US immigration authorities are facing criticism after a 2-year-old girl was detained with her father in Minneapolis, according to media reports. The child, Chloe Renata Tipan Villacis, was with her father, Elvis Joel Tipan-Echeverria, when ICE agents stopped them while returning from a grocery store. The Department of Homeland Security said the father is an undocumented immigrant from Ecuador and was taken into custody after refusing to follow orders. The child was flown to Texas despite a court order seeking her release, reports said. DHS said the toddler was later released and reunited with her father. The case comes amid stepped-up immigration enforcement under Operation Metro Surge. (PC: NDTV)

US President Donald Trump has praised British troops who served in Afghanistan after his earlier remarks drew strong criticism. Trump had said Nato forces stayed “a little back” from front lines, comments UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer called “insulting and frankly appalling.” After speaking with Starmer, Trump posted online praising UK soldiers as “among the greatest of all warriors.” He said 457 British troops died and many were injured during the conflict. Downing Street said the call focused on the shared sacrifice of UK and US forces. Trump did not issue a direct apology for his earlier comments. (PC: BBC)

Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has reportedly retreated to a heavily fortified underground bunker in Tehran amid fears of a possible U.S. military strike, according to multiple media reports. The move follows warnings from Iranian security officials about heightened risks as U.S. naval forces, including the USS Abraham Lincoln carrier group, head toward the Middle East. The bunker includes interconnected tunnels and is meant to protect leadership during conflict. Khamenei’s third son, Masoud, is said to be handling daily operations and communications. Tehran has warned that any attack would trigger a severe response. (PC: AFP)

The family of a 37-year-old US nurse shot dead by a federal immigration officer in Minneapolis has rejected official claims about the incident. Alex Pretti, an intensive care nurse at the Minneapolis VA hospital, was sprayed with an irritant before being shot at least 10 times on Saturday. His family said he was unarmed and trying to protect a woman during the encounter. They accused the Trump administration of spreading “sickening lies” about him. Federal officials said Pretti was carrying a handgun and ammunition. Minneapolis police said he was a lawful gun owner. Investigations into the shooting are continuing.

A 25-year-old Hindu man was found dead after a fire in Narsingdi, Bangladesh, police said on Saturday. The victim, Chanchal Bhowmik, was asleep inside a garage when the blaze broke out late Friday night. Firefighters broke open the shutter but could not save him. His body was found badly burned. Police said CCTV footage from the area shows a person moving near the site before the fire. Officers are examining whether the blaze was caused by an electrical fault or an external act. No arrests have been made so far, and the investigation is ongoing, police added. (PC: X)

American climber Alex Honnold has completed a free solo climb of Taipei 101, a 101-floor skyscraper in Taiwan. He climbed the 508-metre building without a rope, harness, or safety equipment. The ascent took one hour and 31 minutes and was streamed live by Netflix. Wet weather delayed the climb by one day. Taipei 101 was once the world’s tallest building. Honnold’s time was faster than French climber Alain Robert, who climbed the tower in four hours using safety gear. Taiwan’s vice president congratulated Honnold after the climb. Honnold is best known for his rope-free ascent of El Capitan, shown in the film Free Solo. (PC: BBC)

A video shared online shows the moments before federal immigration agents shot and killed Alex Pretti, a nurse, in Minneapolis. Pretti, 37, is seen surrounded by officers and pushed to the ground as bystanders shout at the agents. Shots are fired during the struggle, and Pretti later dies at the scene. Witnesses blew whistles as officers moved away from his body. Pretti was an American citizen and worked as an ICU nurse at a veterans hospital. His death comes weeks after another fatal shooting by an ICE officer in the city. The incident has triggered protests and clashes with authorities.

Protests broke out in Minneapolis after a US Border Patrol officer shot and killed Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old nurse, during a demonstration. Pretti was the second person this month to die after an encounter with a federal agent in the city. Authorities said he approached officers with a handgun and resisted arrest. Videos verified by Reuters appear to show him holding a mobile phone and trying to help other protesters. The incident followed earlier protests over the killing of Renee Good on January 7. Demonstrations spread to several US cities. Minnesota Governor Tim Walz said the state should lead the investigation as officials urged calm. (PC: HT)

The first three-way peace talks between Russia, Ukraine and the United States ended in Abu Dhabi with no clear breakthrough. Fighting continued during the talks. Ukrainian officials said Russian drone and missile strikes hit energy facilities, killing one person and injuring 35. Kyiv and Kharkiv reported damage to heating, hospitals and shelters as temperatures stayed below zero. Russia accused Ukraine of attacking an ambulance and later reported strikes on energy sites in Belgorod. These claims could not be independently verified. President Volodymyr Zelensky said talks focused on terms to end the war and on US oversight. A US official said the sides will meet again on 1 February. (PC: BBC)

A 23-year-old Hindu man, Chanchal Chandra Bhoumik, was burned alive inside a garage in Narsingdi district, Bangladesh, late Friday night, prompting his family to call it a premeditated murder. Eyewitnesses say unknown assailants poured petrol on the garage shutter and set it on fire while Bhoumik was sleeping inside, trapping him in the blaze. His charred body was later recovered after firefighters controlled the fire. The incident has sparked tension in the area and raised concerns about the safety of minorities. Police are examining CCTV footage and evidence and have begun a case. (PC: India Today)