WASHINGTON (AP) — Beyond the car windows being smashed, people tackled on city streets — or even a little child with a floppy bunny ears snowcap detained — the images of masked federal officers has become a flashpoint in the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement operations.

Not in recent U.S. memory has an American policing operation so consistently masked its thousands of officers from the public, a development that the Department of Homeland Security believes is important to safeguard employees from online harassment. But experts warn masking serves another purpose, inciting fear in communities, and risks shattering norms, accountability and trust between the police and its citizenry.

Whether to ban the masks — or allow the masking to continue — has emerged as a central question in the debate in Congress over funding Homeland Security ahead of Friday’s midnight deadline, when it faces a partial agency shutdown.

“Humans read each others’ faces — that’s how we communicate,” said Justin Smith, a former Colorado sheriff who is executive director and CEO of the National Sheriffs’ Association.

“When you have a number of federal agents involved in these operations, and they can’t be identified, you can’t see their face, it just tends to make people uncomfortable,” he said. “That’s bringing up some questions.”

Democrats demand ‘masks off’

Masks on federal agents have been one constant throughout the first year of President Donald Trump’s mass deportation operation.

What began as a jarring image last spring, when plain-clothed officers drawing up their masks surrounded and detained a Tufts University doctoral student near her Massachusetts home, has morphed into familiar scenes in Los Angeles, Chicago and other cities. The shooting deaths of two American citizens at the hands of federal immigration officers during demonstrations against ICE raids in Minneapolis sparked widespread public protest and spurred lawmakers to respond.

“Cameras on, masks off” has become a rallying cry among Democrats, who are also insisting the officers wear body cameras as a way to provide greater accountability and oversight of the operations.

House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries told reporters at the Capitol that unmasking the federal agents is a “hard red line” in the negotiations ahead.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement says on its website that its officers “wear masks to prevent doxing, which can (and has) placed them and their families at risk. All ICE law enforcement officers carry badges and credentials and will identify themselves when required for public safety or legal necessity.”

Fueled with funds from the Trump’s big tax cuts bill, which poured some $170 billion into Homeland Security, ICE has grown to become among the largest law enforcement operations in the nation. Last year, it announced it had more than doubled its ranks, to 22,000, with rapid hiring — and $50,000 signing bonuses. Homeland Security did not respond to an emailed request for further comment.

Most Republicans say the current political climate leaves the immigration officers, many of them new to the job, exposed if their faces and identities are made public.

Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C., said he just can’t agree with Democrats’ demand that officers unmask themselves.

“You know, there’s a lot of vicious people out there, and they’ll take a picture of your face, and the next thing you know, your children or your wife or your husband are being threatened at home,” he said. “That’s just the reality of the world that we’re in.”

ICE stands apart with masks

It appears no other policing agency in the country regularly uses masking on a widespread basis. Instead, masks are used during special operations, particularly undercover work or at times during large crowd control or protest situations, and when there is inclement weather or individual health concerns.

Experts said only perhaps during the Ku Klux Klan raids or in the Old West has masking been a more widely used tool.

“It is without precedent in modern American history,” said the American Civil Liberties Union’s Naureen Shah in Washington.

She said the idea of masked patrols on city streets seeking immigrants can leave people scared and confused about who they are encountering — which she suggested is part of the point.

“I think it’s calculated to terrify people,” she said. “I don’t think anybody viscerally feels like, OK, this is something we want to become a permanent fixture in our streets.”

Toward the end of the first Trump administration, Congress sought to clamp down after masked federal agents showed up in 2020 to quell protests in Portland and other cities. A provision requiring agents to clearly identify themselves was tucked into a massive defense authorization bill that Trump assigned into law.

Last year, California became the first state in the nation to ban most law enforcement officers, including federal immigration agents, from covering their faces. The Trump administration’s Justice Department sued, saying the state’s policies “create risk” for the agents.

Police seek middle ground, advocates say unmasking is not enough

Smith, of the sheriffs’ association, said there’s no easy answer to the current masking debate.

