Immigration enforcement in the US continues to be a contentious issue, with federal agents facing scrutiny after fatal shootings in Minneapolis, lawmakers debating DHS funding, and protests against ICE operations planned nationwide amidst concerns over detainee transfers and attacks on public figures like Ilhan Omar.

• US congressman meets five-year-old Liam Ramos and his father at ICE detention center – live — The Guardian -
• Senate Democrats demand DHS funding bill include reforms to ‘rein in ICE’ — The Guardian -
• Two agents who shot Alex Pretti put on leave as Trump tries to quell backlash — The Guardian -

• What to know about the third No Kings protests happening in March — The Guardian -
• ICE thwarted from entering Ecuador’s consulate in Minneapolis by employee — The Guardian -
• ICE agents expected to be deployed for Super Bowl in California, officials say — The Guardian -
• Bruce Springsteen releases anti-ICE song dedicated to Minneapolis — The Guardian -
• Is this the darkest period of Donald Trump’s second term? — The Guardian -
• Congresswoman Ilhan Omar sprayed with unknown substance at Minneapolis town hall — The Guardian -
• Lawmakers condemn ‘disgusting’ attack on Ilhan Omar at Minneapolis town hall — The Guardian -
• Families in Maine scramble to halt ICE’s transfer of detainees out of state — The Guardian -
• Trump says government will 'de-escalate' in Minnesota following Pretti shooting — BBC World -
• Trump says government will 'de-escalate' in Minnesota following Pretti shooting — BBC World -
• 'I don't let bullies win,' says US congresswoman Omar after substance thrown at her — BBC World -
• 'I don't let bullies win,' says US congresswoman Omar after substance thrown at her — BBC World -
• Who was Alex Pretti, the intensive care nurse shot dead in Minneapolis? — BBC World -
• Minnesota raids continue as DHS report indicates two agents fired at Alex Pretti | First Thing — The Guardian -
• ‘Evil is resilient’: pressure on Stephen Miller but Trump unlikely to cut ties — The Guardian -
• Ecuador says ICE agent attempted to enter its Minneapolis consulate — BBC World -
• Ecuador says ICE agent attempted to enter its Minneapolis consulate — BBC World -
• Ilhan Omar sprayed with unknown substance during town hall in Minneapolis – as it happened — The Guardian -
• Man in hospital after shooting by border agent in Arizona — The Guardian -
• Republicans criticise immigration force but steer clear of Trump attacks — BBC World -
• Republicans wrestle with immigration message after Minneapolis backlash — BBC World -
• Pressure mounts on Kristi Noem as Republicans join calls for her to go — The Guardian -

Global tensions remain high with US threats against Iran and Iraq rejecting American interference, while UK Prime Minister Starmer strengthens ties with China amidst concerns over US alliances and ongoing discussions about Europe's defense capabilities.

• Iraq’s Nominee for Prime Minister Rejects Trump Threats — New York Times World -
• Why the NORAD Cold War Pact Between the U.S. and Canada Is News — New York Times World -
• Hillary Clinton and Tucker Carlson Speak at Saudi Business Forum — New York Times World -

• Keir Starmer to hold talks with Xi to bolster economic ties with China — The Guardian -
• Canada’s New Reality — New York Times World -
• Trump Threatens Iran With ‘Massive Armada’ and Presses a Set of Demands — New York Times World -
• During heated hearing, Rubio insists US action in Venezuela will lead to prosperity and security — BBC World -
• Threat of US-Iran war escalates as Trump warns time running out for deal — The Guardian -
• Burner phones and lead-lined bags: a history of UK security tactics in China — The Guardian -
• Trump warns Iran 'time is running out' for nuclear deal as US military builds up in Gulf — BBC World -
• Rubio declines to rule out further US military action in Venezuela at Senate hearing — The Guardian -
• US intelligence agencies disagree with Trump’s opposition to Chagos deal, says Starmer — The Guardian -
• Nato needs to be ‘reimagined’ with Europe showing more capabilities, says Marco Rubio – as it happened — The Guardian -
• Putin, Still Harboring Assad, Welcomes New Syrian Leader to Moscow Again — New York Times World -
• Is the US preparing to strike Iran again? — BBC World -
• China trip will bring benefits to UK, Starmer insists, ahead of Xi meeting — BBC World -
• Europe must act urgently and stop outsourcing defence, says EU's Kallas — BBC World -
• Europe must act urgently and stop outsourcing defence, says EU's Kallas — BBC World -
• Dutch parties strike minority coalition deal three months after D66 election upset — The Guardian -
• Iraq’s former prime minister denounces ‘blatant American interference’ in election — The Guardian -
• Why China views the UK visit as part of something bigger — BBC World -
• Former Iraqi PM Maliki denounces Trump threats to end support if he returns to power — BBC World -
• After Naval Drills With Iran, South Africa Faces New U.S. Attacks — New York Times World -
• In Nigeria, a Catholic Bishop Tries to Tone Down the Uproar After U.S. Missile Strikes — New York Times World -
• Starmer vows to raise issues ‘that need to be raised’ with Xi amid push to free Jimmy Lai — The Guardian -
• The Woman Who Stands Between Donald Trump and Greenland — New York Times World -
• Neil Young offers Greenlanders free access to his archives — BBC World -
• Canadian PM Carney denies walking back Davos speech in phone call with Trump — BBC World -

