Washington: A partial government shutdown at the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) began after Congress failed to pass a funding bill before the deadline. The shutdown follows weeks of negotiations between Democrats and Republicans on reforms to immigration enforcement and oversight of agencies such as Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP). DHS is now the only federal agency without funding for the remainder of fiscal year 2026, which continues through Sept. 30, while lawmakers have already approved spending bills covering the rest of the government since a record-long shutdown ended in November.

According to Anadolu Agency, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi emphasized the importance of the EU's participation in peace negotiations to end the Russia-Ukraine war, urging Europe to be actively involved. At the Munich Security Conference, Wang asserted that Europe should not be sidelined and has every right to participate in negotiations with Russia. He emphasized Europe's role in the peace process, advocating for its inclusion at the negotiation table.

The UK government confirmed that Russian opposition figure Alexei Navalny died in prison in 2024 after being poisoned with the dart frog toxin. The British Foreign Office disclosed that collaborative work has verified the presence of the deadly toxin, epibatidine, in samples from Navalny's body. The toxin is found in the skin of Ecuador dart frogs and is believed to have caused Navalny's death. The UK and its partners have exposed the tragic circumstances surrounding his demise, underscoring the serious implications of this poison finding.