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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The 4th International Dog Sled Racing Competition brought speed, skill and festive energy to Ladova Park in Stratena, Slovakia, on Saturday, as mushers and their dogs competed across snow-covered terrain.
Pakistan says at least 92 militants were killed in coordinated attacks across Balochistan on Saturday, a sweeping assault that stretched from Quetta to the port city of Gwadar and left civilians and security forces among the dead.
Iran’s top security official says a structured framework for negotiations with the United States is beginning to emerge, as regional diplomacy intensifies amid heightened military and political tensions.
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Catherine O’Hara, the celebrated Canadian actress and comedy legend, has died at the age of 71, her publicist confirmed on Friday. She passed away at her home in Los Angeles following a brief illness.
The U.S. Department of Justice on Friday made public more than three million pages of documents on Jeffrey Epstein, the late financier and convicted sex offender, including investigative records referencing U.S. President Donald Trump, tech mogul Elon Musk and Britain’s former Duke of York.
The United Nations faces the risk of “imminent financial collapse” because of unpaid contributions, including substantial arrears from the United States, Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has warned.
The Kremlin said on Friday (30 January) that Russian President had received a personal request from his U.S. counterpart, Donald Trump. The request was to halt strikes on Kyiv until 1 February to create a favourable environment for peace negotiations.
Vladimir Putin said Russia earned more than $15 billion from defence exports in 2025 and fulfilled all military-technical contracts despite what he described as growing pressure from Western countries.
Parts of Ukraine and Moldova, including Kyiv and Chisinau, were plunged into blackouts on Saturday after a malfunction on high-voltage power lines, with electricity restored later in the day.
More than 200 people were killed in a collapse at the Rubaya coltan mine in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo this week, according to rebel-appointed provincial authorities who said the final toll is still being verified.
The 4th International Dog Sled Racing Competition brought speed, skill and festive energy to Ladova Park in Stratena, Slovakia, on Saturday, as mushers and their dogs competed across snow-covered terrain.
Pakistan says at least 92 militants were killed in coordinated attacks across Balochistan on Saturday, a sweeping assault that stretched from Quetta to the port city of Gwadar and left civilians and security forces among the dead.
Iran’s top security official says a structured framework for negotiations with the United States is beginning to emerge, as regional diplomacy intensifies amid heightened military and political tensions.
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