US Secretary of State Marco Rubio's engagements in Munich underscored both a desire for renewed alliances and underlying trans-Atlantic tensions, while Iran regime change rallies and Ukraine's demand for a 20-year US security guarantee highlighted ongoing global hotspots.

• Live Updates: In Munich, Rubio Calls Europe a Friend but Says It Must Change — New York Times World -
• Thousands Rally for Iran Regime Change in Cities Around the World — New York Times World -
• Rubio says US and Europe 'belong together' despite tensions — BBC World -

• US pressure on Greenland is ‘totally unacceptable’, says Danish PM – as it happened — The Guardian -
• In Munich, Europe Says It Is ‘De-risking’ From the U.S. Amid Trump’s Unpredictability — New York Times World -
• Europe’s Reaction to Rubio: Relief, Up to a Point — New York Times World -
• Ukraine wants 20-year US security guarantee to sign peace deal — The Guardian -
• Here’s the latest. — New York Times World -
• Cuban cigar festival called off as US blockade worsens energy crisis — BBC World -
• Cuban cigar festival called off as US blockade worsens energy crisis — BBC World -
• US launches airstrikes on dozens of Islamic State targets in Syria — The Guardian -
• Limited government shutdown likely to linger for at least 10 days as Congress takes break — The Guardian -
• Zelensky rules out holding elections until there is a cease-fire with Russia. — New York Times World -
• Starmer stresses ‘urgency’ of closer defence ties with Europe at Munich conference — The Guardian -
• Danish state could face legal action over deal that gives US powers on its soil — The Guardian -
• In Munich, Rubio Stresses Shared History to Europeans but Warns of ‘Civilizational Erasure’ — New York Times World -
• Europe’s Reaction to Rubio: Relief, Up to a Point — New York Times World -
• Rubio tells Europe US wants renewed alliance – but on Trump’s terms — The Guardian -
• Japan Releases Chinese Boat Captain After Detaining Him for 30 Hours — New York Times World -
• Life in Beirut Beneath the Drones — New York Times World -
• First U.S. Troops Land in Nigeria for Trump-Led Christian Mission — New York Times World -
• Trump says regime change in Iran ‘would be the best thing’ as US military reportedly plans for operation – as it happened — The Guardian -
• Macron Insists Europe Remains Central to Global Stability — New York Times World -

The continuing investigations into Jeffrey Epstein's network saw French prosecutors forming a special team, a prominent talent agent selling his firm amidst Maxwell links, and renewed calls for Prince Andrew to cooperate with police inquiries.

• French prosecutors to set up special team to review Epstein files — The Guardian -
• Casey Wasserman to sell talent agency after links to Ghislaine Maxwell exposed in Epstein files — The Guardian -
• Casey Wasserman to sell talent agency after Epstein fallout - reports — BBC World -

• Casey Wasserman to sell talent agency after Epstein fallout — BBC World -
• Amid Fallout From Epstein Files, Dubai’s DP World Boss Is Replaced — New York Times World -
• Police set up national group to deal with UK-related Epstein allegations — The Guardian -
• Peter Attia appears to be staying at CBS News despite Epstein communications — The Guardian -
• Andrew aide advised Epstein to omit conviction on China visa form, files suggest — The Guardian -
• He ran, but he can’t keep hiding: Pressure mounts for Andrew to talk to police — The Guardian -

European governments confirmed Alexei Navalny's poisoning with frog toxin, Canada mourned victims of a mass shooting in Tumbler Ridge, and Gisèle Pelicot courageously shared her story following a shocking rape trial.

