EU leaders holding crunch talks on using Russia's frozen assets to fund Ukraine's military needs, as President Zelensky warns of cutting drone production if no deal is reached, while the UK issues a final warning to Roman Abramovich over funds for Ukraine.

• Zelensky gives stark warning as EU leaders hold crunch talks on Russia's frozen assets — BBC World -
• Ukraine may need to cut drone production if no deal reached on frozen Russian assets, says Zelenskyy – Europe live — The Guardian -
• Europe’s Fight Over Russian Assets Is Testing Its Ability to Support Ukraine — New York Times World -

• The Putin Confidant Who Pushed Back Against Russia’s War in Ukraine — New York Times World -
• Thursday briefing: How pay erosion and job shortages pushed doctors to strike again amid winter flu surge — The Guardian -
• EU leaders urged to use frozen Russian assets to fund Ukraine’s defence — The Guardian -
• In this secret missile factory, Ukraine is ramping up its domestic arms industry — BBC World -

The Bondi Beach attack's youngest victim is mourned as Australia's Prime Minister announces new hate speech laws and a crackdown on antisemitism, amid concerns over social media's role in spreading hate and misinformation about the incident.

• Australia Mourns the Youngest Victim of the Bondi Beach Shooting — New York Times World -
• Social media companies allow antisemitic hate to flow ‘unchecked’, Australia’s race commissioner says — The Guardian -
• Peak Jewish body calls Labor’s plan to combat antisemitism an essential ‘first step’ but some warn it risks division — The Guardian -

• Australian PM announces crackdown on hate speech after Bondi shooting — BBC World -
• Family release video of Matilda at beach as aunt calls for 'happiness and love' — BBC World -
• Australia to Crack Down on Hate Speech After Bondi Beach Attack — New York Times World -
• Don't let Matilda's death fuel anger, say family of Bondi victim, 10, at funeral — BBC World -
• Calls for NSW government to remove recreational hunting as a reason to own firearms after Bondi massacre — The Guardian -
• Notes of support posted on Jewish bakery that announced its closure in wake of shooting – as it happened — The Guardian -
• Fake Minns, altered images and psyop theories: Bondi attack misinformation shows AI’s power to confuse — The Guardian -
• Albanese announces new hate speech laws as he concedes more could have been done before Bondi beach attack — The Guardian -
• ‘Protests had nothing to do with the attacks’: activists condemn premier’s plan to restrict rallies after Bondi shooting — The Guardian -
• Dashcam Footage Shows Couple Confronting a Suspected Bondi Beach Gunman — New York Times World -
• Bondi Beach Shooting Is a Reminder of ISIS’s Power to Inspire Attacks — New York Times World -

The Bank of England has cut interest rates for the fourth time this year, impacting mortgage deals and savings rates, while Jess Phillips criticizes Tory claims on migration and violence against women, and Keir Starmer plans a new King's speech after May elections.

• Jess Phillips criticises Tory claim that migration linked to increased risk of violence against women and girls – UK politics live — The Guardian -
• What the UK interest rate cut means for you, from mortgage deals to savings rates — The Guardian -
• Narrow Bank of England vote puts end of interest rate-cutting cycle in sight — The Guardian -

• Leeds £2.5bn tram scheme delayed to late 2030s after government review — The Guardian -
• Keir Starmer planning new king’s speech after May elections — The Guardian -
• Bank of England cuts interest rates to 3.75% in pre-Christmas boost for struggling economy — The Guardian -
• Two U.K. Police Forces Pledge to Arrest People Who Chant ‘Globalize the Intifada’ — New York Times World -
• UK’s industrial regions face ‘entrenched disadvantages’ going back decades — The Guardian -
• Thursday briefing: How pay erosion and job shortages pushed doctors to strike again amid winter flu surge — The Guardian -
• Review of 2025: another fine mess? – podcast — The Guardian -

The **US announces over $10bn in arms sales to Taiwan, as President Trump defends his economic record and prices continue to rise, while the US military conducts strikes on alleged drug trafficking vessels in the Pacific, drawing condemnation from Venezuela**.

• US announces more than $10bn of arms sales to Taiwan — The Guardian -
• US prices continued to rise despite Trump claims they are ‘rapidly’ falling — The Guardian -
• ‘We wanted to take action’: US toy company fights back over Trump tariffs — The Guardian -

• First Thing: US military announces strike on Pacific boat that kills four, taking death toll to 99 — The Guardian -
• Trump announces 'warriors dividend' for troops as he defends economic record — BBC World -
• Trump announces 'warriors dividend' for troops as he defends economic record — BBC World -
• Dan Bongino stepping down as FBI deputy director — BBC World -
• Dan Bongino stepping down as FBI deputy director — BBC World -
• US strike on alleged drug boat in Pacific kills four, as Trump accuses Venezuela of taking ‘our oil’ — The Guardian -
• Venezuela denounces Trump's order for ship blockade as 'warmongering threats' — BBC World -
• US military says it carried out lethal strike on vessel in Pacific, killing four, as Trump addresses country – as it happened — The Guardian -
• Health workers decry hasty House bills to ban gender-affirming care for children: ‘They hurt people’ — The Guardian -

The U.N. reports over 1,000 deaths in a Darfur camp attack, while Thailand conducts bombings near the Cambodian border amidst ongoing clashes, and Saudi-backed forces gather on the Yemen border pressuring separatists.

