This topic features major ICE crackdowns in the US, with DHS reports on agent gun use, judicial blocks on deportations, and Trump's public support for his homeland security chief amid calls for her impeachment and widespread condemnation, alongside controversies about ICE's presence at the Winter Olympics and ongoing political campaigning.

• Minnesota raids continue as DHS report indicates two agents fired guns at Pretti — The Guardian -
• Watch: Why Trump is hitting the road to rally Americans — BBC World -
• US federal judge blocks deportation of five-year-old boy and his father — The Guardian -

• Trump says Alex Pretti ‘shouldn’t have been carrying a gun’ and backs embattled homeland security chief Noem – live — The Guardian -
• Top Democrats tell Trump: either fire Kristi Noem or we will impeach her — The Guardian -
• Biden condemns ‘our own government targeting’ US citizens in Minneapolis — The Guardian -
• ICE Agents Will Join Olympics Delegation in Italy. Many Italians are Angry. — New York Times World -
• US to send ICE agents to Winter Olympics, prompting Italian anger — BBC World -
• ‘A militia that kills’: uproar in Italy over ICE security role at Winter Olympics — The Guardian -
• Border patrol commander to leave Minneapolis after shooting of Alex Pretti — The Guardian -
• Longtime DC House delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton announces retirement — The Guardian -
• Who was Alex Pretti, the intensive care nurse shot dead in Minneapolis? — BBC World -
• Minnesota judge summons acting ICE director, warns of contempt over court defiance — The Guardian -
• US tech workers call on CEOs to demand Trump remove ICE from cities — The Guardian -
• Five-year-old deported to Honduras despite being US citizen is latest child victim of Trump crackdown — The Guardian -
• How ICE is using facial recognition in Minnesota — The Guardian -
• Alex Vindman, key Trump impeachment witness, launches Democratic bid for Senate — The Guardian -
• First Thing: Border Patrol commander to leave Minneapolis after shooting of Alex Pretti — The Guardian -
• The rise and fall of Gregory Bovino, US border patrol’s menacing provoker-in-chief — The Guardian -
• Senate Democrats urged to demand ‘real reforms’ over ICE funding bill — The Guardian -
• Minneapolis sports commentator apologizes for paid protesters comment — The Guardian -
• Immigration chief at centre of Trump's crackdown set to leave Minneapolis — BBC World -
• Minneapolis mayor says some federal agents will begin to leave amid growing anger over Alex Pretti death – as it happened — The Guardian -
• Trump’s ICE crackdown faces reckoning as outrage mounts over Alex Pretti shooting — The Guardian -
• White House backtracks initial claims about Alex Pretti after intense backlash — The Guardian -

This topic highlights UK Prime Minister Starmer's visit to China for trade amidst national security concerns, a deadly Russian drone strike on a Ukrainian train, the US conducting military drills in the Middle East due to Iran tensions, and Trump's imposition of tariffs on South Korea; it also covers Iran's crushing of an uprising, the EU and India signing a major free trade agreement, and US political influence regarding Cuba and Greenland.

• Starmer vows to remain ‘clear-eyed’ over national security as he flies to China — The Guardian -
• ‘Very low bar’: analysts say Starmer faces slim pickings in China — The Guardian -
• Russian drone strike on Ukrainian passenger train kills five — The Guardian -