He suggested perhaps a middle ground could be reached — one that would allow officers to wear masks, but also require their badge or other identifying numbers to be prominently displayed.

Advocates said while unmasking the federal agents would be an important step, other restraints on immigration enforcement operations may be even more so.

They are pushing Congress to curb the ability of ICE officers to rely on administrative warrants in immigration operations, particularly to enter people’s homes, insisting such actions should be required to use judicial warrants, with sign off from the courts.

There is also an effort to end roving patrols — the ability of immigration officers to use a person’s race, language or job location to question their legal status, sometimes called “Kavanaugh stops” after Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh’s concurring opinion to a Supreme Court decision last summer.

Greg Chen, senior director of government affairs at the American Immigration Lawyers Association, said because Congress gave Homeland Security such robust funding in the tax cuts bill, “That’s why the policy reforms are so important right now to bring the agency in check.”

Rep. Ayanna Pressley, D-Mass., who recently returned from Minnesota, said the weight of the masked enforcement operation can be felt in ways that impact everyone — regardless of a person’s own immigration status.

“It’s a very a heavy presence of surveillance and intimidation,” she said. “No one is exempt.”

A man is due to appear at Dundee Sheriff Court today in connection with the death of 38-year-old James Dougan on December 31, 2025.

A man who was found dead on Hogmanay at a block of flats in Dundee has been named.

James Dougan, 38, was found within Tulloch Court in the Hilltown area of Dundee on Wednesday, December 31. Emergency services had been called to the scene shortly after 2pm.

His death was initially described by police as unexplained, and enquiries remain ongoing. A 43-year-old man has since been arrested and charged in connection with the death.

He is due to appear at Dundee Sheriff Court on February 9.

His daughter Brodie Dougan, 22, shared a heartfelt tribute to her dad, describing him as “loving, caring and loyal”.

She said: “I will remember my dad for who he really was.

“He would have done anything for his people and he loved to his fullest.

“Rest in peace dad. I will love and cherish you forever.”

She told the Record her dad had struggled with addiction for much of his life and shared a moving message about the impact of addiction on families across the city.

She said: “We will never know if there was light at the end of the tunnel for him.

“Drugs are rife in our city and many who are suffering go unnoticed.

“These are mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters, aunties and uncles — people stuck in a cycle that consumes their every thought.

“If we don’t speak up about these issues, we will never see change.”

James’s partner, Christine Duncan, also paid tribute, describing him as her “soul mate”.

“Forever in my heart, I will never forget you,” she said. “You are in my mind, heart and soul. I love you, you are always in my thoughts. You were my soul mate. Sleep tight, handsome man — no other man will ever take your place.”

Cops conducted more than 80 door-to-door enquiries and reviewed over 100 hours of CCTV footage in an effort to trace James’ movements before he was found.

He was last seen on CCTV wearing a black and grey horizontal striped beanie hat, dark puffer jacket, dark joggers and black Nike trainers with white soles. However, when he was discovered, he was not wearing a hat or shoes.

Police were keen to locate the hat and shoes as it could help them understand his movements. They were also looking to speak with anyone who may have seen him in Hilltown between 11.30am and 2.05pm on Hogmanay.

A spokesperson for Police Scotland previously said: “Detectives are appealing for information as their investigation continues into the death of a man in Dundee.

“Following the results of a post-mortem examination, his death continues to be treated as unexplained and enquiries are ongoing.”

Yes, the wedding ceremony during Bad Bunny’s historic Super Bowl half-time show – the first where a headliner performed entirely in Spanish – was genuine.

About five minutes into the Puerto Rican artist‘s 13-minute performance at Levi’s Stadium in California, cameras panned to a couple’s wedding ceremony.

“I declare you husband and wife, you can kiss the bride,” a smiling officiant declared in Spanish.

The newlyweds then parted to reveal Lady Gaga and Los Sobrinos, a Puerto Rican salsa band who played on Bad Bunny’s most recent album and at his Puerto Rican residency.

