Hundreds of demonstrators took to the streets of Milan on Saturday to protest plans for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents to support security operations at the upcoming 2026 Winter Olympics, drawing criticism from citizens and local leaders alike.
The demonstration in Piazza XXV Aprile saw crowds of Italians, including families and trade union members, carrying banners and blowing whistles to express opposition to the planned deployment of ICE personnel during the Games, which run from 6 to 22 February in Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo.
Protesters waved signs comparing ICE to oppressive forces and linked their opposition to broader concerns about human rights and enforcement tactics used by the agency in the United States. The planned participation of ICE came under scrutiny especially after recent controversial shootings and enforcement actions by U.S. agents, which have triggered national and international criticism.
Milan’s mayor, Giuseppe Sala, has publicly condemned the proposed role of ICE agents, describing the agency as “a militia that kills” and saying agents would not be welcome in his city. Italian officials and opposition figures have argued that the presence of a U.S. federal agency known for its tough domestic enforcement record would be inappropriate on Italian soil.
U.S. embassy sources clarified that the ICE personnel would be part of broader U.S. security support for visiting officials, including Vice President J.D. Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and would operate in a non-enforcement, intelligence-focused capacity rather than on the streets. Italy’s Interior Ministry has also emphasised that all Olympic security operations remain under Italian authority.
Despite those assurances, the controversy has sparked wider debate in Italy about foreign security involvement and concerns tied to civil liberties and policing practices. With the Olympics less than a week away, further protests and political scrutiny are expected as preparations continue.
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Three people were injured after a gunman opened fire and held students and teachers hostage at a school in Hat Yai district in southern Thailand on Wednesday, police said.
Greece's Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis is due in Türkiye on Wednesday (11 February) for talks with Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, as the two NATO allies seek to sustain a fragile thaw after decades of strained relations.
Afghanistan’s humanitarian situation remained severe throughout 2025, with millions still struggling to meet basic needs, according to a new report by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).
The Philippine foreign ministry on Wednesday (11 February) called on the Chinese Embassy in Manila to adopt a “constructive” tone in its statements, amid an intensifying war of words between Chinese diplomats and Philippine officials, including senators.
JD Vance arrived in Armenia on Monday (9 February), becoming the first sitting U.S. Vice President to visit the country, as Yerevan and Washington agreed to cooperate in the civil nuclear sector in a bid to deepen engagement in the South Caucasus.
The United States and Azerbaijan signed a strategic partnership in Baku on Tuesday (10 February) encompassing economic and security cooperation as Washington seeks to expand its influence in a region where Russia was once the main power broker.
Buckingham Palace said it is ready to support any police investigation into allegations that Prince Andrew shared confidential British trade documents with late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, as King Charles expressed “profound concern” over the latest revelations.
Chinese authorities have quietly signalled a shift in strategy, instructing some state-owned banks to rein in their purchases of U.S. government bonds.
Convicted Epstein associate Ghislaine Maxwell refused to answer questions before Congress, while her lawyer said she could clear President Donald Trump of wrongdoing if granted clemency.
Three people were injured after a gunman opened fire and held students and teachers hostage at a school in Hat Yai district in southern Thailand on Wednesday, police said.
The Philippine foreign ministry on Wednesday (11 February) called on the Chinese Embassy in Manila to adopt a “constructive” tone in its statements, amid an intensifying war of words between Chinese diplomats and Philippine officials, including senators.
Norway’s Sturla Holm Laegreid, who won bronze in the men’s biathlon at the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics on Tuesday (10 February) in Italy, stunned viewers by publicly admitting he had cheated on his girlfriend and pleaded for another chance during post-race interviews.
Kyiv is preparing to outline a simultaneous return to the ballot box and a public vote on a potential peace settlement, the Financial Times reports. It would mark a pivotal shift in the country's political landscape on the fourth anniversary of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
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