• How Iran Crushed an Uprising — New York Times World -
• Trump Vows Higher Tariffs for South Korea Months After Trade Deal — New York Times World -
• 'We all know someone who was killed' - Iran protesters tell BBC of brutal crackdown — BBC World -
• US announces multi-day aerial military drills in the Middle East amid Iran tensions — The Guardian -
• Pressure grows on ministers to end secrecy over UK medicines deal with Trump — The Guardian -
• How Computer Warfare Is Becoming Part of the Pentagon’s Arsenal — New York Times World -
• UK Seeks Trade With China Without Triggering Trump’s Fury — New York Times World -
• Mexico’s president says cancellation of oil shipment to Cuba is ‘sovereign’ decision — The Guardian -
• Board of Peace Set to Hand Trump Sweeping Powers Over Gaza — New York Times World -
• Troop Casualties in Ukraine War Near 2 Million, Study Finds — New York Times World -
• Canadian PM Carney denies walking back Davos speech in phone call with Trump — BBC World -
• EU-India deal ‘accelerated’ over past six months amid Trump’s tariff threats – Europe live — The Guardian -
• As Trump Eyes Greenland, Denmark’s Leader Is Unsure How Long U.S. Will Be an Ally — New York Times World -
• Albania Created an ‘A.I. Minister’ to Curb Corruption. Then Its Developers Were Accused of Graft. — New York Times World -
• 'It's 2C in our flat': Inside Kyiv apartment as Russia targets power and heating — BBC World -
• ‘Abdication’: Trump formally takes US out of Paris climate agreement for a second time — The Guardian -
• India and EU announce 'mother of all trade deals' — BBC World -
• India and EU announce 'mother of all trade deals' — BBC World -
• ‘Mother of all deals’: EU and India sign free trade agreement — The Guardian -
• ‘Enemy of Europe’? How Trump’s push for Greenland spooked far-right allies — The Guardian -
• How Trump’s Threats to Greenland Made Him a Liability for Europe’s Far Right — New York Times World -
• Trump raises US tariffs on South Korea imports to 25% — BBC World -
• Trump raises US tariffs on South Korea imports to 25% — BBC World -
• Trump says he will impose new tariffs on South Korea as he criticises delays in trade deal — The Guardian -
• Xi’s Purge of the Chinese Military — New York Times World -

This topic encompasses veterinary sector reforms to tackle high pet care costs, the tragic death of a British army officer during training, a Reform byelection candidate's controversial stance on British identity, a commissioner's legal power dispute over a police chief's sacking, and Welsh Labour passing its budget; it also covers HS2's progress, Labour leadership dynamics with Andy Burnham and Angela Rayner, and a government row over school PE funding, along with various economic and social challenges.

• UK veterinary sector reforms planned to tackle high costs of pet care — The Guardian -
• British army officer dies during live fire training in Northumberland — The Guardian -
• Reform byelection candidate refuses to disown claim that people born in UK not necessarily British — The Guardian -

• Commissioner says he had ‘no legal power’ to sack police chief over Maccabi Tel Aviv ban — The Guardian -
• Senedd passes budget after Welsh Labour makes deal with Plaid Cymru — The Guardian -
• Euston HS2 back on track, say ministers as final tunnelling begins — The Guardian -
• With Burnham blocked, Labour’s attention turns back to Angela Rayner — The Guardian -
• Government row breaks out over plan to cut spending for PE in England’s schools — The Guardian -
• 30% of Britons think Burnham would do better job than Starmer as prime minister, poll suggests – UK politics live — The Guardian -
• Rayner urges government to stand firm over £250 ground rents cap — The Guardian -
• ‘It’s a hospitality-wide problem’: night-time traders react to business rates relief plan — The Guardian -
• One in four adults in England do not drink alcohol, survey finds — The Guardian -
• Pubs and live music venues to get support after business rates backlash — The Guardian -
• Rwanda takes legal action against UK over axed migrant deal — BBC World -
• Rwanda takes legal action against UK over axed migrant deal — BBC World -
• Burnham accuses No 10 sources of lying about byelection decision — The Guardian -
• Labour’s Gorton and Denton byelection campaign hit by fallout from ‘vile’ WhatsApp chat — The Guardian -
• Last Palestine Action hunger striker ends protest after being hospitalised with organ failure — The Guardian -
• Deacon Blue ‘appalled’ by Reform UK’s Scottish leader quoting their song lyrics — The Guardian -
• EHRC single-sex spaces guidance being adapted under ‘constructive’ new chair — The Guardian -
• Nottingham attacks survivor fears repeat if lessons not learned — The Guardian -
• Number of US-style ‘battering ram’ pickup trucks on UK roads has nearly doubled in a decade — The Guardian -
• Starmer v Burnham: will it split Labour? – podcast — The Guardian -
• Bernardine Evaristo renews call to diversify school curriculum in England — The Guardian -
• NHS England to trial AI and robotic tools to detect and diagnose lung cancer — The Guardian -
• Record number of people in UK live in ‘very deep poverty’, analysis shows — The Guardian -
• Most young adults in UK are anxious about jobs and the economy, research suggests — The Guardian -
• National insurance hike and energy bills behind food price rise, say UK retailers — The Guardian -

This topic details Storm Chandra bringing severe flooding to Somerset, record-breaking heatwaves and bushfires in Australia prompting warnings about fossil fuel policy, and a deadly winter storm causing freezing temperatures and power outages across the US; it also includes a landslide in Sicily due to Storm Harry and the development of a new high-density hydro system in Devon.

