Bernd Debusmann Jr
Reporting from the White House

Just a few minutes ago, I left my desk in the basement of the White House's press area, seeking sunlight and a snack.

Upstairs in the briefing room, I ran into Fox News host Sean Hannity, who briefly spoke to a few reporters on his way out of the White House after his interview with President Trump - which is due to air at 2100 EST (02:00GMT).

Hannity told us that Trump is "focused" and "happy" as he begins his second term at the White House.

"He has a big agenda," he added. "He's dialled in."

"It was fun," Hannity said of the interview, before joking that he's excited about returning to his home in Florida after his visit to frigid Washington DC.

We've just seen a response by Russia's deputy UN Ambassador Dmitry Polyanskiy to Donald Trump's threat earlier today of "taxes, tariffs and sanctions" on the country if it does not end the war in Ukraine.

Polyanskiy said the Kremlin would need to know what Trump wants in a deal to stop the war before the country moves forward.

"It's not merely the question of ending the war," Polyanskiy told Reuters.

"It's first and foremost the question of addressing root causes of Ukrainian crisis."

He continued: "So we have to see what does the 'deal' mean in President Trump's understanding. He is not responsible for what the US has been doing in Ukraine since 2014, making it 'anti-Russia' and preparing for the war with us, but it is in his power now to stop this malicious policy."

For some background: Russia invaded and then annexed part of Ukraine, Crimea, in 2014. It then launched a full-scale invasion of the country in 2022.

Bernd Debusmann Jr
Reporting from the White House

Earlier in January - before Trump's inauguration - I spent several days in Texas' Hidalgo and Starr counties, both nestled along the US-Mexico border in the Rio Grande Valley.

There, many locals told me the day-to-day realities of living on the border increasingly opened their eyes to, what they described as, the dangers of illegal immigration.

I've been speaking to a few of them today - who tell me that they're extremely pleased with Trump's declaration of a national emergency at the US-Mexico border, his plans to deploy troops and declare cartels as terrorist groups.

Among them is David Porras, a rancher, farmer and botanist who lives in Rio Grande City.

"We know what's going on down here - and now the tables have turned," he tells the BBC. "You've got to control it [the border]".

While Porras says he believes immigration is "essential" to the US economy, he adds that it needs to be done the "right way". Illegal migration, he says, "puts money into the coffers of the cartels" that control illicit activities at the border.

"Trump's headed in the right direction," he says. "It's got to be controlled."

Another Republican, Hidalgo County resident Demesio Guerrero - a naturalised citizen originally from Mexico - says Trump's return "is a once in a lifetime" event for those at the border.

"He's very brave," Guerrero tells me in Spanish. "In front of Biden, in front of the world he said that we would correct all the stupid, dumb things he's done down here. It's remarkable."

A US official has said that approximately 1,000 additional active-duty forces are preparing to go to the southern border,the BBC's US partner CBS reports.

This follows President Donald Trump's executive order authorising the US military to deploy as many units or members of the armed forces as needed to help the Department of Homeland Security obtain "complete operational control" of the border.

Trump declared a national emergency on Monday, saying that "America's sovereignty is under attack". This measure allows him to free up more funding to reinforce the border with Mexico.

You can read more on what President Trump has done since he took office on Monday.

Jessica Parker
BBC News Berlin correspondent

Image source, Reuters

The world is “to put it mildly, on the move” Germany’s Olaf Scholz said today, reflecting his often understated tone and style.

The chancellor has been meeting French President Emmanuel Macron at the Elysée Palace in Paris.

President Trump’s latest threat to hit the EU with tariffs combined with a big question mark over the US president’s commitment to the Nato defensive alliance have made many on the continent nervous.

Chancellor Scholz said President Trump will be a "challenge", while diplomatically adding: "Europe and the United States have a long history of friendship and partnership."

President Macron, long a champion of a more self-reliant Europe, said France and Germany must play their part in creating a "united, strong and sovereign Europe".

But the reality is that both leaders are politically embattled in their own countries. Scholz's chances of retaining the chancellery appear slim, if the polling's to be believed ahead of next month’s snap election. And calls for a more assertive, united, Europe are not new even if the sense of urgency is.

