The US immigration enforcement surge in Minnesota will end, according to President Donald Trump's border tsar, Tom Homan, who announced the decision on Thursday. The announcement comes amid a backdrop of nationwide protests and follows the detention of numerous illegal immigrants who had committed violent crimes. In other news, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has reportedly selected his daughter as his heir, an AI safety researcher has resigned from Anthropic with a warning that the "world is in peril," and a rise in half-term holiday bookings has been reported due to the rainy January weather.
Homan stated that President Trump had approved his request to conclude the Minnesota operation, adding that he would remain in the state "a little longer to oversee the drawdown, to ensure its success," according to BBC World. Operation Metro Surge, as it was known, led to the detention of individuals with violent criminal records for deportation. However, the surge also drew criticism and sparked protests, particularly after two US citizens were killed by immigration officers.
Meanwhile, South Korea's spy agency told lawmakers that Kim Jong Un had chosen his daughter, Kim Ju Ae, as his successor, BBC World reported. The 13-year-old has been seen alongside her father at high-profile events, including a visit to Beijing in September. The National Intelligence Service (NIS) cited her increasing public presence at official events as a key factor in its assessment. The NIS also indicated it would monitor her attendance at future North Korean party events.
In the technology sector, an AI safety researcher from Anthropic, Mrinank Sharma, resigned with a stark warning about the state of the world, BBC Technology reported. Sharma cited concerns about AI, bioweapons, and the broader global situation in his resignation letter. He plans to pursue writing and poetry and relocate to the UK. This follows a similar resignation from an OpenAI researcher who expressed concerns about the company's decision to deploy advertisements in its chatbot.
Also in the technology sector, the developer of the multiplayer shooter "Highguard" laid off staff just two weeks after the game's release, according to BBC Technology. The game, which was given a prominent slot at The Game Awards, struggled to retain players after its January launch. Wildlight Entertainment, the developer, confirmed the layoffs in a statement.
Finally, the travel industry saw a boost in bookings for the February half-term holiday, BBC Business reported. Travel agents attributed the 9% increase in bookings compared to last year to the gloomy weather in January and the current political climate, which created a "powerful psychological need for escape." Manchester Airport is expecting its busiest February half-term on record, with almost 50,000 passengers set to fly out on Friday. Travelers heading to Europe are warned of potential security delays due to the ongoing rollout of the European Entry Exit System.
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