President Trump continues to shape US foreign policy through threats to annex Greenland and pressuring Venezuela on oil investment, while domestic immigration enforcement faces intense scrutiny following ICE and Border Patrol shootings and widespread protests.

• Renee Nicole Good said ‘I’m not mad at you’ before ICE agent shot her, video shows — The Guardian -
• Trump threatens Greenland and Iran at meeting with oil bosses on Venezuela – US politics live — The Guardian -
• Live Updates: Trump’s Push to Invest in Venezuela Gets a Tepid Response from Oil Executives — New York Times World -

• Outside Prisons in Caracas, Venezuelans Anxiously Await telease of more political detainees. — New York Times World -
• Here’s the latest. — New York Times World -
• Washington National Opera to move out of Kennedy Center after Trump ‘takeover’ — The Guardian -
• Trump ramps up Greenland threats and says US will intervene ‘whether they like it or not’ — The Guardian -
• Trump Threatens to Take Greenland ‘the Hard Way’ — New York Times World -
• What Is El Helicoide, the Infamous Torture Prison in Venezuela? — New York Times World -
• Trump says US needs to 'own' Greenland to prevent Russia and China from taking it — BBC World -
• Trump promises oil companies ‘total safety’ in Venezuela as he urges them to invest billions — The Guardian -
• Trump's Venezuela oil meeting starts with few concrete promises — BBC World -
• U.S. Boards Another Tanker Carrying Venezuelan Oil — New York Times World -
• Trump claims he has cancelled second wave of attacks on Venezuela — The Guardian -
• Minneapolis mayor accuses federal authorities of ‘hiding facts’ in ICE killing — The Guardian -
• Six protesters arrested in Portland after two people shot by border patrol agents — The Guardian -
• Pope Leo Rebukes a Spreading Global ‘Zeal for War’ — New York Times World -
• Freed Venezuelan Political Prisoner Called Maduro’s 2024 Victory a Fraud to His Face — New York Times World -
• Trump warns of more Nigeria strikes if Christians 'continue to be killed' — BBC World -
• US seizes fifth oil tanker linked to Venezuela, officials say — BBC World -
• US seizes fifth oil tanker linked to Venezuela, officials say — BBC World -
• How an Abrupt Call Between Trump and Colombia’s President Averted a Crisis — New York Times World -
• Trump's grand plan to reshape the world order leaves Europe with a difficult choice to make — BBC World -
• Le Constellation bar co-owner arrested as Switzerland honours victims of Crans-Montana fire – as it happened — The Guardian -
• US military forces seize fifth tanker in effort to control Venezuelan oil — The Guardian -
• Trump's warning looms over Iran protests response — BBC World -
• US immigration agents linked to 16 shootings under Trump’s crackdown — The Guardian -
• UK right to weigh diplomacy before ‘calling out’ allies on international law breaches, says attorney general — The Guardian -
• Venezuelans Decry Civilian Casualties. Pentagon Says It’s Unaware of Any. — New York Times World -
• The continued mysteries surrounding the intelligence operation to seize Maduro — BBC World -
• Doge cuts cost US taxpayers $10bn to cover workers’ paid leave, analysis finds — The Guardian -
• India pushes back at Trump aide's claim about US trade deal breakdown — BBC World -
• US border patrol agents shoot two people in Portland — The Guardian -
• Second night of US protests over ICE shooting of woman in Minneapolis — BBC World -
• Second night of US protests over ICE shooting of woman in Minneapolis — BBC World -
• Trump Indicates He Will Meet Venezuela’s Machado After Offer to Give Him Her Nobel Peace Prize — New York Times World -
• Spotify no longer running ICE recruitment ads, after US government campaign ends — The Guardian -
• Venezuelan government begins releasing political prisoners — BBC World -
• Venezuelan government begins releasing political prisoners — BBC World -
• In Venezuela, Trump Revives ‘Gunboat Diplomacy.’ What Is It? — New York Times World -
• ‘We are not for sale’: chair of Greenland’s top labor union rebukes Trump’s call for annexation — The Guardian -
• White House unleashes torrent of untruths after woman shot dead by ICE — The Guardian -
• 'He's crazy': BBC speaks to Greenlanders about Trump's threats — BBC World -
• Venezuela Updates: Senate Advances Measure to Curb Trump’s Use of Force — New York Times World -
• An Interview With Donald Trump — New York Times World -
• Friday briefing: Trump tactics could leave office with him – or the US could descend into a rogue state — The Guardian -
• US immigration agents shoot two people – as it happened — The Guardian -
• Colombia sees 'real threat' of US military action, president tells BBC — BBC World -
• Colombia sees 'real threat' of US military action, president tells BBC — BBC World -
• ‘A colossal own goal’: Trump’s exit from global climate treaties will have little effect outside US — The Guardian -
• Venezuela begins releasing political detainees to ‘consolidate peace’ — The Guardian -
• Venezuela Leaders Free Political Prisoners in a Sign of Possible Change — New York Times World -
• Venezuela Mourns the Dozens Who Died in U.S. Operation — New York Times World -
• Here’s the latest. — New York Times World -

