The killing of drug lord El Mencho by Mexican forces, aided by CIA intelligence, has sparked widespread violence across Mexico, impacting tourists scrambling for safety and prompting the deployment of thousands of soldiers to quell the unrest.

• Mexican Forces Say They Tracked El Mencho to Cabin by Following His Lover — New York Times World -
• Hunkering Down in Mexico, Some Hope for a Flight Out Amid Burning Cars — New York Times World -
• What to Know About the Killing of ‘El Mencho’ — New York Times World -

• C.I.A. Intelligence Helped Lead Mexican Authorities to ‘El Mencho’ — New York Times World -
• 'Burned and destroyed': Locals and tourists describe Mexico unrest — BBC World -
• Mexico sends thousands of soldiers to stop violence after death of drug lord — BBC World -
• Videos Show How Violence Unfolded in Mexico After Killing of Cartel Boss — New York Times World -
• Mexico faces uphill battle to appease kingpin Trump after cartel boss’s killing — The Guardian -
• Puerto Vallarta Jolted By Violence After Cartel Boss Killing — New York Times World -
• Mexican drug cartel boss ‘El Mencho’ tracked through romantic partner — The Guardian -
• Drug Lord ‘El Mencho’ Was Killed in Mexico. What’s Next for the Cartel He Led? — New York Times World -
• Here’s the latest. — New York Times World -
• Cartel henchmen unleash violence after top drug lord killed in Mexico — BBC World -
• Mexican Forces Kill ‘El Mencho,’ Nation’s Most-Wanted Cartel Boss — New York Times World -
• What the killing of drug lord 'El Mencho' means for Mexico — BBC World -
• Who was El Mencho, Mexico's most wanted man? — BBC World -
• Who was El Mencho, the former police officer who co-founded an ultraviolent cartel in Mexico? — The Guardian -
• Mexico's most wanted drug lord 'El Mencho' killed in military operation — BBC World -
• Mexican security forces kill drug cartel boss ‘El Mencho’ — The Guardian -

New revelations from the Epstein files have led to the arrest of former UK Ambassador Peter Mandelson and a ban on US envoy Charles Kushner, while Canada investigates OpenAI's failure to alert police about a shooter's suspended account tied to violent activities, and Prince Andrew's links to Epstein continue to draw scrutiny.

• Australia news live: Allan announces new regulation for endometriosis diagnosis; severe storm warnings for Victoria — The Guardian -
• Inquiry into Andrew’s links to Jeffrey Epstein is matter for MPs, says No 10 — The Guardian -
• Canada to Probe What OpenAI Knew About Tumbler Ridge Shooter — New York Times World -

• Canada seeks answers from OpenAI for failing to alert police after suspending school shooter’s account — The Guardian -
• Los Angeles Olympics Have a Cloud of Concerns as Winter Games Close — New York Times World -
• Peter Attia resigns from CBS News amid revelations about ties to Epstein — The Guardian -
• Mandelson’s downfall is one of fastest ever seen in British public life — The Guardian -
• U.K. Police Arrest Peter Mandelson, Ex-Ambassador to the U.S., Amid Epstein Accusations — New York Times World -
• Who Is Peter Mandelson, the UK Ex-Ambassador Fired Over His Epstein Ties? — New York Times World -
• Met police arrest former British ambassador to US Peter Mandelson – as it happened — The Guardian -
• Peter Mandelson arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office — The Guardian -
• Australia backs removing Andrew from royal line of succession — BBC World -
• FBI head Kash Patel defends ‘frat bro’ hijinks with US hockey team in Milan — The Guardian -
• Andrew’s former protection officers urged to share what they saw on duty — The Guardian -
• Activists hang photo of Andrew leaving police custody in the Louvre — The Guardian -
• Australian government says it would support removing Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor from royal line of succession — The Guardian -
• Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor charged massages to taxpayer while trade envoy, say reports — The Guardian -

President Trump's "obnoxious" tariff threats continue despite a Supreme Court ruling invalidating some levies, as the US evacuates staff from Lebanon amid rising Iran tensions, and France bans US envoy Charles Kushner over controversial comments.

