Jon Stewart says he’s ‘offended’ by Epstein file mention: ‘Excuse me?’ ‘This is actually true,’ the Daily Show host said of surprise inclusion in newly released documents The Independent UK · Feb 3
White House, GOP leaders sway votes for rule on spending bill Top House Republicans are plowing forward with plans to vote Tuesday on a roughly $1.2 trillion spending package. Roll Call · Feb 3
Everyone’s won! Trump. Modi. And the politics of premature celebration No one yet knows the terms of a trade deal that could significantly alter how India powers its economy. That has not stopped New Delhi and Washington from launching into full celebration mode. Newslaundry · Feb 3
Iran warns Trump against ‘threats and unreasonable expectations’ after agreeing to US talks Iran’s president says he has instructed the country’s foreign minister to ‘pursue fair and equitable negotiations’ with the United States The Independent UK · Feb 3
Why China is building so many coal plants despite its solar and wind boom China has significantly increased its coal power capacity, reviving concerns about its climate-changing carbon emissions The Independent UK · Feb 3
Newsletter: 'Super Mario' returns at another moment of European economic reckoning Also in this newsletter: why European leaders are flocking to Beijing amid transatlantic tensions, the latest on Ukraine peace efforts, and the French budget is adopted after months of political gridlock. Euronews · Feb 3
Trump says he is seeking $1bn in damages in Harvard dispute US president makes further claims of antisemitism against Ivy League school amid wider dispute with higher education institutions The Guardian - AU · Feb 3
Journalist Don Lemon describes FBI hotel arrest to Jimmy Kimmel: ‘They want to instill fear’ Lemon was arrested on federal charges related to a protest against immigration enforcement at a Minnesota church that he covered The Independent UK · Feb 3
Ricky Gervais criticises celebrities for making political speeches at 2026 Grammys Award winners Bad Bunny and Billie Eilish denounced Donald Trump’s ongoing immigration crackdown in their acceptance speeches The Independent UK · Feb 3
EU-China relations enter 'do no harm' phase as Trump's shadow looms Last year, the EU and China flirted with a diplomatic reset, which collapsed after Beijing imposed broad restrictions on rare earth exports. That bruising experience has set the stage for a cautious engagement in 2026. Euronews · Feb 3
War, a Trump-imposed deal or internal regime collapse: for Tehran, none of the options are good Iran’s leaders now face unprecedented peril. The regime has lost its footing, and the global mechanisms to avoid conflict no longer work, says Sanam Vakil of Chatham House The Guardian - UK · Feb 3
Gabbard says Trump asked her to attend FBI raid at Georgia elections hub Her presence alarmed Democratic lawmakers, but Tulsi Gabbard insists she acted "well within my statutory authorities." Axios · Feb 3
‘We are now seeking one billion dollars in damages’: Donald Trump escalates standoff with Harvard University US President Donald Trump on Monday said his administration would seek $1 billion in damages from Harvard University, sharply escalating an ongoing standoff with the Ivy League institution. The Times of India · Feb 3
Even small EU nations go big on arms production, sending drones to the Ukrainian front and beyond Cyprus has become a surprising player in drone manufacturing, with Swarmly producing over 200 H-10 Poseidon drones for Ukraine The Independent UK · Feb 3
The Independent UK · Feb 3 MAHA has reshaped health policy. Now it's working on environmental rules MAHA activists who want to hold corporations accountable for harming Americans’ health have found an unlikely ally in a Republican-led Environmental Protection Agency that has traditionally supported big businesses and less regulation
The Independent UK · Feb 3 Mystery as another socialist South American leader vanishes without a trace Bolivia’s ex-leader Evo Morales disappeared from public view just days after the capture of his close ally – former Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro
The Independent UK · Feb 3 Trump, ICE, Bad Bunny: Super Bowl 60 arrives at pivotal moment for US The NFL faces pressure to take a stance against the Trump administration's immigration policies ahead of the Super Bowl
The Independent UK · Feb 3 Trial of ex-FirstEnergy executives charged in $60M Ohio bribery scheme set to begin The $4.3 million that Akron-based FirstEnergy paid veteran utility lawyer Sam Randazzo in 2019 is at the center of the latest criminal trial tied to Ohio's sweeping $60 million bribery scandal
The Independent UK · Feb 3 Defense seeks to block Charlie Kirk videos at hearing The defense also seeks to remove TV and still cameras from the courtroom
The Independent UK · Feb 3 France ditches Zoom and Teams for homegrown system amid European digital sovereignty push European governments are moving away from U.S. tech giants, opting for domestic or open-source alternatives
The Independent UK · Feb 3 Trump's $45 billion expansion of immigrant detention sites faces pushback from communities State and local officials are pushing back against federal plans to expand immigrant detention facilities
The Independent UK · Feb 3 Ukraine-Russia war latest: Zelensky accuses Moscow of exploiting US proposal to halt strikes after latest attack Limited ceasefire requested by Trump ends as Moscow resumes attacking Kyiv and other major Ukrainian cities
The Guardian - AU · Feb 3 Melania: Amazon’s $106m documentary takes $982 per screen in Australian opening weekend Documentary about the US first lady debuted at No 31 at Australian box office, making $32,399 from 33 screens
The Independent UK · Feb 3 Mandelson-Epstein latest: Starmer under pressure to release vetting documents after police announce criminal probe Tory leader Kemi Badenoch has demanded that the PM explain the vetting process for the former ambassador
Reason · Feb 3 Yoram Hazony's Fifteen Minutes of Infamy I'm left scratching my head with Hazony's strange remarks around a non-existent fifteen minute video that actually exists.