President Donald Trump's actions at Davos, including his demands concerning Greenland and threats of EU tariffs, are deepening transatlantic tensions, while domestic legal battles such as Elizabeth Holmes's commutation request, ICE crackdowns, and Supreme Court skepticism over Federal Reserve appointments highlight significant challenges to American democracy and international alliances.

• EU suspends approval of US trade deal — BBC World -
• Theranos founder Elizabeth Holmes asks Trump to commute prison sentence — The Guardian -
• ICE targets Somali communities in Maine in new Trump administration crackdown — The Guardian -

• American democracy on the brink a year after Trump’s inauguration, experts say — The Guardian -
• Prosecutors barred from reviewing material seized from Washington Post reporter — The Guardian -
• Trump’s Moves on Greenland — New York Times World -
• Epstein inquiry: Republican-controlled House panel takes first step to hold Clintons in contempt of Congress — The Guardian -
• Majority of Latin Americans Endorsed Trump’s Intervention In Venezuela, Polls Show — New York Times World -
• Stocks Rebound After Trump Backs Off European Tariffs — New York Times World -
• Seven more countries agree to join Trump's Board of Peace — BBC World -
• US court allows ICE to arrest and pepper spray peaceful protesters in Minnesota — The Guardian -
• Supreme Court sceptical of Trump firing of central bank governor Lisa Cook — BBC World -
• Newsom says Davos appearance was canceled under pressure from Trump — The Guardian -
• Ghislaine Maxwell to testify before US Congress in Epstein probe — BBC World -
• Sheinbaum defends transfer of Mexican cartel members amid efforts to appease Trump — The Guardian -
• Trump's jibes are wearing thin for many of Europe's leaders — BBC World -
• How Badenoch’s meeting with Mike Johnson led to Trump’s Chagos deal rant — The Guardian -
• Trump says Canada should be grateful for ‘freebies’ it gets from the US — The Guardian -
• Pressured by Trump, Mexico Sends 37 Accused Criminals to U.S. — New York Times World -
• Why Was Macron Wearing Sunglasses at Davos? — New York Times World -
• Lindsey Halligan leaves post as US attorney after judges’ sharp criticism — The Guardian -
• Fired DHS worker sues agency after he criticized Noem on an alleged fake date — The Guardian -
• Faisal Islam: What it was like inside the room with Donald Trump at Davos — BBC World -
• Faisal Islam: What it was like inside the room with Donald Trump at Davos — BBC World -
• Fact-checking Trump's Davos speech — BBC World -
• Trump paints himself as great white hope in racism-drenched Davos speech — The Guardian -
• Did the U.S. Ever Own Greenland? Fact-Checking Trump’s Davos Speech. — New York Times World -
• Eight wars settled and Chinese windfarms: factchecking Trump’s Davos claims — The Guardian -
• Trump steps up Greenland annexation demand and attacks European leaders at Davos — The Guardian -
• Davos live: Denmark welcomes Trump ruling out force to take Greenland but cautions ‘challenge is still there’ — The Guardian -
• Zelenskyy meeting with Trump expected to take place on Thursday – as it happened — The Guardian -
• EU parliament blocks US trade deal after Trump’s tariff threat — The Guardian -
• World would be a ‘better place’ if US took over Greenland, says Nigel Farage — The Guardian -
• Middle powers assemble? Trump disorder prompts talk of new liberal alliances — The Guardian -
• California Republicans ask US supreme court to block new congressional map — The Guardian -
• Carney Speech on U.S. ‘Rupture’ and Canada’s Survival Draws Standing Ovation at Davos — New York Times World -
• US officials tried to lobby against Marine Le Pen election ban, French judge says — The Guardian -
• Olympics chief admits she has not spoken to US president Trump about LA 2028 Games — The Guardian -
• Europe’s moment of truth over Greenland looms, as leaders ditch appeasement of Trump — The Guardian -
• Gaza’s Board of Peace: What to Know — New York Times World -
• Doge improperly shared sensitive social security data, DoJ court filing reveals — The Guardian -
• Hardened Starmer changes tack as gentle approach fails to sway Trump — The Guardian -
• US supreme court considers Trump’s bid to fire Lisa Cook from Fed board — The Guardian -
• Could US Congress stop Trump from taking over Greenland? — BBC World -
• Could US Congress stop Trump from taking over Greenland? — BBC World -
• ‘Serious mistake’: there’s no benefit for Australia in joining Donald Trump’s ‘board of peace’ – only risk — The Guardian -
• Starmer criticises Trump for ‘pressure on me and Britain’ over Greenland — The Guardian -
• French government not in favour of World Cup 2026 boycott over Greenland threats — The Guardian -
• Almost 400 millionaires and billionaires call for higher taxes on super-rich | First Thing — The Guardian -
• Nato chief urges ‘thoughtful diplomacy’ after US treasury secretary’s jibe at Denmark — The Guardian -
• ‘Who will stand up and oppose it?’: Trump’s relentless campaign of retribution in his second term — The Guardian -
• Netanyahu to join Trump ‘board of peace’ despite previous objections — The Guardian -
• US senator calls veterans affairs’ data collection of non-citizen workers ‘thinly veiled effort to instill fear’ — The Guardian -
• Starmer should resist calls to match Trump ‘tweet-for-tweet’, says Miliband — The Guardian -
• Majority of Latin Americans Endorsed Trump’s Intervention In Venezuela, Polls Show — New York Times World -
• Trump says tiny cars are amazing but will Americans actually buy them? — BBC World -
• Trump doubles down on Greenland ahead of Davos visit, saying there is 'no going back' — BBC World -
• Trump, Venezuela and Oil — New York Times World -
• ‘You’ll find out’: Trump refuses to say how far he would go to seize Greenland — The Guardian -
• Trump Heads to Davos Amid Deep Worries About U.S.-European Alliance — New York Times World -
• Trump’s Air Force One turns back to Washington after ‘minor electrical issue’ — The Guardian -
• Number of Democrats say they will vote against DHS funding bill amid alarm over ICE tactics – as it happened — The Guardian -
• Trump Escalates Tensions With European Allies With Greenland and Gaza Efforts — New York Times World -
• China sees an opportunity in Greenland, but not in the way that Trump thinks — The Guardian -
• US justice department subpoenas Minnesota Democrats accused of impeding ICE efforts — The Guardian -
• Rambling Trump runs through his achievements as worried world watches on — The Guardian -
• Trump has growing stranglehold over EU and UK energy supply, study shows — The Guardian -
• A stooge in the US Fed could blow out inflation in Australia – but Trump is unlikely to get his way — The Guardian -

