Tag Archives: January 2026

THE NEW YORK TIMES – SATURDAY, JANUARY 31, 2026

Trump’s Choice for Fed Chair Has a Tough Job Ahead. It’s Not the First Time.

Kevin Warsh is known as a consensus builder, a skill he will need if he is to head the Federal Reserve when President Trump is demanding rock-bottom rates.

A Hawkish Fed Chair Could Haunt Bessent

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent tried to avoid providing President Trump with a clear recommendation to lead the central bank.

ICE Expands Power of Agents to Arrest People Without Warrants

Agents can now carry out broader sweeps of suspected undocumented migrants, in addition to targeted operations to arrest specific people.

Release of Three Million Epstein Pages Falls Short, Survivors Say

The Justice Dept. finished its release of files related to Jeffrey Epstein, though officials conceded it was unlikely to quell suspicions around the case.

Israel Launches Deadly Strikes in Gaza, as Rafah Border Is Set to Reopen

A local health official said at least 26 people had been killed in the attacks, which the Israeli military said had targeted Hamas commanders. The opening of the border was seen as progress in the cease-fire.

THE NEW YORK TIMES – FRIDAY, JANUARY 30, 2026

Kevin Warsh Is Trump’s Pick for Fed Chair

Mr. Warsh, if confirmed by the Senate, would succeed Jerome Powell, who was attacked by President Trump over the bank’s reluctance to more aggressively cut interest rates.

F.B.I. Search in Georgia Shows Trump’s Willingness to Pursue 2020 Grievances

The search might also signal the president’s disposition to use law enforcement to intervene in election matters as this year’s midterms approach.

Democrats Reach Spending Deal With Trump, Seeking to Rein In ICE

Iran Says It Won’t Negotiate With the U.S. While Under Threat

Iran’s foreign minister ruled out direct talks unless President Trump stops threatening to attack. He also said Iran would not discuss its ballistic missiles.

Trump Weighs New Military Options Against Iran

The plans presented to President Trump go beyond those he considered weeks ago amid widespread protests against Iran’s government.

SCIENCE MAGAZINE – JANUARY 29, 2026

SCIENCE MAGAZINE: The latest issue features ‘Gone Fishing’ – Social cues inform foraging.

Earthquake sensors buried in the quietest spot on Earth

Beneath the South Pole, two seismometers will probe the planet’s interior and monitor movement of Antarctic ice

Oil helped build Venezuela’s science. Can oil now revive it?

After Maduro, Venezuelan researchers hope to rebuild the industry that supported the country’s scientific workforce

Leading preprint server clamps down on ‘AI slop’

First-time posters to arXiv now need an endorsement from an established author

Magnetic fields cause fluorescent proteins to dim

Effect could lead to MRI-like diagnostics and switchable, remote-controlled drugs

THE ECONOMIST MAGAZINE – JANUARY 31, 2026 PREVIEW

THE ECONOMIST MAGAZINE: The latest issue features The ICE test

ICE’s impunity is a formula for more violence

Is America’s president building his own paramilitary militia?

Xi Jinping’s purge should worry the world

Installing his yes-men to lead the army could be dangerous for Taiwan

The weak yen and the weakening dollar are signs of financial fragility

But neither Japan nor America should meddle with exchange rates

Haters on the right and left are wrong about London

It’s a hub, not a hellhole. Labour should give it more love

Africa’s two biggest economies may be turning the corner

As Nigeria and South Africa revive, the continent’s growth may outpace Asia’s in 2026

Stop panicking about AI. Start preparing

There is time to adapt. Use it wisely

THE NEW STATESMAN MAGAZINE-JANUARY 30, 2026

How we escape Trump

THE NEW STATESMAN: The latest issue features ‘How We Escape Trump’…

How we escape Trump

By New Statesman

Ice and Donald Trump’s regime of violence

The age of Trump has twisted the American psyche beyond recognitionBy Lee Siegel

Britain needs a Gaullist leader

By Paul Ovenden

How a single call sealed Andy Burnham’s fate

By Ailbhe Rea

The turn to Europe is inevitable

By Andrew Marr

At the Harry Potter studios, I find the last remnants of Britain’s moral authority

By Finn McRedmond

THE NEW YORK TIMES – THURSDAY, JANUARY 29, 2026

Pressure Builds on ICE After Judge Said Agency Violated Nearly 100 Court Orders

Tom Homan, now in charge of the agency’s operation in the state, is holding a news conference.

Shooting Aftermath Leaves Homeland Security Department in Turmoil

As officials point fingers in the wake of Alex Pretti’s death at the hands of federal agents, concerns grow about the agency’s future.

Trump and Schumer Move Toward Possible Deal to Avert a Shutdown

Marco Rubio Says Venezuela Will Submit Monthly Budget to White House

Democrats sharply questioned the plan, including the role of Qatar in managing an account funded by the sale of Venezuelan oil.

At World’s Busiest Port, China’s Unbalanced Economy Comes Into View

The shipping traffic and factories never stop in China’s port city of Ningbo, but the local housing market has crashed and nearby restaurants sit empty.

Trump’s Trade Policies Sort U.S. Manufacturers Into Winners and Losers

Tariffs have protected some companies, but more often they’ve hit the parts and materials many factories need to make finished goods.

THE GUARDIAN WEEKLY – JANUARY 30, 2026 PREVIEW

THE GUARDIAN WEEKLY: The latest issue features ‘Showdown’ – Minneapolis, Ice and A Moment of Truth.

