Government funding issues and intensive immigration enforcement in Minneapolis dominate US domestic news, alongside political appointments, electoral bids, and ongoing legal investigations like the Fulton County FBI raid and the Baltimore bridge collapse aftermath.

• Senate Democrats reportedly reach deal to avert partial government shutdown — The Guardian -
• Michael Beck, 65, Dies; First to Report Symptoms of ‘Havana Syndrome’ — New York Times World -
• Agents in Minneapolis could be pulled back if local officials cooperate, border tsar says — BBC World -

• Georgia lawmakers express alarm to see Tulsi Gabbard at FBI elections office raid — The Guardian -
• LA fire department paid celebrity PR firm $65,000 to shape messaging after Palisades fire — The Guardian -
• Minneapolis mayor warns others to ‘speak up’ against Trump or ‘your city is next’ — The Guardian -
• Matt Mahan, mayor of San Jose, announces run for governor of California — The Guardian -
• US Senate blocks government funding bill as ICE negotiations continue — BBC World -
• ICE ends surge in Maine as border czar pledges to keep operation in Minnesota — The Guardian -
• Justice department charges man accused of attacking Ilhan Omar at town hall — The Guardian -
• Critics aghast as White House displays framed photo of Trump with Putin — The Guardian -
• Father detained by ICE with five-year-old tells US congressman his son has been ‘depressed’ — The Guardian -
• ‘Nothing has changed’: Minneapolis on edge despite Trump’s de-escalation vow — The Guardian -
• US Senator Amy Klobuchar announces bid for Minnesota governor — BBC World -
• US Senator Amy Klobuchar announces bid for Minnesota governor — BBC World -
• Kennedy Center official resigns less than two weeks after hiring — The Guardian -
• Klobuchar declares Minnesota governor run as Walz vows not to seek office again — The Guardian -
• Bari Weiss’s new CBS hires include ‘germ theory denialist’ doctor — The Guardian -
• Footage shows altercation between Alex Pretti and federal officers 11 days before he was killed | First Thing — The Guardian -
• Nicki Minaj calls herself Trump's 'number one fan' and shows off gold card visa — BBC World -
• Nicki Minaj calls herself Trump's 'number one fan' and shows off gold card visa — BBC World -
• Snow-shovelling Mamdani was hard to miss as New York tackled winter storm — The Guardian -
• Greenlanders Watching Turmoil in the United States Say No Thanks — New York Times World -
• Talks ramp up to avert US government shutdown after Minneapolis shooting — BBC World -
• Baltimore bridge collapse: crew members from ship still held by US two years on — The Guardian -
• Border agents involved in fatal shooting of Alex Pretti placed on leave — BBC World -
• US congressman meets five-year-old Liam Ramos and his father at ICE detention center – as it happened — The Guardian -
• Judge blocks Trump officials from detaining refugees in Minnesota — The Guardian -
• FBI executes search warrant at election office in Fulton county, Georgia — The Guardian -
• Rubio Says Venezuela Will Submit Monthly Budget to White House — New York Times World -

Escalating US-Iran tensions, ongoing developments in the Ukraine war with Trump's mediation claims, and Canada's shifting foreign policy are central, alongside the EU designating Iran's Revolutionary Guard as a terrorist group and Niger experiencing airport attacks.

• Venezuelan Lawmakers Approve Sweeping Overhaul of Oil Sector — New York Times World -
• Trump claims Putin agreed to halt strikes on Ukraine energy sites amid extreme cold — The Guardian -
• Israeli media cite official accepting Hamas figure of 70,000 war dead — BBC World -

• Syria's defiant Kurds vow to 'fight until last breath' despite government push — BBC World -
• NATO to Hold Military Exercise Without U.S., Its Largest Member — New York Times World -
• Trump says Putin will not attack Ukraine cities during cold week — BBC World -
• Canada Signs Auto Deal With South Korea, Moving Further from the U.S. — New York Times World -
• Greenland threats no laughing matter, says mayor after comic’s flag stunt — The Guardian -
• Trump orders immediate reopening of commercial airspace over Venezuela — The Guardian -
• Canada separatists accused of ‘treason’ after secret talks with US state department — The Guardian -
• Moscow Airport Sells for Half Off, a Sign of Russia’s Global Isolation — New York Times World -
• European Union Labels Iran’s Revolutionary Guard a Terrorist Group — New York Times World -
• UK unlikely to join a US attack on Iran – but may help Gulf states if Tehran retaliates — The Guardian -
• EU designates Iran’s Revolutionary Guards as a terrorist organisation — The Guardian -
• EU designates Iran’s revolutionary guard as terrorist organisation – as it happened — The Guardian -
• Heavy security deployed at airport in Niger capital after overnight explosions — The Guardian -
• Is Trump about to attack Iran? – The Latest — The Guardian -
• EU adds Iran's Revolutionary Guards to terrorist list — BBC World -
• Melania Trump documentary not showing in South African cinemas — BBC World -
• 'I can breathe again' says Israeli hostage held for nearly 500 days in Gaza — BBC World -
• 'I can breathe again' says Israeli hostage held for nearly 500 days in Gaza — BBC World -
• Heavy gunfire and blasts heard near airport in Niger's capital — BBC World -
• Heavy gunfire and blasts heard near airport in Niger's capital — BBC World -
• Iran seeks to avert US military action with talks in Ankara — The Guardian -
• Ukraine receives 1,000 bodies in latest soldier swap with Russia — BBC World -
• Trump Warns Iran With Military Muscle, but Risks a Regional War — New York Times World -
• Flights to northern Ethiopia cancelled as fears mount of renewed conflict — BBC World -
• Netanyahu Vows to Cut Israel’s Reliance on U.S. Military Aid — New York Times World -
• Albanese defends Isaac Herzog’s Australia visit as federal MP joins calls to rescind invitation — The Guardian -
• Trump warns Iran 'time is running out' for nuclear deal as US military builds up in Gulf — BBC World -
• Trump warns Iran 'time is running out' for nuclear deal as US military builds up in Gulf — BBC World -
• Canada’s New Reality — New York Times World -
• How His Duel With Trump Boosted Emmanuel Macron, France’s Embattled President — New York Times World -
• Iran tries to confront ‘catastrophe’ of violent clampdown on protests — The Guardian -
• Iran accused of ‘campaign of revenge’ as doctors arrested for treating protesters — The Guardian -

