The Jeffrey Epstein scandal continues to unfold with new revelations from released files, impacting UK political figures like Peter Mandelson and royals like Prince Andrew, alongside prominent Americans such as the Clintons, Melinda French Gates, Bill Burns, Noam Chomsky, and Soon-Yi Previn.

• Ministers face pressure to accept amendment giving intelligence and security committee final say over Mandelson files – UK politics live — The Guardian -
• All About the Epstein Files — New York Times World -
• Former Prince Andrew Moves Out of Royal Home Amid Fresh Epstein Revelations — New York Times World -

• PM says he knew when giving Mandelson US job he had kept ties with Epstein after conviction — The Guardian -
• Andrew and Epstein asked exotic dancer for 'sex acts,' legal letter claims — BBC World -
• House shelves contempt vote as Clintons agree to testify in Epstein investigation — BBC World -
• Melinda French Gates says ex-husband Bill has questions to answer over Epstein — BBC World -
• Jeffrey Epstein messaged with former CIA director Bill Burns, files show — The Guardian -
• Author who co-wrote two books with Noam Chomsky condemns scholar’s ties to Epstein — The Guardian -
• Trump prompts outcry by suggesting Republicans should ‘take over’ elections | First Thing — The Guardian -
• Woody Allen’s wife, Soon-Yi Previn, told Epstein that #MeToo movement ‘went too far’ — The Guardian -
• Starmer orders release of files relating to Mandelson US ambassador decision — The Guardian -
• A whiff of familiarity in Mandelson’s 2009 collusion with the banks — The Guardian -
• Clive Palmer suggests Steven Bannon hoped to ‘increase influence’ by claiming credit for 2019 election ads — The Guardian -
• Trump scolds CNN reporter Kaitlan Collins for not smiling as she asks about Epstein abuse survivors – as it happened — The Guardian -

The Gaza conflict continues with Israeli airstrikes resulting in civilian casualties and halted patient evacuations at Rafah, alongside controversies such as the bulldozing of a war cemetery and a Hamas hostage's ordeal. Regional tensions are also highlighted by US military action against an Iranian drone and political clashes among Arab allies.

• Israeli strikes kill 21 in Gaza and patient crossings at Rafah halted, Palestinian officials say — The Guardian -
• Revealed: Israel bulldozed part of Gaza war cemetery containing allied graves — The Guardian -
• Yair Golan’s Battle for a Two-State Solution and the Future of Israel — New York Times World -

• Palestine Action activists cleared of aggravated burglary at Israeli defence firm site — The Guardian -
• Israeli strikes kill 20 in Gaza, hospitals say, after soldier wounded by gunfire — BBC World -
• A Hamas Hostage’s Secret Ordeal — New York Times World -
• Gloves Come Off in Gulf as Trump’s Closest Arab Allies Clash — New York Times World -
• ‘I don’t think this was a good decision’: Labor’s Ed Husic holds ‘deep concerns’ over Israeli president Isaac Herzog’s visit — The Guardian -
• NSW Labor backbenchers to protest Israel president Isaac Herzog’s visit in defiance of premier — The Guardian -
• US shoots down Iranian drone flying towards aircraft carrier, navy says — The Guardian -

US domestic affairs are dominated by Trump's immigration policies, with federal agents withdrawing from Minnesota, and controversial proposals for states to enforce immigration and for Republicans to "take over" elections. Other concerns include a Pentagon threat to Scouting America, environmental policy rollbacks, political assassination attempts, and the health of key political figures.

• Trump’s border czar says administration will immediately withdraw 700 immigration enforcement officers from Minnesota – live — The Guardian -
• White House border czar says 700 federal agents will leave Minnesota — The Guardian -
• Pentagon threatens to cut ties with Scouting America over ‘core values’ — The Guardian -

