Intensified US military actions in Venezuela, including tanker seizures and political maneuvering, dominate headlines as the Trump administration outlines plans for Venezuelan oil resources amidst international condemnation and internal repression.

• Venezuela Live Updates: U.S. Forces Seize Two Tankers; Rubio Lays Out Plan for Venezuela — New York Times World -
• U.S. Seizes Oil Tanker and Boards Another, Raising Tensions With Russia — New York Times World -
• Here’s the latest. — New York Times World -

• Defence secretary gives statement on Ukraine and Marinera tanker seizure – UK politics live — The Guardian -
• Minneapolis mayor sharply tells ICE to ‘get out’ of city after woman fatally shot – live updates — The Guardian -
• US seizes Russian-flagged oil tanker in Atlantic after two-week pursuit — The Guardian -
• US reportedly warns Maduro ally Diosdado Cabello he could be next — The Guardian -
• Democrats decry Venezuela attack as Republicans defend Trump after Senate briefing — The Guardian -
• US attack on Venezuela will decide direction of South America’s vast mineral wealth — The Guardian -
• Maduro’s Nike Tech Sweatsuit Was Bound to Become a Meme — New York Times World -
• Reflagged by Russia, spied on by UK, seized by US: why so much interest in a rusty tanker in the Atlantic? — The Guardian -
• Watch: US seizes oil tanker in Caribbean sea — BBC World -
• Shadow attorney general will not advise Kemi Badenoch on Ukraine over Roman Abramovich link — The Guardian -
• Europe Tries to Come to Terms With Trump’s Intervention in Venezuela — New York Times World -
• Venezuela's interim leader sacks general in charge of Maduro's guard — BBC World -
• Maduro Is Gone, but Repression in Venezuela Has Intensified — New York Times World -
• Venezuela to continue supplying oil to US ‘indefinitely’, White House says — The Guardian -
• Russia Sends Naval Vessel to Escort Oil Tanker U.S. Is Pursuing — New York Times World -
• Trump claims Venezuela is set for an oil boom after US attack – history points to a bumpy road ahead — The Guardian -
• The Players to Know in Venezuela’s Leadership — New York Times World -
• Trump Says Venezuela Will Start Handing Over Some Oil to U.S. — New York Times World -
• Trump says Venezuela will be 'turning over' up to 50 million barrels of oil to US — BBC World -
• Trump says Venezuela will be 'turning over' up to 50 million barrels of oil to US — BBC World -
• Opposition leader Machado says her coalition should lead Venezuela — BBC World -
• Opposition leader Machado says her coalition should lead Venezuela — BBC World -
• Maga media stars back Trump on Venezuela … mostly: ‘It doesn’t make any sense’ — The Guardian -
• Trump's Venezuela raid has created chaos - and that is a risk for China — BBC World -
• Gambling platform Polymarket not paying bets on US invasion of Venezuela — The Guardian -
• Wednesday briefing: What Europe’s silence over Venezuela says about its fear of Trump — The Guardian -
• Here’s the latest. — New York Times World -
• Trump renews push to acquire Greenland, says US will get millions of barrels of Venezuelan oil – as it happened — The Guardian -
• Venezuela ‘turning over’ $2bn in oil to US, Trump says, in move that could cut supply to China — The Guardian -
• After Maduro’s Ouster, Marco Rubio Faces the Challenge of Running Venezuela — New York Times World -
• At the U.N., Even Allies Condemn U.S. Action in Venezuela — New York Times World -
• An emergency order from the Venezuelan government appears to criminalize support for the U.S. attack. — New York Times World -
• An emergency order from the Venezuelan government appears to criminalize support for the U.S. attack. — New York Times World -
• An emergency order from the Venezuelan government appears to criminalize support for the U.S. attack. — New York Times World -
• U.S. Pressures Venezuela to Expel Advisers From Cuba, China, Russia and Iran — New York Times World -
• Latin American countries condemn the U.S. at the Organization of American States meeting. — New York Times World -

Ongoing discussions initiated by the Trump administration concerning the acquisition of Greenland are generating significant international diplomatic tension, prompting responses from Danish and European officials regarding the territory's sovereignty and strategic importance.

