Housing Secretary Steve Reed approved the Royal Mint Court development, despite its proximity to sensitive fibre optic cables near the City of London. The Housing Department’s decision letter stated that national security bodies, including the Home and Foreign Offices, raised no objections regarding cable interference. The government has taken steps to protect cable security, and the development offers national security advantages by consolidating China’s diplomatic sites. MI5 and GCHQ acknowledged potential risks but supported the project with national security mitigations, and the approval includes conditions for the project’s start and protest management.
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Federal prosecutors issued grand jury subpoenas to multiple Minnesota officials, including the governor and mayors of Minneapolis and St. Paul, as part of an investigation into potential obstruction of federal immigration enforcement. The subpoenas seek records related to public statements made by these officials. The probe is focused on the possible violation of a conspiracy statute, with officials, such as Mayor Frey, characterizing the investigation as a political tactic. The Justice Department has pushed back against state efforts to halt immigration enforcement operations in the area, arguing that such actions are “legally frivolous.”
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A new winter storm is poised to bring potentially catastrophic ice to a wide swath of the South, from Texas to the Carolinas, by the weekend. Forecasters warn of heavy snow, sleet, and treacherous freezing rain, with ice accumulations threatening widespread power outages and travel disruptions. An extremely cold arctic air mass from Canada will clash with rain, leading to a “major winter storm,” and an atmospheric river could bring significant moisture. Uncertainties remain, but travel and major airports are expected to be impacted, and residents are preparing for the storm.
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China’s population continues to shrink for the fourth consecutive year, reaching 1.404 billion in 2025, which is 3 million less than the previous year. The birth rate in 2025, at 5.63 per 1,000 people, marked the lowest on record since 1949, and the number of newborns decreased to 7.92 million. Facing demographic pressures and an aging population, the government has implemented policies like cash subsidies, taxing condoms, and eliminating taxes on daycares to encourage more births, but the efforts have not been successful so far. Experts note that larger issues like housing costs, job opportunities, and education expectations need to be addressed to see any major changes.
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A Louisiana federal courtroom is set to hear arguments regarding the constitutionality of a law mandating the display of the Ten Commandments in public schools. This case will be heard by all 17 active judges of the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, an unusual occurrence. The legal challenge stems from concerns about the First Amendment’s establishment clause and the potential endorsement of a specific religion. Both Texas and Louisiana have laws mandating the display of the Ten Commandments, prompting lawsuits and differing rulings from lower courts, with appeals expected regardless of the outcome.
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In a recent incident, federal immigration agents detained U.S. citizen ChongLy “Scott” Thao in his Minnesota home without a warrant, forcing entry and leading him outside in subfreezing temperatures in his underwear. Despite Thao’s protests and the lack of a warrant, agents took him to an undisclosed location, photographed him, and then returned him home after realizing their mistake. The Department of Homeland Security claims the operation targeted sex offenders residing at the home, but Thao’s family disputes this, stating that no registered sex offenders lived there. Thao plans to file a civil rights lawsuit against the DHS, citing feelings of insecurity following the incident.
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According to AP News, a federal judge in Washington, D.C., declined to temporarily block the Trump administration’s new policy requiring a week’s notice before congressional visits to immigration detention facilities. Judge Jia Cobb determined the Department of Homeland Security didn’t violate a prior court order by reinstating the notice requirement, emphasizing the current challenge used the wrong “procedural vehicle.” The ruling stems from a January 8th policy change, which occurred after several Democratic members of Congress were denied access to an ICE facility in Minneapolis, prompting legal action and claims of obstructing congressional oversight.
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ChongLy Thao, a naturalized U.S. citizen, was detained by ICE officers who broke into his home, handcuffed him, and took him outside in minimal clothing. Thao, who was born in Laos, was held without explanation and later returned home, expressing feelings of fear and shame. ICE stated the operation was related to investigating sex offenders at the address, and the agency claimed Thao matched a description and refused identification. However, Thao’s family disputed this account, stating he did not resist and was not informed of the reason for his detention, raising concerns about the tactics used in the area.
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A major winter storm caused over 100 vehicles to crash or slide off Interstate 196 in Hudsonville, Michigan on Monday. The multi-vehicle pileup, which included more than 30 semi-trucks, resulted in numerous injuries, prompting the closure of the interstate in both directions. The National Weather Service issued warnings about the extreme cold temperatures and winter storms affecting several states. Stranded motorists were transported to a local high school, and towing companies worked in the frigid weather to clear the wreckage, anticipating several hours of road closure.
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Hawaii’s stringent gun laws are the subject of upcoming arguments before the U.S. Supreme Court, specifically regarding the state’s ban on firearms on private property open to the public without explicit owner permission. The case stems from a 2023 lawsuit challenging new laws restricting gun carrying in various public places, with plaintiffs arguing Second Amendment rights infringements. The Supreme Court will focus on the default rule disallowing guns on private property unless explicitly permitted. The central debate revolves around the balance between the right to self-defense and the right to keep firearms off private property, with arguments drawing upon historical traditions and cultural perspectives on gun ownership.
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John Q. Hosedrinker
ICE Detains US Citizen in Subfreezing Weather, Forcing Him From Home Without Clothes
In a recent incident, federal immigration agents detained U.S. citizen ChongLy “Scott” Thao in his Minnesota home without a warrant, forcing entry and leading him outside in subfreezing temperatures in his underwear. Despite Thao’s protests and the lack of a warrant, agents took him to an undisclosed location, photographed him, and then returned him home after realizing their mistake. The Department of Homeland Security claims the operation targeted sex offenders residing at the home, but Thao’s family disputes this, stating that no registered sex offenders lived there. Thao plans to file a civil rights lawsuit against the DHS, citing feelings of insecurity following the incident.
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