The couple are serenaded by Gaga, who sings “Die With A Smile,” before cameras focus in on the couple cutting their wedding cake and dancing to Bad Bunny’s “Baile Inolvidable” (Unforgettable Dance).

The star, who recently won album of the year at the Grammys, performed on a heavily Puerto Rican-inspired stage.

After the show, his representative confirmed that the couple had actually been married during the show.

The unnamed husband and wife had invited Bad Bunny to their wedding, but he said they should instead be part of his half-time show.

The artist served as a witness and signed their marriage certificate.

The wedding scene, which recreated a small outdoor plaza, was part of the show’s greater celebration of Puerto Rico.

The scene quickly went viral, with one person commenting on the NFL’s official YouTube video of the performance: “Imagine being in your 80s telling your grandchildren you got to have a wedding in the Super Bowl”.

Another jokingly commented, “‘How many people came to your wedding?’

“‘Idk (I don’t know), like 70,000’ – that couple”.

The joyous half-time show was labelled as the “worst ever” by US President Donald Trump.

Trump, who attended last year’s show, called Bad Bunny’s show “an affront to the Greatness of America”.

“Nobody understands a word this guy is saying,” he added.

Mr Trump’s administration has long been hostile to the use of Spanish within the US.

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Within hours of Trump’s second inauguration in 2025, the new administration took down the Spanish-language version of the official White House website.

The president shut down the Spanish version of the website during his first term. It was restored when President Joe Biden was inaugurated in 2021.

In March 2025, Trump signed an executive order designating English as the official language of the United States.

The order allows government agencies and organisations which receive federal funding to choose whether to continue to offer documents and services in languages other than English.

According to a 2022 US Census Bureau report, 67.8 million (almost one in five) people in the US spoke a language other than English at home in 2019.

The fighting was reported at Horwich Parkway station, a short walk from the Toughsheet Stadium, with parts of it captured and circulating on social media.

British Transport Police (BTP) say that the fighting men appeared to have left the station before their officers arrived but that the force is making enquiries about the incident.

A BTP spokesperson said: “Officers were called at around 5.30pm on Saturday February 7 to reports of two groups of men fighting at Horwich Parkway railway station.

“Those involved had left prior to police arrival. Enquiries are ongoing.”

Bolton and Barnsley fans clashing at the train station today… 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 pic.twitter.com/D7QwPawkAQ

— Football Fights (@Footballfights) February 7, 2026

The fighting reportedly took place between small groups of Bolton Wanderers and Barnsley FC fans at Horwich Parkway station on the afternoon of Saturday, February 7.

The vast majority of both sets of fans enjoyed the League One fixture in peace without incident.

Wanderers overcame Barnsley by three goals to two, with two goals apiece from Sam Dalby and a third from John McAtee.

Luca Connell and Adam Phillips were both on the scoresheet for Barnsley.

Anyone with any further information or concerns can call police on 101 or 999 in the event of an emergency.

Alternatively, members of the public can call independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

The issue also befell the German team who won bronze in the biathlon. An Instagram video, external shows the medal falling from the ribbon of one of the athletes as they jumped up and down in celebration at the team hotel.

Andrea Francisi, Milan-Cortina 2026 chief games operations officer, said the organisers are investigating the issue.

“We are fully aware of the situation,” Francisi said. “We are looking into exactly what the problem is.

“We are going to pay maximum attention to the medals, and obviously this is something we want to be perfect when the medal is handed over because this is one of the most important moments for the athletes.”

A United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee spokesperson told BBC Sport they are waiting for organisers to resolve the issue.

It has not yet been confirmed whether athletes will receive replacement medals.

This is not the first time the quality of medals awarded at Olympic Games has been called into question.

As of February 2025, a total of 220 requests have been made to replace medals won at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games because of wear and tear – roughly 4% of those awarded.

Diver Yasmin Harper, who won Team GB’s first medal of the 2024 Games, was among the athletes to notice her medal was showing signs of “tarnishing”.

Paris 2024 organisers said any damaged medals would be replaced.

