Tens of thousands accept Trump's resignation offer

Hello. A resignation deal offered by the Trump administration to US federal workers expires today. Holly Honderich reports on what we know so far about the effort to slash the size of the federal bureaucracy. In New York City, Rianna Croxford and Larissa Kennelly speak to former employees of Sean "Diddy" Combs's record label about troubling incidents they witnessed in the 1990s. And finally, a beloved feline returns to the ranks of the UK's diplomatic corps - on a mission in Bermuda.

TOP OF THE AGENDA

Resignation deadline for federal workers

A protest against billionaire Elon Musk took place outside the US Office of Personnel Management on Wednesday. Credit: Reuters

An email sent last week to some two million US federal workers gave them until 6 February to consider an offer - stop working immediately but be paid as normal for eight months. The Trump administration said it expected as many as 200,000 - roughly 10% of the federal workforce - to accept. So far, between 20,000 to 40,000 federal workers have chosen to take part, according to US media. Unions have sued to block the plan for mass resignations, as other agencies consider similar steps. On Tuesday, the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) extended the offer to its workers. Some of those who accepted the deal told Holly Honderich they doubt the promised terms will be upheld.

Next target: President Trump is considering an executive order that would shut down the US Department of Education - a long-cherished goal of conservatives.

WORLD HEADLINES

BEYOND THE HEADLINES

Insiders open up about Diddy's 90s empire

Allegations include paying to fly in women from across the US for sex at the request of artists and other employees. Credit: BBC

Sean "Diddy" Combs is awaiting trial in a New York City jail on charges of sex trafficking and racketeering, which he denies. More than 20 people who worked with the music mogul at Bad Boy Records have described to the BBC, for the first time, troubling incidents they say they witnessed during the label's rise in the 1990s. The 55-year-old's lawyers said they had not been provided with sufficient details about the BBC's claims to present the facts that would "counter these fabricated accusations".

And finally...

The former resident cat of the UK Foreign Office has been appointed to a new diplomatic posting as "feline relations consultant" in Bermuda. Palmerston, a black and white rescue who served as chief mouser at the ministry between 2016-2020, appears to have negotiated favourable employment conditions, attending "only the meetings he deems important" and indulging in "well-earned naps". Political correspondent Helen Catt has the full story.