Trump's first full day in office during his second presidency focused mostly on domestic issues, such as diversity policies in the federal workforce and 6 January pardons, while Wednesday has kicked off with a stronger focus on immigration and foreign policy.

It's just gone 12:00 in Washington DC and if you're just joining us, here's what we're watching:

Trump tackles Russia and Ukraine: On Wednesday morning, Trump on Truth Social threatened "high levels of taxes, tariffs and sanctions" if Russian President Vladimir Putin did not end the war. It's not clear what more Trump would impose on the heavily-sanctioned Russia, but we're waiting to see how Putin responds to the pressure.

US refugee resettlement: The State Department has halted refugee processing and travel plans after Trump said he would suspend refugee admissions to the US from 27 January. It's not yet clear how many people this will affect and how the move will ripple out to other countries.

Immigration raids and deportations: Amid conflicting rumours about immigration raids, Trump has moved to expand federal authorities' ability to carry out swift deportations. We're watching for more details on how and when enforcement will take place this week.

Fresh reaction from foreign leaders: Trump is making good on his promises to enact tariffs and challenge long-held diplomatic relationships. We've been hearing from leaders in China, Canada, Panama and the EU.

Image source, Getty Images

President Donald Trump has previously made a range of comments about ending the Russia-Ukraine war, from suggesting he could have it "settled" before taking up office, to saying he could end the conflict in "one day".

In 2023, Trump told CNN: "If I'm president, I will have that war settled in one day, 24 hours." It's a claim he repeated several times.

Speaking during the election debate with Kamala Harris, Trump said: "That is a war that's dying to be settled. I will get it settled before I even become president. If I win, when I'm president-elect, and what I'll do is I'll speak to one, I'll speak to the other, I'll get them together."

And Trump sidestepped questions over whether he wanted Ukraine to emerge victorious in the conflict.

As a reminder, Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

Trump has not set out plans for continued US military support for Ukraine, although he has frequently spoken of the need to end the conflict quickly and complained about the financial cost to the US.

He has suggested Ukraine could receive less support under his presidency, and has described Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky - who he met last September - as the "greatest salesman on Earth" for continuing to obtain military aid, but at other times he's said they have a good relationship.

US president Donald Trump says Russia will face "high levels of taxes, tariffs and sanctions" if President Vladimir Putin does not end the war in Ukraine.

Trump begins the post, external on his Truth Social platform expressing his "love" for the Russian people and his "good relationship" with Putin, and then issues a direct warning to "STOP this ridiculous War!"

He writes: "IT'S ONLY GOING TO GET WORSE. If we don't make a 'deal', and soon, I have no other choice but to put high levels of Taxes, Tariffs, and Sanctions on anything being sold by Russia to the United States, and various other participating countries."

"It's time to 'MAKE A DEAL'. NO MORE LIVES SHOULD BE LOST," he adds.

Russia is already the most sanctioned country in the world, and there are very few key entities or sectors that are not already subject to US and European restrictions.

Russian banks and military-industrial enterprises have adapted, and developed workarounds to evade existing sanctions.

Image source, Getty Images

Democratic senator Jeanne Shaheen, who sits in the foreign relations committee, says the US "is turning its back on those in need".

Her comments come after the State Department reportedly halted all refugee travel and processing to the US.

President Donald Trump signed an executive order earlier this week, which said refugee admissions into the US would be suspended from 27 January.

Shaheen says she was alarmed by Trump's move, describing acceptance of refugees fleeing violence and persecution "a core American value", adding "by issuing this order, our country is turning its back on those in need".

In a statement, Shaheen highlighted reports that as many as 1,660 Afghan refugees, "who risked their lives to assist with the US mission in Afghanistan" and were already cleared to resettle in America, had their flights cancelled.

"For years I have advocated for the United States to uphold its commitment to our Afghan allies and partners, and I urge the administration to reconsider this decision," she adds.

Image source, Reuters

As we've reported, the State Department has cancelled refugee travel to the US and paused refugee processing, according to the internal guidance obtained by BBC's US partner, CBS.

"All previously scheduled travel of refugees to the United States is being cancelled, and no new travel bookings will be made," the memo from the State Department says, without specifying how long the suspension will last.

The memo, which suggests that the suspension takes effect immediately, follows an executive order signed by President Donald Trump on Monday that said refugee admissions into the US would be suspended from 27 January.

