Recent Epstein files releases have implicated Trump administration officials and other prominent figures, while President Trump has also nominated Kevin Warsh to the Federal Reserve and taken aggressive stances on Iran and Cuba.

• Epstein files updates: justice department says files include ‘untrue and sensationalist claims against President Trump’ — The Guardian -
• Trump Moves to Cut All Oil to Cuba as U.S. Targets Its Government — New York Times World -
• Atlanta FBI boss reportedly ousted after questioning DoJ’s renewed interest in 2020 election — The Guardian -

• Trump commerce secretary Howard Lutnick arranged to visit Epstein island, files show — The Guardian -
• Will Trump's pick to lead US central bank get him the change he wants? — BBC World -
• Iran wants to make deal rather than face military action, Trump says — BBC World -
• Elon Musk had more extensive ties to Epstein than previously known, emails show — The Guardian -
• Andrew went to intimate dinner with Epstein after his prison release, files suggest — The Guardian -
• Why Trump Is Going After Iran Now — New York Times World -
• US justice department releases more than 3 million new pages of Epstein files — The Guardian -
• Trump nominates Federal Reserve critic Kevin Warsh as its next chair — The Guardian -
• Panamanian Court Strikes Down Hong Kong Firm’s Canal Contract — New York Times World -
• Jeffrey Epstein sent money to Mandelson’s husband after prison release, emails suggest — The Guardian -
• Trump says he believes Iran wants to make deal as he extols size of US ‘armada’ — The Guardian -
• Mexico president says Trump tariffs on Cuba’s oil suppliers could trigger humanitarian crisis — The Guardian -
• Newsom fights back after Dr Oz accuses LA’s Armenians of healthcare fraud — The Guardian -
• Trump picks Kevin Warsh to lead the US Federal Reserve — BBC World -
• Trump tells Iran to drop nuclear aims and stop killing protesters to avoid military action — BBC World -
• Iran Rules Out Talks With U.S. Until Trump’s Threats Stop — New York Times World -
• Panama supreme court cancels Hong Kong company’s canal contracts — The Guardian -
• Ukraine sees quieter night as Trump says Putin will not attack its cities — BBC World -
• Ukraine sees quieter night as Trump says Putin will not attack its cities — BBC World -
• Panama voids Hong Kong-based firm's canal port contracts — BBC World -
• Panama voids Hong Kong-based firm's canal port contracts — BBC World -
• Killing Khamenei? Hitting military sites? It is unclear what a US attack on Iran would achieve | Dan Sabbagh — The Guardian -
• How Trump’s EPA rollbacks could harm our air and water – and worsen global heating — The Guardian -
• Trump says ‘very dangerous’ for UK to do business with China, after Starmer hails progress in Beijing — The Guardian -
• Zelenskyy cautious on Russian bombing pause during extreme cold weather — The Guardian -
• A resignation and call to conscience at company owned by Maga billionaires — The Guardian -
• FBI raid in Georgia has little legal basis – but serves Trump’s goal to weaken trust in election results — The Guardian -
• Venezuela approves bill to open oil sector to foreign investment after US pressure — The Guardian -
• Trump Tells U.K. and Canada That Boosting Trade With China Is ‘Dangerous’ — New York Times World -
• How His Duel With Trump Boosted Emmanuel Macron, France’s Embattled President — New York Times World -
• Donald Trump expected to nominate Kevin Warsh as US Federal Reserve chair — The Guardian -
• Trump reportedly sues US Treasury and IRS for $10bn; US Senate reaches deal to avert partial government shutdown – as it happened — The Guardian -
• Trump and his sons sue IRS and US Treasury over leaked tax information — BBC World -
• Trump and his sons sue IRS and US Treasury over leaked tax information — BBC World -
• Trump threatens tariffs on goods from countries that sell oil to Cuba — The Guardian -
• Venezuelan Lawmakers Approve Sweeping Overhaul of Oil Sector — New York Times World -
• BBC visits oil region at heart of Trump plan to 'Make Venezuela Great Again' — BBC World -

Key diplomatic efforts include a Syrian government and Kurdish forces truce and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer's visit to China, while tensions persist with Trump's threats towards Iran and a diplomatic row between Israel and South Africa.