• Major incident declared in Somerset after Storm Chandra brings flooding and strong winds — The Guardian -
• Storm Chandra: flooding and travel disruption hit UK as police warn against travel in parts of Devon – as it happened — The Guardian -
• Firefighters battle 'emergency level' blazes in Australia heatwave — BBC World -

• Firefighters battle 'emergency level' blazes in Australia heatwave — BBC World -
• Through the heatwave haze, the hypocrisy of Australia’s fossil fuel policy shines bright | Clean Air — The Guardian -
• US still faces freezing temperatures and power outages amid deadly winter storm — The Guardian -
• Europe’s supermarket shelves packed with ‘misleading’ claims about recycled plastic packaging — The Guardian -
• Watch: Huge landslide in Sicily after Storm Harry — BBC World -
• ‘Situation is dire’ for Sicily town teetering on cliff edge after landslide — The Guardian -
• Deadly US winter storm leaves flights delayed and thousands without power — BBC World -
• Deadly US winter storm leaves flights delayed and thousands without power — BBC World -
• Heat records tumble in Victoria as authorities warn against complacency amid significant blazes — The Guardian -
• First of its kind ‘high-density’ hydro system begins generating electricity in Devon — The Guardian -
• US winter storm: at least 30 people dead and nearly 200m under cold alerts — The Guardian -

This topic covers Microsoft's projected surge in water use for AI, Pornhub ceasing new UK users due to age verification laws, and TikTok's pushback on censorship claims amidst upcoming social media addiction trials against tech giants like Meta and YouTube; it also highlights French legislation to ban social media for under-15s, UK ministers accepting Meta funding for AI development, and a compromised ABC staff account leading to inappropriate Facebook posts.

• Microsoft Pledged to Save Water. In the A.I. Era, It Expects Water Use to Soar. — New York Times World -
• TikTok US pushes back on claims it is censoring content — BBC World -
• Pornhub to stop new UK users accessing site from next week — The Guardian -

• TikTok settles just before social media addiction trial to begin — BBC World -
• UK ministers accept $1m from Meta amid social media ban consultation — The Guardian -
• Facing menu anxiety? Just Eat launches AI chatbot to help pick a food delivery — The Guardian -
• Tech giants head to landmark US trial over social media addiction claims — The Guardian -
• ABC says ‘compromised staff account’ led to photos of porn actors being posted on Facebook page — The Guardian -
• Instagram, Facebook and WhatsApp to trial premium subscriptions — BBC World -
• California governor Gavin Newsom accuses TikTok of suppressing content critical of Trump — The Guardian -
• French lawmakers vote to ban social media use by under-15s — The Guardian -
• 'Major step': French MPs vote in favour of bill to ban social media for under-15s — BBC World -
• Tech giants face landmark trial over social media addiction claims — BBC World -

This topic reports on the conviction of a former French Senator for drugging a colleague, scandals involving South Korea's former first lady, a sexual abuse trial in New York involving three brothers, and Sweden's proposal to lower the age of criminal responsibility; it also includes the Philippines' Duterte facing ICC proceedings for his war on drugs and a man charged with hate speech in Sydney with alleged neo-Nazi links.

• A string of scandals and luxury handbags: Who is South Korea's former first lady? — BBC World -
• Former French Senator Convicted of Drugging a Colleague, Intending to Assault Her — New York Times World -
• Former French senator found guilty of drugging MP — BBC World -

• Brothers were predators masquerading as party boys, New York court hears — The Guardian -
• Sweden aims to lower age of criminal responsibility to 13 as gangs recruit children — BBC World -
• Sweden aims to lower age of criminal responsibility to 13 as gangs recruit children — BBC World -
• Philippines' Duterte fit to face ICC proceedings, judges say — BBC World -
• Philippines' Duterte fit to face ICC proceedings, judges say — BBC World -
• Police allege man charged with hate speech at Sydney protest has links to disbanded neo-Nazi group — The Guardian -

This topic details Spain's approval of a decree to regularize half a million undocumented migrants, a mother's call for the repatriation of her son jailed in Syria for Islamic State links to the UK or Canada, and a Japanese court ordering compensation for migrants lured to North Korea.

