A new Irish Times/Ipsos B&A face-to-face poll, conducted across 120 sampling points between Jan. 30 and Feb. 3 with 1,200 interviews (±2.8%), shows Sinn Féin remains the largest single party but has slipped to 24% (down 3 points). Fianna Fáil recovered to 19% (up 2) and Fine Gael stands at 18% (no change). Smaller parties include the Social Democrats on 7% (up 2), Labour 4% (down 2), the Greens 4% (up 1) and Independent Ireland 4% (up 2). Independents/others total 16%, while undecided voters rose to 27% (up 4). Satisfaction with the coalition government is reported at 30%, the lowest since 2020. Taoiseach Micheál Martin’s personal rating rebounded to 37% (up 4), and 79% of Fianna Fáil voters want him to remain leader, despite a majority of all expressed voters saying he should step down. A separate Ireland Thinks poll published earlier showed lower Sinn Féin support (around 20%), underscoring variation across surveys. The findings point to a fragmented field with many undecided voters and a continuing weak public view of the government’s performance.

A 62-year-old lorry driver, Francis Hodibert of Slough, has launched a High Court claim against optician chain Specsavers seeking more than £200,000, alleging negligence after two visual field tests at a local branch in April and May 2022 wrongly showed defects. Hodibert says the inaccurate results led the DVLA to revoke his HGV licence in September 2022, costing him his livelihood and causing severe depression and anxiety. He regained his licence after passing a visual field assessment by a consultant ophthalmologist on 25 January 2023 and providing a new eyesight certificate on 31 March 2023, but says the initial revocation already caused lasting personal and professional harm. Court documents filed in London claim staff at the Specsavers branch produced false results and submitted an inaccurate report to the DVLA. Hodibert’s barrister, Michael O’Neill, says a medical report supports the claim for damages. Specsavers has said it will defend the action. The case raises questions about the accuracy of commercially provided visual field testing used to assess fitness to drive heavy goods vehicles.

President Donald Trump on Feb. 4 declined to endorse a successor for the 2028 Republican presidential race, saying he would “be inclined” to back someone eventually but not yet taking sides between JD Vance and Marco Rubio. In an interview with NBC News, Trump described both men as “fantastic” and “very capable,” and floated the idea that the two could run together on the same ticket. Trump said the combination of the pair “would be very hard to be beaten,” while also noting stylistic differences between them. Trump again raised, rhetorically, the prospect of remaining president past January 2029, saying “I don’t know. It would be interesting,” comments critics have called constitutionally dubious. Vance, a Republican political figure from Ohio, has said he will discuss a possible 2028 bid with Trump after this year’s midterms; Rubio, a senator from Florida and 2016 presidential contender, has not ruled out a run. The remarks underscore Trump’s continued role in shaping Republican succession and set early contours for a wide-open 2028 GOP field.

Danylo Yavhusishyn, the 21-year-old Ukraine-born sumo wrestler known by his ring name Aonishiki, is training in Tokyo for a March spring tournament in Osaka that could make him eligible for promotion to yokozuna, sumo’s highest rank. Aonishiki, whose name means “blue brocade” in homage to the Ukrainian flag, has won two consecutive grand tournaments and already holds the sport’s second-highest rank of ozeki after a meteoric rise since his professional debut in July 2023. Born in central Ukraine, he fled following Russia’s February 2022 invasion, lived in Germany and then moved to Japan where a friend in Kobe offered shelter and introduced him to a stable. If promoted, he would be the first European-born wrestler to reach yokozuna — a rank achieved by only 75 men historically, previously born in Japan, the United States or Mongolia. His success has coincided with a renewed surge in global interest in sumo, sold-out tournaments in Japan and recent international exhibitions including London, with another event planned in Paris in June.