• US prosecutors seek life sentence for man who tried to assassinate Trump in Florida — The Guardian -
• Pro-gun groups quickly rallied for Alex Pretti. Why didn’t they do the same for a Black gun owner? — The Guardian -
• Trump’s environmental rollbacks contradict RFK’s healthy America promise, report finds — The Guardian -
• Billionaire US investor Ken Griffin accuses Trump White House of ‘enriching’ itself — The Guardian -
• Tennessee to test Stephen Miller’s plan of enlisting states for immigration enforcement — The Guardian -
• Democrats launch aggressive campaign to win back infrequent voters — The Guardian -
• ‘Neoroyalism’ and What It Says About Trump — New York Times World -
• The people betting on catastrophic world events – podcast — The Guardian -
• Charlie Kirk killing: key Utah prosecutor denies conflict of interest — The Guardian -
• Congressional Democrats vow justice for US citizens harmed by immigration agents: ‘You deserve peace’ — The Guardian -
• Trump adviser Stephen Miran quits White House role to stay on at Fed — The Guardian -
• Mitch McConnell admitted to hospital with ‘flu-like symptoms’ — The Guardian -

Australian national news highlights concerns over the Aukus submarine deal and defence property sell-offs, alongside a devastating heatwave impact on flying fox colonies. Domestically, there's the first jailing for a Nazi salute, political tensions in the Liberal-National Coalition, and healthcare questions about a banned surgeon's appointment.

• ADF veterans warn selloff of 60 historic defence properties will take a decade and cost billions — The Guardian -
• Not delivering any Aukus nuclear submarines to Australia explored as option in US congressional report — The Guardian -
• Condemnation of Elon Musk’s AI chatbot reached ‘tipping point’ after French raid, Australia’s eSafety chief says — The Guardian -

• More than 80% of flying fox colony wiped out as January heatwaves kill thousands of bats — The Guardian -
• Jacob Hersant becomes first Australian jailed for doing Nazi salute after losing appeal — The Guardian -
• Sussan Ley may fast-track permanent Liberal-only frontbench as Coalition reunion hopes fade — The Guardian -
• Police investigate illegal riding on Sydney Harbour Bridge – as it happened — The Guardian -
• Parents of Piper James visit K’gari to farewell daughter and ‘walk where she last walked’ as dingo cull continues — The Guardian -
• Doctor previously banned from complex surgery in NSW given senior clinical safety role with Queensland Health — The Guardian -
• Indian government urges Australia to ‘hold the culprits accountable’ over theft of Gandhi statue in Melbourne — The Guardian -
• Albanese government to sell off $3bn worth of historic defence sites amid push to free up space for new homes — The Guardian -
• Australian man dies skiing in Japan days after Queensland snowboarder killed in ski lift accident — The Guardian -
• Mother says asking 13-year-old son to swim four hours to save family ‘one of the hardest decisions’ ever made — The Guardian -
• How will Labor’s Thriving Kids work and who is still eligible for the NDIS? — The Guardian -

Global humanitarian crises are highlighted by worsening hunger and deaths in Afghanistan due to aid cuts, a deadly attack in Nigeria killing over 160 people, and migrant boat collisions in Greece claiming multiple lives. Social issues include intense academic pressure in South Korea, Spain's plan to regularize undocumented migrants, and human rights concerns amidst a "democratic recession" worldwide.

• In Afghanistan, a Trail of Hunger and Death Behind U.S. Aid Cuts — New York Times World -
• Gunmen have killed 162 people in west Nigeria attack, says Red Cross official — The Guardian -
• South Korea Questions Cram School Culture and Childhood Stress — New York Times World -

• ‘When did empathy become exceptional?’: what’s behind Sánchez’s plan to ‘regularise’ 500,000 undocumented migrants in Spain — The Guardian -
• Greece blames smugglers over migrant deaths but early accounts have been questioned before — BBC World -
• Greece blames smugglers over migrant deaths but early accounts have been questioned before — BBC World -
• Two Chinese Journalists Are Detained for Reporting on Corruption — New York Times World -
• Ugandan opposition leader still in hiding as feud with president’s son escalates — The Guardian -
• Collision with Greek coast guard boat leaves 15 migrants dead — BBC World -
• 'Notorious Tanzanian drug trafficker' arrested during raid in Zambia — BBC World -
• At Least 15 Die in Rare Collision Between Migrant Boat and Greek Patrol Vessel — New York Times World -
• Death of Nigerian singer after snakebite highlights crisis of ‘preventable’ fatalities — The Guardian -
• 'I've never hit anything so hard': What it's like to be attacked by a shark — BBC World -
• 'Never imagined this': Indian village grapples with interfaith couple's killing — BBC World -
• Trump-led abuses amid ‘democratic recession’ put human rights in peril, HRW report says — The Guardian -

UK domestic affairs include political debates over Mandelson disclosures, Nigel Farage's controversial 'non-apology', and the opening of inquests for Lucy Letby's victims. Public services face challenges such as rail disruptions, a merger of universities, plans to boost cancer survival rates, and concerns over autistic pupils' school attendance and profiteering in child social care.

