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)

An explosion struck an eight-storey building in the southern Iranian port city of Bandar Abbas on January 31, 2026, damaging two floors, vehicles and nearby shops. Iranian state media say rescue and firefighting teams responded and multiple people were injured and taken to hospital, while officials investigate the cause. Authorities have not confirmed what triggered the blast, and rumours of an attack on a military commander were denied by Iranian sources. The incident occurred amid broader regional tensions and follows other recent explosions reported across Iran. (PC: The Hindu)

The US Department of Justice released over 3 million pages of documents from the Jeffrey Epstein files, sparking fresh controversy due to sensational allegations involving Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates. Among draft emails attributed to Epstein are unverified claims that Gates contracted a sexually transmitted disease (STD) after encounters with “Russian girls” and allegedly sought antibiotics to secretly give to his then-wife, Melinda Gates. Gates’ spokesperson strongly denied the assertions, calling them “absurd and completely false.” Experts note the claims remain unsubstantiated and based on disputed draft communications within the larger tranche of records. (PC: NDTV)

Suspected separatist fighters killed at least 10 Pakistani policemen in a series of coordinated attacks across Balochistan, targeting police stations and security posts. Pakistan has been battling a decades-long separatist insurgency in the resource-rich province, where armed groups frequently attack state forces, foreign nationals, and non-local residents. Authorities said the attackers used gunfire and explosives, triggering a large security operation. Transport and internet services were disrupted in several areas as forces searched for the assailants. The violence highlights ongoing security challenges in the volatile region. (PC: AFP)

Fresh documents linked to the Jeffrey Epstein investigation include an FBI report citing a “credible” confidential source who claimed US President Donald Trump was “compromised by Israel.” The report also alleged that Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner held outsized influence during Trump’s first term. The source raised concerns about Kushner’s business dealings, including undisclosed foreign links and Russian money flows. The report also referenced past real estate transactions involving Trump and made claims about Epstein’s legal and political networks. The US Justice Department said the material was released after review and reflects claims, not findings. Trump has denied wrongdoing and said he had no knowledge of Epstein’s crimes. (PC: X)

New files related to Jeffrey Epstein released by the US Justice Department include photographs that appear to show Prince Andrew kneeling on all fours over an unidentified woman lying on the floor. In some images, he is seen touching her stomach. The woman is fully clothed and her face is blacked out. Officials have not said when or where the photos were taken. The release also includes emails suggesting Jeffrey Epstein invited Andrew to meet a 26-year-old Russian woman in 2010. The documents do not accuse Andrew of a crime. He has denied all wrongdoing linked to Epstein. US authorities earlier said he was “not presently a target” of the investigation. Epstein died in jail in 2019 while awaiting trial.