Work is due to begin on the roof of All Saints, an unused city-centre church in Bristol believed to be the burial place of 17th‑century slave trader Edward Colston. The Diocese of Bristol says the legally required repair — likely to cost about £500,000 and take roughly six months — will protect public safety and enable a second phase of consultation about the building’s future. The first phase engaged African‑Caribbean heritage communities and other stakeholders through interviews, focus groups and surveys. Options under consideration include deconsecration, conversion to a community resource or museum, and possible exhumation and removal of Colston’s remains and related artefacts. Demolition was deemed impractical because the church shares walls with neighbouring properties and a previous sale attempt failed. The move follows citywide debates since Colston’s statue was toppled into Bristol harbour in 2020; the statue was relocated to a museum in 2024. Some local clergy have criticised spending on the closed church while active congregations, including St Agnes in St Paul’s, say they lack funds for urgent repairs.

The UK government has implemented a ban on asylum seekers using taxpayer-funded taxis to attend medical appointments, after a BBC probe exposed long, costly journeys. The change, announced by Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood and coming into force in early February 2026, follows findings that an average of £15.8 million a year was being spent on cab fares and a reported £600 charge for a single 250-mile trip to see a GP. Under the new rules, taxi use for medical visits will be restricted to narrow exemptions — including disability, serious illness and pregnancy — and each journey must be authorised by the Home Office. Taxis may still be permitted for travel between accommodation, but that policy remains under review. Ministers framed the move as a taxpayer protection measure and part of a wider push to tighten asylum arrangements; it arrives amid broader post-2024-election immigration reforms and fresh criminal powers in the Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Act passed in December 2025.

Venezuelan official Alex Saab, a close ally of deposed president Nicolás Maduro, was reported detained in Caracas on Feb. 4–5, 2026 in what U.S. and regional media described as a joint operation involving Venezuela’s intelligence service (SEBIN) and the FBI. U.S. law-enforcement sources said Saab, 54, was held at a luxury residence and could be extradited to the United States in the coming days; Raúl Gorrín, owner of Globovisión and also wanted by U.S. authorities, was reportedly detained at the same address. Saab has long been accused by U.S. prosecutors of participating in a scheme that siphoned roughly $350 million from Venezuelan state programs; he was arrested in Cape Verde in 2020, later held in the U.S., and released in a December 2023 prisoner-swap that saw him return to Caracas and take a ministerial post. Venezuelan officials had not officially confirmed the detentions and Saab’s lawyer dismissed reports as “fake news,” while pro-government journalists likewise denied the arrests. The case comes a month after U.S. forces captured Maduro, and would signal an unusual level of cooperation between Washington and interim president Delcy Rodríguez’s security apparatus if confirmed.

Indian teacher and activist Rouble Nagi won the 2026 Global Teacher Prize, receiving a $1 million award at the World Governments Summit in Dubai on Feb. 5. Nagi’s Rouble Nagi Art Foundation has set up more than 800 learning centres across slums in India, using painted educational murals and community spaces to teach literacy, science, maths and history to out-of-school children and those in formal schooling. The prize, awarded by the Varkey Foundation — founded by Sunny Varkey, whose GEMS Education operates international private schools — recognises teachers who bring transformative change to marginalised communities. Nagi said she will use the prize money to establish an institute offering free vocational training. UNESCO and Global Teacher Prize officials praised her work for widening access to learning and strengthening families and communities. Nagi is the 10th recipient since the prize’s launch in 2015; previous winners have included educators from Kenya, Palestine, Canada and Saudi Arabia. The award highlights alternative, community-driven approaches to education and the role of arts-based methods in tackling exclusion.

Israeli prosecutors have filed indictments this week in a high‑profile smuggling case that authorities say funnelled millions of shekels into the Gaza Strip and strengthened Hamas’s wartime economy. Southern District prosecutors charged 12 people — part of a wider probe involving about 16 suspects — with offences including aiding the enemy during wartime, prohibited dealings in property for terror purposes, aggravated fraud, bribery, money‑laundering and tax violations. Charges and reporting between Feb. 3–5, 2026 name reservist soldiers, businessmen and a company alleged to have run an organised chain that sourced goods from PA suppliers, concealed them in Israeli warehouses and moved them across crossings while falsely claiming military purposes. Smuggled items included cartons of cigarettes, hundreds of iPhones, batteries, vehicle parts, medical equipment and communications cables. Prosecutors say cigarette sales in particular generated very large sums—hundreds of millions of shekels since the war began. Bezalel Zini, the brother of Shin Bet chief David Zini, was indicted after being accused of using convoy permissions and taking bribes; he was questioned by police because of the family link. Authorities have sought asset seizure and detention as legal proceedings continue.

