Author: Andrew Rogers

The United Kingdom has approved China’s plan to build its largest embassy in Europe at London’s Royal Mint Court, just days before Prime Minister Keir Starmer is scheduled to visit Beijing. The decision, announced on January 20, 2026, immediately drew criticism from residents, human rights groups, and political commentators concerned about national security and foreign influence. The proposed complex, covering 55,000 square meters, would surpass the U.S. embassy in London and become China’s largest diplomatic facility in Europe. China purchased the historic Royal Mint Court site in 2018 for £255 million. The area, which dates back to the 14th century…

Two students were found dead inside a vehicle at Franciscan University of Steubenville, Ohio, on Monday afternoon. Police and university officials said the deaths were accidental and caused by carbon monoxide poisoning. Luke Reimer, 20, from Indian Shores, Florida, and Mary Mich, 20, from Downingtown, Pennsylvania, were discovered in a parked car behind St. Agnes Residence Hall shortly after 12:30 p.m., according to Steubenville Police Chief Kenneth Anderson. Officers were called to the scene to check on the welfare of the two students. Both were confirmed deceased upon arrival. Chief Anderson said there were no signs of foul play or…

A federal appeals court on Tuesday upheld most of Maryland’s law banning guns in schools, government buildings, parks, sports venues, and other public places. The ruling affirms the state’s authority to restrict firearms in what the court calls “sensitive places.” A three-judge panel of the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals said most of the dozen locations listed in Maryland law fall under the U.S. Supreme Court’s definition of sensitive places. The exception is private property open to the public, where the law requires guns to be banned without the property owner’s permission. The appeals court found this restriction too…

A fire in Reading, Massachusetts, injured a resident and a firefighter on Wednesday evening, leaving two people displaced and crews struggling in difficult conditions. Firefighters responded just before 6 p.m. to a two-and-a-half-story home on James Road, where heavy flames greeted them in freezing temperatures. The blaze quickly escalated, forcing crews to act fast. Reading Fire Chief Rick Nelson said that the team discovered a man inside the house who had suffered burns. “While they were starting to attack the fire, they did find a resident of the house who, unfortunately, had experienced some burns,” Nelson said. Crews paused their…

Tetsuya Yamagami, 45, the man who fatally shot former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, was sentenced to life in prison on Wednesday, more than three years after the attack that shocked Japan. Yamagami killed Abe in July 2022 while the former prime minister was giving a campaign speech in Nara, using a homemade firearm. Abe, Japan’s longest-serving leader, was 67 at the time. From the start, a guilty verdict was almost certain. Yamagami admitted to the killing in the first court hearing in October 2025. Attention during the trial focused on how severe the sentence should be. Judge Shinichi Tanaka…

The U.S. Justice Department has subpoenaed several top Minnesota officials in an investigation into whether local leaders obstructed federal immigration enforcement. Subpoenas were sent Tuesday to the offices of Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, and other state and county officials, including St. Paul Mayor Kaohly Her, Attorney General Keith Ellison, and Hennepin and Ramsey county attorneys. Copies of the subpoenas request documents on immigration enforcement policies, communications with other agencies, and materials regarding “hindering, doxxing, identifying, or surveilling immigration officers.” Authorities say the investigation is focused on whether officials conspired to impede federal agents, a claim some…

Two former leaders of a Hong Kong pro-democracy group that organized decades-long vigils for the 1989 Tiananmen crackdown are set to stand trial under the city’s national security law. A third co-defendant is expected to plead guilty at Thursday’s hearing. The case highlights the shrinking space for civil liberties in Hong Kong, which Beijing promised to maintain for 50 years after taking control from Britain in 1997. Officials said law enforcement actions were evidence-based and fully compliant with the law. Chow Hang-tung, Lee Cheuk-yan, and Albert Ho, former leaders of the Hong Kong Alliance in Support of Patriotic Democratic Movements…

Iran is set to strengthen its military capabilities with the acquisition of 48 advanced Russian-made fighter jets, raising concerns about regional security in the Middle East. The deal, reportedly worth €6 billion, involves the Sukhoi Su-35 generation fighter jets and is part of a broader strategic partnership between Tehran and Moscow. According to reports, Russia is expected to deliver the required technology to Iran between 2024 and 2026, with the full fleet anticipated to be operational in Iranian hands by 2026–2028. Some sources suggest that Russian technical teams may work directly in Iran to assemble the aircraft under the supervision of…

President Donald Trump addressed the nation in a nearly two-hour briefing at the White House, marking the first anniversary of his second term. The focus of his remarks was on the nation’s immigration enforcement, border control, and the role of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Trump presented a 365-page dossier highlighting his administration’s achievements in the first year. Central to his briefing was the administration’s aggressive actions against illegal immigration. He emphasized that the enforcement operations targeted murderers, drug traffickers, human smugglers, and criminal networks, successfully removing thousands of dangerous individuals from U.S. streets. While acknowledging that mistakes occurred and…

China has demanded that Afghanistan ensure the safety of Chinese citizens after a bombing in Kabul killed at least seven people, including a Chinese man. The explosion occurred at a Chinese Noodle restaurant in the Shahr-e-Naw area, a popular spot for Chinese Muslims, officials said. The blast, claimed by the regional branch of the Islamic State group, was reportedly a suicide attack targeting Chinese nationals, according to the SITE Intelligence Group. Afghan police confirmed six Afghan citizens also died in the attack, and five Chinese nationals were wounded. China’s foreign ministry urged immediate action, calling on Afghan authorities to treat…