Prime Minister Keir Starmer rebuked US president Donald Trump after Trump criticised Britain for not joining strikes on Iran, declaring: “It is my duty to judge what is in Britain’s national interest… And I stand by it.” Starmer said the UK had prioritised de‑escalation and legal scrutiny over offensive action, while later permitting limited US defensive uses of British bases following Iranian missile and drone attacks that threatened British forces and citizens. He and Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper stressed protecting 300,000 British nationals in the Gulf. Conservatives, commentators accused him of weakness as relations with the US were deeply strained. (theguardian.com)
Breaking reports said the President would address the nation on Iran from the White House at 11 a.m. EST, but the White House later called those reports inaccurate. The announcement followed U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iranian targets and reports that Iran’s supreme leader was killed, actions that have prompted Iranian retaliatory attacks and a sharp regional escalation. Officials are briefing Congress and U.S. military commands remain on high alert as civilian and military casualties mount. Media and government sources continue to report rapidly changing details; the White House has not confirmed a formal, scheduled televised address. Developing; more details expected soon. (yahoo.com)
Senate Majority Leader John Thune announced that an updated Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act will be brought to the Senate floor and amended to require photo identification as well as documentary proof of U.S. citizenship to vote in federal elections. Thune said the bill, which the House passed in April 2025, is being “fixed” to add a photo‑ID requirement and that he will schedule a vote. Advocates warn the measure could complicate mail‑in voting and voter registration; critics say it would disenfranchise many voters. Passage is uncertain because Senate Democrats can block the bill under the 60‑vote filibuster and Republicans. (democracydocket.com)
On January 27, 2026, dozens of anti‑ICE protesters occupied the lobby of the Hilton Garden Inn in Tribeca, Manhattan, accusing the hotel of housing federal immigration agents after two fatal ICE-related shootings in Minneapolis. (abc7ny.com) Police ordered the crowd to disperse for 45 minutes before the NYPD Strategic Response Group began making arrests; officers used zip ties and escorted detainees to buses. (gvwire.com) Authorities reported 65–66 people arrested, most issued summonses for trespassing and disorderly conduct. (amny.com) Demonstrators chanted, removed coats to reveal “Abolish ICE” shirts, and said the action aimed to pressure hotels and spotlight protests. (amny.com) Hotel and DHS comment was limited. (abcnews.go.com)
Bruce Springsteen released a protest song, “Streets of Minneapolis,” on January 28, 2026, written in response to recent killings in Minneapolis. He said he wrote it on January 24, recorded it on January 27, and released it the next day. The track, dedicated to Alex Pretti and Renée Good, condemns ICE and attacks President Trump—labeling federal agents “King Trump’s private army”—and culminates in chants of “ICE out.” Posted to Springsteen’s social accounts and YouTube, the full-band folk-rock piece narrates the deaths, calls for justice, and urges solidarity with Minneapolis’s immigrant communities and memorializes the names of the slain publicly today. (theguardian.com)
On January 28, 2026, FBI agents executed a court‑authorized search at the Fulton County elections center in Union City, Georgia, seizing records tied to the 2020 election, including ballots, tabulator tapes and digital images. (theguardian.com) Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, sworn in February 12, 2025, was photographed outside the site with FBI officials, prompting scrutiny because the DNI does not generally oversee law‑enforcement raids. (dni.gov) County officials, voting‑rights groups and lawmakers warned the action risked undermining chain of custody and politicizing election oversight. (theguardian.com) Supporters countered agents acted under a court order; the Justice Department has not detailed allegations as probe continues. (washingtonpost.com)
On January 28, 2026, FBI agents executed a court‑authorized search at the Fulton County Elections Hub in Union City, Georgia, seizing 2020 ballots, tabulator tapes, electronic ballot images and voter rolls as part of an investigation into the 2020 election. (apnews.com) Associated Press and other outlets published photos showing agents loading boxes onto trucks and reported that Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard and FBI Co‑Deputy Director Andrew Bailey were seen onsite. (apnews.com) County officials warned about chain‑of‑custody and transparency, noting the action follows renewed scrutiny tied to President Trump’s repeated, unproven 2020 fraud claims; the investigation remains active and questions persist. (wsbtv.com)
