." Other releases include original series and several premieres spread throughout the month.
Key Facts
"Wonder Man" is a Marvel superhero series on Disney+ with episodes releasing from January 27 to March 17, 2026.
A new episode of "Wonder Man" comes out on February 3, 10, 17, and 24.
"The Muppet Show," a Disney original, premieres on February 4.
Other new releases in February include "Ancient Aliens" (Season 17) and "We Call It Imagineering" on February 4.
"Engineering Europe" premieres on February 7, and "The Artful Dodger" (Season 2) launches on February 10.
February 19 features a "Hannah Montana" 20th Anniversary Marathon launch.
"Inside the CIA: Secrets and Spies" premieres on February 26.
"Miraculous World: Tokyo Stellar Force" and "Sofia the First: Once Upon a Princess" debut on February 27.
The Department of Justice (DOJ) released a final batch of files related to investigations into Jeffrey Epstein. This release includes millions of pages and thousands of videos and images, but some information is hidden or redacted.
Key Facts
The DOJ released more than 3 million pages of documents.
There are also 2,000 videos and 180,000 images included.
This release is related to investigations into Jeffrey Epstein.
The release happened over a month after a deadline set by Congress.
Some information in the files is redacted, meaning it is hidden.
The DOJ has not explained why certain parts are redacted.
Catherine O'Hara, a well-known figure in the entertainment industry, passed away at the age of 71. She was famous for her roles in various movies and TV shows.
Key Facts
Catherine O'Hara died at the age of 71.
She was respected in the comedy genre.
Her work included cult classics and blockbuster films.
Category: business
Medicare's decision to cover certain weight loss drugs, including Ozempic, could significantly impact how obesity is treated in the U.S. Eli Lilly, a drug company, plans to launch a new weight loss pill, orforglipron, which Medicare will cover soon after its release. This change could lower costs for patients and expand access to weight management medications.
Key Facts
Medicare will start covering weight loss drugs such as GLP-1 medications, which help treat type 2 diabetes and aid weight loss.
Eli Lilly's CEO stated that their new obesity pill, orforglipron, will be covered by Medicare right after its launch.
Under the new Medicare coverage, patients could pay as little as $50 per month for these medications.
Eli Lilly plans a full launch of their new pill in the second quarter when Medicare coverage begins.
Approximately 20 to 30 million Medicare beneficiaries in the U.S. could benefit due to obesity concerns.
Previously, patients often paid out of pocket for similar medications from other companies.
Medicare's decision is part of a pilot program approved by the Trump administration.
The high cost of these drugs in the U.S. had been a barrier compared to their prices in other countries.