Ring has sparked privacy fears with its new Super Bowl advertisement, which features an AI-powered dog detector.

Ring Doorbells are home security systems that act a bit like a digital peephole – allowing you to snoop on who’s standing outside your door.

Now, Ring is hoping you not only use it to check if the delivery driver stole your parcel or not, but to see if there’s a missing canine outside your door.

The ad, ‘Search Party from Ring | Be A Hero In Your Neighborhood’, opens with a young girl receiving a puppy named Milo.

But Milo became one of the 10 million pets that go missing annually in the US, Ring founder Jamie Siminoff says.

While the girl is out nailing ‘Missing Dog’ posters to telephone poles, her parents post a photo of Milo to the Ring Neighbors App.

Siminoff explains: ”One post of a dog’s photo in the Ring app starts outdoor cameras looking for a match.

‘Search Party from Ring uses AI to help families find lost dogs.’

The ad shows dozens of people in the local area have video doorbells, each on the lookout for missing canines.

When a missing dog report is posted, nearby outdoor cameras begin scanning for matches, Ring says on its help webpage.

If one finds a similar dog, the owner can review the footage alongside the missing dog’s photo. Ring and non-Ring camera owners can take part.

Users can alert the pet owners if they decide a filmed dog is theirs. Ring says there’s no obligation to do so for privacy purposes.

The Super Bowl ad, which aired yesterday, ended with Milo running into the arms of his family.

Viewers, however, weren’t sure how to feel about this.

Online streamer and political commentator Hasan Piker said on X: ‘How much longer till the always on remote ai capabilities of your Ring camera isn’t “optional”.’

Another user added: ‘Ring offering to turn your neighbourhood into an AI-fuelled surveillance state under the guise of “helping you find your lost dog” is CRAZY.’

On YouTube, a user commented: ‘This is like the commercial they show at the beginning of a dystopian sci-fi film to quickly show people how bad things have gotten.’

Ring said that since the launch of the tool in November in the US, Search Party for Dogs has helped reunite one dog a day with its owners.

Users were emailed about the upcoming feature, which said the function is enabled by default, saying: ‘You can always turn off Search Party.’

The company has insisted the function does not scan human faces.

Mimi Swain, Ring’s chief commercial officer, told Forbes ahead of the ad airing that Ring not covering the technical specs was a deliberate choice.

Swain said: ‘The goal wasn’t to overwhelm viewers with product details. It was to show Ring’s bigger purpose.’

Amazon, which owns Ring, said in a blog post: ‘Search Party’s expansion reflects a meaningful step forward in Ring’s mission to make neighbourhoods safer – including for all our four-legged family members.’

Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.

For more stories like this, check our news page.

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Sitting in the stands, Kim Kardashian and Lewis Hamilton made their first major public appearance together, after weeks of speculation about their romance. The seven-time Formula 1 world champion and the reality TV star were spotted chatting and smiling together during the game, and were caught on video by NBC News.

The qualifying age for free bus passes in England rises from 66 to 67 from April 2026, in line with state pension age increases

The Department for Transport has confirmed that from April, residents in England will need to wait an additional year before receiving their free bus pass. A significant campaign calling for the same concessionary travel entitlements as those in Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland – where free bus travel is available from age 60.

In England, free travel is only offered from age 66, in line with the state pension age. This applies unless local authorities, including those in London and Merseyside, choose to fund the provision themselves.

From next year, the qualifying age for a free pass in England will rise by a further 12 months. This change coincides with the planned increase in the State Pension age from 66 to 67, set to be fully implemented across the UK by 2028 for both men and women.

The adjustment to the official retirement age has been scheduled since 2014, with a subsequent increase from 67 to 68 expected between 2044 and 2046. The Pensions Act 2014 brought forward the rise in the State Pension age from 66 to 67 by eight years.

The UK Government also altered the phasing of the State Pension age increase, meaning that rather than reaching State Pension age on a specific date, people born between March 6, 1961, and April 5, 1977, will be entitled to claim the State Pension upon turning 67.