The Middle East faces ongoing instability with US transfers of ISIS detainees from Syria to Iraq, deadly Israeli strikes in Gaza killing journalists, and the Iranian government declaring an end to widespread protests after a brutal crackdown.

• U.S. Starts Moving ISIS Detainees From Syria to Iraq — New York Times World -
• Iran’s Protests Have Been Completely Squashed, Government Says — New York Times World -
• Israeli strike in Gaza kills three journalists, first responders say — BBC World -

• Israeli Strikes in Gaza Kill 11, Including Three Journalists — New York Times World -
• US to transfer Islamic State prisoners from Syria to Iraq — BBC World -
• Concern over north-east Syria security amid fears IS militants could re-emerge — The Guardian -
• U.S. Pivot in Syria Leaves an Old Ally in the Lurch — New York Times World -
• US to transfer Islamic State prisoners from Syria to Iraq — BBC World -
• Syrian army takes control of detention camp for Islamic State suspects — The Guardian -
• Israel postpones demolition of Palestinian children's football pitch — BBC World -
• Israel postpones demolition of Palestinian children's football pitch — BBC World -
• Israel Seizes UNRWA’s Jerusalem Headquarters — New York Times World -
• Iran’s central bank using vast quantities of cryptocurrency championed by Farage, says report — The Guardian -
• Photos leaked to BBC show faces of hundreds killed in Iran's brutal protest crackdown — BBC World -
• Photos leaked to BBC show faces of hundreds killed in Iran's brutal protest crackdown — BBC World -
• Film about Palestinian girl's desperate plea was a 'way to not feel helpless', says director — BBC World -

The UK grapples with rising ADHD medication use, a proposed ban on social media for under-16s, a **£1.5bn arts funding package, criticism over the carer's allowance scandal, and Prince Harry's emotional court testimony against media intrusion**.

