President Trump delivered a speech at Charlie Kirk's memorial, where Erika Kirk, his widow, expressed forgiveness for the shooting suspect, while the President intensified calls for prosecuting political opponents and his administration pursued controversial policies, sparking warnings from Democrats about authoritarian tendencies.

• Charlie Kirk memorial: Trump tells crowd ‘I hate my opponents’ after Erika Kirk says she forgives shooting suspect – latest updates — The Guardian -
• Erika Kirk, Charlie Kirk’s widow, says she forgives man accused of murder — The Guardian -
• Charlie Kirk funeral mixes rally and revival as mourners vow to spread Maga message — The Guardian -

• Trump joins tens of thousands at memorial for rightwing activist Charlie Kirk — The Guardian -
• Trump pushes justice department to prosecute his political opponents — BBC World -
• US must ‘universally condemn political violence’, Democratic governor Shapiro says — The Guardian -
• Trump officials reportedly set to tie Tylenol to autism risk — The Guardian -
• Trump drive to pursue critics puts US on path to dictatorship, Democrats warn — The Guardian -
• ‘Nothing stops reporters’: Trump talks down Pentagon restrictions on journalists — The Guardian -
• Trump says Rupert and Lachlan Murdoch likely part of US TikTok investor group — The Guardian -
• Ice detainees hold hunger strike at Louisiana state penitentiary — The Guardian -
• The H-1B Visa: Why Is Trump Adding a $100,000 Fee? — New York Times World -
• I spent $8,000 to get back to US after fears over Trump visa deadline — BBC World -
• The US right claimed free speech was sacred – until the Charlie Kirk killing — The Guardian -
• Trump’s Threats to Media in Jimmy Kimmel Fallout Resemble World Autocrat — New York Times World -

Britain, Australia, Canada, and Portugal formally recognized a Palestinian state, a move met with condemnation from Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu as Israeli strikes continued in Gaza and Lebanon, while the UN General Assembly gathered amidst global diplomatic rifts and discussions arose about future Palestinian leadership.

• Britain, Australia, Canada and Portugal Recognize a Palestinian State — New York Times World -
• UK formally recognises Palestinian state — BBC World -
• Shooting at New Hampshire country club leaves one dead and two wounded — The Guardian -

• Latest recognitions of Palestinian state will deepen global diplomatic rifts — The Guardian -
• At least 40 killed in Gaza and five in Lebanon in Israeli strikes — The Guardian -
• U.N. Gathers Amid Its 80th Anniversary and a ‘Free Fall’ — New York Times World -
• UK recognises state of Palestine to ‘keep alive’ the possibility of peace — The Guardian -
• Netanyahu calls UK’s Palestine recognition ‘absurd prize for terrorism’ — The Guardian -
• How will recognition of Palestinian statehood be greeted in the UK? — The Guardian -
• ‘Not enough in itself’: wary welcome in West Bank over recognition of Palestine — The Guardian -
• Watch: Keir Starmer says UK recognises Palestinian state — BBC World -
• UK, Canada and Australia formally recognise Palestinian state - as it happened — The Guardian -
• Recognising Palestinian statehood opens another question - who would lead it? — BBC World -
• Recognising Palestinian statehood opens another question - who would lead it? — BBC World -
• Israel Keeps Border Crossing to Jordan Closed After Attack — New York Times World -
• Australia joins UK and Canada in formally recognising Palestinian state — The Guardian -
• Lammy hints at U-turn to allow Palestinian scholars to bring children to UK — The Guardian -
• A Rush to Save Ancient Artifacts in Gaza Highlights All That Has Been Lost — New York Times World -
• Israel will occupy more West Bank land, but recognition matters, mayor tells BBC — BBC World -

China considers giving up TikTok amid geopolitical pressures, South Korea contemplates a Trump-Kim nuclear deal, German jets scrambled after a Russian military plane over the Baltic, and Ukraine achieved modest counterattack successes, while Brazil saw massive protests against amnesty for Bolsonaro, Filipinos demonstrated against state corruption, and Nepal investigated protest violence.

• Why China Might Give Up TikTok — New York Times World -
• South Korea would accept a Trump-Kim deal to freeze nuclear programme, president tells BBC — BBC World -
• Brazilians protest in their thousands against granting Bolsonaro amnesty — The Guardian -

• Nepal to Investigate Killings and Arson in Student Protests — New York Times World -
• German jets scrambled after Russian military plane flies over Baltic Sea — The Guardian -
• Protesters flood streets of Philippines over state corruption — The Guardian -
• How Russia’s Sanctions Evasion Could Create Lasting Costs — New York Times World -
• Protesters in Manila Accuse Government of Misusing Environmental Funds — New York Times World -
• Watch: Philippines anti-corruption protests turn violent — BBC World -
• Watch: Philippines anti-corruption protests turn violent — BBC World -
• Ukraine Counterattacks, Scoring Rare, if Modest, Success in Northeast — New York Times World -
• The High School Teacher Leading Mexico’s ‘Fashion Police’ — New York Times World -
• A Maternity Ward in Chad Reaches Its Breaking Point as U.S. Aid Dries Up — New York Times World -
• A Polish Soldier, an Unusual Radar Dot and Then NATO Jets — New York Times World -
• How Russian-funded fake news network aims to disrupt election in Europe - BBC investigation — BBC World -
• Owner of Georgian broadcaster called country’s ‘propaganda megaphone’ is based in London — The Guardian -
• They Helped Oust a Dictator. Now the New Regime Is Coming for Them. — New York Times World -
• Nepal Uprising Is Latest Challenge to India’s Backyard Diplomacy — New York Times World -

Optus faced scrutiny over a significant triple zero outage, leading to calls for stiff penalties and a new escalation process for failures, while political debates over net-zero policies continued and the Northern Territory's Attorney General faced criticism over a family link to a hit-and-run driver.

