Britain will expand the use of AI and facial recognition as part of major police reforms, Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood announced. The government will invest £140 million to modernise policing in England and Wales. AI tools will help analyse CCTV, phone footage and digital evidence, and cut paperwork. (PC: PA)   Live facial recognition vans will increase from 10 to 50 to help catch wanted criminals. The plan aims to free up police time and put more officers on the streets.   Reforms also include merging police forces, creating a national FBI-style service, and stricter standards for officers. Police leaders welcomed the changes, but critics warned of too much power being centralised.

7 people were killed after a private jet crashed during a snowstorm in the US state of Maine, officials said. The Bombardier Challenger 600 went down while taking off from Bangor International Airport on Sunday night. One crew member survived with serious injuries.   The Federal Aviation Administration said the aircraft flipped over and caught fire on the airfield. An air traffic controller was heard saying the aircraft was “upside down.”   The airport was closed after the crash and will remain shut until Wednesday. The National Transportation Safety Board has launched an investigation. The crash happened as a major winter storm hit large parts of the United States, disrupting flights and roads. (PC: X/@WCNorbit)

China has launched an investigation into General Zhang Youxia, vice chairman of the Central Military Commission, over allegations of leaking "core technical data" from China's nuclear weapons program to the United States. The 75-year-old general, considered a loyal Xi Jinping ally and Politburo member, faces additional accusations including accepting bribes for promotions, forming political cliques, and overseeing corrupt military procurement practices. The Wall Street Journal reports internal briefings detailed these charges before the public announcement. While Chinese authorities confirmed the probe for "serious violations of discipline and law," they haven't officially confirmed the nuclear leak allegations. This investigation is part of a broader crackdown that has targeted over 50 senior military officers since 2023. (PC: India Today)

Israel said it has recovered the remains of the last hostage held in Gaza. The body was identified as Master Sgt Ran Gvili, who was abducted on October 7, 2023. The military had been searching for him since the ceasefire with Hamas began in October.   Under the truce, all hostages were to be returned within 72 hours. Others were handed over earlier, but Gvili’s body had not been located. Israel had delayed further steps until he was found.   The Israel Defense Forces said Gvili died in battle on October 7. With his return, Israel said all Gaza hostages are now accounted for. The move allows talks to advance to the next phase of the peace plan proposed by Donald Trump. (PC: Courtesy of Bring Them Home Now/Handout via REUTERS)

A growing number of Republican senators are urging a full investigation into the fatal shooting of Alex Pretti by federal immigration agents in Minneapolis, U.S. officials and news reports say. Pretti, a 37-year-old U.S. citizen, died on January 24 during an operation by Border Patrol agents amid protests against federal immigration enforcement. Critics including Senators Thom Tillis and Bill Cassidy want a comprehensive probe of the incident and greater cooperation with local authorities. President Donald Trump told the Wall Street Journal his administration is “reviewing everything” and may withdraw agents from the area. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said Pretti approached agents with a semi-automatic handgun. (PC: BBC)

India plans to sharply reduce import duties on cars from the European Union as part of a proposed free trade agreement, a Reuters report said. Tariffs could be cut to 40% from current levels of up to 110% for a limited number of vehicles priced above 15,000 euros. The duty may fall further to 10% over time. The move would improve access for European carmakers such as Volkswagen, Mercedes-Benz and BMW. Sources told Reuters that electric vehicles will be excluded from the cuts for the first five years. Officials from India and the EU declined to comment. Talks on the trade pact are close to conclusion, the report added. (PC: NDTV)

An audio recording of US Senator Ted Cruz has revealed internal criticism of President Donald Trump’s trade policy and claims about a stalled India-US trade deal. In the recording, reported by Axios, Cruz said Trump’s tariff push faced resistance from some Republicans and hurt negotiations with India. He blamed Vice President JD Vance, White House adviser Peter Navarro and, at times, Trump himself for blocking the agreement. The audio, recorded in 2025 during private donor meetings, also captured Cruz describing tense calls with Trump over tariffs. Cruz warned that high tariffs could damage the economy and affect election outcomes. The White House has not commented on the claims. (PC: NDTV)

Protests continued in Minneapolis after immigration agents fatally shot 37-year-old nurse Alex Pretti during an enforcement operation. Minnesota Governor Tim Walz said the country was at an “inflection point” and again asked President Donald Trump to remove federal immigration agents from the city. Federal officials said Pretti was shot after brandishing a gun, a claim disputed by local authorities and his family. Trump said ICE agents would leave “at some point” but gave no timeline. Vigils were held across the city, while protests spread to New York, Chicago and Los Angeles. Business leaders and lawmakers also called for de-escalation and accountability. (PC: BBC)

Minnesota Governor Tim Walz has called on US President Donald Trump to pull federal immigration agents out of the state after a federal Border Patrol agent shot and killed 37-year-old Alex Pretti in Minneapolis. Local and federal officials have given different accounts of the moments before the shooting during an immigration enforcement action. Homeland Security said an agent fired “defensive shots” after Pretti “reacted violently.” Walz rejected that account as “nonsense” and has demanded answers. Pretti, a US citizen and ICU nurse, was remembered by his family as “kind-hearted” and they are asking for the “truth” about his death. The incident follows another recent fatal shooting involving federal agents in the city. (PC: BBC)

US immigration authorities are facing criticism after a 2-year-old girl was detained with her father in Minneapolis, according to media reports. The child, Chloe Renata Tipan Villacis, was with her father, Elvis Joel Tipan-Echeverria, when ICE agents stopped them while returning from a grocery store. The Department of Homeland Security said the father is an undocumented immigrant from Ecuador and was taken into custody after refusing to follow orders. The child was flown to Texas despite a court order seeking her release, reports said. DHS said the toddler was later released and reunited with her father. The case comes amid stepped-up immigration enforcement under Operation Metro Surge. (PC: NDTV)