• Use of ADHD medication in UK more than tripled in 13 years, study finds — The Guardian -
• Museums must reach all parts of UK, says Nandy as £1.5bn of arts funding announced — The Guardian -
• Lords put pressure on Starmer with vote to ban social media for under-16s — The Guardian -

• Val McDermid was assigned ‘sensitivity reader’ to cut offensive language from old books — The Guardian -
• Woman imprisoned and forced to work for Tewkesbury mother for more than 25 years — The Guardian -
• Britain facing ‘catastrophe’ because of children being addicted to social media, peers told – as it happened — The Guardian -
• Prince Harry Gives Emotional Testimony About Effects of News Coverage — New York Times World -
• Why is the UK investing in £6.45bn Kraken when it doesn’t need public money? | Nils Pratley — The Guardian -
• Green spaces should be the norm for all new housing developments in England, guidelines say — The Guardian -
• ‘It was a very lucky escape’: blind man who fell on to tracks calls for rail travel improvements — The Guardian -
• Prince Harry accuses Daily Mail publisher of wanting to drive him ‘to drugs and drink’ — The Guardian -
• Secret love letter shows softer side of Cambridge spy ring’s alleged fifth man — The Guardian -
• Vienna closes museums and cuts opening hours as part of austerity drive — The Guardian -
• MPs criticise behaviour of senior DWP officials over carer’s allowance scandal — The Guardian -
• Sally Tallant appointed as new director of London’s Hayward Gallery — The Guardian -
• British army veterans call to keep immunity clause in Northern Ireland legacy law — The Guardian -
• Emotional Prince Harry says press made wife Meghan’s life ‘an absolute misery’ in court testimony against Daily Mail publisher- as it happened — The Guardian -
• Toby Carvery owner faces eviction from north London site for felling ancient oak — The Guardian -
• Keir Starmer to visit China with British business leaders next week, say reports — The Guardian -
• Driving test cheating up 47% in Great Britain, prompting road safety concerns — The Guardian -
• Nigel Farage apologises for 17 breaches of MPs’ code of conduct — The Guardian -
• Beckham family estrangement is neither rare nor unique, say therapists — The Guardian -
• UK inflation rises for first time in five months to 3.4% in December — The Guardian -
• Wednesday briefing: ​Can we afford to be optimistic about grassroots music venues? — The Guardian -
• ‘I could never hope to equal it again’: Jeffrey Archer announces next novel will be his last — The Guardian -
• Britain Approves Contentious Chinese Mega-Embassy in London — New York Times World -
• UK grassroots music venues show lowest decline since 2018 as sector stabilises post-pandemic — The Guardian -
• Judi Dench backs campaign to protect London’s green spaces from developers — The Guardian -
• ‘Crunch time’ on rising costs of Send provision in England, says thinktank — The Guardian -

Australia is addressing offshore gambling promotions at the Australian Open, facing OECD calls to raise GST and increase affordable housing, and observing a national day of mourning for Bondi terror attack victims amidst political turmoil within the Nationals party and ongoing environmental concerns over fracking and Sydney's fatberg issue.

• Offshore gambling operators using Australian Open to promote illegal services — The Guardian -
• OECD calls on Australia to raise GST and increase affordable housing amid budget deficit — The Guardian -
• Gen Xers the new baby boomers: analysis identifies Australia’s richest landholders by generation — The Guardian -

• Australians to perform acts of kindness on national day of mourning for Bondi terror attack victims — The Guardian -
• Sydney Water blames food outlets for illegally adding to fatberg. But restaurants say ‘if it’s a problem, it’s their problem’ — The Guardian -
• Mass walkout of shadow cabinet is only latest chapter in Nationals’ chaotic decline — The Guardian -
• Coalition in crisis as entire Nationals frontbench quits after division over Labor’s hate speech laws — The Guardian -
• Nationals meet after three frontbenchers resign – as it happened — The Guardian -
• Criticism of Benjamin Netanyahu may be an offence under Australia’s new hate speech laws, Greens claim — The Guardian -
• Tight spot: cheapest spray takes first place in Choice stain remover test — The Guardian -
• ‘Shattered’ parents of Canadian backpacker found dead on K’gari island mourn adventurous daughter — The Guardian -
• ‘Outrageous’: EPA backs WA fracking project that may add up to 2.6% to Australia’s emissions — The Guardian -
• Teenage girl wearing jersey with Palestinian flag refused entry to Sydney A-League game — The Guardian -
• Parents of police killed in Wieambilla urge gun buyback as Queensland rejects federal scheme — The Guardian -
• Family of 12-year-old Sydney Harbour shark attack victim prepare for ‘worst possible outcome’ — The Guardian -
• New poo balls on Sydney beaches after revelation of huge fatberg stuck in treatment plant — The Guardian -

Multiple deadly train crashes in Spain have put the rail network under scrutiny, while record snowfall in Russia's Far East, a severe winter storm sweeping across the US, and a fatal mall fire in Pakistan underscore urgent global public safety and disaster concerns.