The order states that the US "lacks the ability to absorb large numbers of migrants, and in particular, refugees".

"This order suspends the [The United States Refugee Admissions Program] until such time as the further entry into the United States of refugees aligns with the interests of the United States," it says.

All refugee travel to the US has been halted by the State Department - as has refugee processing, according to internal guidance obtained by the BBC's US partner CBS News.

Officials have reportedly been instructed to stop the refugee referral process overseas and to pause a Biden administration programme allowing private US citizens to sponsor refugees.

The move doesn't currently affect Special Immigrant Visa holders, who've assisted US military forces, the guidance states.

On Monday - the day President Trump was sworn back into the White House - he signed an executive order suspending the US's Refugee Admissions Program (USRAP), saying America "lacks the ability to absorb large numbers of migrants, and in particular, refugees, into its communities in a manner that does not compromise the availability of resources for Americans".

The rule halts USRAP until "further entry into the United States of refugees aligns with the interests of the United States", the order says.

Katty Kay
US special correspondent

We're starting to hear responses to Trump's executive order seeking to end diversity, equity and inclusion practices in the federal government.

Democratic Congressman Ritchie Torres from New York tells me the DEI executive order isn't something he'll be focusing on as a way to counter Trump.

He says: "I've never had a constituent who said to me 'DEI is my number one issue'."

Instead, he is more focused on public safety as something his voters actually think about every day.

Bernd Debusmann Jr
Reporting from the White House

Image source, Bernd Debusmann Jr/BBC News

I've just arrived at the White House, where things are quiet on an extremely cold Wednesday morning.

So far, the White House has not released President Donald Trump's public schedule - the third day in a row where that has been the case.

We do know, however, that he will sit down with Fox News host Sean Hannity for the first Oval Office interview of his second administration. That interview will air tonight at 21:00 EST (02:00 GMT).

While we also did not have a public plan early yesterday, the president had a busy day that extended long into the evening.

His engagements included the announcement of an artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure, an extended question-and-answer session with pool reporters and a late-night social media post announcing that he had pardoned Silk Road founder Ross William Ulbricht.

Stay with us for more updates.

The US Office of Personnel Management issued a memo which outlined the Trump administration's ambitions for diversity, inclusion and equity (DEI), and diversity, inclusion, equity and accessibility (DEIA) programmes. Here's what was in it:

• Federal employees who work for DEIA offices are to be put on paid leave "immediately", with a deadline of 17:00 EST (22:00 GMT) today, as the agency "takes steps to close/end all DEIA initiatives, offices and programs"
• Also by 17:00 today, all outward-facing websites and social media accounts are to be taken down and for DEIA-related training to be cancelled
• By 12:00 EST on Thursday, the memo says a report should be filed to the OPM with a "complete list" of diversity and equity offices and employees who work in those offices
• And by no later than 17:00 EST a plan should be submitted to the OPM outlining "reduction-in-force action"

The memo, which was first reported by the BBC's US partner, CBS, was confirmed by the White House. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt wrote on X: "To every reporter asking about this: I can gladly confirm!".

Image source, EPA

Donald Trump was sworn in as US president on Monday, and he's already issued an avalanche of executive orders and announcements. For those of you just joining us, here's a brief overview of President Trump's first full day in office:

• Federal agencies were ordered to put staff working on diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programmes on paid leave "immediately", with a deadline of 17:00 EST (22:00 GMT) today, according to a memo from the US Office of Personnel Management, first seen by the BBC's US partner, CBS
• The move followed an executive order issued by the Trump administration, which called for an end to "dangerous, demeaning, and immoral" (DEI) schemes
• DEI programmes include a combination of steps taken by organisations to support people from different backgrounds, namely those often underrepresented in the workplace
• On trade policy, Trump said he was considering imposing a 10% tariff on imports of Chinese-made goods as soon as 1 February
• In response, the Chinese foreign ministry says it will defend its "national interests", adding: "there are no winners in a trade war"
• Late on Tuesday, Trump defended his decision to pardon supporters who were convicted over the 6 January 2021 US capitol riots. He also signeda full and unconditional pardon for Ross Ulbricht, , externalwho operated Silk Road, the dark web marketplace where illegal drugs were sold.