• Navalny Was Poisoned With Frog Toxin, European Governments Say — New York Times World -
• No arrests made after police search residence near Nancy Guthrie's home — BBC World -
• Nobel laureate transferred to prison in northern Iran without warning — The Guardian -

• Assailants kill at least 30 in north-west Nigerian villages, residents say — The Guardian -
• Pakistan Accused of Denying Treatment for Imran Khan’s Failing Eyesight — New York Times World -
• Russia killed opposition leader Alexei Navalny using dart frog toxin, UK says — BBC World -
• After Mass Shooting, the Town of Tumbler Ridge, British Columbia Is Forever Changed — New York Times World -
• Roy Medvedev, Soviet Era Historian and Dissident, Is Dead at 100 — New York Times World -
• Russia killed Alexei Navalny with frog toxin, UK and four European allies say — The Guardian -
• Police seal off road near Arizona home of Today show host Savannah Guthrie’s missing mother — The Guardian -
• Gisèle Pelicot plans to meet ex-husband in prison for answers on other allegations — The Guardian -
• US man who fled jail and pleaded to Trump and Kim Kardashian gets 60-year term — The Guardian -
• Police activity under way near Nancy Guthrie's home — BBC World -
• Watch: 'I am a survivor' Gisèle Pelicot tells BBC Newsnight — BBC World -
• Gisèle Pelicot tells BBC: I felt crushed by horror - but I don't feel anger — BBC World -
• 'Canadians are with you,' says PM at Tumbler Ridge vigil — BBC World -
• 'Canadians are with you,' says PM at Tumbler Ridge vigil — BBC World -
• How Peter Biar Ajak, a Sudanese Peace Activist, Was Caught Plotting a Coup — New York Times World -
• Mark Carney joins hands with Canada opposition leader as he pays tribute to school shooting victims — The Guardian -
• Gisèle Pelicot, the Woman at the Center of Rape Trial That Shook France, Shares Her Story — New York Times World -
• Indian man admits plot to kill US-based Sikh separatist leader — BBC World -
• US officials investigate whether ICE agents lied about Minneapolis shooting — The Guardian -

A partial US government shutdown began over immigration funding disputes, Democratic senators initiated an inquiry into EPA policy changes, and former President Obama weighed in on racist remarks and support for anti-ICE protestors.

• Obama addresses racist video shared by Trump depicting him as an ape — BBC World -
• Obama addresses racist video shared by Trump depicting him as an ape — BBC World -
• Barack Obama publicly states support for anti-ICE demonstrators in Minneapolis — The Guardian -

• Democratic senators launch inquiry into EPA’s repeal of key air pollution enforcement measure — The Guardian -
• US military used Anthropic’s AI model Claude in Venezuela raid, report says — The Guardian -
• US fixation on the hard-hat economy and making manufacturing great again makes little sense — The Guardian -
• US homeland security department partially shut down after lawmakers fail to agree funding — The Guardian -
• US homeland security shutdown could mean airport delays, travel groups say — BBC World -
• US homeland security shutdown could mean airport delays, travel groups say — BBC World -
• US strikes second alleged drug boat in a week, bringing death toll to 133 — The Guardian -
• Trump’s Actions Test the Fragile World of Air Travel — New York Times World -
• Ocasio-Cortez says US military aid to Israel ‘enabled a genocide in Gaza’ — The Guardian -

Unions and Labour MPs challenged Keir Starmer's factional agenda, the craft beer business BrewDog considered a breakup, and London faced a measles outbreak, while a High Court ruling found the ban on Palestine Action unlawful.

• Unions and Labour MPs call on Starmer to end ‘narrow factional agenda’ — The Guardian -
• More than 60 children infected in north London measles outbreak — The Guardian -
• BrewDog could be broken up as craft beer business put up for sale — The Guardian -

• Girl, 17, who died after three-car crash in Cwmbran was ‘funny, kind and caring’ — The Guardian -
• New archbishop of Westminster urges greater understanding of struggles of ‘the vulnerable’ — The Guardian -
• Record 1,000 UK taxpayers under 30 earned more than £1m last year — The Guardian -
• Senior Reform UK figures attend launch of How to Launder Money book — The Guardian -
• Ban on Palestine Action ‘massively backfired’, says group’s co-founder — The Guardian -
• Pension annuity sales hit record as average pot exceeds £80,000 — The Guardian -
• UK Ban on Palestine Action Is Unlawful, Court Finds — New York Times World -

A SpaceX crew successfully docked at the International Space Station, the "Chinamaxxing" trend gained traction on TikTok, and rental ebike programs experienced a boom in Australian cities.