• Mali lawmaker jailed in Ivory Coast for insulting president — BBC World -
• Mali lawmaker jailed in Ivory Coast for insulting president — BBC World -
• Israel accepts health authorities’ Gaza death toll is broadly accurate, saying 70,000 have died — The Guardian -

• Human rights group warns New York officials against investing public funds in Israeli bonds — The Guardian -
• UK politics: Starmer shrugs off Trump’s criticism of ‘very dangerous’ deal with China – as it happened — The Guardian -
• South Africa and Israel expel each other's envoys in diplomatic row — BBC World -
• Islamic State claims attack on international airport and airbase in Niger — The Guardian -
• Hungary doubles down on opposition to Ukraine’s EU accession as Zelenskyy aims for 2027 – as it happened — The Guardian -
• ‘Deeply ideological’: the rationale behind Iran’s insistence on uranium enrichment — The Guardian -
• Syrian government and Kurdish forces reach deal on permanent truce — The Guardian -
• The Netherlands Is Getting a New Government. Will It Last? — New York Times World -
• China has lifted sanctions from six serving British MPs and peers, Starmer says — The Guardian -
• South Africa expels top Israeli diplomat over ‘insulting attacks’ on president — The Guardian -
• Burkina Faso junta announces ban on all political parties — BBC World -
• Burkina Faso junta announces ban on all political parties — BBC World -
• Syrian Government and Kurdish-Led Militia Seal a Deal to Merge Forces — New York Times World -
• Xi’s Military Purge May Set Back His Taiwan Ambitions — New York Times World -
• At least 170 killed in air strikes during Myanmar's widely criticised election, UN says — BBC World -
• Syrian government reaches deal with Kurdish-led forces — BBC World -
• Syrian government reaches deal with Kurdish-led forces — BBC World -
• Settler-only IDF units functioning as ‘vigilante militias’ in West Bank — The Guardian -
• Saudi dissident awarded £3m damages threatens enforcement action if he is not paid — The Guardian -
• Inside Syrian camp holding wives and children of suspected IS fighters — BBC World -
• Why Iran's response to a US attack could be different this time — BBC World -
• Syria's Kurds sense US betrayal as government forces push them back — BBC World -
• Worried families in India urge return of crew on ship seized by Iran — BBC World -
• Suspected jihadists attack airport near Niger's capital — BBC World -
• Russia Is Finding the Gaps in Ukraine’s Front Line — New York Times World -
• Healthcare, visas and whisky: What did UK and China get from Starmer's visit? — BBC World -
• Junta-backed party secures sweeping victory in Myanmar’s ‘sham’ election — The Guardian -
• Keir Starmer opens door to UK visit by Xi Jinping after bilateral talks — The Guardian -
• European Union Labels Iran’s Revolutionary Guard a Terrorist Group — New York Times World -
• EU adds Iran's Revolutionary Guards to terrorist list — BBC World -
• EU adds Iran's Revolutionary Guards to terrorist list — BBC World -
• In Beijing, Starmer and Xi Seek a Way Around a Volatile U.S. — New York Times World -
• Niger’s military ruler vows retaliation after gunfire and explosions heard in capital — The Guardian -

The Trump administration's ICE operations in Minnesota have led to protests, arrests of journalists, and federal civil rights investigations into fatal shootings, sparking a Senate debate over DHS funding and calls for reforms.