Image source, EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock

Panama has hit back at US President Donald Trump's threats of taking "back" the Panama Canal, a key trade route.

"The Panama Canal was not a concession or a gift from the United States," Panama's President Jose Raul Mulino tells a panel at the World Economic Forum in Davos in Switzerland.

In his inaugural speech, Trump said Panama had "broken" a promise to remain neutral, alleging that "China is operating the Panama Canal". Trump also said "American ships are being severely overcharged and not treated fairly".

The canal is one of the most important trade routes for the US. Around 5% of global maritime trade passes through the 51 mile (82 km) Panama Canal.

Mulino says Trump's claims about the canal are "false", adding that it belongs to the people of Panama.

The Trump administration has taken action on its election promise to cut funding to diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) schemes being used across the government - here are the key updates you need to know.

In a memo from US government agency the Office of Personal Management (OPM), obtained by the BBC's US news partner CBS, heads of DEI initiatives and programmes are told to follow this timeline:

• Put federal employees working in DEI programmes on paid leave by 17:00 local time (22:00 GMT) on Wednesday
• Report how they've complied with implementing the memo's instructions by 12:00 local time tomorrow
• Submit a plan to the OPM, outlining "reduction-in-force action" by 17:00 local time on 31 January - next Friday

It also says employees must report any efforts by staff to "disguise" the programmes by using "coded or imprecise language".

According to an executive order, signed by President Donald Trump on Tuesday, the US Justice Department should make recommendations to encourage any private sector "educational agencies" receiving federal funds to also end DEI programmes.

We don't yet know how many members of staff this order will affect - but we're working to find that out and will let you know when we do.

Back to the news that President Trump is putting all US government DEI staff on paid leave - you may well be wondering what DEI (diversity, equity and inclusion) actually means. Let's take a look.

DEI refers to a combination of steps and policies carried out by several organisations, both in the public and private sector, to support people from different backgrounds, namely those who are often underrepresented.

Different backgrounds and lived experiences could include someone's gender, ethnicity, sexuality, religious beliefs or disabilities.

The idea behind these policies is to address systemic injustices, like historic sexism and racism, which have prevented some groups from having the same access to jobs and industries as their peers.

But critics say the policies themselves can be discriminatory. The White House says an executive order rolling back DEI, external "protects the civil rights of all Americans and expands individual opportunity", and "faithfully advances the Constitution’s promise of colorblind equality before the law".

In recent weeks, American firms including Meta and Amazon have scaled back their diversity programmes.

Image source, EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock

We're now hearing from the European Union's foreign policy chief, who says she agrees with President Donald Trump that the bloc doesn't spend enough on defence.

"Europe's failure to invest in military capabilities sends a dangerous signal to the aggressor," Kaja Kallas says during a speech at the annual conference of the European Defence Agency. "Weakness invites them in."

Focusing on Vladimir Putin, she says "for too long" the Russian president has been offered "alternatives" - in the hope he "would choose cooperation and economic prosperity for its people over fraudulent imperialistic ambitions".

"But instead Russia's defence industry's churning out tanks, glide bombs, artillery shells, in vast quantities."

Trump previously said he'd "encourage" Russia to do "whatever the hell they want" with European allies if they "don't pay" their way and boost defence spending.

Image source, Getty Images

Pivoting back to trade policy, Canada this morning has hit out at Donald Trump's intention to impose tariffs on goods being imported to the US from its neighbouring nation.

"It's not a great situation for trading partners."

That's how Canada's energy minister, Jonathan Wilkinson, describes his country's relationship with the US after Trump said the tariffs would come into force unless the country took steps to increase security on their shared border. Trump also warned he would use "economic force" to make Canada the 51st state - something outgoing PM Justin Trudeau has said will not happen.

Speaking to BBC World Service's Newsday, Wilkinson says tariffs would raise consumer prices in the US - highlighting that his country would respond with tariffs on crude oil, fertiliser and uranium that would increase the cost of petrol, food and electricity.

The tariffs would have a significant impact on Canada, but also bring "significant pain" to the US. Instead, he suggests, the two countries should focus on an energy and mineral alliance. In the Canadian minister's view, it's a shame President Trump's "taking such an aggressive approach".