Massive anti-government protests are escalating in Iran, met by threats of harsher crackdowns from the Supreme Leader, as Russia delivers a warning to Europe with a nuclear-capable missile strike on Ukraine, and Syria's army renews attacks in Aleppo.

• Iran’s supreme leader sets stage for harsher crackdown as protest movement swells — The Guardian -
• A Look at Iran’s Antigovernment Protests — New York Times World -
• With Missile Strike on Ukraine, Putin Delivers a Warning to Europe — New York Times World -

• Saudi Official Accuses U.A.E. of Helping Yemeni Separatist to Escape — New York Times World -
• Russia Says It Used Nuclear-Capable Missile to Strike Western Ukraine — New York Times World -
• Iran’s Supreme Leader Vows to ‘Not Back Down’ as Protests Swell — New York Times World -
• Yemeni Separatists Say They Are Disbanding, but Move Is in Dispute — New York Times World -
• Iran leader says anti-government protesters are vandals trying to please Trump — BBC World -
• What Is the Oreshnik Ballistic Missile Russia Used in a Strike on Ukraine? — New York Times World -
• Growing protests in Iran do not necessarily herald a return to monarchy — The Guardian -
• Syrian army says it will renew Aleppo attacks after Kurds reject ceasefire terms — The Guardian -
• Russia fires hypersonic Oreshnik missile at Ukraine in massive attack — The Guardian -
• Iran Is Cut Off From Internet as Protests Calling for Regime Change Intensify — New York Times World -
• What to Know About the Protests in Iran — New York Times World -
• Russia hits Ukraine with rarely used Oreshnik missile in fresh strikes — BBC World -
• ‘In isolation, we’ll never flourish’: What Iranians think about the protests and an end to the Islamic Republic — The Guardian -
• Home Office tells Gaza academic his bid to bring family to UK not urgent — The Guardian -
• Watch: Buildings in Tehran set on fire as demonstrations spread across Iran — BBC World -
• Watch: Buildings in Tehran set on fire as demonstrations spread across Iran — BBC World -
• Huge anti-government protests in Tehran and other Iranian cities, videos show — BBC World -

Australia is grappling with a severe heatwave and devastating bushfires in Victoria, leading to a state of disaster declaration, while the UK and parts of Europe are battered by Storm Goretti, and California marks a significant milestone by becoming completely drought-free.

