Officials in Fujiyoshida, Yamanashi prefecture, said on Feb. 3, 2026 they will not stage the annual Arakurayama Sengen Park cherry blossom festival this spring, citing threats to residents’ daily lives from surging visitor numbers. The decade-old event, which can draw about 200,000 people during peak season to photograph Mount Fuji framed by blossoms and a five-storey pagoda, has been overwhelmed in recent years by a record inbound tourism boom — Japan saw roughly 42.7 million visitors in 2025 — fuelled in part by a weak yen and viral social media images. City officials and Mayor Shigeru Horiuchi pointed to chronic traffic jams, sanitation problems including trespassing and instances of people relieving themselves in private gardens, safety concerns for children on narrow pavements, and other nuisance behaviour. Authorities warned that cancelling the official festival will not fully stop crowds at the popular viewpoint and plan stepped-up security, temporary parking and portable toilets; nearby municipalities have previously trialled measures such as view-blocking barriers, hiker entry fees and daily caps to manage impacts.

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December 2025, Nestlé’s SMA range, Danone’s Aptamil and products from Lactalis and several French makers have been withdrawn in dozens of countries.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.

In early February 2026 Chinese state-linked media and the People’s Liberation Army released a glossy concept video for “Luanniao” — a triangular “space aircraft carrier” the footage depicts loitering at the edge of the atmosphere and launching swarms of unmanned fighters. Reports describe the platform as roughly 800 feet long and more than 2,000 feet wide (other outlets give widths around 650–684 metres), with a cited takeoff weight near 120,000 tonnes and capacity for about 88 Xuan Nu unmanned stealth fighters. Beijing frames Luanniao as part of a broader Nantianmen programme to deepen integrated air‑space capabilities and projects a 20–30 year development horizon. Analysts and defence experts expressed deep scepticism about feasibility, noting enormous propulsion, fuel and reusable‑rocket requirements, vulnerability to debris and current technological gaps. Observers say the release is also strategic signalling — intended to shape perceptions of China’s future military reach as it ramps up space and hypersonic programmes and emphasises lunar and orbital achievements.

A University of Edinburgh study mapping genetic risk across the British Isles finds the highest prevalence of the C282Y variant—the main genetic risk factor for hereditary haemochromatosis, often called the “Celtic curse”—in the north‑west of Ireland (about 1 in 54 people). Researchers analysed genetic data from more than 400,000 participants in UK Biobank and Viking Genes across 29 regions and report elevated rates in the Outer Hebrides (1 in 62) and Northern Ireland (1 in 71), with mainland Scots also at increased risk. The team cross‑checked NHS England records and identified more than 70,000 diagnosed cases, noting diagnoses were nearly four times higher among white Irish than white British patients and that people from Liverpool had 11 times the diagnosis rate of those from Kent. The authors and Haemochromatosis‑UK call for targeted, community‑level genetic screening in identified hotspots to improve early detection and use simple interventions such as regular phlebotomy to prevent organ damage. The study is published in Nature Communications and was carried out with RCSI and Haemochromatosis‑UK.

A bronze statue of British boxing legend Teddy Baldock, estimated at about £100,000, was stolen from Langdon Park in Poplar, east London, on the evening of Sunday February 1, police said. CCTV released by the Metropolitan Police shows four suspects wearing black with faces covered loosening the figure from its plinth, leaving only the metal boots behind, and loading it onto a three-wheeled cargo bike before heading northbound towards Bromley-by-Bow station. The 2014 monument, paid for by fundraising led by Baldock’s grandson Martin Sax, commemorates the bantamweight who became Britain’s youngest world champion in 1927. Detective Superintendent Oliver Richter said officers are pursuing all lines of enquiry; no arrests have been made. Sax expressed anger and fear the statue could be melted down for scrap and urged anyone with information to contact police. Tower Hamlets council said the theft had shocked the borough. Police asked witnesses to call 101 quoting CAD 6133/1Feb or to contact Crimestoppers anonymously.

Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta has taken charge of restructuring the Shahjahanabad Redevelopment Corporation (SRDC) and will chair the reconstituted body as the city government begins plans to revive Old Delhi (Shahjahanabad). Announced in early February 2026, the move aims to restore the area’s heritage while addressing chronic civic problems: officials say overhead electrical wires in narrow lanes will be moved underground, traffic-management plans and multi-level parking will be explored, and earlier projects for Chandni Chowk, Jama Masjid and Shyama Prasad Mukherjee Marg will be reassessed. The SRDC, created in 2008 but largely inactive amid coordination and administrative issues, will be reshaped with representatives from agencies including the Municipal Corporation of Delhi, the Public Works Department and the tourism department. Officials say experts in heritage conservation and market planning will be included and jurisdictions for members announced shortly. The government framed the push as both a safety and tourism initiative, citing recent security concerns and long-standing complaints from residents, traders and visitors about congestion and infrastructure decay.