• Nigel Farage made ‘non-apology’, says school contemporary who accused him of racism — The Guardian -
• Mandelson disclosures: What is a humble address and why are the Tories using one? — The Guardian -
• Labour MPs say they will vote down plan to limit Mandelson disclosures — The Guardian -

• Coroner opens inquest into five babies murdered by Lucy Letby — The Guardian -
• Man arrested after fatal stabbing in Leicester city centre — The Guardian -
• South-east England ‘do not travel’ rail alert lifted but disruption continues — The Guardian -
• Three-quarters of cancer patients in England will survive by 2035, government pledges — The Guardian -
• Greenwich and Kent announce merger to become UK’s first ‘super-university’ — The Guardian -
• Review calls for more remote hearings to save courts system from ‘collapse’ — The Guardian -
• One in six autistic pupils in UK have not attended school at all since September — The Guardian -
• Ministers to crackdown on profiteering in care sector and make renewed fostering push — The Guardian -

Russia and Ukraine have resumed peace talks in Abu Dhabi, even as Russia launches massive strikes causing widespread power outages, while fears of a new arms race emerge as the US-Russia nuclear treaty nears expiry. A growing number of Ukrainians are considering territorial concessions for peace, highlighting the war-weariness.

• Russia and Ukraine Resume Talks After a Huge Attack by Moscow — New York Times World -
• Ukraine-Russia talks under way in Abu Dhabi in wake of ‘massive’ strikes on Kyiv – as it happened — The Guardian -
• Thousands without power in freezing Ukraine as renewed Russian strikes continue — BBC World -

• Fears of new arms race as US-Russia nuclear weapons treaty due to expire — BBC World -
• Ukraine and Russia begin second round of US-led peace talks in Abu Dhabi — The Guardian -
• For Peace, More Ukrainians Consider the Once Unthinkable: Surrendering Land — New York Times World -

The business and tech sectors are seeing major layoffs at the Washington Post and Pinterest, while the pharmaceutical industry faces a revenue drop for Wegovy and Ozempic. Corporate sustainability claims are under scrutiny at Drax, and there's a growing focus on AI's impact on jobs and calls for social media regulation amidst raids on X offices and Elon Musk's reaction.

• ‘It’s an absolute bloodbath’: Washington Post lays off hundreds of workers — The Guardian -
• Chinese carmaker Chery to launch fourth brand in UK — The Guardian -
• Cyber-attack and yacht insurer agrees £8bn deal in latest UK stock market exit — The Guardian -

• Drax insiders privately raised concerns over its sustainability claims, court papers show — The Guardian -
• Striking Starbucks workers urge customers to delete coffee chain’s app — The Guardian -
• Wegovy and Ozempic maker forecasts sharp drop in revenue for 2026 — The Guardian -
• Bulgarians Adopt the Euro With a Whisper of Melancholy but Few Tears — New York Times World -
• Pinterest sacks two engineers for creating software to identify fired workers — The Guardian -
• X offices raided in France as UK opens fresh investigation into Grok — BBC World -
• Elon Musk calls Spanish PM a ‘tyrant’ over plan to ban under-16s from social media and curb hateful content — The Guardian -
• Women in tech and finance at higher risk from AI job losses, report says — The Guardian -

High-profile legal cases include the rape trial of Norway's crown princess's son and an inquiry into the killing of Saif al-Islam Gaddafi, son of the former Libyan leader. Other notable events are the disappearance of Savannah Guthrie's mother and the resignation of South Africa's second-largest party leader.

• Son of Norway's crown princess holds back tears giving evidence at rape trial — BBC World -
• What to Know About the Disappearance of Savannah Guthrie’s Mom, Nancy — New York Times World -
• Leader of South Africa's second largest party to step down — BBC World -

• Libyan prosecutors launch probe into killing of Gaddafi's son — BBC World -
• Saif al-Islam Gaddafi, son of ex-Libyan leader, killed, say officials — The Guardian -
• Woman tells trial of Norway royal's son she suspects she was drugged — BBC World -