US relations with Europe remain complex, with Munich Security Conference speeches sparking discussion, while Canada adjusts its military spending and Russia faces new UK sanctions over Alexei Navalny's death, alongside US interventions in Venezuelan oil shipments and ongoing Cuban crises; Iran expresses openness to nuclear talks, and China offers visa-free travel to UK and Canadian nationals, impacting global security and diplomatic ties.

• Canada Gives U.S. Arms Makers the Cold Shoulder on Military Spending — New York Times World -
• Europe Today Looks Different From the One Trump’s Team Describes — New York Times World -
• Three American Speeches at Munich, and Plenty of Confusion — New York Times World -

• US boards second tanker in Indian Ocean after tracking it from Caribbean — BBC World -
• British and German military chiefs press ‘moral’ case for rearmament — The Guardian -
• Ukraine's ex-energy minister detained while attempting to leave country — BBC World -
• UK considers new Russia sanctions after Navalny frog toxin finding — The Guardian -
• US boards second oil tanker in Indian Ocean after it fled Venezuelan raid — The Guardian -
• EU foreign policy chief criticises ‘fashionable euro-bashing’ by US — The Guardian -
• Offer to join Trump’s new era is met with growing sense of European steeliness — The Guardian -
• 'Trump will be gone in three years': Top Democrats try to reassure Europe — BBC World -
• Welsh munitions factory seen as crucial to boosting UK stockpiles and aiding Ukraine is yet to open — The Guardian -
• Iran ready to discuss compromises to reach nuclear deal, minister tells BBC in Tehran — BBC World -
• Europe’s Reaction to Rubio: Relief, Up to a Point — New York Times World -
• Reform and Greens undermining UK commitment to Nato, Cooper says — The Guardian -
• ‘Woke Europe not facing civilisational erasure,’ says EU’s Kallas after Rubio’s Munich speech – as it happened — The Guardian -
• China confirms visa-free travel for UK and Canadian nationals — BBC World -
• Live Updates: In Munich, Rubio Calls Europe a Friend but Says It Must Change — New York Times World -
• No fuel, no tourists, no cash – this was the week the Cuban crisis got real — The Guardian -
• In Munich, Rubio Stresses Shared History to Europeans but Warns of ‘Civilizational Erasure’ — New York Times World -
• Russia killed opposition leader Alexei Navalny using dart frog toxin, UK says — BBC World -

Concerns over human rights intensify with an Iran protester's death in custody and secret US migrant deportations; Epstein files continue to generate legal action in the US, France, and UK, where calls for legislative change and investigations into Prince Andrew's links persist, as domestic violence and related suicides in the UK are highlighted, and a US sex trafficking trial proceeds, amidst news of a Russian 'pick-up artist' in Ghana, police ethics inquiries in the UK, a Palestine Action ban legality challenge, and a multimillion-euro heist in Europe.

• Iran Protester Dies in Custody, Raising Fears of Execution — New York Times World -
• U.S. Deports Nine Migrants in Secret, Ignoring Legal Protections — New York Times World -
• US attorney general criticised after saying all Epstein files have been released — BBC World -

• Katie’s story: her abusive ex-partner said ‘kill yourself’. When she did, police dropped domestic violence inquiry — The Guardian -
• Revealed: The true toll of female suicides in UK with domestic abuse at their core — The Guardian -
• UK’s top prosecutor says ‘nobody above law’ amid claims against former prince Andrew — The Guardian -
• US teen who pushed for her father’s release from ICE custody dies of cancer — The Guardian -
• Rallies held across the world in support of Iran’s anti-government protesters — The Guardian -
• French Prosecutors to Investigate Diplomat as Part of Epstein Probe — New York Times World -
• Russian 'pick-up artist' accused of secretly filming women in Ghana — BBC World -
• Jess Phillips calls for Epstein files to be catalyst for long-term legislative change — The Guardian -
• ‘I was so scared’: US trial witnesses allege Alexander brothers worked together to rape women — The Guardian -
• Hundreds of thousands join Iran protests around the world — BBC World -
• Hundreds of thousands join Iran protests around the world — BBC World -
• Gisèle Pelicot, the Woman at the Center of Rape Trial That Shook France, Shares Her Story — New York Times World -
• Maxwell’s clemency pitch: can Epstein accomplice talk her way out of prison? — The Guardian -
• UK politics: Cooper defends Palestine Action ban despite court ruling it was unlawful – as it happened — The Guardian -
• Ex-watchdogs warn rush to give power to local police in immigration crackdown risks ‘threat to civil rights’ — The Guardian -
• ‘I feel like a ghost’: new father deported by ICE to Bhutan that exiled his family — The Guardian -
• UK private jet deportation flight cancelled after man swallows vape battery — The Guardian -
• Senior police praised undercover officer who lied to court about identity, papers at spycops inquiry show — The Guardian -
• The spectacular multimillion-euro heist nobody noticed — BBC World -

UK political debates involve inquiries into a Labour thinktank, Labour's stance on Reform UK's alleged racist content, concerns over Reform and Green parties undermining NATO, and leadership changes for Starmer's chief of staff, while public health addresses a measles outbreak and gender identity services review findings, economic discussions include the gender pay gap and a company's controversial re-acquisition post-insolvency, and environmental efforts focus on flood warnings, coastal protection with Christmas trees, and Welsh rewilding initiatives.

