Politics

In Beijing, Prime Minister Mark Carney secured a preliminary, provisional trade agreement with China that includes allowing up to 49,000 Chinese electric vehicles into Canada and temporary tariff reductions on several Canadian farm and seafood exports; the trip is being framed as a reset in relations while critics warn of risks to Canadian workers and dependency.

President Trump announced a seven-member 'board of peace' to manage Gaza's reconstruction and transitional administration; he will chair the board and further appointments are expected.

President Donald Trump said he is ready to restart U.S. mediation between Egypt and Ethiopia over Nile water sharing. Ethiopia inaugurated the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) last fall.

Reza Pahlavi, the exiled son of Iran’s last shah, urged international help for protesters and pledged to return to lead a democratic transition; separately, Ugandan opposition leader Bobi Wine has reportedly been removed from his home and taken to an unknown location, according to his party.

Virginia's legislature voted to place a proposed constitutional amendment protecting abortion rights on the November ballot after a senate vote; the measure had passed an earlier session in 2025 as required. If approved by voters, the state's constitution would recognize a right to reproductive freedom while allowing some regulation in the third trimester.

Megyn Kelly said a YouGov poll shows public dissatisfaction with ICE after a January 7 shooting and warned the issue could weaken Republican midterm prospects.

Astrid Tuminez, president of Utah Valley University, will step down at the end of the semester in early May. The university remains divided and is still reckoning with the aftermath of Charlie Kirk's killing on campus in September 2025.

Interim president Delcy Rodríguez said Venezuela was entering a new era of greater tolerance following the reported capture of Nicolás Maduro by US forces on January 3, and authorities have begun releasing some people detained after the 2024 elections, with differing tallies reported.

The article reports President Donald Trump will unveil a proposal to let Americans use workplace retirement accounts, such as 401(k)s, for home down payments, and that a final plan will be presented at the Davos World Economic Forum next week.

The US government apologized in court for mistakenly deporting Any Lucía López Belloza, who was detained at Boston's airport in November and flown to Honduras.

Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander reportedly urged ministers to rally around Keir Starmer at an emotional Cabinet meeting, and deputy leader Lucy Powell warned against holding leadership talks.

Outline planning applications have been submitted for 5,500 homes and a town centre at a proposed new Worcestershire settlement near Worcestershire Parkway station; Homes England said the applications will be reviewed by Wychavon District Council.

Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar confirmed his party will not oppose the Scottish government's £68bn Budget, which includes income tax threshold changes and is due for a final Holyrood vote on 25 February.

California Governor Gavin Newsom briefly agreed with a podcast guest disputing his office's 'STATE. SPONSORED. TERRORISM.' post about ICE, and his communications team later denied he had changed his position.

The Gambia has brought a genocide case against Myanmar at the International Court of Justice in The Hague; hearings are scheduled through 29 January with Myanmar to present its defence from 16–20 January.

The White House and a bipartisan group of governors are urging PJM Interconnection to hold power auctions that would let tech companies bid to build new power plants, and officials plan to sign a statement of principles on Friday; PJM says it was not invited and will not attend.

A federal judge found that immigration agents violated Garrison Gibson’s Fourth Amendment rights and ordered his release; Gibson had been detained after agents entered his Minneapolis home, and further legal or administrative steps are undetermined at this time.

Residents in Greenland watched a White House meeting involving U.S. officials and the foreign ministers of Greenland and Denmark after President Trump renewed comments about U.S. interest in the island; Greenland's government said it will pursue defence arrangements under NATO.

An American Chamber of Commerce in China survey of 368 companies found 64% named slowing Chinese growth as their primary concern while 58% cited U.S.-China trade tensions.

President Trump announced the formation of an international Board of Peace to oversee Gaza as the US moves into the second phase of a 20-point ceasefire plan, and a 15-member Palestinian technocratic committee has been named to handle day-to-day administration.

Some voters in Pennsylvania say their expectations for President Donald Trump have not been met one year into his term, and national polls show his approval rating has fallen.

Officials say Russian strikes destroyed a large energy facility in Kharkiv and Britain announced £20m in emergency support after an energy emergency was declared.

The government announced a new Crisis and Resilience Fund that lets councils provide cash payments to people facing sudden financial shocks, replacing the Household Support Fund and guaranteeing at least three years of funding.

The U.S. Senate voted to approve a spending bill that restores billions for federal science agencies, allocating NSF $8.75 billion and largely rejecting the White House's proposed cuts to NASA.

Kemi Badenoch's team removed Robert Jenrick from the Conservative parliamentary party after receiving screenshots they said showed his planned resignation speech and media plan; he later appeared at a Reform UK event to announce his defection.

Vineyard Wind asked a federal court to block the Interior Department's December 22 pause on offshore wind leases; the project is reported to be about 95% complete and says it is losing roughly $2 million a day.

Tamworth Borough Council has asked the government to postpone the local elections set for 7 May while the council prepares for local government reorganisation that will abolish it in 2028.

Health secretary Neil Gray announced the first of 15 new walk-in GP centres will be at Wester Hailes Healthy Living Centre in Edinburgh; the Royal College of General Practitioners questioned whether walk-in centres represent the best use of resources.

Iran reopened its airspace after a temporary closure, and President Trump said he had been told executions were stopping and did not announce any immediate military action.

Officials say the remains of 32 Cuban officers killed in a U.S. strike on Venezuela arrived in Havana and were taken to the Ministry of the Armed Forces; a public demonstration is planned Friday opposite the U.S. Embassy.