Is the worm turning against Trump? Last week saw a concerted pushback against the US president by western allies over Greenland. This week, it is on the domestic front where the Trump administration seems to be buckling – this time under intense criticism after the killing of another American citizen by federal agents in Minneapolis.

The massive winter storm that swept across North America last weekend could not obscure from the nation video footage of an ICE agent shooting dead Alex Pretti, an intensive care nurse and father of three who was seemingly rushing to protect a woman as she was pepper-sprayed by Border Patrol personnel.

As our Washington bureau chief David Smith writes in this week’s big story, the events were seen by many as clear evidence of fascistic overreach and a potential moment of reckoning for Trump in the US. A wave of condemnation from politicians across the political spectrum led to a swift softening of tone from the White House, though not before leading administration figures had wrongly tried to pin the blame on the victim.

From Minneapolis, Rachel Leingang reports on the sense of shock and fury in the city, while in a stark commentary, Francine Prose voices her fears that the US may be on the brink of an authoritarian takeover.

Spotlight | Are Trump’s tantrums pushing America’s allies closer to China?
After a week of diplomatic turmoil, some western nations are turning to a country that many in Washington see as an existential threat. Amy Hawkins reports

Science | Fly me to the moon, again
Nasa is readying its most powerful Artemis II rocket for a new, 1.1 million km lunar circumnavigation flight – and lift-off could come as soon as next week. Science editor Ian Sample sets the scene

Feature | Secrets of the superagers
Why do some people age better than others? Five extraordinary individuals – who scientists are studying – share their tips with Isabelle Aron

Opinion | It’s now clear. Labour needs a new leader – and quickly
UK prime minister Keir Starmer’s dismal decision to block likely leadership challenger Andy Burnham from standing in a byelection has bought him time, but it won’t change his fate, says Polly Toynbee

Culture | Has Netflix killed our attention spans?
Matt Damon has got it right, argues Stuart Heritage: the streaming giant knows we all just watch TV with one hand gripping our smartphones, which is why we need plotlines explaining to us over and over again

THE NEW YORK TIMES – WEDNESDAY, JAN. 28, 2026

As Minneapolis Rages, Legislators Move to Restrict ICE in Their States

Efforts to curtail federal law enforcement tactics began last year, but with the deaths of Alex Pretti and Renee Good, Democratic lawmakers are pushing harder.

D.H.S. Review Does Not Say Pretti Brandished Gun, as Noem Claimed

Republicans Shift Tone After Killings, Criticizing Trump’s Immigration Push

Noem’s Handling of Shooting Put Her in Trump’s Penalty Box, but Just Briefly

Kristi Noem, the homeland security secretary, received a rare rebuke from President Trump but soon seemed to be back in his good graces.

Fed Meeting Comes at Pivotal Moment for Central Bank’s Independence

The Trump administration has put constant pressure on the Federal Reserve, including a criminal investigation into its chair, Jerome Powell.

Iran Killed Thousands of Protesters. Here Are Five of Their Stories.

“He went out for freedom,” said the cousin of one of those who was killed when the Iranian authorities mounted a crackdown on protests across the country.

Trump Renews Threats to Iran

President Trump demanded that Iran enter nuclear talks or face potential attack by an “armada” of U.S. warships.

THE NEW YORK TIMES – TUESDAY, JANUARY 27, 2026

New Video Analysis Reveals Flawed and Fatal Decisions in Pretti Shooting

A frame-by-frame assessment of actions by Alex Pretti and the officers who shot him shows how lethal force came to be used against a target who didn’t pose a threat.

A Shocked Nation Watches Minneapolis Killings: ‘Something Needs to Change’

Scenes from the violent unrest in the city played on a loop in many American households, prompting reflection about where the U.S. was heading.

Record Debt in the World’s Richest Nations Threatens Global Growth

The cost of borrowing is already choking crucial public spending in many developing economies. Now it’s raising broader alarms.

Fed, Signaling Little Urgency, Prepares to Pause on Rate Cuts

The Federal Reserve is expected to hold interest rates steady on Wednesday, despite relentless attacks from President Trump over borrowing costs.

Britain Seeks Trade With China Without Prompting Trump’s Fury

Prime Minister Keir Starmer hopes to boost his country’s lagging economy with a trip to Beijing. But he must carefully navigate between two superpowers.

India and the European Union Expand Trade Ties

Vowing Higher Tariffs, Trump Rattles South Korea Months After Trade Deal

THE NEW YORK TIMES – MONDAY, JANUARY 26, 2026

Trump Sends Border Czar to Minnesota to Oversee ICE Operations

President Trump’s envoy, Tom Homan, will arrive Monday and report directly to him. A judge is considering the legality of the government’s crackdown.

Frigid Cold Grips U.S. as Cities Dig Out After Snowstorm

The storm dumps a foot of snow in at least 20 U.S. states.

It’s going to be dangerously cold for days for many people.1h ago

Thousands of flights canceled across the U.S. after the storm.

Remains of Last Captive in Gaza Are Retrieved, Closing a Chapter for Israel

The recovery of Master Sgt. Ran Gvili’s body paves the way for the next stage of the Gaza cease-fire plan, though the path forward is unclear.

Israel Says It Will Reopen Gaza-Egypt Border, a Palestinian Lifeline, in Days

In Xi’s China, Even the Mightiest General Can Fall

A combat veteran, Zhang Youxia was once seen as the most trusted man in Xi Jinping’s military. Now he has been accused of disloyalty to Mr. Xi.