At least 12 people were killed after a Russian drone strike hit near a company shuttle bus in eastern Ukraine, officials said. Seven others were injured in the attack in the Dnipropetrovsk region. Energy firm DTEK said the bus was carrying mine workers returning after a shift and called it a targeted strike. Separate Russian attacks overnight killed three more people and injured several others. A drone strike also hit a maternity hospital in Zaporizhzhia, injuring women in labour. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said peace talks involving Russia and the US will now begin later this week. (PC: State Emergency Service of Ukraine)

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer said former Prince Andrew should testify before a US congressional panel over his links to Jeffrey Epstein. His remarks came after new US Justice Department files showed Andrew stayed in contact with Epstein years after his 2008 conviction. The files include emails and images linked to Epstein’s network. Starmer said anyone with information must cooperate and share facts. Andrew, stripped of royal titles by King Charles III, has denied wrongdoing. US lawmakers renewed calls for his testimony. Epstein died by suicide in 2019 while awaiting trial on sex-trafficking charges. (PC: AP)

Billionaire Elon Musk spotlighted International Monetary Fund (IMF) projections showing a major shift in the global economic landscape in 2026, emphasizing that “the balance of power is changing.” According to IMF data, China and India together are expected to contribute about 43.6% of global real GDP growth, with China at 26.6% and India at 17%, markedly higher than the United States’ 9.9% share. The chart Musk shared on social media underlines an eastward shift in growth drivers, with Asia-Pacific economies leading global expansion amid ongoing geopolitical and trade tensions. (PC: Reuters)

A wave of coordinated militant attacks across Pakistan’s southwestern Balochistan province has become one of the deadliest in years, killing over 150 people, including civilians, security personnel and militants, officials said. Militants of the Baloch Liberation Army struck multiple locations — including Quetta, Gwadar and other towns — targeting security installations, banks and public sites. Pakistan’s military launched intense counter-operations, killing scores of militants and imposing sweeping security restrictions, including cutting mobile internet services to curb coordination. Islamabad vowed retaliation, while India rejected accusations of involvement in the unrest. (PC: Reuters)

Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei warned that any US attack would lead to a “regional war” as Washington increases its military presence near Iran. State-linked media quoted him saying Iran would not be intimidated by US naval deployments. The warning comes as Iran prepares live-fire naval drills in the Strait of Hormuz, a key global oil route. US Central Command said its forces are operating in nearby waters and cautioned Iran against unsafe actions. US President Donald Trump said talks with Iran were under way and could produce an acceptable outcome. Iranian officials also confirmed progress on a negotiation framework.

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer said Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor should be ready to give evidence to the US Congress if he has relevant information linked to Jeffrey Epstein. Starmer said anyone holding useful details should share them and stressed that victims must come first. His remarks followed a new US Department of Justice release of Epstein case files, including photos that appear to show Mountbatten-Windsor inside Epstein’s New York residence. No context was provided with the images. He has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing. US lawmakers earlier invited him to answer questions as part of their investigation. Being named or pictured in the files does not itself indicate wrongdoing. (PC: BBC)

U.S. President Donald Trump said India has agreed to buy oil from Venezuela rather than Iran, asserting a shift in New Delhi’s energy sourcing amid strained ties with Tehran. Trump stated that an agreement was already in place and emphasized the strategic move during comments aboard Air Force One. He framed the shift as part of a broader U.S. effort to reshape global oil trade and reduce reliance on Iran and Russia. There has been no official confirmation from the Indian government on a formal deal yet, and India continues to balance its energy needs with geopolitical pressures. 

At least 80 people were killed after Baloch insurgents launched coordinated attacks at 12 locations across Pakistan’s restive Balochistan province from Friday night into Saturday, officials said. The violence, described as one of the most widespread assaults in recent years, targeted security forces, police posts and civilians in areas including Quetta, Gwadar, Makran, Hub, Chaman and Naseerabad. Authorities reported 70 militants and 10 security personnel killed, while bomb disposal teams defused explosives on a railway track. Civilian deaths were also reported in Gwadar. Clearance operations are ongoing as the army and law enforcement respond. (PC: India Today)

Thousands of protesters rallied in Minneapolis and across the United States on January 30 after two U.S. citizens were fatally shot by federal immigration agents, sparking national outrage and calls to end aggressive ICE operations. Students and teachers staged walkouts from California to New York, demanding that federal immigration agents leave Minnesota and an end to what they call harsh tactics under Operation Metro Surge. Demonstrations included families, activists, and solidarity actions in major cities under the slogan “No work. No school. No shopping. Stop funding ICE.” President Trump defended the crackdown amid mixed de-escalation signals. (PC: Reuters)

The U.S. Justice Department has released over 3 million pages of Epstein-related documents, including emails, images and videos, under the Epstein Files Transparency Act. The files mention high-profile figures such as Prince Andrew, Elon Musk, and Lord Peter Mandelson, showing continued contact or financial links with Epstein after his 2008 conviction. Images purportedly depict Andrew over a woman. Emails suggest Musk discussed possible visits to Epstein’s island, and Epstein sent money to Mandelson’s husband. Victims’ lawyers and lawmakers condemned extensive redactions and incomplete disclosure, raising transparency concerns. (PC: The Guardian)