• Marco Rubio says he will meet Danish officials to discuss Greenland next week — The Guardian -
• Trump actively discussing potentially buying Greenland, White House says — BBC World -
• White House says crew of US-seized Russian-flagged tanker could face prosecution – live — The Guardian -

• What are Trump’s real options for gaining control of Greenland? — The Guardian -
• How could Donald Trump 'take' Greenland? — BBC World -
• Buy Greenland? Take It? Why? An Old Pact Already Gives Trump a Free Hand. — New York Times World -
• Rubio Tells Lawmakers Trump Wants to Buy Greenland — New York Times World -
• US discussing options to acquire Greenland including using military, White House says — BBC World -
• White House says using US military ‘always an option’ for acquiring Greenland | First Thing — The Guardian -
• Why Trump Wants Greenland — New York Times World -

Key policy changes from the Trump administration are impacting immigration, with ICE operations in Minneapolis leading to a fatal shooting, alongside new dietary guidelines, a proposed ban on institutional home buying, and controversial changes to childhood vaccine recommendations.

• Minneapolis mayor sharply tells ICE to ‘get out’ of city after woman fatally shot – live updates — The Guardian -
• A ‘day of love’ with more than 100 casualties — The Guardian -
• Trump says administration will ban big investors from buying single-family homes — The Guardian -

• Minnesota woman fatally shot by ICE agent during raid, video shows — The Guardian -
• Trump administration releases updated dietary guidelines: ‘eat real food’ — The Guardian -
• US abandons child exploitation and drug cases to prioritize ICE, Democrats allege — The Guardian -
• US suspends funds for needy families in five Democratic-led states — The Guardian -
• ‘Astounding’ vaccine change puts US behind peer countries, experts warn — The Guardian -
• Trump administration halts more than $10bn for childcare and family assistance — The Guardian -
• Accused Brown University shooter planned attack for years, video transcripts show — The Guardian -

Various UK political and social issues are in focus, from the defence secretary's statements on Ukraine and a Russian tanker seizure, to a Cambridge college's recruitment policy, ongoing debates around workers' rights, and challenges faced by **LGBTQ+ charities**.

• Defence secretary gives statement on Ukraine and Marinera tanker seizure – UK politics live — The Guardian -
• Cambridge college to target elite private schools for student recruitment — The Guardian -
• Two school buses crash as arctic weather continues to sweep UK — The Guardian -

• Commons women and equalities committee to stop using X amid AI-altered images row — The Guardian -
• Starmer vows to review franchise legislation in response to Vodafone case — The Guardian -
• Nigel Farage dismisses racist and antisemitic school bullying claims as ‘made-up fantasies’ — The Guardian -
• UK LGBTQ+ charities are in ‘hostile environment’ amid falling donations, experts warn — The Guardian -
• Police arrest two men accused of absconding from HMP Leyhill — The Guardian -
• Reform London mayor candidate accused of talking down capital with ‘pity’ remark — The Guardian -
• UK helped US seize Russian-flagged tanker, defence ministry says — The Guardian -
• Labour workers’ rights concessions to cut cost to business by billions, analysis shows — The Guardian -
• MPs would get vote on troop deployment to Ukraine, says Keir Starmer — The Guardian -
• First flight of 2026 under UK ‘one in, one out’ asylum scheme cancelled — The Guardian -
• UK construction hit by worst run since global financial crisis — The Guardian -
• Merseyside police detective sacked for misconduct after paying boy, 17, for sex — The Guardian -
• ‘It takes a town to raise a family’: the community sponsors supporting refugees in the UK — The Guardian -
• ‘Catastrophic’ MoJ leasing of jail with toxic gas set to cost more than £100m — The Guardian -

Escalating conflicts and political tensions define the Middle East, with UN rights concerns over Israeli policy in the West Bank, the Yemeni separatist leader defying Saudi ultimatums, and renewed clashes in Syria.

• UN rights chief says Israeli policy in West Bank 'resembles apartheid system' — BBC World -
• Hundreds of Tourists on Yemeni Island Caught Up in Saudi-U.A.E. Rift — New York Times World -
• Clashes Between Syrian Government and Kurdish-Led Militia Restart After Deaths — New York Times World -

• Yemen Separatist Leader Refuses to Attend Talks, Deepening Saudi Arabia-UAE Clash — New York Times World -
• Yemen separatist leader to make last stand after rejecting Saudi ultimatum, supporters say — The Guardian -
• Yemen separatist leader accused of treason as Saudi Arabia strikes forces — BBC World -
• Yemen separatist leader accused of treason as Saudi Arabia strikes forces — BBC World -
• Displaced Palestinians in Egypt Await Reopening of Gaza Border — New York Times World -
• Why Israel Is Divided Over How to Investigate Oct. 7 Failures — New York Times World -
• Iran Says It’s Investigating Violence at Weekend Protests — New York Times World -

Security and infrastructure vulnerabilities across Europe are prominent, marked by uncertain security pledges for Ukraine, a major Berlin power outage due to suspected sabotage, and widespread travel chaos caused by severe winter weather.