• Australia heatwave live updates: Victorian fire threat ‘very dangerous and difficult’, premier says; temperatures to reach 43C in Sydney — The Guardian -
• ‘If you have been told to leave, go’: Victorian premier declares state of disaster in multiple areas as bushfires burn out of control — The Guardian -
• An Up-Close Look at the Thwaites Glacier — New York Times World -

• Storm Goretti batters UK with heavy winds and snow — The Guardian -
• California is completely drought-free for the first time in 25 years — The Guardian -
• Storm Goretti: rail services suspended, flights cancelled and schools closed across UK – as it happened — The Guardian -
• Germany braces for more heavy snowfall as Storm Goretti hits northern Europe — The Guardian -
• Public urged to grow unusual plants to safeguard diversity of UK blooms — The Guardian -
• Weather tracker: Kosovo floods trap people in homes and cut water supplies — The Guardian -
• ‘Toughest conditions imaginable’: Victorians urged to shelter inside from heatwave as tropical cyclone heads for Queensland — The Guardian -
• Black Saturday-affected towns told to leave before predicted wind change causes ‘dangerous’ fire conditions – as it happened — The Guardian -
• Australians brace for 'property loss or worse' as bushfires destroy homes — BBC World -
• Three Reported Missing in Australia as Fires Rage in ‘Catastrophic’ Conditions — New York Times World -

Major mining giants Glencore and Rio Tinto are restarting merger talks, the EU has reached a controversial trade deal with South American countries, and concerns are raised about the UK Treasury's grasp on the shadow banking sector.

• EU reaches South America trade deal after 25 years of talks — BBC World -
• US hiring held firm in December capping weakest year of growth since pandemic — The Guardian -
• EU states back controversial Mercosur deal with Latin American countries — The Guardian -

• Glencore and Rio Tinto are at it again – and it seems the markets smell action — The Guardian -
• Charity watchdog opens inquiry into City & Guilds’ sale of business arm — The Guardian -
• Sainsbury’s blames ‘significant headwinds’ for drop in Argos sales at Christmas — The Guardian -
• Mining firms Rio Tinto and Glencore restart $260bn merger talks — The Guardian -
• Treasury has ‘limited grasp’ of concerns over booming shadow banking sector, peers say — The Guardian -

**X (formerly Twitter) faces potential bans and strong condemnation over its Grok AI image tool generating explicit deepfakes, leading to calls for tighter digital ethics and platform regulation**.

• 'I feel free': Australia's social media ban, one month on — BBC World -
• X could face UK ban over deepfakes, minister says — BBC World -
• Robots that can do laundry and more, plus unrolling laptops: the standout tech from CES 2026 — The Guardian -

• Changes to Elon Musk's AI Grok 'insulting' to victims, says No 10 — BBC World -
• No 10 condemns ‘insulting’ move by X to restrict Grok AI image tool — The Guardian -
• UK ministers considering leaving X amid concern over AI tool images — The Guardian -

Political parties like Reform UK face scrutiny over council tax rises in Britain, while Australia sees a boycott of the Adelaide festival over academic exclusion, and a royal commission into the Bondi terror attack sparks political debate.

• Zarah Sultana’s Your Party membership launch may be ‘criminal’ matter for police, ICO says — The Guardian -
• University of Glasgow rector cleared by medical watchdog over alleged antisemitism — The Guardian -
• Reform UK accused of betraying election pledges after council tax rises — The Guardian -

• UK politics: Reform UK mayoral candidate apologises for Lammy ‘go home’ tweet – as it happened — The Guardian -
• Police officer reached 93mph in fatal Bristol city centre car chase, court told — The Guardian -
• With a new leader and tired opponent, this should be the Victorian Liberals’ year – if not for self-inflicted wounds — The Guardian -
• Starmer rules out EU financial services alignment talks — The Guardian -
• Princess of Wales says nature ‘helped me heal’ in 44th birthday video — The Guardian -
• Digested week: How potatoes dauphinoise took a chunk of my thumb … and with it my new year optimism — The Guardian -
• Almost 50 writers boycott Adelaide festival after it dumps pro-Palestine academic Randa Abdel-Fattah — The Guardian -
• Black Saturday-affected towns told to leave before predicted wind change causes ‘dangerous’ fire conditions – as it happened — The Guardian -
• Sussan Ley won the royal commission argument. For the sake of unity, will she lower the temperature? — The Guardian -
• Victoria police revokes powers to allow warrantless pat-downs across inner Melbourne — The Guardian -
• Three luxury yachts sink in Sydney as fire rips through exclusive Mosman marina — The Guardian -
• Thousands of offenders in England to get health support at probation meetings — The Guardian -

NASA has ordered the first-ever medical evacuation from the International Space Station due to an astronaut's illness, while scientists announce an egg defect breakthrough potentially boosting IVF success rates, and new Alzheimer's therapies are proposed to target specific genes.