A public inquiry led by Sir Ross Cranston has concluded that the worst mass drowning in the Channel on November 23-24, 2021 — in which at least 27 people died, four remain missing and two survived — involved avoidable failures by both UK and French authorities. The 454-page report, published 5 February 2026, found the overcrowded, unseaworthy inflatable supplied by people smugglers, ineffective buoyancy aids and multiple distress calls that were not followed up. It singled out a French naval vessel, the Flamant, which was about 15 minutes away when a Mayday relay was issued but did not respond, an omission now under criminal investigation in France. HM Coastguard was criticised for prematurely ending the search after mistakenly believing the boat had been rescued, citing chronic staff shortages, poor record-keeping, missed geolocation information and a “widely held belief” that small-boat callers exaggerated danger. The inquiry makes 18 recommendations — including better technology, training, external oversight and a call to end small-boat crossings — and highlights ongoing investigations into people smugglers and the French response.

World number one Luke Littler used the launch of the 2026 Premier League Darts in Newcastle to defend social-media figures entering the sport and to brush off claims he is already the greatest player ever. The 19-year-old, fresh from winning the Masters and the World Masters and claiming the world title in January, said influencer and streamer Morgan “Angry Ginge” Burtwistle could try to earn a PDC tour card by attending Qualifying School if he committed to practising. Littler’s remarks came after two-time world champion Gary Anderson described some influencers as “a load of rubbish.” The Premier League season begins on 5 February, runs across 16 weeks with weekly matches and nightly prizes through to Finals Night at the O2 Arena on 28 May, and will be shown on Sky Sports and PDC TV. Rival Luke Humphries earlier described Littler as the “most talented” and suggested he might be the greatest; Littler countered that Phil Taylor will remain the benchmark unless his records are surpassed. Littler enters the campaign as favourite as he seeks to reclaim the Premier League title he won in 2024.

On Feb. 5, 2026 BBC Breakfast presenters Charlie Stayt and Naga Munchetty discussed a new “travel with confidence” initiative that sent six wheelchair users to Central London with 48 hours’ notice to test public transport accessibility. Clips shown on the programme, and an interview with participant Harriet Little of Peterborough, revealed barriers including very steep ramps, lack of assistance staff and wheelchair spaces occupied by other passengers’ luggage. Little apologised for not attending the Manchester studio, saying the logistics of travelling from Peterborough — a three‑hour journey with two changes and uncertainty over help for transfers — made the trip effectively impossible. Spinal Injury Association representative Gary Dawson told viewers freedom of movement is a right and recounted both positive and negative recent experiences on London transport. The charity said the challenge exposed an “accessibility lottery” across networks and urged improvements to infrastructure and passenger assistance to ensure equal access to public spaces and services.

Two men died after a Cirrus SR20 light aircraft crashed onto moorland near Blackstone Edge and Hollingworth Lake, Littleborough, Rochdale, on February 3, 2026. Greater Manchester Police (GMP) recovered the bodies at the scene and said formal identification is pending. Flight-tracking data indicate the aircraft left Birmingham Airport’s XLR Executive Jet Centre shortly before 10:00 GMT and last reported a signal about 40 minutes later near Marsden, West Yorkshire. Images from the site showed a yellow parachute canopy caught in a nearby electricity pylon; investigators are examining whether the Cirrus Airframe Parachute System (CAPS) deployed. The Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) launched a multidisciplinary probe and sent inspectors to the scene; specialist teams remained on site into February 5–6 and the aircraft (registered G‑GXVV), owned by Daedalus Aviation (Services) Ltd, is to be recovered and taken to AAIB headquarters in Farnborough for further examination. National Grid and emergency services supported the response; there were no reported ground injuries. GMP has urged witnesses to contact police, quoting log 1056 of February 3, 2026.