Newcastle United moved quickly to dismiss reports over the January deadline-day offering of Italy midfielder Sandro Tonali to Arsenal, saying there had been no contact and the player was not for sale. The agent most closely associated with Tonali, Giuseppe Riso, denied approaches and said any discussion of valuation would be revisited in March or April only if Newcastle opened talks. Manager Eddie Howe said he had spoken with Tonali and that the 25‑26‑year‑old was “very happy” and focused on the club, while acknowledging he was “not in control of everything”. Media reports over Feb. 3-4 linked Premier League rivals Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester City to Tonali and suggested Newcastle could demand around £100m for a summer sale. Tonali, signed from AC Milan in 2023 and contracted at St James’ Park until 2029 with an option to extend, has re-established himself since serving a 10‑month betting ban. Pep Guardiola was also seen speaking to Tonali after Manchester City’s Carabao Cup semi-final second leg on Feb. 4, underlining the level of interest among top clubs.

A fresh tranche of roughly three million documents released by the US Justice Department has revealed sustained contact between renowned linguist Noam Chomsky and the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The materials, published in early February 2026 under a congressional transparency law, include 2016 and 2019 emails in which Chomsky appears to advise Epstein on handling negative press, tells him to “ignore” attacks, and refers to “fantasizing about the Caribbean island.” Other messages show social arrangements, an apparent planned introduction to Steve Bannon, and monetary or logistical interactions involving Chomsky’s circle. The records underscore that contact between Epstein and prominent public figures continued after his 2008 conviction. Chomsky, 97, has previously acknowledged knowing Epstein and has been on unpaid medical leave since October 2023; neither he nor his spokesperson has provided a new public explanation. Commentators and a former collaborator have publicly condemned the association. The Justice Department documents do not by themselves prove wrongdoing by those named, but they add to the public record of Epstein’s network.

A paper published in the Milbank Quarterly on Feb. 3 by researchers at Harvard, Duke and the University of Michigan argues ultra-processed foods (UPFs) are engineered more like cigarettes than whole foods and should face tobacco-style regulation. The authors say many UPFs — including soft drinks, packaged snacks, ready meals, breakfast cereals and some baby foods — are industrially formulated to maximise hedonic impact and drive compulsive consumption, contributing to obesity, type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease and other preventable conditions. They call for measures such as clearer labelling and health warnings, taxes on nutrient-poor UPFs, restrictions on marketing to children and limits on availability in schools and hospitals, and say litigation and structural interventions offer a roadmap. The paper cites data showing UPFs make up more than half of daily calories in the US and large shares of adolescent diets in the UK and other countries, and refers to recent UNICEF and Lancet findings on child UPF consumption. Some experts caution the study may overreach by equating UPFs with pharmacologically addictive substances and say more evidence is needed to define regulatory responses.

The Irish government has moved to outlaw scrambler-style off-road motorcycles in all public places after the death of 16-year-old Grace Lynch, who was struck by a scrambler in Finglas, Dublin on Jan. 25. Cabinet on Feb. 4 authorised Transport Minister Darragh O’Brien to draft emergency regulations — to be introduced within weeks — that will explicitly ban scramblers from roads, parks and other public spaces, close legal gaps from a 2023 law, and provide a statutory definition of a scrambler. Measures will strengthen Garda powers to seize vehicles, raise charges applied to seized machines and permit the destruction of bikes taken off the street. Officials said enforcement tools could include drones and follow-up seizures at storage locations rather than high-risk road pursuits. The move, to be known as “Grace’s Law” at the request of the victim’s mother and endorsed by Taoiseach Micheál Martin, follows public outrage and cross-party criticism that earlier regulations were not implemented. The package also signals forthcoming tighter rules for e-scooters and e-bikes, including mandatory helmets and high-visibility clothing. Government figures say hundreds to more than 1,000 scramblers, quads and similar vehicles have been seized under powers since 2023.

A teenage girl is in a critical condition after she and a teenage boy were struck by a car on the Tullamore Road in Clara, County Offaly on the evening of Wednesday, Feb. 4. The collision occurred at about 6.15pm. The girl, aged in her mid-teens, was treated at the scene and transferred to Children’s Health Ireland at Crumlin in Dublin where she remains in critical condition. A boy, also in his mid-teens, was taken to Midland Regional Hospital, Tullamore with injuries not believed to be life-threatening. A man in his 40s was arrested at the scene and is being detained under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1984, at a garda station in Co. Offaly. Gardaí have preserved the scene for examination by forensic collision investigators and local traffic diversions remain in place. Police have appealed for witnesses and asked anyone with dash-cam or other footage from Tullamore Road, Frederick Street or Bridge Street, Clara, around the time of the collision to contact Tullamore Garda Station or the Garda Confidential Line.