• Australia news live: Wells warns telcos there are ‘no excuses’ for triple zero failure; Sydney trains to ban some ebikes — The Guardian -
• Sussan Ley fights for conservative airtime as she struggles to hold together a fractured opposition | Josh Butler — The Guardian -
• Optus admits process not followed after it missed at least five warnings of triple zero outage — The Guardian -

• Optus CEO says ‘compulsory escalation process’ for reports of triple-zero failures to be introduced – as it happened — The Guardian -
• Canavan claims Coalition ‘on the cusp’ of abandoning net zero as Ley urged to follow Dutton’s voice referendum tactics — The Guardian -
• NT attorney general criticised after confirming family link to hit-and-run driver — The Guardian -

Gatwick Airport received approval for a £2.2bn second runway, Heathrow faced widespread disruption due to a cyber-attack affecting check-in systems, Liberal Democrats were advised to focus on policy over stunts, and Sarah Ferguson's leaked emails to Jeffrey Epstein resurfaced, while a tragic motorway death raised questions about the care system.

• Zarah Sultana drops legal threat over feud with Jeremy Corbyn — The Guardian -
• Gatwick given green light for £2.2bn second runway plan — The Guardian -
• Lib Dems should ditch Ed Davey’s stunts and talk policy, survey finds — The Guardian -

• Heathrow warns of second day of disruption after cyber-attack — BBC World -
• Heathrow warns of second day of disruption after cyber-attack — BBC World -
• Disruption continues at Heathrow, Brussels and Berlin airports after cyber-attack — The Guardian -
• Broadcaster John Stapleton dies aged 79 — The Guardian -
• UK driving instructors shift to automatic cars in industry move from manual — The Guardian -
• London mayor says traffic ban trial is start of ‘fightback to rescue Oxford Street’ — The Guardian -
• Sarah Ferguson apologised to Jeffrey Epstein after disowning him, leaked emails suggest — The Guardian -
• Publisher criticises Reform council’s ‘Trumpian’ boycott of Nottingham Post — The Guardian -
• House of Commons nursery provider criticised for article praising Reform conference — The Guardian -
• British artists reclaim St George’s flag with a message of inclusivity — The Guardian -
• Shouting and stroking ponies outlawed by rural councils in England as antisocial behaviour — The Guardian -
• Duchess of York called Epstein 'supreme friend' in 2011 email — BBC World -
• Tulip Siddiq fears plans to use ‘fake’ documents to secure conviction in corruption trial — The Guardian -
• ‘She never got help’: mother says daughter who died on motorway was failed by care system — The Guardian -

An Afghan mother mourned her three children who starved to death, a British soldier was named in a Kenyan murder case with an arrest warrant issued, bodies of three transgender people were found in Pakistan, and ICE detainees launched a hunger strike in a Louisiana prison, highlighting pressing global and domestic human rights challenges.

• My three boys starved to death. I hope angels bring them home, says Afghan mother — BBC World -
• Kenya’s arrest warrant is milestone in Agnes Wanjiru case but lengthy UK process awaits — The Guardian -
• British soldier accused of murdering Kenyan woman Agnes Wanjiru named — The Guardian -

• Bodies of three transgender people found in Pakistan — BBC World -
• California bans most law enforcement including ICE from wearing masks — BBC World -
• California bans most law enforcement including ICE from wearing masks — BBC World -
• British couple released after detention in Afghanistan say they feared being executed — The Guardian -
• Murdered Kenyan's friends want UK soldier to face justice — BBC World -
• British couple held by Taliban arrive in UK after release — BBC World -

An exposé author faced bankruptcy after a ban on criticizing Meta, raising concerns about corporate power silencing critics, and a chatbot site depicting child sexual abuse images sparked fears about the misuse of AI and called for stronger child protection guidelines.

• Chatbot site depicting child sexual abuse images raises fears over misuse of AI — The Guardian -
• Meta exposé author faces bankruptcy after ban on criticising company — The Guardian -

Venice police fined parents for children playing football in a public square, hundreds plunged into the Chicago River for its first official swim in nearly a century, a **Virginia woman generously donated her $150,000 Powerball prize to various charities, and a British individual recounted fears of being stranded at sea** for six months.

• Venice police fine parents of children who played football in public square — The Guardian -
• Hundreds plunge in Chicago River for first official swim in nearly 100 years — The Guardian -
• Virginia woman donates $150,000 Powerball prize to charity: ‘I needed to give it all away’ — The Guardian -

• I took a job on a whim on New Year's Eve - and ended up stranded at sea for six months — BBC World -