Australia is navigating significant internal challenges, including debates over foreign presidential visits and religious freedom, major policy reforms for disability funding and gun control, political leadership contests within the Nationals, and economic concerns over inflation and foreign ownership of key infrastructure.

• Australia news live: independent MP says Israel president’s visit ‘risks igniting further division’; Aly condemns Morrison’s Islam speech as ‘abhorrent’ — The Guardian -
• Chinese investigators to visit Brisbane to help in search for man who allegedly burned baby with coffee — The Guardian -
• Labor offers to delay NDIS autism changes if states agree to hospital and disability funding deal — The Guardian -

• Designating the Domain a protest site? The changes Minns is considering to avoid ‘unnecessary burden’ from demonstrations — The Guardian -
• Albanese to push states on gun buyback scheme despite opposition from Queensland and NT — The Guardian -
• ‘Not radical, it’s fair’: Australian households would receive compensation in proposed ‘polluter pays’ levy scheme — The Guardian -
• Sussan Ley says David Littleproud rejected offer of talks this week after Coalition breakup — The Guardian -
• ‘Air conditioners are struggling’: parts of NSW, Queensland and Victoria swelter as heat records tumble — The Guardian -
• Scott Morrison accused of ‘deeply ill-informed’ attack on religious freedom after Islam speech — The Guardian -
• Palestine Action Group plans ‘national day of protest’ as Herzog visit confirmed – as it happened — The Guardian -
• Human remains found in search for Belgian backpacker missing in Tasmanian wilderness since 2023 — The Guardian -
• Expectations grow for interest rate hike next week after Australia’s inflation jumps to 3.8% — The Guardian -
• NSW school counsellor banned after having jelly shots and engaging in ‘sexual contact’ with students — The Guardian -
• Nationals MP Colin Boyce to challenge David Littleproud for leadership, saying party is headed off ‘political cliff’ — The Guardian -
• China’s ambassador warns Albanese reclaiming Port of Darwin will force Beijing to intervene — The Guardian -
• Sniffer dogs and bag searches can make drug danger at festivals more likely, Victorian coroner finds — The Guardian -

Humanitarian concerns intensify as Ukraine faces continued Russian drone strikes and significant military casualties, while Iran grapples with a brutal crackdown on protests and restricted internet access, and an American citizen remains missing in Taliban-held Kabul.

• Iran's internet is returning - but not for everyone — BBC World -
• Iran's internet is returning - but not for everyone — BBC World -
• 'Don't take us to a hospital': Iran protesters treated in secret to avoid arrest — BBC World -

• Panic on crowded Ukraine train - passenger describes moment of Russian drone strike — BBC World -
• Iran appears to ease internet blackout as cost of shutdown mounts — The Guardian -
• In Kherson, Ukraine, Every Step Outside Risks Death by Drone — New York Times World -
• After Russian Strike Kills Five, Train Sheds Burned Cars and Carries On — New York Times World -
• Missing in Kabul: The U.S. Citizen Witnesses Say Was Held by the Taliban — New York Times World -
• Russian and Ukrainian military casualties in war nearing 2m, study finds — The Guardian -
• Iran Killed Thousands of Protesters. Here Are Five of Their Stories. — New York Times World -
• Zelensky condemns Russian drone strike that killed five on passenger train — BBC World -
• Zelensky condemns Russian drone strike that killed five on passenger train — BBC World -
• How Iran Crushed an Uprising — New York Times World -
• ‘Attacks day after day’: Odesa in Russia’s crosshairs as war pivots back to Black Sea — The Guardian -
• 'We all know someone who was killed' - Iran protesters tell BBC of brutal crackdown — BBC World -
• 'We all know someone who was killed' - Iran protesters tell BBC of brutal crackdown — BBC World -

Major tech companies are undergoing significant changes, with Tesla pivoting to robotics and Amazon announcing widespread job cuts, while US monetary policy keeps interest rates steady and the dollar weakens globally, reflecting a period of market uncertainty and corporate restructuring.