• Spain Offers Undocumented Migrants a Legal Way to Stay — New York Times World -
• Spain approves decree to regularise half a million undocumented migrants — The Guardian -
• Spain plans to give half a million undocumented migrants legal status — BBC World -

• Mother of man jailed in Syria for Islamic State links calls for his repatriation to UK or Canada — The Guardian -
• Japan court orders compensation for migrants lured to North Korea — BBC World -
• Japan court orders compensation for migrants lured to North Korea — BBC World -

This topic covers fatal plane crashes in Maine and near the Gold Coast, resulting in multiple casualties and one igniting a bushfire, and families suing the US government over deadly military boat strikes off the Venezuelan coast.

• Families sue US over deadly boat strike off Venezuela coast — BBC World -
• Several victims identified in Maine plane crash that killed six — The Guardian -
• Families of two men killed in Trump’s military boat strikes sue US government — The Guardian -

• Two killed in plane crash near Gold Coast, igniting bushfire — The Guardian -
• Six people killed in private jet crash in Maine during snowstorm — The Guardian -

This topic highlights a record debt threatening global growth in rich nations, UPS announcing 30,000 job cuts in an effort to boost turnaround, the potential relaunch of a Scotland-France ferry service, and India's investments in building a computer chip industry.

• UPS says it would cut up to 30,000 jobs this year as it aims to boost turnaround — The Guardian -
• Record Debt in the World’s Richest Nations Threatens Global Growth — New York Times World -
• Scotland-France ferry could relaunch amid £35bn Dunkirk regeneration plan — The Guardian -

• Can India be a player in the computer chip industry? — BBC World -

This topic features major actors like Cate Blanchett and Sandra Oh starring in National Theatre shows, Sydney Sweeney being reprimanded for a Hollywood sign stunt, Philip Glass withdrawing his symphony from the Kennedy Center in protest, and Kanye West elaborating on his apology for antisemitism; it also includes the Bafta film awards nominations, all-night concerts in Myanmar, 'crying horse' toys going viral in China, and actor Quinton Aaron on life support.

• All-Night Concerts in War-Ravaged Myanmar — New York Times World -
• Philip Glass withdraws world premiere of his Lincoln symphony from Kennedy Center — The Guardian -
• ‘Lifelong friendships were tarnished by my horrible statements’: Kanye West elaborates on apology for antisemitism — The Guardian -

• The Blind Side actor Quinton Aaron on life support after blood infection — The Guardian -
• 'Crying horse' toys go viral in China ahead of Lunar New Year — BBC World -
• Sydney Sweeney was ‘not authorised’ to hang her bras on Hollywood sign, say site owners — The Guardian -
• Bafta film awards 2026: full list of nominations — The Guardian -
• One Battle After Another leads Bafta nominations — BBC World -
• Letitia Wright, Cate Blanchett and Sandra Oh to star in National Theatre shows — The Guardian -

This topic addresses a Nipah virus outbreak in India prompting airport screenings, a full recall of asbestos-tainted children's play sand by Hobbycraft, a significant jump in antibiotic use in US meat production, Simon Armitage's poem for World Cancer Day, and the fight over US healthcare subsidies stalled by abortion disagreements.

• ‘Keep slaying the dragon inside’: Simon Armitage pens poem for World Cancer Day — The Guardian -
• Hobbycraft issues full recall of asbestos-tainted children’s play sand — The Guardian -
• Nipah virus outbreak in India triggers Asia airport screenings — BBC World -

• Antibiotic use in US meat production jumped 16% in 2024, report shows — The Guardian -
• Fight over US healthcare subsides stuck on familiar snag: abortion — The Guardian -
• Nipah virus outbreak in India triggers Asia airport screenings — BBC World -

This topic covers an Australian minister refuting claims that Muslims bear responsibility for the Bondi shooting, ongoing Liberal leadership speculation involving Sussan Ley, and One Nation's primary vote soaring amidst coalition chaos; it also includes a man charged with hate speech at a Sydney protest, highlighting rising social tensions.

• Australia news live: minister refutes ‘troubling’ claim by Bragg that Muslims bear responsibility for Bondi shooting; bushfire smoke over Sydney — The Guardian -
• Sussan Ley has two factors working in her favour as rumours of a Liberal leadership mutiny swirl — The Guardian -
• Guardian Essential poll: One Nation’s primary vote soars to record high amid Coalition chaos — The Guardian -

• Sussan Ley to announce Liberal-only frontbench as allies increasingly confident she won’t face spill — The Guardian -