Chinese state media views Starmer’s visit as act of economic pragmatism PM praised for not pressuring Xi over his ties with Putin on a trip seen as business ‘taking precedence over politics’ The Guardian - UK · Jan 29
ICE claims Ecuadorian consulate in Minneapolis was ‘not clearly marked’ when officers tried to enter Two large seals reading ‘Consulate de Ecuador’ are posted outside building The Independent UK · Jan 29
Prince William "Chose to Remain Silent" While King Charles Made a Rare, "Deeply Political Intervention" With Donald Trump The King is being questioned for dipping into world politics. Marie Claire · Jan 29
Bessent accuses Carney of ‘virtue signaling’ after his big speech at Davos, with divorce between Canada and America in the air “In my investment career, I’ve seen what happens when a technocrat tries to pivot and become a politician—never really works out well.” Fortune · Jan 29
Senate Dems block funding bill amid DHS overhaul fight They're now working toward a deal, but the clock is ticking. Axios · Jan 29
California urges Supreme Court to allow new congressional map California officials told the Supreme Court on Thursday the state should be able to use its new congressional map in this fall's elections. Roll Call · Jan 29
Tillis 'unleashed' A stream of honesty from the retiring Sen. Thom Tillis has turned into an increasingly personal back-and-forth with the president. Roll Call · Jan 29
Senate spending deal runs into 'hotline' headwinds The Senate adjourned late Thursday night without reaching a bipartisan time agreement on votes and a limited list of amendments. Roll Call · Jan 29
Democrats told House reps not to go to Minnesota over security fears: report Members of Congress advised against traveling to Minneapolis to protest ICE, being told their doing so, while ‘well intentioned,’ ‘puts a burden on local resources’ that is unhelpful The Independent UK · Jan 29
Who’s next? Majority of Republicans support Trump getting the US military involved in more countries The poll found that most Trump voters backed attacking Iran, but splits emerged over strikes on Greenland The Independent UK · Jan 29
Xi didn’t really see a point to Keir’s visit – but hey, let a hundred flowers bloom Chinese leader bestows a little largesse on the British PM while getting the green light for London ‘mega embassy’ The Guardian - UK · Jan 29
Situation in southern US grows more dire ahead of weekend storm At least 80 people have died in areas pummeled with bitter cold, from Texas to New Jersey The Independent UK · Jan 29
Podcast: Drug prices, Dry January, nuclear tests in French Polynesia How France negotiates drug prices and the impact of US President Donald Trump's pressure to raise them. The Paris bar celebrating sobriety as more people embrace Dry January. And the radioactive legacy of nuclear testing in French Polynesia. Radio France Internationale · Jan 29
Escalation of Iran Tensions Boosts Crude Prices March WTI crude oil (CLH26 ) today is up +2.05 (+3.26%), and March RBOB gasoline (RBH26 ) is up +0.0196 (+1.03%). Crude oil and gasoline prices added to this week's sharp gains today, with crude oil climbing to a 4.25-month high and gasoline climbing to a 2-month high. Geopolitical risks... Barchart · Jan 29
The Independent UK · Jan 29 Nicki Minaj shows off her Trump gold card designed to fast-track a path to legal residency Trinidadian-born rapper said she was gifted the card ‘free of charge’
The Guardian - UK · Jan 29 EU designates Iran’s Revolutionary Guards as a terrorist organisation ‘Any organisation that kills thousands of its own people is working toward its own demise,’ says Kaja Kallas
Reason · Jan 29 Group Chats About ICE Whereabouts Are Protected Speech. The FBI Is Investigating Anyway. FBI Director Kash Patel pays lip service to the First and Second Amendments while casting suspicion on people who exercise their First or Second Amendment rights.
The Guardian - US · Jan 29 Seth Meyers on Minneapolis: ‘Trump is trying to distance himself from the chaos he created’ Late-night hosts covered resistance to ICE occupation and how Trump has recruited Nicki Minaj
The Independent UK · Jan 29 Laura Ingraham torched for mixing up Trump’s ‘No. 1 fan’ Nicki Minaj with Cardi B: ‘We all look alike’ ‘WAP stands for Wrong A** Person,’ one social media user aptly noted.
Barchart · Jan 29 Concerns Over AI Spending Weigh on Stocks The S&P 500 Index ($SPX ) (SPY ) today is down -1.02%, the Dow Jones Industrials Index ($DOWI ) (DIA ) is down -0.30%, and the Nasdaq 100 Index ($IUXX ) (QQQ ) is down -1.69%. March E-mini S&P futures (ESH26 ) are down -1.10%, and March E-mini Nasdaq futures...
The Guardian - US · Jan 29 ICE ends surge in Maine as border czar pledges to keep operation in Minnesota Tom Homan acknowledges immigration enforcement needs ‘certain improvements’, without offering any details
The Independent UK · Jan 29 Kennedy Center just announced a new head of programming. He quit after five days It was not immediately clear why the newly appointed head of artistic programming resigned so quickly
The Guardian - US · Jan 29 Senate Democrats reach deal to avert partial government shutdown Deal calls for splitting a funding bill for DHS from a package of other funding bills
Metal Hammer · Jan 29 “I think we’re headed to some really ugly terrain”: Ice-T explains why he changed lyrics from Body Count’s Cop Killer to ‘ICE Killer’ last year, as government agency faces heightened backlash for 2026 killings United States Immigration And Custom Enforcement agents have fatally shot two people on the streets of Minneapolis this month
The Conversation · Jan 29 Did the US ever ‘give back’ Greenland to Denmark, as Trump claims? When Nazi Germany began its occupation of Denmark in April 1940, Greenland suddenly found itself cut off from its colonial power and thrust into the centre of North Atlantic wartime strategy. The US took control of Greenland temporarily, establishing bases and defence perimeters there to prevent Germany from using the…