President Zelenskyy's crucial meetings with Donald Trump in Florida amidst heavy Russian airstrikes on Kyiv signal renewed diplomatic efforts for a peace plan, though Russia's perceived unwillingness for peace and Putin's consolidation of billionaire support remain significant hurdles.

• Trump and Zelenskyy meet in Florida – as it happened — The Guardian -
• The Status of the 20-Point Peace Plan for Ukraine — New York Times World -
• Zelensky to Meet With Trump at Mar-a-Lago About Plan to End War With Russia — New York Times World -

• Trump says Ukraine peace deal ‘closer than ever’ after meeting with Zelenskyy in Florida — The Guardian -
• Zelenskyy heads to Florida for talks with Trump amid fresh strikes on Kyiv — The Guardian -
• Zelensky says Russia 'doesn't want peace' ahead of meeting Trump in Florida — BBC World -
• Russia Pummels Kyiv Before Trump-Zelensky Meeting — New York Times World -
• Rich and voiceless: How Putin has kept Russia's billionaires on side in the war — BBC World -

Shifts in US foreign aid impacting global health initiatives and diplomatic tensions with Colombia over the drug trade highlight external policy, while domestically, FBI efforts to dismantle fraud schemes, Bernie Sanders' warnings on AI's impact, progress in tackling overdose deaths, and immigration concerns for Hondurans mark key developments, alongside the use of anti-ICE protest symbols.

• How Cameroon Fought to Save Its Malaria Program After the U.S. Cut Critical Funding — New York Times World -
• What to Know About Colombia’s Role in the Global Drug Trade Amid Trump’s Feud With Petro — New York Times World -
• FBI deploys more resources to ‘dismantle fraud schemes’ in Minnesota — The Guardian -

• Bernie Sanders criticizes AI as ‘the most consequential technology in humanity’ — The Guardian -
• US strikes on Nigeria and Syria are ‘consistent’ with policy to combat IS, Republican says — The Guardian -
• The little-known program contributing to a decline in overdose deaths in the US — The Guardian -
• Fearing deportation, Hondurans in the US send more cash home than ever before — BBC World -
• How frogs went from right-wing meme to anti-ICE protest symbol — BBC World -

Elections in Guinea, Myanmar, Kosovo, and the Central African Republic aim to resolve political crises and legitimize ruling powers, as Nepal forms a youth-led alliance and Germany seeks military recruits, all while Bulgaria prepares to adopt the euro amid disinformation concerns and Brazil's Bolsonaro undergoes medical treatment.

• Brazil's Bolsonaro undergoes medical treatment for hiccups — BBC World -
• Guinea Goes to Polls as Ruling Junta Seeks Legitimacy — New York Times World -
• In Myanmar’s Election, ‘Voting Out of Fear, Not Hope’ — New York Times World -

• Polls close in first phase of Myanmar elections widely condemned as a sham — The Guardian -
• Kosovo goes to the polls in snap election in bid to end political crisis — The Guardian -
• Polls close on first day of Myanmar's widely criticised 'sham' election — BBC World -
• Nepal TV host and ex-rapper mayor form alliance for election after youth revolt — The Guardian -
• ‘Times have changed’: Germany’s military seeks recruits as it confronts new era — The Guardian -
• Bulgaria prepares to join eurozone amid fears of Russian-backed disinformation — The Guardian -
• Central African Republic goes to polls as president seeks third term — The Guardian -
• BBC visits Myanmar polling station as civil war rages on — BBC World -
• Myanmar is going to the polls. But it’s not the people who hold the power – it’s China — The Guardian -

Deadly helicopter crashes in New Jersey, mass stabbings in Suriname, a fatal house fire in Kent, and a tragic shooting incident in Oklahoma underscore immediate safety concerns, complemented by a Texas father's heroic rescue of his kidnapped daughter, legal actions against Andy Carroll, arrests in Italy for alleged Hamas funding, and security considerations in Australia following an attack and charges for displaying hate symbols.