• Tesla discontinues Model X and S vehicles as Elon Musk pivots to robotics — The Guardian -
• Federal Reserve holds interest rates as Trump piles on pressure — The Guardian -
• Artificial intelligence will cost jobs, admits Liz Kendall — The Guardian -

• Deutsche Bank offices raided in money laundering probe — BBC World -
• SpaceX mulls $1.5tn IPO timed to ‘align with Musk’s birthday and the planets’ — The Guardian -
• YouTube criticised after pulling out of UK TV audience measurement — The Guardian -
• Amazon confirms 16,000 job cuts after accidental email — BBC World -
• Amazon confirms 16,000 job cuts after accidental email — BBC World -
• Amazon tells workers it will cut 16,000 jobs worldwide in second big wave of layoffs — The Guardian -
• US dollar sinks to its lowest level in four years — The Guardian -
• Coinbase adverts banned in UK for suggesting crypto could ease cost of living crisis — The Guardian -

Several significant accidents and natural disasters have occurred globally, including a deadly storm in Portugal, plane crashes in Colombia and Italy, a severe US winter storm causing multiple fatalities, and a landslide threatening a Sicilian town.

• At least five killed after Storm Kristin hits Portugal — BBC World -
• Plane crashes in Colombia, killing all 15 on board — BBC World -
• Plane Carrying Colombian Politicians Crashes in Area Contested by Rebels — New York Times World -

• Powerful winter storm kills dozens in US as forecasters warn of new system — The Guardian -
• Landslide Leaves Town in Sicily Perched on a Cliff’s Edge — New York Times World -
• Trump signs order to speed up rebuilds of homes affected by 2025 LA wildfires — The Guardian -
• Moment BA plane to London loses wheel after take-off in Vegas — BBC World -
• ‘Like a sea out there’: flooded Somerset residents wonder how water can be managed — The Guardian -
• Qatari plane hits Milan airport lights during arrival of Winter Olympics staff — The Guardian -
• Three young brothers drown after falling through ice on pond in Texas — The Guardian -
• The politician whose death leaves a vacuum in India's richest state — BBC World -
• Veteran Indian politician Ajit Pawar dies in plane crash — BBC World -
• Veteran Indian politician Ajit Pawar dies in plane crash — BBC World -
• 'I couldn't save them' - US mum's horror as three sons die falling through pond ice — BBC World -
• Ajit Pawar, a Veteran Indian Politician, Among 5 Killed in Plane Crash — New York Times World -
• More than 40 deaths from US winter storm as snow and ice persist — The Guardian -
• Investigators say deadly midair collision near Washington DC followed years of ignored traffic warnings — The Guardian -

Key social and political debates continue in the UK, covering assisted dying legislation, reforms to housing standards and jury trials, the Conservative party's internal divisions, and concerns over mental health among mothers and the decline of high streets.

• Assisted dying backers could use archaic procedure to bypass ‘undemocratic’ block by peers — The Guardian -
• ‘Absurd’: decent homes standard for England’s private renters will not be enforced until 2035 — The Guardian -
• First female archbishop of Canterbury vows to call out misogyny — The Guardian -

• Starmer indicates he will not U-turn on plan to scrap some jury trials — The Guardian -
• ‘I wasn’t going to be diverted,’ says King Charles about campaign on the environment — The Guardian -
• Labour movement ‘on the line’ because of Starmer’s mistakes, says union boss – as it happened — The Guardian -
• Matt Goodwin becomes Reform UK candidate, and Esther Ghey on banning social media – podcast — The Guardian -
• Badenoch shoots herself in the foot on the Tories’ long march to the right | John Crace — The Guardian -
• Calls for heart disease clinics to be rolled out NHS-wide to address ethnic disparity in treatment — The Guardian -
• Ofsted finds no political bias at Bristol school criticised for cancelling MP’s visit — The Guardian -
• Centrist ideas no longer wanted in Conservative party, says Kemi Badenoch — The Guardian -
• England planning proposals fail to mention safety of women and girls, say critics — The Guardian -
• Labour risks election wipeout unless it improves Britain’s high streets, study finds — The Guardian -
• Criminal Cases Review Commission refers indefinite sentences of five men for appeal — The Guardian -
• ‘You’d be ashamed to bring someone here’: The struggling billionaire-owned high street that shows Reform’s road to No 10 — The Guardian -
• Rwanda seeks £100m from UK over axed asylum deal — BBC World -
• Starmer says Reform pursuing politics of ‘toxic division’ after Matt Goodwin unveiled as byelection candidate — The Guardian -
• England’s most deprived areas to get worse by next election, report for No 10 finds — The Guardian -
• Royal Mail delivered Christmas letters and parcels late to about 16m people — The Guardian -
• Seven out of 10 UK mothers feel overloaded, research reveals — The Guardian -