Keir Starmer's visit to China aims to thaw UK-China relations and foster economic ties, while domestically, concerns are high regarding assisted dying legislation, struggling high streets, rising water bills, and public sector pension delays.

• Reform UK council chair resigns after ‘illegally renting out unsafe properties’ — The Guardian -
• AstraZeneca to invest £11bn in China after rowing back on UK expansion — The Guardian -
• Keir Starmer opens door to UK visit by Xi Jinping after bilateral talks — The Guardian -

• Assisted dying backers accused of bullying over threat to bypass Lords — The Guardian -
• Xi didn’t really see a point to Kier’s visit – but hey, let a hundred flowers bloom | John Crace — The Guardian -
• Starmer announces visa-free travel to China after talks with Xi in Beijing – UK politics live — The Guardian -
• Nigel Farage meets UAE ministers and drums up donations on Dubai trip — The Guardian -
• U.K.’s Starmer Meets Xi Jinping in Beijing as Ties Warm — New York Times World -
• Xi-Starmer meeting: Chinese leader tells PM he hopes both countries can ‘rise above differences’ — The Guardian -
• ‘My kids buy me food’: civil service pensioners offered emergency loans as nearly 90,000 face delays — The Guardian -
• Households in England and Wales must splash out more as water bills to rise by 5.4% — The Guardian -
• Doom loop of decline: how struggling high streets fuel far-right sympathies in UK — The Guardian -
• Farage attack on high street Turkish barber shops is dog-whistle racism, minister says — The Guardian -
• Santander closing further 44 branches as it gears up for £2.6bn takeover of TSB — The Guardian -
• School suspension in England only to be for pupils’ most serious misbehaviour — The Guardian -
• The Polanski effect? These charts reveal how much the Greens have advanced — The Guardian -
• Thursday briefing: Will Keir Starmer’s cautious China gamble pay off? — The Guardian -
• UK probably needs large new factory to meet target of 1.3m cars a year, say industry boss — The Guardian -
• Food sector calls for transition period if UK and EU agree post-Brexit rules reset — The Guardian -

Artificial intelligence is making strides in healthcare, particularly in breast cancer screening, while the development and regulation of self-driving cars continue to be key concerns, prompting South Korea to introduce comprehensive AI laws and the UK to consider Universal Basic Income for AI-related job displacement.

• AI use in breast cancer screening cuts rate of later diagnosis by 12%, study finds — The Guardian -
• US regulators open inquiry into Waymo self-driving car that struck child in California — The Guardian -
• French Government To Replace Zoom and Teams With Visio, a Local Alternative — New York Times World -

• Universal basic income could be used to soften hit from AI job losses in UK, minister says — The Guardian -
• US robotaxis undergo training for London’s quirks before planned rollout this year — The Guardian -
• South Korea’s ‘world-first’ AI laws face pushback amid bid to become leading tech power — The Guardian -

Media company restructuring in Australia, debates over airline baggage policies in the EU, and Australia's controversial tax breaks for landlords highlight diverse global economic and business activities, alongside an Indian court ruling impacting foreign investors and Deutsche Bank facing a money laundering probe.

• Nine sells radio stations including 2GB and 3AW to Sydney pub baron Arthur Laundy — The Guardian -
• EU proposals for free extra cabin bags on planes ‘lunatic idea’, says easyJet — The Guardian -
• Australia spends more on tax breaks for landlords than social housing, homelessness and rent assistance combined — The Guardian -

• ‘Gobsmacked’: Australian workplace relations department to replace short-term staff with third-party contractor — The Guardian -
• Deutsche Bank offices raided in money laundering probe — BBC World -
• Why an India court ruling on a 2018 deal is rattling foreign investors — BBC World -
• The return of inflation may poison Labor’s second-term agenda and scare more voters to the fringes — The Guardian -

China's execution of scam mafia members and ongoing concerns about human rights abuses in Myanmar and Iran are prominent, while the UK grapples with child safeguarding failures and legal challenges to protest laws, and Australia sees internal political turmoil.