• NASA Will Bring I.S.S. Astronauts Home Early After Medical Issue — New York Times World -
• Could egg defect breakthrough help stop the IVF rollercoaster? — The Guardian -
• Nasa orders its first-ever space station medical evacuation after astronaut falls ill — The Guardian -

• Alzheimer’s therapies should target a particular gene, researchers say — The Guardian -

The aftermath of a deadly Swiss bar fire sees the owner detained, a landfill collapse in the Philippines leaves casualties and missing persons, and a controversial attempt to overturn the FGM ban is heard by the Supreme Court in the Gambia.

• Mohammed Harbi, Who Rewrote Algeria’s History, Dies at 92 — New York Times World -
• Prosecutor Asks for Owner of Swiss Bar Hit by Deadly Fire to Be Detained — New York Times World -
• Hessy Levinsons Taft, Jewish Baby on Cover of Nazi Magazine, Dies at 91 — New York Times World -

• US film stars Meagan Good and Jonathan Majors to become Guinea citizens after DNA tests — BBC World -
• Owner of Swiss ski bar held in custody after deadly New Year's Eve fire — BBC World -
• ‘An incomprehensible nightmare’: grief turns to anger over Swiss bar fire as Le Constellation owner arrested — The Guardian -
• Landfill Collapse in Philippines Leaves Two Dead and Dozens Missing — New York Times World -
• ‘She will go down as one of the best’: the rise of Jessie Buckley — The Guardian -
• Trial starts of man accused of inciting teenagers to harm themselves online — BBC World -
• The musician and the strongman leader - what you need to know about Uganda's election — BBC World -
• Anonymous painting bought at auction on ‘hunch’ identified as two-in-one Rubens — The Guardian -
• Wawrinka handed Australian Open wildcard in final season — BBC World -
• Runway Wall Caused All the Deaths in 2024 South Korean Plane Crash, Report Says — New York Times World -
• One awards battle after another: A-listers face off at this year’s Golden Globes — The Guardian -
• One dead, dozens trapped after giant landfill collapses in Philippines — BBC World -
• One dead, dozens trapped after giant landfill collapses in Philippines — BBC World -
• Inside Myanmar’s Gilded Capital, Empty Streets and Moldy Corners — New York Times World -
• Whistle, crackle, banned: Dutch set to outlaw fireworks after more new year chaos — The Guardian -
• Once Again, a Newfoundland Town Rescues Stranded Passengers — New York Times World -
• 'How do we look Indian?': Student's killing puts spotlight on racism in India — BBC World -
• The secret mission to fly a president's body back home - pilot speaks to the BBC — BBC World -
• The secret mission to fly a president's body back home - pilot speaks to the BBC — BBC World -

A major New York City nurses' strike is set to begin over pay disputes, California debates a potential billionaire tax, and a family bodyguard for Vivek Ramaswamy is charged with drug trafficking.

• Vivek Ramaswamy ‘alarmed’ after family’s bodyguard charged for drug trafficking — The Guardian -
• ‘Boom, he’s out’: bear living ‘rent-free’ under California home has been removed — The Guardian -
• Tech titans divided over whether to pay billionaire tax or flee California — The Guardian -

• Pennsylvania man charged after alleged ‘horrific’ grave robbing from cemetery — The Guardian -
• Thousands of New York City nurses set to strike amid contract dispute over pay — The Guardian -