Wednesday morning news: January 28, 2026

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Minnesota - Homan » Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey spoke with "Border Czar" Tom Homan Tuesday.

President Trump has asked Homan to oversee ICE operations there after Border Patrol Commander Gregory Bovino and other agents were pulled from Operation Metro Surge.

Amid heightened tensions in the Twin Cities area, President Trump said Tuesday:

TRUMP:  We're gonna deescalate a little bit, but I will tell you, uh, you look at the numbers, they're doing better than they've done in many years.

Two people were killed in separate incidents with federal agents during protests.

The governor's office  said the governor reiterated to Tom Homan that he wants impartial investigations into both shootings and a swift significant reduction in the number of federal forces in Minnesota.

Winter storm aftermath »  Roughly half a million Americans remain without power, many of them in the South, where thick ice snapped trees and power lines. Crews were working in freezing conditions Tuesday to restore power, with some communities warning it could take days, or even more than a week, to fully restore electricity.

Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves:

REEVES:  It's somewhat like whack-a-mole. Every time one of the utility companies and power companies gets a large group back online, we have another tree fall or we have another limb fall.

Officials say at least 30 people were killed in storm-related incidents, including exposure to the cold and accidents on icy roads. 

Ukraine latest » Russian drone attacks killed at least three people in the southern Ukrainian city of Odesa and injured more than 20 others, including children. According to Ukrainian authorities, more than 50 drones slammed into the city on Tuesday, hitting apartment buildings and knocking out parts of the power grid during bitter winter weather.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy condemned the strikes and said continued attacks undermine talks aimed at stopping the fighting:

ZELENSKYY: [Speaking Ukrainian]

He also added, though, that trilateral talks with the U.S. and Russia are moving forward, with teams focused on security guarantees and Ukraine’s reconstruction.

And President Trump remarked:

TRUMP: We’re looking at some very good things happening on Ukraine and Russia.

Another round of talks between U.S., Ukrainian, and Russian officials is slated for this weekend in Abu Dhabi.

Gaza latest » At the United Nations:

AUDIO: [Memorial prayers]

Jewish prayers were offered Tuesday as the world recognized International Holocaust Remembrance Day. That is the day Soviet forces liberated the Nazi concentration camp in Auschwitz 81 years ago.

Ninety-one-year-old survivor Marion Blumenthal-Lazan told the assembly:

BLUMENTHAL-LAZAN: Each and every one of us must do everything in our power to prevent such hatred, such destruction, and such terror from recurring. And we can begin by having love, respect, and compassion towards one another, regardless of their religious beliefs, color of skin, or national origin.

Meantime in Israel:

SOUND: [Countdown and cheers]

...a crowd cheered in Hostages Square in Tel Aviv. The celebration came as a clock ticking off the time Israeli hostages have been held in Gaza since the October 7th attacks...was finally stopped...and switched off.

The clock was stopped at 843 days, 12 hours, and 5 minutes after the remains of the last hostage, Ran Gvili, were returned.

India - EU trade deal » India and the European Union have reached a sweeping free trade deal, representing roughly a third of global trade. WORLD’s Benjamin Eicher has more:

BENJAMIN EICHER: Leaders say the agreement will open markets between two of the world’s largest economies, covering trade that touches nearly two billion people.

The pact cuts tariffs on most goods, including cars, wine, textiles, and medicine.

Officials say it will lower costs for businesses, strengthen supply chains, and boost jobs on both sides.

Some sensitive products, such as dairy, sugar, and certain meats, are excluded.

The agreement also goes beyond trade. India and the EU plan closer cooperation on security and defense … along with easier movement for skilled workers and students.

The deal still needs legal review and approval in Europe, and if that process stays on track, officials expect it to take effect later this year or early next year.

For WORLD, I’m Benjamin Eicher.

D.C. midair collision hearing » Federal investigators say a deadly midair collision last year near Washington, D.C., was an unnecessary tragedy.

NTSB Chairwoman Jennifer Homendy:

HOMENDY:  We should be angry because for years, no one listened. This was preventable. This was 100% preventable.

All 67 people aboard an American Airlines jet were killed when an Army Black Hawk helicopter flew into its flight path.

At a public hearing in Washington Tuesday, investigators said warnings about dangerous helicopter routes around Reagan National Airport went unaddressed for more than a decade.

HOMENDY:  There were 15,214 close proximity events, 85 of which were serious over a number of years.

The crash remains the deadliest aviation disaster in the U.S. since 2001. Since then, the FAA has moved to separate helicopter and airplane traffic to reduce congestion near the airport.

I'm Kent Covington.

Straight ahead: Hunter Baker is standing by with Washington Wednesday. Plus, balancing nutrition and your budget.

This is The World and Everything in It.

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