Reigning world champion Lando Norris said on Feb. 5 that Mercedes driver George Russell is “a little bit giddy” and hungry to take the Formula One title from him as teams prepare for a season shaped by sweeping technical changes. Norris made the comments at a McLaren media event in Woking after Mercedes posted strong reliability in a Barcelona shakedown and bookmakers made Russell pre-season favourite. Norris, 26, who secured his maiden title in Abu Dhabi last year and helped McLaren retain the constructors’ championship, said the success has increased rivals’ hunger and that he expects a fierce fight. Russell has downplayed his favourite tag at Mercedes’ season launch. Drivers return to track with new hybrid power units and a push-to-pass boost system that, Norris warned, will make battery management and boost timing a crucial factor. Pre-season testing continues in Bahrain ahead of the season opener in Melbourne on March 8, 2026, with teams still gauging the true pace of the reworked cars.

House Speaker Mike Johnson this week reignited a public dispute with Pope Leo XIV by invoking Scripture to defend strict border enforcement and immigration policy. Speaking to reporters after a House vote and later posting a lengthy essay on X, Johnson argued that ‘borders and walls are biblical,’ citing passages such as Romans 13 and other Old and New Testament texts to distinguish the duties of individual Christians from the responsibilities of civil authorities. He said governments have a religious duty to maintain order and that migrants are expected to assimilate. The intervention came after Pope Leo used Matthew 25:35 and other teachings to urge compassion, pastoral care and humane treatment for migrants, and followed a rare statement by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops criticizing mass deportations. Johnson’s remarks drew sharp criticism on social media and from some religious commentators, who accused him of cherry-picking scripture to justify a hardline immigration stance. The exchange underscores an intensifying debate among U.S. political leaders, faith institutions and voters over how religious teachings should shape immigration policy.

Regulators across Europe and major formula manufacturers have extended recalls of powdered infant milk after the pre-formed bacterial toxin cereulide was detected in batches linked to a shared ingredient. Since December 2025, Nestlé’s SMA range, Danone’s Aptamil and products from Lactalis and several French makers have been withdrawn in dozens of countries. Investigations point to contaminated arachidonic acid (ARA) oil supplied by Cabio Biotech in China as the likely source. France this week tightened its allowable cereulide threshold to 0.014 micrograms per kilogram of body weight and the European Commission has asked EFSA to advise on a common standard. National authorities in Ireland, Northern Ireland, Belgium and Germany have issued targeted withdrawals and urged parents to check batch codes; Belgian health officials confirmed a second infant tested positive for cereulide after consuming a recalled product but has recovered. Prosecutors in France are probing the deaths of two infants given possibly contaminated formula, though no direct causal link has been established. The disruption has forced wider testing, prompted legal complaints and risks substantial financial losses for manufacturers.

The Louvre said on Feb. 4-5, 2026 that the diamond- and emerald‑studded crown of Empress Eugénie, dropped and crushed by thieves during a brazen daylight robbery on 19 October 2025, is nearly intact and will be fully restored. The museum said the crown was badly deformed when thieves tried to remove it through a narrow hole they sawed in its glass case, but retained all 56 emeralds and all but 10 of its 1,354 diamonds; one of eight decorative golden eagles is missing. An expert committee led by Louvre president Laurence des Cars will supervise the restoration, to be carried out by a competitively selected, approved restorer; leading French jewellery houses are reported to be lending technical support. The October heist saw eight other historic pieces taken, with the overall loot estimated at about €88 million; authorities have arrested several suspects but investigators say the mastermind and the remaining jewels have not been found. The theft exposed security shortcomings at the world’s most‑visited museum and has fed staff unrest and operational changes at the Louvre.