• Over 1,000 Were Killed in Attack on Camp in Darfur, Sudan, U.N. Says — New York Times World -
• Thailand bombs near Cambodia's Poipet border crossing — BBC World -
• Thailand bombs near Cambodia's Poipet border crossing — BBC World -

• Rebels start to withdraw from key DR Congo city, leaders say — BBC World -
• Nigeria apologises over Burkina Faso military flight that saw 11 servicemen detained — BBC World -
• Saudi-backed forces gather on Yemen border as separatists face pressure to pull back — The Guardian -
• Morocco accused of ‘horrific’ abuse of detained gen Z protesters — The Guardian -

AI's boom is linked to significant CO2 emissions equivalent to New York City and increased water usage, while the UK faces worst-case climate crisis scenarios including a 4C temperature rise, and South Korea employs smart bins to measure food waste.

• ‘You learn tricks to reduce it’: the smart bins measuring food waste in South Korea — The Guardian -
• ‘Massive disruption’: UK’s worst-case climate crisis scenarios revealed by scientists — The Guardian -
• ‘Uniquely evil’: Michigan residents fight against huge data center backed by top tycoons — The Guardian -

• AI boom has caused same CO2 emissions in 2025 as New York City, report claims — The Guardian -
• Nigeria Closes Lead Recycling Factories Linked to U.S. Car Industry — New York Times World -
• Third of UK citizens have used AI for emotional support, research reveals — The Guardian -
• Birthrates Are Falling, but Don’t Blame Dogs in Strollers — New York Times World -
• China to hike tax on condoms in attempt to boost falling birth rate — The Guardian -
• Washington state flooding damage profound but unclear, governor warns — The Guardian -

NHS England is on 'high alert' due to a surge in flu admissions amidst staff strikes, while US CDC officials urge flu vaccinations after record child deaths last year, and Americans' mental health ratings are at a record low.

• CDC officials urge US flu vaccination after record child deaths last year — The Guardian -
• Americans’ view on their mental health at record low, according to new poll — The Guardian -
• NHS England on ‘high alert’ as flu admissions surge amid staff strikes — The Guardian -

A French 'Doctor Death' has been jailed for life for poisoning patients, German prosecutors are suing Greensill bosses over the bank's collapse, and the deadline nears for the release of Jeffrey Epstein files by the US Justice Department.

• Man sues Tennessee county after he was jailed over meme related to Charlie Kirk killing — The Guardian -
• German prosecutors file lawsuit against Greensill bosses over role in bank’s collapse — The Guardian -
• Bavarian pensioner lays trap to catch phone fraudster who was out for his gold — The Guardian -

• French 'Doctor Death' who poisoned patients jailed for life — BBC World -
• Deadline nears for release of Epstein files – what we know so far — The Guardian -
• Rob and Michele Reiner’s cause of death released by medical examiner — The Guardian -
• French court finds ‘twisted’ anaesthetist guilty of killing 12 patients — The Guardian -
• NSW police unlawfully arrested and choked man then tried to delete footage, watchdog finds — The Guardian -

UK actors vote against digital scanning in a stand against AI, Pulitzer-winning war reporter Peter Arnett has died at 91, and Irish actor Domhnall Gleeson wins his first Hollywood award.

• ‘Why isn’t everyone talking about Domhnall Gleeson?’ Irish actor wins first Hollywood award — The Guardian -
• UK actors vote to refuse to be digitally scanned in pushback against AI — The Guardian -
• Don’t hold back, swearing can boost performance by lowering inhibitions, study finds — The Guardian -

• Peter Arnett, Pulitzer-winning war reporter, dies aged 91 — BBC World -
• Peter Arnett, Pulitzer-winning war reporter, dies aged 91 — BBC World -
• UN distances itself from International Women’s Day website winning corporate partnerships — The Guardian -
• Ecuador defender Pineida killed in shooting — BBC World -
• Waterstones and Barnes & Noble owner looks to list booksellers on stock market — The Guardian -
• Peter Arnett, Pulitzer-Winning War Correspondent, Dies at 91 — New York Times World -
• Jane’s Addiction call it quits after a tumultuous 15 months: ‘The legacy will remain’ — The Guardian -
• Peter Arnett, Pulitzer prize-winner who reported on Vietnam and Gulf wars, dies aged 91 — The Guardian -
• Warner Bros favours Netflix offer over $108bn Paramount bid — BBC World -

**BP has appointed Meg O’Neill as its first female CEO, a move coming after shareholders at ANZ rejected the executive pay plan** for a second year, signaling growing corporate accountability.

• BP names Meg O’Neill as new CEO after incumbent ousted — The Guardian -
• Woodside Energy’s Meg O’Neill, who criticised ‘zealous’ young climate activists, moves to BP — The Guardian -
• ANZ shareholders reject executive pay plan for second year in a row — The Guardian -

Brazil's congress passes a bill to reduce Jair Bolsonaro's prison term, Canada's population drop reflects shifting attitudes to immigration, and Finland apologizes to Asian countries for a racist gesture by a beauty queen.

• Finland Apologizes to China, Japan and South Korea for Racist Gesture — New York Times World -
• Brazilian congress passes bill to cut Jair Bolsonaro’s 27-year prison term — The Guardian -
• A Militant’s Transformation — New York Times World -

• Canada’s population drop reflects souring of attitudes to immigration — The Guardian -
• Rainfall creates crimson spectacle at beach on Iran’s Hormuz Island — The Guardian -
• Guggenheim scraps Basque Country expansion plan after local protests — The Guardian -
• The Secret Trial of the General Who Refused to Attack Tiananmen Square — New York Times World -
• Iran’s President Says He Can’t Make ‘Miracles’ to Solve the Country’s Woes — New York Times World -
• Israel Approves $37 Billion Deal to Deliver Gas to Egypt — New York Times World -
• At Tokyo Zoo, Visitors Worry Pandas Could Be China’s Next Target — New York Times World -
• US government admits negligence in helicopter-plane collision that killed 67 — The Guardian -