High-profile legal cases are making headlines globally, including the jailing of South Korea's former first lady for corruption, a French senator found guilty of sexual assault, the reopening of a sexual assault case against Marilyn Manson, and an FBI investigation into 2020 election records in Georgia.

• Man arrested after woman, 95, tied up during attempted robbery in Salford — The Guardian -
• Chinese National Heng Guan Who Documented Uyghurs’ Repression Wins Asylum — New York Times World -
• FBI executes search warrant at election office in Fulton county, Georgia — The Guardian -

• ‘I was violated and put in extreme danger’: women denied abortions sue over Arkansas ban — The Guardian -
• Man guilty of assault after Barron Trump reported attack to UK police — BBC World -
• Man guilty of assault after Barron Trump reported attack to UK police — BBC World -
• Kim Keon Hee, wife of South Korea’s ousted president, jailed for corruption — The Guardian -
• Texas man scheduled to be executed for killing ex-girlfriend and her new boyfriend — The Guardian -
• Chicago’s United Center to offer cannabis drinks – could other arenas follow? — The Guardian -
• The Rise and Fall of South Korean First Lady Kim Keon Hee — New York Times World -
• French former senator found guilty of drugging MP with intent to sexually assault her — The Guardian -
• South Korea's ex-first lady jailed for 20 months for bribery — BBC World -
• South Korea's ex-first lady jailed for 20 months for bribery — BBC World -
• A string of scandals and luxury handbags: Who is South Korea's former first lady? — BBC World -
• Marilyn Manson: US judge reopens sexual assault case against musician — The Guardian -

Urgent warnings persist regarding climate change, with the Doomsday Clock ticking closer to midnight, ongoing glacier melting studies in Antarctica, and court rulings on climate adaptation efforts; meanwhile, Australia and New Zealand face extreme weather impacts, and the US EPA is criticized for environmental rollbacks.

• Camping on Thwaites Glacier — New York Times World -
• Dutch government discriminated against Bonaire islanders over climate adaptation, court rules — The Guardian -
• ‘Shameful’: Trump’s EPA accused of prioritizing big business over public health — The Guardian -

• Doomsday Clock Ticks Closer Than Ever to Apocalypse — New York Times World -
• Swift bricks to be installed on all new buildings in Scotland as MSPs back law — The Guardian -
• New Zealand could see more deadly landslides as climate crisis triggers intense storms, experts warn — The Guardian -
• Doomsday Clock at 85 seconds to midnight amid threats from climate crisis and AI — The Guardian -

Global cultural trends include a Harry Potter play adaptation and a Jeff Buckley song achieving TikTok virality, while France celebrates its last newspaper hawker and controversies arise from a UK TV show contestant's past tweets and the BBC's interim leadership changes.

• Le scoop! France’s last newspaper hawker celebrated with prestigious award — The Guardian -
• ‘Process failed’ says BBC after Apprentice contestant’s offensive tweets emerge — The Guardian -
• Live TV report on cougar capture in San Francisco neighborhood interrupted by coyote — The Guardian -

• Shrinking potion: two-part Harry Potter and the Cursed Child to become single show in London — The Guardian -
• Guardian pair honoured for Noel Clarke coverage at Women in Journalism awards — The Guardian -
• US YouTube star IShowSpeed to get Ghanaian passport as Africa tour ends — BBC World -
• The arts of war: can Europe’s artists embrace the idea of ‘armed pacifism’? — The Guardian -
• BBC names Rhodri Talfan Davies as interim general director — The Guardian -
• TikTok virality gives Jeff Buckley his first US Top 100 hit 29 years after his death — The Guardian -
• Placebo make theatre debut with score for Brecht production by Royal Shakespeare Company — The Guardian -
• Stable genius? How a defective ‘crying horse’ toy went viral in China — The Guardian -
• Mexico president asks South Korea for more BTS concerts — BBC World -
• Stephen Colbert announces date of final episode of The Late Show — The Guardian -
• The model who moved to Ghana and wrapped her prosthetic leg in its famous fabric — BBC World -
• Two-year-old pots two Guinness World Records with snooker trick shots — The Guardian -