The same will apply to their concessionary bus passes. The Department for Transport (DfT) has confirmed that concessionary bus passes will also be affected.

A spokesperson stated: “We fully recognise bus passes are vital to many older people, providing access to essential services and keeping people connected through free local travel. We’re already in the process of making ambitious reforms to improve bus services for all passengers and supporting local areas to improve reliability and affordability.”

The English National Concessionary Travel Scheme offers free off-peak bus travel to those with qualifying disabilities and individuals who have reached state pension age (as per the Pension Act 2014). It operates between 9.30am and 11.00pm on weekdays and throughout the day on weekends and Bank Holidays, reports the Mirror.

State Pension age is set to rise from 66 to 67 between 2026 and 2028, as outlined in the State Pension Act 2014. The DfT added: “Local authorities in England have the power to offer concessions in addition to their statutory obligations, for example, by lowering the age of eligibility. These are additional local concessions provided and funded by local authorities from local resources, depending on the needs and priorities of each area.”

Individuals become eligible for free bus travel in England when they reach state pension age, currently 66 but due to increase from next year. In January, a discussion on concessionary travel occurred following a petition that garnered over 100,000 signatures.

Labour’s Tony Vaughan stated: “There are many areas of our country where there is free bus travel for the over-60s: London, Liverpool, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. In our country, there is a growing misperception that if someone is over 60, they are somehow financially blessed, with a house on which the mortgage has been paid off, and they have plenty of assets and capital washing around. Many people think that the over-60s do not need free bus travel. I challenge that narrative.

“A new report from Standard Life identifies a substantial rise in financial insecurity among people in their early 60s, after the increases in the state pension age since 2010, and highlights that there are a quarter of a million more people aged 60 to 64 in relative income poverty than there were in 2010.

“There is already free bus travel for the over-60s in several parts of the UK, so this policy can work. The 60+ London Oyster photocard, operated and funded by TfL, is available to London residents over 60. There are 383,000 active users of that photocard, which I know makes a positive difference to the lives of the 24% of Londoners in that age group who live in poverty.”

Independent MP Iqbal Mohamed stated: “The fact that more than 100,000 people signed it shows how strongly the public feel about the issue and how far it reaches into people’s everyday lives. People’s access to free travel should not depend on where they live or how stretched their council’s budget happens to be. National problems require national solutions.”

Labour’s Mohammad Yasin remarked: “Free bus travel for over-60s would not only provide much-needed financial relief, but help to reduce social isolation, support access to healthcare and enable continued engagement in work, volunteering and community life.”

In his response, Mr Lightwood explained: “For many people in their early 60s, buses are a lifeline to work, caring, volunteering and staying active in their communities. However, eligibility for an older person’s bus pass in England is set in legislation at the state pension age, which is currently 66. That link reflects changes in longevity and helps to ensure that the scheme remains equitable and affordable over time. Any change to national eligibility would therefore need to be considered carefully.

“The concessionary travel scheme is a significant national entitlement. Local authority spending on concessionary travel, supported by the Government, is around £795 million a year. Changing the national statutory eligibility would carry substantial additional recurring costs.

“At the end of last year, we confirmed long-term investment of more than £3 billion over the next three years to support local leaders and bus operators across the country, in order to improve local bus services for millions of passengers over the remainder of this spending period.”

The historic store on Deansgate closed in April 2023 to widespread disappointment and has been empty ever since.

Nearly three years later, on Friday, February 6, a passerby reported that he had seen what appeared to be squatters occupying the building.

He said: “I was walking towards the Market Place from the Three Crowns and I heard a bang at the old M&S building.

“I thought, ‘what the hell was that?’ I looked in the alleyway, and I saw what looked like two people, a male and a female, leaving the building, and it looked like they were closing the door behind them.”

The former Marks and Spencer building is currently empty (Image: Newsquest)

The man said that he then reported the alleged squatters to Bolton Council, which owns the building, at the One Stop Shop at the town hall later that same afternoon.