On January 28, 2026, FBI agents executed a court-authorized search warrant at the Fulton County Elections Hub and Operations Center in Union City, Georgia, spending nearly twelve hours removing boxes of 2020 ballots, tabulator tapes, digital ballot images and voter rolls as part of a federal probe into preservation of election records and alleged 2020 irregularities. County officials say an initial warrant was corrected before seizure and have raised chain-of-custody and transparency concerns. The action follows long-running challenges to Georgia’s 2020 results and a DOJ suit seeking access to the same materials, prompting partisan debate statewide and national political fallout. (apnews.com)
Conservative commentator Benny Johnson and allied outlets allege Rep. Ilhan Omar’s husband Tim Mynett saw his winery eStCru and venture firm Rose Lake have website pages, officer listings and archives removed after valuation ranges jumped from thousands to millions and social accounts and phone lines went dark. (w.twstalker.com) Forbes and other outlets note Omar’s 2024 House disclosure lists large valuation ranges but flag inconsistencies, revoked registrations and low reported income; Omar says the filings misstate ownership stakes and denies wrongdoing. (forbes.com) The claims remain unverified; reporting is contested as congressional and federal reviewers examine disclosures and related fraud probes, and investigations continue. (newsweek.com)
Prime Minister Keir Starmer rebuked US president Donald Trump after Trump criticised Britain for not joining strikes on Iran, declaring: “It is my duty to judge what is in Britain’s national interest… And I stand by it.” Starmer said the UK had prioritised de‑escalation and legal scrutiny over offensive action, while later permitting limited US defensive uses of British bases following Iranian missile and drone attacks that threatened British forces and citizens. He and Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper stressed protecting 300,000 British nationals in the Gulf. Conservatives, commentators accused him of weakness as relations with the US were deeply strained. (theguardian.com)
Breaking reports said the President would address the nation on Iran from the White House at 11 a.m. EST, but the White House later called those reports inaccurate. The announcement followed U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iranian targets and reports that Iran’s supreme leader was killed, actions that have prompted Iranian retaliatory attacks and a sharp regional escalation. Officials are briefing Congress and U.S. military commands remain on high alert as civilian and military casualties mount. Media and government sources continue to report rapidly changing details; the White House has not confirmed a formal, scheduled televised address. Developing; more details expected soon. (yahoo.com)
On March 1, 2026, at 11:03 p.m. ET, three U.S. F-15E Strike Eagle fighter jets supporting Operation Epic Fury were mistakenly shot down over Kuwait by Kuwaiti air defenses, U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) said. All six aircrew safely ejected, were quickly recovered by allied forces, and are reported in stable condition. Kuwait has acknowledged the friendly-fire incident and CENTCOM expressed gratitude for Kuwaiti assistance. The shootdowns occurred amid active combat that included Iranian aircraft, ballistic missiles and drones. The cause is under investigation and U.S. officials said additional information will be released as it becomes available. (centcom.mil)
Iran launched direct and proxy strikes against 15 countries and their forces after U.S.-Israeli attacks on Tehran. (bdnews24.com) Targets included Israel; U.S. bases in Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain and the Gulf; the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, Jordan, Iraq, Bahrain, Oman, Syria, Cyprus and France. (local10.com) Missiles and hundreds of drones struck airports, ports and military sites, triggering airspace closures and widespread flight cancellations. (theguardian.com) The UAE reported dozens of intercepted missiles and casualties; an oil tanker and Duqm port were hit near Oman. (indianexpress.com) Tehran warned all U.S. and Israeli assets are legitimate targets, further escalating regional tensions and prompting international condemnation. (english.news.cn)