• ICE detains two more students from Liam Ramos’s school, officials say — The Guardian -
• Former CNN host Don Lemon faces charges after anti-ICE protest at Minnesota church — BBC World -
• Anti-ICE protests being held across US as organizers urge national strike — The Guardian -

• US DoJ opens federal civil rights investigation into killing of Alex Pretti — The Guardian -
• Civil rights investigation opened into Alex Pretti shooting — BBC World -
• Attorney general defends missing Congress deadline – as it happened — The Guardian -
• US Senate scrambles to reach funding deal as partial shutdown deadline looms — The Guardian -
• Argentina in Advanced Talks to Become Destination for U.S. Deportations — New York Times World -
• Democrats agree deal to avoid shutdown but demand DHS bill include reforms to ‘rein in ICE’ | First Thing — The Guardian -
• International Companies Doing Business With ICE Are Taking Heat — New York Times World -
• Agents in Minneapolis could be pulled back if local officials co-operate, border tsar says — BBC World -
• Agents in Minneapolis could be pulled back if local officials co-operate, border tsar says — BBC World -
• Is Trump’s ICE dream over? – podcast — The Guardian -
• Palau lawmakers vote to block controversial Trump deal to resettle migrants from US — The Guardian -
• Company handling Australia’s immigration detention playing key role in Trump’s ICE migrant crackdown — The Guardian -
• Republicans and Democrats reach funding package deal, US president says — BBC World -
• Watch: Batman tells city council to not assist ICE at Super Bowl — BBC World -
• Senate Democrats reach deal to avert partial government shutdown — The Guardian -

Catherine O'Hara's passing marks a cultural loss, as the UK faces rail disruptions and a winter storm impacts the US Southeast, causing deaths and power outages, while Australian political leadership challenges are unfolding and a Perth murder-suicide is under investigation.

• Schitt's Creek and Home Alone star Catherine O'Hara dies aged 71 — BBC World -
• Man accused of falsely confessing to killing Charlie Kirk faces up to 15-year sentence — The Guardian -
• Catherine O’Hara, actor known for Home Alone and Schitt’s Creek, dies aged 71 — The Guardian -

• Labour accuses Reform candidate of ‘toxic politics’ after Tommy Robinson endorsement — The Guardian -
• Fire near rail line in north London brings travel disruption across England — The Guardian -
• Luigi Mangione will not face death penalty if convicted, judge rules — BBC World -
• Another blast of freezing weather moves into the US south-east — The Guardian -
• Greens select former mayoral candidate to run in Gorton and Denton byelection — The Guardian -
• Judge rules Luigi Mangione will not face death penalty in healthcare CEO case — The Guardian -
• Asylum seeker jailed for at least 29 years for murdering Walsall hotel worker — The Guardian -
• Mark Thompson was approached about return to BBC as director general — The Guardian -
• Queensland police scrap specialist unit providing support for domestic and family violence cases — The Guardian -
• A Challenge for Britain’s Royal Mail: Proving It Can Deliver the Mail — New York Times World -
• Brian May says US is currently too dangerous for Queen to tour there — The Guardian -
• Edinburgh tomb of philosopher David Hume vandalised with ‘satanic’ symbols — The Guardian -
• A ‘wellness bro’, a cosmologist and an RFK Jr crony: meet Bari Weiss’s new CBS News contributors — The Guardian -
• Weather tracker: Winter storms cause death and outages across eastern north America — The Guardian -
• Four people, including two children, found dead in Perth in suspected murder-suicide — The Guardian -
• British army officers face court martial over Jaysley Beck sexual assault case — The Guardian -
• After feverish speculation, Andrew Hastie failed to mount a Liberal leadership challenge. So what now? — The Guardian -
• Denmark’s King Frederik and Queen Mary to visit Australia – as it happened — The Guardian -
• Andrew Hastie rules out challenging Sussan Ley for Liberal leadership, clearing path for Angus Taylor — The Guardian -
• Professor who claimed ‘Blak’ activists were leading law school to ‘destruction’ to leave University of Melbourne — The Guardian -
• Older women ‘disappear’ from BBC presenting roles, review finds — The Guardian -
• Reform UK enlists Boris Johnson ally to write party nature policies — The Guardian -
• Calls for King Charles to formally apologise for slavery after research shows crown’s role — The Guardian -
• UK’s first rapid-charging battery train ready for boarding this weekend — The Guardian -
• Sussan Ley unveils all-Liberal interim shadow cabinet and gives Nationals an ultimatum — The Guardian -
• Lanlan Yang pleads not guilty to two additional charges over crash after admitting to breach of bail — The Guardian -
• Michael Beck, 65, Dies; First to Report Symptoms of ‘Havana Syndrome’ — New York Times World -
• Man accused of impersonating FBI agent in bid to free Luigi Mangione — BBC World -
• Man accused of impersonating FBI agent in bid to free Luigi Mangione — BBC World -
• NHS medical negligence persisting in England ‘despite 24 years of warnings’ — The Guardian -

