US Central Command reported multiple air and drone strikes in Yemen throughout 2017, targeting AQAP leaders and members. Key figures such as Mujahid al Adani and Abu Layth al Sanaani were killed. The operations, often conducted with Yemeni and UAE forces, aimed to degrade AQAP's capabilities. Notable incidents include a raid in Marib province and a botched operation in Yakla, Bayda province, resulting in civilian casualties. The US military's actions were part of a broader counterterrorism strategy, with significant involvement from high-level US officials and coordination with regional partners.

Gareth Davies, a seasoned regional reporter, discusses the launch of the Bureau Local, a project by the Bureau of Investigative Journalism aimed at supporting data-driven public interest reporting in local newsrooms across the UK. He highlights the challenges faced by local journalists, such as lack of diversity, social exclusivity, and the pressures of a target-driven culture. The Bureau Local seeks to create a collaborative community for journalists to share ideas and work on investigative stories, leveraging data to tell impactful stories. Davies encourages local reporters to join the initiative for access to good stories and necessary support.

Antibiotic-resistant superbugs, particularly carbapenem-resistant enterobacteriaceae (CRE), are increasingly causing infections in UK hospitals. These bacteria are immune to most antibiotics, posing severe health risks. The rise in CRE cases, previously linked to international travel and medical procedures abroad, now includes patients with no travel history. The resurgence of older, more toxic antibiotics like colistin highlights the growing challenge of treating these infections. The article underscores the urgent need for new treatments and better infection control measures to prevent a potential public health crisis.

St Andrew’s mental health hospital in Northampton faces severe criticism from families, regulators, and an MP for its treatment of patients, including restrictive and demeaning conditions. Patients have been denied exercise, leading to obesity and other health issues, and families have been charged extra for additional care. The hospital's behavior management system and use of prone restraint have also been condemned. Despite these issues, St Andrew’s has expanded and increased its revenue amid NHS cuts. The Care Quality Commission has called for improvements, but concerns about patient care persist.

Despite being deemed unsafe by the Care Quality Commission, Fawkham Manor Hospital in Kent will continue to receive NHS patients, while major insurers like Bupa, Axa PPP, and Aviva have ceased referrals there. The hospital, operated by BMI Healthcare, has been criticized for prioritizing financial targets over quality and safety, with instances of wrong patients taken to surgery and poor hygiene observed. Local NHS Commissioning groups plan to work with the hospital on improvements, while Dartford and Gravesham NHS Trust and NHS England have not halted referrals. The hospital's practices came under scrutiny following a police investigation into orthopaedic surgeon Mohammed Suhaib Sait for alleged substandard surgeries and financial gain.

The Pentagon has employed private contractors, including the controversial British PR firm Bell Pottinger, to produce propaganda aimed at countering Islamic State's online influence. This initiative, part of a broader digital warfare strategy, involves creating content to combat misinformation. Bell Pottinger, previously involved in similar operations against al Qaeda and the Taliban, produced fake news and propaganda materials during its contract from 2006 to 2011. The Pentagon's current tactics remain undisclosed, but the effort continues to leverage both military and contractor expertise.

In 2015, Home Secretary Theresa May deprived five individuals of British citizenship on terror-related grounds, contributing to a total of 33 such cases since 2010. All affected individuals were dual nationals, and the deprivation often occurred while they were abroad, complicating their ability to appeal. The Bureau of Investigative Journalism obtained these figures after a lengthy freedom of information battle. The article also highlights a new power introduced in 2014 allowing the stripping of citizenship from foreign-born Britons who hold only British nationality if deemed seriously prejudicial to the UK's vital interests, though this power was not used between July 2014 and July 2015.

A Nigerian man, referred to as L2, has had his UK citizenship revoked by then Home Secretary Theresa May due to national security concerns. L2, who is believed to have connections with British Islamist radicals and to have fought for Al Qaeda in Mali, is challenging the decision at the Special Immigration Appeals Commission in London. An intelligence agent, 'EZ', testified about L2's associations with known extremists and his activities with the banned group al Muhajiroun and Minbar Ansar Deen. L2 denies membership in these groups and involvement in terrorist activities. The case is being covered by the Bureau of Investigative Journalism for The Independent as part of an investigation into the UK Government's counter-terrorism powers and the use of secret evidence in courts. The hearing included a closed session where secret evidence was presented, and L2's appeal was nearly derailed when he expressed a desire to boycott the trial.

Lord Jim O'Neill, a former Goldman Sachs chief and current UK minister, has suggested in an interview with the Bureau of Investigative Journalism for The Independent that a tax on antibiotics might be necessary to fund research into new drugs and tackle the growing crisis of antibiotic resistance. The AMR Review, which he chairs, is set to publish a report that includes this tax as a potential solution. O'Neill draws parallels between the urgency of the antibiotic resistance crisis and the 2008 financial crash, emphasizing the need for industry leaders and consumers to change their mindsets. The overuse of antibiotics in livestock farming is highlighted as a significant contributor to the problem, with human health at risk from antibiotic-resistant infections passed on through the food chain. The report will not specifically call for a tax on food companies but suggests that such measures could be expected in the future. Large food companies like McDonald's have already taken steps to reduce antibiotic use in chicken production, which O'Neill praises.

The Home Office expressed extreme disappointment over a court ruling blocking the deportation of six Algerian terror suspects to Algeria due to the risk of torture. The Special Immigration Appeals Commission ruled that deporting the men would violate Article 3 of the European Convention on Human Rights. The decision is seen as a significant blow to the Home Office's 'Deportation with Assurances' policy. The ruling may have broader implications for future deportation cases, including those involving Jordan. The men, linked to Al Qaeda and considered national security threats, remain in the UK under strict bail conditions.