Gyles Brandreth, the 77-year-old broadcaster and former MP, has spoken publicly about his grandson Kitt’s childhood cancer diagnosis, calling it “a shock to the system.” Kitt was 15 months old when a pea-sized lump discovered in April 2017 led to tests diagnosing rhabdomyosarcoma, a rare soft-tissue sarcoma. Treated at Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH), he underwent chemotherapy, multiple blood and platelet transfusions, and battled a bacterial infection that affected his heart and liver; he also developed veno-occlusive disease, a serious chemotherapy complication. Kitt rang the end-of-treatment bell in November 2017, has been in remission for eight years and has yearly checks; he is now 10 and lives abroad with his parents and brother. Brandreth praised GOSH’s multidisciplinary teams and described his role as providing normality for the family. He is supporting GOSH Charity’s appeal to fund a new Children’s Cancer Centre ahead of World Cancer Day (Feb. 4), while urging progress toward kinder, modern treatments for paediatric cancers and noting that many childhood therapies remain decades old despite advances such as CAR T‑cell therapy.

Senior EU officials signalled in early February 2026 that Brussels is willing to re-engage with the United Kingdom on deeper economic and security ties, including discussions about a customs union. Valdis Dombrovskis, the European Commissioner for Economy, told the BBC the EU was “ready to engage with an open mind” after high‑level meetings in London with Chancellor Rachel Reeves, Maroš Šefčovič and other UK ministers. Officials said close alignment on sanitary and phytosanitary rules could remove “most” food checks, easing a major post‑Brexit friction point for exporters. Talks also touched on UK participation in the EU’s defence lending scheme (SAFE, around €150bn) — previously stalled over industrial participation limits — and advanced discussions on a youth mobility pact and sector alignment. The renewed momentum comes as Labour faces domestic pressure to reconsider its manifesto position against rejoining the customs union or single market, and amid a broader push to reset relations a decade after the 2016 referendum. Brussels has reiterated that any deep single‑market access would likely require acceptance of the EU’s four freedoms, including free movement of people.

Global K-pop supergroup BTS will mark its full-group return with a Netflix partnership that will livestream a comeback concert from Seoul and follow with a feature documentary. BTS will release its fifth studio album Arirang on March 20; the concert, titled BTS THE COMEBACK LIVE | ARIRANG, will be performed at Gwanghwamun Square and streamed exclusively on Netflix on March 21 at 20:00 KST (7:00 a.m. ET / 4:00 a.m. PT). BTS: THE RETURN, a behind‑the‑scenes documentary directed by Bao Nguyen, will premiere on Netflix on March 27. The concert broadcast is being directed by Hamish Hamilton and is part of a wider comeback that includes a world tour of roughly 80 shows across more than 30 regions beginning in April. The seven members—RM, Jin, SUGA, j-hope, Jimin, V and Jung Kook—reunite after completing South Korea’s mandatory military service; HYBE and BigHit Music are involved in promotion and production. Netflix has secured exclusive live-stream rights; platforms and fans are preparing for significant global demand.

Two independent Chinese journalists, identified by rights groups as veteran reporter Liu Hu and his associate Wu Yingjiao, were detained after publishing an investigative piece alleging corruption by a local official in Sichuan province. Police in Chengdu said on Feb. 2 and in statements this week they were investigating a 50-year-old man surnamed Liu and a 34-year-old man surnamed Wu on suspicion of “making false accusations” and “illegal business operations,” and had placed them under “criminal coercive measures,” a term typically referring to detention. The article, published on Jan. 29 on the WeChat platform and since deleted, examined alleged graft involving Pu Fayou, Communist Party secretary of Pujiang county. Reporters Without Borders and other rights groups condemned the detentions, citing a restrictive environment for independent reporting in China; Liu was previously detained in 2013 after reporting on official misconduct. The case has drawn international attention amid recent diplomatic engagement between Beijing and several democratic governments and underscores persistent risks faced by independent journalists operating outside official media channels in China.