• Imran Khan not the only one silenced as Pakistan military stifles dissent — BBC World -
• Why China moved so quickly to execute 11 members of a notorious mafia family — BBC World -
• Teenage boy’s body found in creek after Blue Mountains camping trip — The Guardian -

• Paedophile passed vetting to work at London primary school and nursery — The Guardian -
• UK-based pair behind messaging app accused of giving data to Iranian regime — The Guardian -
• ‘A disaster for disabled people’: Shabana Mahmood urged not to scrap recording of non-crime hate incidents — The Guardian -
• Archbishop of York cleared of misconduct over handling of sexual abuse case — The Guardian -
• Former Illinois deputy sentenced to 20 years in prison for killing Sonya Massey — The Guardian -
• Criminal investigation opened into two officials over deadly new year Swiss fire — The Guardian -
• Boy, 15, pleads guilty to murder of Leo Ross, 12, in Birmingham — The Guardian -
• Company handling Australia’s immigration detention playing key role in Trump’s ICE migrant crackdown — The Guardian -
• Watch: CCTV captures moment mayor hit in rocket launcher attack in the Philippines — BBC World -
• Watch: CCTV captures moment mayor hit in rocket launcher attack in the Philippines — BBC World -
• Wigan lottery winner, 80, helped build counterfeit drugs empire, court told — The Guardian -
• A cabal of male Liberals signals Ley’s reign is ending. But the day of a colleague’s memorial is obscene timing — The Guardian -
• Inquiry calls for ban on ‘globalise the intifada’ in NSW – but only when used to incite hatred and violence — The Guardian -
• She Couldn’t Defend Herself, but He Wasn’t Charged With Rape — New York Times World -
• China executes 11 members of Myanmar scam mafia — BBC World -
• UN human rights rapporteur applies to join legal case against protest laws – as it happened — The Guardian -
• China executes 11 members of Myanmar scam mafia — BBC World -
• Police ‘confident’ Lake Cargelligo triple murder suspect Julian Ingram is still alive and may be receiving help — The Guardian -
• Record number of offenders being recalled to prison in England and Wales — The Guardian -
• China executes 11 people linked to Myanmar scam operation — The Guardian -

Severe flooding in England and Southern Africa highlights immediate climate impacts, while research on polar bears in Svalbard and Thwaites Glacier in Antarctica sheds light on longer-term climate change, alongside a surge in gas-fired power driven by AI demands raising environmental alarm.

• Nearly 150 flood alerts in place across England in aftermath of Storm Chandra — The Guardian -
• Southern Africa Faces Devastating Flooding During Rainy Season — New York Times World -
• Svalbard Polar Bears Are Getting Fatter (for Now), Study Finds — New York Times World -

• Organic salmon certifier forced to share findings amid claims consumers misled — The Guardian -
• ‘Feels like a losing battle’: the fight against flooding in Somerset — The Guardian -
• Polar bears on Norwegian islands fatter and healthier despite ice loss, scientists say — BBC World -
• Nursing a skink: endangered alpine lizard numbers set to rise after Omeo falls pregnant in Victoria — The Guardian -
• US leads record global surge in gas-fired power driven by AI demands, with big costs for the climate — The Guardian -
• Camping on Antarctica’s Thwaites Glacier — New York Times World -
• ‘Pesticide cocktails’ polluting apples across Europe, study finds — The Guardian -

New research reveals the genetic influence on longevity and warns of a small risk of pancreatitis from weight-loss jabs, while Great Ormond Street Hospital faces a review of surgeon misconduct harming children, and a survey highlights mental health struggles among over-50s women.

• Small risk of severe acute pancreatitis with weight-loss jabs, UK regulator warns — The Guardian -
• The secret to long life? It could be in the genes after all, say scientists — The Guardian -
• Great Ormond Street surgeon harmed 94 children, review finds — The Guardian -

• Survey of over-50s women finds almost two in three struggle with mental health — The Guardian -

Global pop music continues to diversify, celebrity visits highlight unexpected cultural hotspots, and a French legal shift addresses marital duties, reflecting broader changes in social norms and media consumption patterns like the continued success of "Bluey".

• A Global Pop Music Melting Pot — New York Times World -
• ‘My idea of heaven’: Madonna sings praises of artists’ paradise Margate — The Guardian -
• Chips, anyone? German farm gives away millions of potatoes after bumper harvest — BBC World -

• Social media star Shirley Raines dies after years helping homeless in LA — The Guardian -
• France moves to abolish concept of marital duty to have sex — BBC World -
• War, conflict and Roman sculptures: Bath exhibit shows different side of Don McCullin’s work — The Guardian -
• Indians pay tribute after Arijit Singh retires at 38 as Bollywood singer — BBC World -
• Extra public holiday for NSW under consideration as Anzac Day falls on weekend, premier says — The Guardian -
• Bluey tops US streaming charts in 2025 for second year in a row, with 45bn minutes watched — The Guardian -