• One person dead and one injured after two helicopters crash in New Jersey — The Guardian -
• Nine people, including five children, stabbed to death in Suriname — BBC World -
• One child dead and another in hospital after house fire in Kent — The Guardian -

• Family pay tribute to man who died after assault outside Leicestershire pub — The Guardian -
• Oklahoma man doing target practice in back yard charged in fatal shooting of neighbor — The Guardian -
• Texas father rescues kidnapped 15-year-old daughter after tracking her phone’s location — The Guardian -
• Andy Carroll to appear in court after arrest and charge for breaching order — The Guardian -
• Nine arrested in Italy for allegedly raising millions for Hamas — BBC World -
• Minns government ‘actively’ considering if Jewish security group should be armed after Bondi attack — The Guardian -
• Man charged with displaying Nazi hate symbol after showing off tattoos at NSW beach — The Guardian -

A powerful winter storm sweeping across the US, amber cold health alerts in northern England, and a deadly storm in Nordic countries pose significant threats, alongside heavy rainfall and flood warnings for Queensland, Australia, and Mount Etna's ongoing volcanic eruptions.

• Powerful winter storm to batter much of US with snow, rain and strong winds — The Guardian -
• ‘Rise in deaths’ predicted as amber cold health alerts issued in northern England — The Guardian -
• Three killed in Sweden as major storm sweeps across Nordic countries — BBC World -

• Queensland braces for days of heavy rain as BoM issues flood warnings for parts of state — The Guardian -
• New York blanketed in snow, sparking travel chaos — BBC World -
• Snow-capped Mount Etna erupts as skiers glide down slopes — BBC World -

Deadly protests in Syria over security concerns, a stark rise in executions in Iran, and questions surrounding UK government support for activist Alaa Abd el-Fattah highlight global human rights issues, while vulnerable people in England face unsafe supported housing and Nigel Farage's past racism claims surface in the UK, all against a backdrop of broader Middle East conflict analysis.

• Syrian Protests Over Lack of Security Leave 2 Dead — New York Times World -
• Tories and Labour face questions over support for activist Alaa Abd el-Fattah — The Guardian -
• Zero Hour for the Middle East — New York Times World -

• Executions in Iran estimated to have doubled in 2025, report says — BBC World -
• Vulnerable people still living in unsafe supported housing in England two years after law was passed — The Guardian -
• ‘Of course he abused pupils’: ex-Dulwich teacher speaks out about Farage racism claims — The Guardian -

The passing of French screen legend Brigitte Bardot at 91 is a central theme, celebrated alongside her enduring style legacy and career highlights, with reports also covering the death of Iranian cinema giant Bahram Beyzai, the 'Best of Culture' year-end review, the role of celebrity castings in supporting UK theatres, a vibrant Spanish food fight tradition, and Ethiopian jazz pioneer Mulatu Astatke's final concert.

• The Best of Culture — New York Times World -
• Brigitte Bardot, French screen legend, dies aged 91 — The Guardian -
• Spaniards hurl flour, eggs and fireworks in mock battle — BBC World -

• Off-the-shoulder tops and a signature hair-do: Brigitte Bardot’s style legacy — The Guardian -
• French cinema actress Brigitte Bardot dies aged 91 — BBC World -
• Iranian cinema giant, Bahram Beyzai, dies aged 87 — BBC World -
• Celebrity castings can help theatres in hard times, says new head of Bristol Old Vic — The Guardian -
• Brigitte Bardot: From French cinema to international fame — BBC World -
• The blonde bombshell who revolutionised French cinema — BBC World -
• In pictures: The life and career of Brigitte Bardot — BBC World -
• Godfather of Ethiopian jazz plays his last live concert — BBC World -

Nvidia's AI deals face investor scrutiny amid comparisons to past corporate failures, while the return of bank branches to British high streets signals a shift in financial services, and Indonesia's new 'no traffic' capital showcases ambitious urban development.

• The Lure of a Rising Asian Metropolis? No Traffic. — New York Times World -
• Nvidia insists it isn’t Enron, but its AI deals are testing investor faith — The Guardian -
• Branching out: why banks are back on the British high street — The Guardian -

An Australian cruise ship's grounding off Papua New Guinea comes as it faces investigation for previously leaving a passenger behind, while families in South Korea continue to seek answers a year after a deadly plane crash.

• Australian cruise ship investigated after leaving passenger behind runs aground off PNG with 120 people on board — The Guardian -
• Families Demand Answers a Year After Deadliest Plane Crash in South Korea — New York Times World -

Two mechanical engineer brothers aim to remeasure the world's tallest peaks, challenging existing cartography with their unique approach to mountaineering.

• Twins’ Peaks: The Gilbertson Brothers Want to Rewrite Your Country’s Map — New York Times World -