• Record snowfall leaves cars stuck and people stranded in Russia's Far East — BBC World -
• What we know about Spain's worst rail disaster in over a decade — BBC World -
• Snow, ice and subzero temperatures to sweep across US this weekend — The Guardian -

• Loved ones of victims reeling after high-speed rail crash in southern Spain — BBC World -
• Spain’s rail network under scrutiny after second deadly crash in as many days — The Guardian -
• Train driver killed in second deadly Spain rail crash in days — BBC World -
• Train driver killed in second deadly Spain rail crash in days — BBC World -
• Shock and confusion as Spain struggles for answers after deadly train crash — BBC World -
• Photographer Discovers Train Part That Could Hold Key to Spain Train Crash — New York Times World -
• Another Train Crash in Spain Kills 1 and Hurts 37, Officials Say — New York Times World -
• Locked exits, panic and desperate calls for help: Survivors tell of mall fire horror — BBC World -
• Locked exits, panic and desperate calls for help: Survivors tell of mall fire horror — BBC World -

Blue Origin's plan to launch thousands of satellites and JP Morgan's CEO warning about AI's rapid rollout signal major technological shifts, while Japan restarts its largest nuclear plant, and wind and solar power surpass fossil fuels in EU generation mark significant energy transitions.

• Bezos’s Blue Origin announces plans to deploy thousands of satellites in 2027 — The Guardian -
• Wind and solar overtook fossil fuels for EU power generation in 2025, report finds — The Guardian -
• Rollout of AI may need to be slowed to ‘save society’, says boss of JP Morgan — The Guardian -

• Japan restarts world's largest nuclear plant as Fukushima memories loom large — BBC World -
• Hand shape in Indonesian cave may be world’s oldest known rock art — The Guardian -
• Oldest cave painting of red claw hand could rewrite human creativity timeline — BBC World -
• Suni Williams, Starliner astronaut, retires after 27 years at Nasa — The Guardian -
• Japan restarts world's largest nuclear plant as Fukushima memories loom large — BBC World -
• Rising Global Temperatures May Affect Choices for Winter Olympic Venues — New York Times World -
• Coyote stuns observers by braving rough waters to swim to Alcatraz — The Guardian -

A Hong Kong national security trial for pro-democracy activists and a life sentence for Shinzo Abe's killer in Japan highlight key justice events, alongside a Ugandan opposition leader's life being in danger, Chile's appointment of an abortion opponent as gender equality minister, and mass abductions in Nigerian churches reflecting diverse global social and political challenges.

• Hong Kong national security trial of three pro-democracy activists to open — The Guardian -
• Life of veteran Ugandan opposition leader in danger, wife says — BBC World -
• ‘Treated like shirkers’: German unions cry foul over Merz’s sick-note crackdown — The Guardian -

• Taiwan’s $40 Billion Military Spending Plan Stalled by Political Impasse — New York Times World -
• Chile’s president-elect names staunch abortion opponent as gender equality minister — The Guardian -
• French Doctor Listened to Women’s Pain, Then Transformed How It Was Treated — New York Times World -
• After Maduro’s Last Dance, a New Rhythm Goes Viral in Venezuela — New York Times World -
• Nigeria police confirm mass church abductions after previous denial — BBC World -
• Former South Korean PM jailed for 23 years for role in martial law insurrection — The Guardian -
• Life sentence for man who killed Japan's ex-PM Shinzo Abe — BBC World -
• Life sentence for man who killed Japan's ex-PM Shinzo Abe — BBC World -
• South Korean Ex-Premier Gets 23 Years in Prison for Role in Martial Law — New York Times World -
• Thousands of workers flee Cambodia scam centres, officials say — The Guardian -
• Shinzo Abe’s killer sentenced to life in prison over shooting of Japanese former PM — The Guardian -
• New Zealand prime minister sets date for 2026 election — The Guardian -
• Death Toll Rises in Guatemalan Gang Riots — New York Times World -
• The Indian couple who won a $200,000 settlement over 'food racism' at US university — BBC World -