The Bolton News went to visit the site and observed a woman appearing to let herself back into the empty building through the doors on the Deansgate side.

Bolton Council bought the building for £15M back in 2019 as part of its wider £1billion town centre masterplan.

The building is found on Deansgate in the town centre (Image: Newsquest)

In 2023, Marks and Spencer said changing shopping habits had been behind its decision to close the Bolton branch, but the move prompted widespread concerns about the town’s high street.

The future of the building and its role in the wider regeneration of the town has been a much-debated topic since then.

But in November last year, Marks and Spencer said the Bolton North East area was one of 500 target locations around the country where it was looking at opening new food stores.

The company has also maintained a branch at Middlebrook Retail Park, which it is looking to expand into a flagship outlet.

A Bolton Council spokesperson said: “Security staff have done a check of the building and found no evidence that anyone has accessed internally.

“However, we are aware that on occasion, there have been individuals residing behind the hoarding.

“Our next step will be to arrange a joint site visit with the Homeless Welfare Team and Greater Manchester Police so that we can engage with the individuals, offer appropriate support, and safely move them from the area.

“Once this has been completed, the site can be secured.”

A spokesperson for Greater Manchester Police confirmed that this was a civil matter and in the hands of the council.

A critically acclaimed period drama film from one of America’s greatest directors is now available on Netflix

Netflix is presently showing one of the most highly praised films from the past decade, created by one of Hollywood’s leading directors.

Drawing from an extraordinary true account of determination against racial prejudice in 1970s America, BlacKkKlansman is broadly regarded as amongst director Spike Lee’s finest works.

John David Washington portrays real-life police officer Ron Stallworth, who became the first Black officer recruited by the Colorado Springs Police Department.

Following persistent harassment from his racist workmates, Stallworth rises to detective and joins forces with his Jewish colleague Flip Zimmerman (portrayed by Adam Driver ) to penetrate a local branch of the Ku Klux Klan. Whilst Stallworth impersonates a white member over the telephone, Zimmerman participates in gatherings personally to dismantle the extremist organisation from the inside.

BlacKkKlansman initially premiered in 2018 and garnered widespread critical acclaim and significant awards recognition, including nods for Best Picture and Best Director at the Academy Awards, whilst securing victory for Best Adapted Screenplay, reports the Express.

Audiences have remained captivated by this revealing historical drama throughout the years since, owing to its blend of outstanding acting, witty dialogue and nail-biting suspense.

One Letterboxd critic commented upon release: “The film of the year. A powerful, horrifying & scathingly funny masterpiece.”

A different viewer enthused: “Absolutely haunting, Spike Lee does not hold back and nor should he.”

Another viewer penned in a five-star review: “Overall, BlacKkKlansman is an entertaining, hilarious, powerful and just all around an amazing film that tackles its messages extremely well.

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“The direction from Lee is incredible and as my first film I’ve watched [by] him he killed it and I’m excited to see the rest of his stuff. The performances are also excellent, especially from Driver & Washington and yeah I would highly recommend checking this one out!”

Praise poured in on IMDb, where one person awarded BlackKklansman 10/10, writing: “Thank you, Spike Lee. Your film should be required viewing for ages 0 to 100 and not just by Americans.

“Any American history teacher on the planet should urge his/her students to open their eyes, ears, minds and hearts and learn from your masterpiece.”

A different fan commented: “Perfect blend of humor and drama to tell this incredibly important story. Racism is so stupid. The last 5 minutes is a nice reminder of where we’re at as a nation unfortunately.”

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One final reviewer noted: “Too often true stories drag out the story line with clutter of facts. Not so here. The pace kept us involved to the end.

“Lee and [producer Jordan] Peele provide a troubling reminder of the past and a cautionary tale of the present. Many in our theater laughed, cheered and left humbled and disturbed. Powerful movie.”

Whether you’re about to experience it for the first time or fancy a rewatch of one of the standout film releases from the last decade, ensure BlackKklansman is added to your Netflix watchlist post-haste.

BlackKklansman can be streamed on Netflix.