• Berlin power outage highlights German vulnerability to sabotage — BBC World -
• Berlin power outage highlights German vulnerability to sabotage — BBC World -
• ‘How is it possible?’: Berliners demand answers after sabotage causes blackout — The Guardian -

• Zelensky says he does not have clear security pledge from allies — BBC World -
• Amsterdam airport cancels at least 800 flights because of snow and wind — The Guardian -
• Big freeze causes travel chaos across western Europe — BBC World -
• Winter Weather Snarls Travel in Amsterdam, Brussels and Other European Cities — New York Times World -
• Reshuffle at Ukraine’s Intelligence Agencies Draws Criticism — New York Times World -
• Families shocked Swiss ski bar was not inspected for years before deadly fire — BBC World -
• Swiss Bar Hit by Deadly Fire Was Not Inspected for 6 Years, Authorities Say — New York Times World -
• European Allies Agree to Key Security Provisions for Ukraine — New York Times World -

Australia faces a range of domestic concerns, including a severe heatwave and a highly transmissible flu strain, along with political debates over an Israeli president's visit, reports of car theft syndicates, and an investigation into AI-generated deepfake images.

• Australia news live: BlueScope rejects $13.2bn Stokes bid; police warn of shopping centre carpark scam — The Guardian -
• Highly transmissible flu strain infects more than 2,500 Australians — The Guardian -
• Australia’s cost of living ‘getting crazier’ as nearly half of lower-income families worry about affording school shoes — The Guardian -

• Melbourne swelters through hottest day in six years as severe heatwave descends on Australia’s south-eastern states — The Guardian -
• Labor group urges Albanese to rescind invitation to Israeli president Isaac Herzog — The Guardian -
• PM attends funeral of Bondi victim – as it happened — The Guardian -
• Australia Post apologises for losing Aboriginal artist’s painting worth $4,000 — The Guardian -
• International crime syndicate allegedly stole dozens of Toyotas from Brisbane and planned to ship to UAE — The Guardian -
• Grok’s deepfake images which ‘digitally undress’ women investigated by Australia’s online safety watchdog — The Guardian -

Significant developments in international crime and espionage include the extradition of an alleged scam mastermind to China, the arrest of individuals involved in selling fatal chemicals in the UK, and the death of notorious CIA double agent Aldrich Ames.

• Cambodia extradites alleged scam mastermind to China after arrest — BBC World -
• Man jailed for selling fatal chemical to encourage suicide in UK-first case — The Guardian -
• Plot to kill Burkina Faso leader foiled, says junta — BBC World -

• Plot to kill Burkina Faso leader foiled, says junta — BBC World -
• Aldrich Ames, CIA agent who sold secrets to the Soviets, dies aged 84 — BBC World -
• Aldrich Ames, CIA agent who sold secrets to the Soviets, dies aged 84 — BBC World -
• Aldrich Ames, CIA agent who spied for Soviet Union and Russia, dies aged 84 — The Guardian -

Regional news from the Asia-Pacific highlights a Japanese nuclear agency worker losing a phone with confidential data in China, and China promoting its Hainan island amid trade discussions.

• Japan nuclear agency worker loses phone with confidential data in China — BBC World -
• China Touts Hainan, Its Duty-Free Island, Amid $1 Trillion Trade Surplus — New York Times World -

Positive news in conservation sees rare mountain gorilla twins born in Africa's oldest national park, while health researchers investigate a potential link between century-old tumours and the rise of bowel cancer in young people.

• Rare mountain gorilla twins born in Africa's oldest national park — BBC World -
• Rare mountain gorilla twins born in Africa's oldest national park — BBC World -
• Century-old tumours could reveal why more young people are getting bowel cancer — BBC World -

Cultural and historical highlights include London Symphony Orchestra's new managing director, UK and Ireland cinema takings reaching a post-pandemic high, the funeral of Brigitte Bardot, and the "extraordinary" discovery of an Iron Age war trumpet in Britain.

• One Battle After Another and The Studio lead Actor awards nominations — The Guardian -
• UK and Ireland cinema takings on post-pandemic high as A Minecraft Movie tops 2025 box office — The Guardian -
• London Symphony Orchestra announces John Harte as managing director — The Guardian -

• Brigitte Bardot laid to rest in funeral ceremony broadcast across Saint-Tropez — The Guardian -
• ‘Extraordinary’ iron age war trumpet find in Britain may have Boudicca links — The Guardian -
• Michael Reagan, eldest son of Ronald Reagan, dies aged 80 — The Guardian -