• Starmer facing calls for inquiry into Labour thinktank’s investigation of journalists — The Guardian -
• Fast-spreading measles outbreak takes hold among under-10s in north London — The Guardian -
• More flood warnings as UK’s wet weather set to continue — The Guardian -

• Labour calls on Reform’s Matt Goodwin to reject aides’ ‘racist content’ — The Guardian -
• Jonathan Powell rejects overtures to replace McSweeney as Starmer’s chief of staff — The Guardian -
• UK far right lines up behind Rupert Lowe in challenge to Reform — The Guardian -
• Welsh charity buys more than 405 hectares for rewilding — The Guardian -
• Social media misleads young on gender transitioning, says UK review leader — The Guardian -
• UK’s gender pay gap ‘won’t close for 30 years’ at current rates — The Guardian -
• Tinsel to tidewall: discarded Christmas trees reused to protect Lancashire coastline — The Guardian -
• Firm that went bust owing £650k to HMRC offers staff Las Vegas trip after being bought by ex-owner — The Guardian -

Former President Trump's actions include disclosing White House ballroom plans, controversial climate policy changes, and comments on Israel's president, with a UK politician meeting him; US immigration enforcement faces criticism regarding local police powers and the death of a teen linked to ICE custody, while state-level politics see progressive wins in Texas and tech billionaires' influence in California elections, and the search for Nancy Guthrie remains a prominent national abduction case.

• FBI analysing recovered glove that appears to match those worn in Guthrie suspect video — BBC World -
• Authorities appeal for video footage as Nancy Guthrie search enters third week with no arrests — The Guardian -
• ‘Right about everything’: Liz Truss tweets photo of meeting with Trump — The Guardian -

• Trump’s Stinging Attack on Israel’s President Touches a Nerve — New York Times World -
• Renderings show most detailed vision for Trump’s White House ballroom — The Guardian -
• Progressive Texas organizers hail shock win as far-right Republicans left reeling — The Guardian -
• Trump touts climate savings but new rule set to push up US prices — The Guardian -
• California’s billionaires pour cash into elections as big tech seeks new allies — The Guardian -
• An abduction, a Bitcoin demand and a TV icon - why Nancy Guthrie's case has gripped the US — BBC World -

Australian economic policies are under review with debates on tobacco excise and mandated health star ratings, while consumer law battles emerge over Coles' discounts and the multi-billion dollar Aukus submarine shipyard plan proceeds; political shifts include Liberal party leadership exits and an additional Anzac Day public holiday for NSW, amidst news of a consulate's failure to assist an Australian in Bali and an arrest in a Queensland museum heist.

• Australia news live: police announce new search for evidence at Gus Lamont’s home; court battle begins over Coles’ ‘discounts’ — The Guardian -
• The star rating on food is now mandatory – but some experts think we should scrap it altogether — The Guardian -
• Treasury considering changes to Australia’s contentious tobacco excise, as calls grow for a freeze — The Guardian -

• Australian man died in Bali after consulate refused to assist with medical transfer — The Guardian -
• Alleged cat burglar arrested after priceless Egyptian artefacts taken in Queensland museum heist — The Guardian -
• Albanese dismisses Aukus concerns as submarine shipyard cost revealed to be $30bn — The Guardian -
• PM says Liberals will ‘despair’ at Ley’s premature exit – as it happened — The Guardian -
• How $40-a-Pack Cigarettes Pushed Australians to the Black Market — New York Times World -
• NSW gets extra public holiday for Anzac Day – but some other states won’t follow suit — The Guardian -
• Liberal figure Charlotte Mortlock quits party amid feared backlash over dumping of first female leader — The Guardian -

Israeli airstrikes on Gaza result in civilian casualties, while deadly motorbike raids continue to affect villages in Nigeria, and Canada grapples with the aftermath and community support efforts following a tragic school shooting in Tumbler Ridge.

• Eleven killed in Israeli strikes on Gaza, rescuers say — BBC World -
• At least 12 Palestinians killed and several hurt in Israeli airstrikes on Gaza — The Guardian -
• ‘People want to help’: Canadians rally round Tumbler Ridge after school shooting — The Guardian -

• Motorbike raids on villages kill dozens in Nigeria — BBC World -
• Motorbike raids on villages kill dozens in Nigeria — BBC World -
• Assailants kill at least 32 in north-west Nigerian villages, residents say — The Guardian -

UK authorities propose fines or bans for AI chatbots that endanger children, while the growing influence of AI on translation jobs raises concerns about future employment.

• Makers of AI chatbots that put children at risk face big fines or UK ban — The Guardian -
• Will A.I. Kill Translation Jobs? — New York Times World -

The Winter Olympics celebrate gold medal wins by Italy's Federica Brignone, Brazil's Lucas Pinheiro Braathen, and Kazakhstan's Mikhail Shaidorov, with discussions on how Olympians store their medals; a 150-year-old shipwreck is discovered in Lake Michigan, and new research challenges historical narratives about China's Zhou Dynasty's collapse.

• Searchers find missing ship in Lake Michigan, over 150 years after it sunk — The Guardian -
• How Italy’s Federica Brignone Won Gold in Giant Slalom. — New York Times World -
• You’d Be Surprised to See Where Many Olympians Keep Their Medals — New York Times World -

• No miracle, but Denmark hockey team gives U.S. a good fight. — New York Times World -
• Lucas Pinheiro Braathen of Brazil and Mikhail Shaidorov of Kazakhstan Win Olympic Gold Medals — New York Times World -
• New Research Absolves the Woman Blamed for a Dynasty’s Ruin — New York Times World -

Bangladesh navigates a political transition from student revolution to elections, marked by the rise of an Islamist party, and potential for renewed diplomatic ties with India.

• How Bangladesh Went From Revolution to Elections — New York Times World -
• Islamist Party’s Rise Overshadows Student Revolution in Bangladesh — New York Times World -
• After the landslide: Can India reset ties with a BNP-led Bangladesh? — BBC World -