Kasim Khan and his brother Suleiman say Pakistani authorities have been ‘deliberately’ refusing to process their visa applications, blocking planned travel to see their jailed father, former prime minister Imran Khan. The brothers, who live in London with their mother Jemima Goldsmith, say they submitted applications in December 2025 for a January visit but were denied. They allege Imran Khan, held in Adiala Jail since August 2023, has been in solitary confinement for 914 days and denied independent medical care and access to his personal physician. Authorities acknowledge a blanket ban on meetings since December 2025, while jail officials state Khan receives B-class prisoner facilities and medical treatment, including a recent eye procedure at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences. The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party and opposition figures have accused authorities of concealing details of his condition; the sons have appealed to international human rights organisations and foreign governments to intervene before ‘irreversible harm’ occurs.

Noel Gallagher has been announced as the BRIT Awards 2026 Songwriter Of The Year, with the ceremony set for Feb. 28 at Manchester’s Co-op Live. The prize, decided by a panel of industry judges, recognises Gallagher’s three-decade catalogue as Oasis chief songwriter and his solo work with Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds. Organisers cited tracks such as “Wonderwall,” “Don’t Look Back In Anger” and “Champagne Supernova” and pointed to the commercial resurgence driven by Oasis’s Live ’25 reunion tour, which sold out stadiums across the UK, Europe, the Americas and Asia and pushed the band’s catalogue back up the charts. Stacey Tang, chair of the BRITs committee, said the award celebrates a body of work that has “defined the spirit of British music globally.” Gallagher is expected to attend and collect the honour in Manchester; performers already announced for the night include Harry Styles, Olivia Dean, Wolf Alice and Mark Ronson. The 2026 ceremony marks the first time the BRITs will be staged in Manchester, the band’s hometown.

Luke Littler, the 19-year-old reigning world champion, has downplayed teammate Luke Humphries’ description of him as “the greatest darts player who has ever lived” after beating Humphries in the World Masters final. Speaking at the BetMGM Premier League launch in Newcastle, Littler said Phil Taylor will remain the benchmark unless someone surpasses Taylor’s haul of world and Matchplay titles — joking it would take 16 or 17 such wins to eclipse him. Humphries, who had praised Littler after the Masters, clarified his remarks, saying he meant Littler is perhaps the most talented player he has seen rather than definitive “the greatest.” The pair’s comments come as Littler prepares to defend Premier League honours and pursue season targets, including a stated aim to secure £500,000 in prize money before the World Championship. The exchange has crystallised a stirring rivalry at the top of the Professional Darts Corporation ranks, with other players and commentators suggesting the Littler-Humphries contest could be one of the sport’s defining duels for years to come.

Algerian Olympic boxing champion Imane Khelif said she will submit to genetic/sex testing to defend her 2028 Los Angeles title — but only if tests are administered by the International Olympic Committee (IOC). Khelif, 26, won women’s welterweight gold at Paris 2024 after a high-profile eligibility dispute that followed her 2023 disqualification from the World Championships by the International Boxing Association (IBA) over sex-chromosome checks. World Boxing, the federation provisionally recognised by the IOC to run Olympic boxing, introduced mandatory sex testing last year and initially named Khelif before apologising. Khelif has appealed World Boxing’s ban to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) and has not fought since Paris. In interviews published Feb. 4–5, 2026 she also disclosed undergoing hormone treatment to lower testosterone ahead of Paris and confirmed she carries the SRY gene. Khelif says she has provided medical records to federations, is awaiting a French professional licence and will continue legal and administrative efforts to clear her eligibility while insisting she is not transgender.

Former Manchester United defender Gary Neville has told contacts he is frustrated by social media influencers repeatedly posing at his Georgian front door on a Manchester street nicknamed "millionaires' row", tabloid reports said on Feb. 5, 2026. The 50-year-old is said to occupy one of four townhouses he bought on the street in 2021 and to let the others for about £20,000 a month as part of a property portfolio reported to be worth roughly £10.5 million. Sources cited by The Sun and GB News said influencers — including reality TV personalities linked to Love Island such as Molly-Mae Hague and Tom Clare — have been photographed climbing steps, perching on window ledges and stopping in the road to take pictures, sometimes holding up traffic. The reports say the activity happens daily and that Neville routinely has to move people off his doorstep to leave the house. These accounts are based on tabloid sources and have not been independently verified by Reuters.