• Watch: Moment crew docks at International Space Station — BBC World -
• On TikTok, we're all Chinese – but the trend doesn't paint the full picture — BBC World -
• Four new astronauts arrive via SpaceX rocket at International Space Station — The Guardian -

• Rental ebike programs booming in Australian cities as e-scooter ‘moral panic’ sees take-up stall — The Guardian -
• Planned US-funded baby vaccine trial in Guinea-Bissau blasted by WHO — BBC World -

The Winter Olympics saw dramatic moments like US hockey's fight against Denmark and Brazil's first Winter Olympic gold, while Rio Carnival police used fancy dress in phone theft stings, and Brazil embraced polyamory as a social trend.

• Police wear fancy dress in Rio Carnival phone theft sting — BBC World -
• No miracle, but Denmark gives U.S. a fight. — New York Times World -
• Scotty James Is Edged Out by Yuto Totsuka of Japan in the Halfpipe. — New York Times World -

• Lucas Pinheiro Braathen of Brazil and Mikhail Shaidorov of Kazakhstan Win Olympic Gold Medals — New York Times World -
• The Sea Took Her Prosthetic Leg. Months Later, It Gave It Back. — New York Times World -
• Open Road — New York Times World -
• Milo Rau’s ‘Hate Radio,’ ‘Pelicot Trial’ and More Theater of the Real — New York Times World -
• Brazil’s Pinheiro Braathen wins gold – and South America’s first Winter Olympics medal — The Guardian -
• Labubus to burkinis: V&A unveils updated 21st-century design galleries — The Guardian -
• ‘Nothing says love like chemicals’: Valentine’s roses often covered in pesticides, testing finds — The Guardian -
• Brazil, the World’s Largest Catholic Nation, Embraces Polyamory — New York Times World -
• Nose for trouble: Italian town seeks ‘odour evaluators’ to sniff out bad smells — The Guardian -
• Peta calls for pork-free menus as Peppa Pig show rolls into Grimsby — The Guardian -
• ‘A whole lost culture’: the Irishman reviving the forgotten sport of stone lifting — The Guardian -
• Ilia Malinin’s catastrophic free skate: ‘I blew it.’ — New York Times World -
• Why writer Arundhati Roy's cult classic film is still relevant in India — BBC World -
• Dutch Prosecutors Fine Louis Vuitton Netherlands in Money Laundering Case — New York Times World -
• Gasps and disbelief in US as 'Quad God's' Olympic dream crumbles — BBC World -
• He was once a teen 'superstar'. Why did James Van Der Beek need help to pay his medical bills? — BBC World -
• Kenyans drop flowers for Valentine's bouquets of cash. Not everyone is impressed — BBC World -

New South Wales secured extra public holidays for Anzac Day, economists debated how tax refunds influenced interest rates through consumer spending, and Prime Minister Albanese engaged in political taunts against new Liberal leaders.

• NSW gets extra public holiday for Anzac Day until at least 2027 — The Guardian -
• Did you buy a coffee machine with a tax refund? It may have affected Australia’s interest rate — The Guardian -
• Anthony Albanese taunts new Liberal leaders in first comments since Sussan Ley’s ousting — The Guardian -

Bangladesh welcomed a new leader after an election landslide, and new historical research shed light on the fall of a Chinese dynasty.

• New Research Absolves the Woman Blamed for a Dynasty’s Ruin — New York Times World -
• Can Bangladesh's new leader bring change after election landslide? — BBC World -
• Can Bangladesh's new leader bring change after election landslide? — BBC World -