A tragic coltan mine collapse in the DRC has killed over 200, while children were arrested in Iran amidst protests, and the UN warns of imminent financial collapse.

• More than 200 killed in coltan mine collapse in eastern DRC, officials say — The Guardian -
• Children Were Arrested in Iran’s Brutal Crackdown on Protests — New York Times World -
• Svalbard Polar Bears Are Getting Fatter (for Now), Study Finds — New York Times World -

• Drilling Through the Thwaites Glacier for Clues to Its Melting — New York Times World -
• Incarcerated activists from Oscar-nominated documentary The Alabama Solution sent to solitary — The Guardian -
• Algae Growth on Greenland’s Ice Contributes to Melting, Studies Show — New York Times World -
• UN risks 'imminent financial collapse', secretary general warns — BBC World -
• Australia’s grid now relies on renewable energy as much as coal. Those who doubted it look foolish — The Guardian -
• Day and night, there’s no relief: five ways this heatwave is one of Australia’s worst on record — The Guardian -
• British American Tobacco accused of helping North Korea fund terrorism in lawsuit — The Guardian -
• Abusers using AI and digital tech to attack and control women, charity warns — The Guardian -
• Indonesian couple caned 140 times for sex and alcohol offences — BBC World -
• ‘We shouldn’t be surprised’: bushfires in Victoria push threatened species to the brink — The Guardian -
• Woman faints after being caned 140 times under Indonesian province’s sharia law — The Guardian -

The music world celebrates Fela Kuti's posthumous Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award, while Sam Mendes' Beatles film releases its first stills, and debates arise over AI-generated news labels; economically, South Korean stocks are at record highs, and Nestlé baby formula has been found to contain toxins.

• Three reasons for the record rise in gold prices, and one why they are falling — BBC World -
• FSA confirms presence of toxin in some Nestlé SMA baby formula products — The Guardian -
• First stills from Sam Mendes’ four-part Beatles film released in Liverpool — The Guardian -

• Chinese car firm Chery to open European base in Liverpool — The Guardian -
• Breakdown in cricket relations with Bangladesh rings alarm bells for India’s Olympic bid — The Guardian -
• Born of a Factory Mistake, This Sad Toy Horse Captures China’s Mood — New York Times World -
• 'She's done a great job' - Donald Trump praises Melania's film — BBC World -
• South Korean Stocks, Kospi Index Are Trading at a Record High — New York Times World -
• Friday briefing: How Britain’s high streets became a barometer of national decline — The Guardian -
• AI-generated news should carry ‘nutrition’ labels, thinktank says — The Guardian -
• The Secret Sauce in ‘Heated Rivalry’? Canada. — New York Times World -
• Liberal MP complains to ABC managing director about Tony Armstrong’s satire special — The Guardian -
• Lawyer for Alan Jones tells court witnesses could clear broadcaster’s name of sexual abuse allegations — The Guardian -
• Music legend Fela Kuti becomes first African to get Grammys Lifetime Achievement Award — BBC World -
• Music legend Fela Kuti becomes first African to get Grammys Lifetime Achievement Award — BBC World -
• Music legend Fela Kuti becomes first African to get Grammys Lifetime Achievement Award — BBC World -