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Despite flagging public support for his economic and immigration policies, U.S. President Donald Trump delivered a bullish message to Congress and the nation in his annual State of the Union Address last night. The theme of the speech was 鈥淎merica at 250: Strong, Prosperous, and Respected鈥� 鈥� a reference to the nation鈥檚 semiquincentennial this coming July 4. In her rebuttal on behalf of the Democratic Party, Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger criticized the president鈥檚 tariff policies as 鈥渞eckless鈥�, decried the administration鈥檚 immigration enforcement tactics, and accused Mr. Trump of 鈥渦nprecedented鈥� corruption. Read Linda Feldmann鈥檚 story here.

The U.S. Internal Revenue Service can share data with immigration enforcement, for now. The federal appeals court for the D.C. Circuit on Tuesday upheld the tax agency鈥檚 data-sharing with the Department of Homeland Security. The court affirmed a lower-court denial of a preliminary injunction request sought by immigrant advocates. Supporters of the government plan call it common sense, while critics raise privacy concerns. Many unauthorized immigrants have long paid taxes with assurances that confidential data would not be disclosed to immigration officials.

Italy will continue to send military aid to Ukraine, a senior government official said Tuesday, reaffirming support for Kyiv as Russia鈥檚 invasion enters its fourth year. Giovanbattista Fazzolari, a cabinet undersecretary and close aide to Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, said continued support 鈥渃ould lead Russia to genuine peace negotiations within a reasonable time frame.鈥� Italy has already sent 12 military aid packages worth more than $3.5 billion, including air defence systems. However, the policy has exposed divisions within Ms. Meloni鈥檚 ruling coalition, with the far-right League party saying further assistance may not help end the war.

The U.S. House of Representatives rejected a bill aimed at addressing factors behind a deadly plane crash at Reagan National Airport last year. The Pentagon had pulled its support for the bill Monday, despite having endorsed a Senate version that passed unanimously in December, citing budget and national security concerns. House Transportation chair Sam Graves (R) of Missouri opposed the bill, which was supported by families of crash victims, proposing an alternative he said was less burdensome to smaller flights.

Paramount made its final bid for Warner Bros. in face-off with Netflix. Warner Bros. Discovery confirmed that Paramount Skydance submitted a revised bid to acquire the company. Industry insiders expected the offer to exceed the original bid of $108 billion, or $30 per share. Paramount submitted the bid on the final day of a seven-day negotiation window granted by Netflix. If Warner accepts Paramount鈥檚 final offer, Warner would owe a $2.8 billion break-up fee to Netflix, which Paramount has offered to take on. Netflix now has four days to respond to Paramount鈥檚 bid. Warner鈥檚 board said it 鈥渃ontinues to recommend in favor of the Netflix transaction.鈥�

The Boston Globe did not print a Tuesday paper this week after a blizzard in the Northeast left up to three feet of snow and thousands without power. Its digital editions did go live. Labor strikes halted print production a few times in the 1960s, its editors said in a published story. But this decision marks the first time since the Globe鈥檚 founding in 1872 that management has suspended production of the daily print paper, which is among the 15 most-read in the country. Taunton, Massachusetts, where the paper is printed, received 29 inches of snow. Parts of Massachusetts remain under a travel ban, and some 250,000 residents do not have power.

鈥� Compiled by Monitor writers around the world

This State of the Union speech offered relatively few new policy proposals. But the goal was clear: To convince voters that they鈥檙e better off now than when President Donald Trump returned to office 13 months ago.

The United States has amassed the largest force since the war in Iraq. Iran threatens an all-out response to any attack, even if limited. As they prepare for nuclear diplomacy in Geneva to avoid conflict, each side appears to be misreading the other.

Greenlandic culture and identity, rooted in Inuit traditions, have seen a revival. As the world clamors for its rare earth minerals and energy potential, will its people be able to choose their own path?

While space-based data centers promise to alleviate Earth鈥檚 energy crisis, the next frontier of innovation hinges on designing orbital infrastructure that is sustainable and avoids creating a 鈥渄umping ground鈥� in orbit.

Mobile libraries operated by Alif Laila Book Bus Society have grown into a nationwide phenomenon, upending the belief among many Pakistanis that reading is a pastime reserved for the elite.

Dozens of viral videos coming out of Iran in recent days reveal a marked shift in what Iranians think of the regime in Tehran, especially after its brutal killing of thousands of protesters on Jan. 8 and 9.

The videos of funerals in homes and cemeteries for those killed last month show family and friends dancing instead of wailing, singing instead of lamenting, cheering with political slogans instead of trembling in fear of further repression.

Many wear clothes that are vibrant, as if at a wedding, rather than traditional black. In Iran, memorials for loved ones are often held several times, until 40 days have passed.

An Iranian who posted one video wrote on the social platform X that when the regime trivializes the killing of so many people, 鈥渨e dance to welcome eternity.鈥澛燚eath, in other words, is not being given the last word.

For the Islamic Republic, these images are very worrying, Holly Dagres, a senior fellow at The Washington Institute for Near East Policy, told Iran International. 鈥淚nstead of these people mourning and being traumatized by what has happened, which they are to an extent, they鈥檙e celebrating. And that ... signifies that this is a people that鈥檚 no longer afraid of the Islamic Republic.鈥�

To a degree, the regime admits this point. 鈥淥ur society is wounded, and if it is not treated, it will engulf the entire society,鈥� President Masoud Pezeshkian said of the protests.

Dancing in public, which is banned in Iran, has become a common tactic for protesters since an uprising in 2022. People were inspired by one Iranian man, Majidreza Rahnavard, who was executed for taking part in those protests. Before his execution, he stated, 鈥淚 don鈥檛 want anyone to mourn upon my grave. I don鈥檛 want them to read Quran or pray. Just celebrate and play celebrating music.鈥�

The new types of funerals offer a contrast to the Islamic Republic鈥檚 meaning of death. In the new rituals, Shahla Shafiq, a sociologist living in France, told the BBC, 鈥渢hat concept of sacrifice and martyrdom disappears and becomes giving one鈥檚 life for the sake of life.鈥