• Judge permanently bars US justice department from releasing report on Trump’s classified documents case – live — The Guardian -
• Europe’s New Way of War — New York Times World -
• French minister moves to block US envoy Kushner from government access — BBC World -

• Trump threatens ‘obnoxious’ tariffs as UK and EU seek clarity on trade deals — The Guardian -
• Trump Administration Scrambles to Pick Up the Pieces of Broken Tariffs — New York Times World -
• France bans US envoy after no-show at meeting over killing of activist — The Guardian -
• Trump threatens countries that 'play games' with existing trade deals — BBC World -
• Trump threatens countries that 'play games' with existing trade deals — BBC World -
• Trump Iran airstrikes decision to be guided by Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff’s advice — The Guardian -
• France Summons U.S. Ambassador Over Comments on Activist’s Killing — New York Times World -
• Majority believes Trump moving US in wrong direction, poll finds — The Guardian -
• Supreme Court Considers Fate of Docks and Other Assets Seized by Cuba in 1960 — New York Times World -
• Brandi Carlile concert raises over $600,000 for families affected by ICE — The Guardian -
• Armed man killed after entering secure perimeter of Trump's residence, Secret Service says — BBC World -
• Armed man killed after entering secure perimeter of Trump's residence, Secret Service says — BBC World -
• Nancy Pelosi-palooza: Democrats praise lawmaker’s career at California convention — The Guardian -
• The European Union Hits Pause on Its U.S. Trade Deal — New York Times World -
• US evacuates staff from Lebanon embassy amid tensions with Iran — The Guardian -
• US partially evacuates Beirut embassy amid rising Iran tensions — BBC World -
• Senate Democrats call for government to start refunding $175bn in tariff money — The Guardian -
• New details emerge about armed man shot and killed at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago — The Guardian -
• For Iran’s Rulers, Refusing U.S. Demands Is a Risk Worth Taking — New York Times World -
• US to stop collecting Trump tariffs ruled illegal by supreme court | First Thing — The Guardian -
• Trump Tower planned for Surfers Paradise will be Australia’s tallest building and ‘best resort’, local developer claims — The Guardian -
• Courting China Again — New York Times World -
• Inside Iran’s Preparations for War and Plans for Survival — New York Times World -

The government's significant overhaul of the SEND system aims to reduce reliance on councils and shift responsibility to schools, while the water industry faces scrutiny and fines for sewage releases, and an inquiry finds disinformation fueled Leicester Hindu-Muslim clashes.

• Can Bridget Phillipson convince jaded families to have faith in Send changes? — The Guardian -
• Jeremy Hunt urges medics to do more to improve detection of rare childbirth condition — The Guardian -
• Nottingham killer was not sectioned because of his race, inquiry told — The Guardian -

• Parents of children with Send give changes in England a mixed response — The Guardian -
• Ex-Mail on Sunday editor denies misleading inquiry over private investigator — The Guardian -
• Keir Starmer opens investigation into Josh Simons over targeting of reporters — The Guardian -
• Major changes to the Send system - can the government win over MPs and parents? – podcast — The Guardian -
• Fewer children in England to get EHCPs by 2035 under Send overhaul — The Guardian -
• Could Farage bring ICE to the UK? – The Latest — The Guardian -
• Telegraph suitor considers legal action against UK government over rival bid — The Guardian -
• Yorkshire Water fined over £700,000 for repeated sewage releases — The Guardian -
• Unlicensed gambling firms could be barred from sponsoring Premier League clubs — The Guardian -
• Reform UK’s ICE-style deportation plan condemned as ‘sadistic’ — The Guardian -
• Martin Lewis ambushes Badenoch on Good Morning Britain over student loans plan — The Guardian -
• People with rare genetic conditions are ‘systematically ignored’ by NHS — The Guardian -
• Disinformation was ‘central accelerant’ in Leicester Hindu-Muslim clashes, inquiry finds — The Guardian -
• ‘We’ve scratched the surface’: mission to digitise UK public art reaches 1m entries — The Guardian -
• UK job vacancies ‘fall to lowest level since pandemic’ — The Guardian -

The EU struggles with Hungary's delay of Ukraine aid and new Russia sanctions, while Australians from Syrian camps face warnings upon return, former Philippine President Duterte faces charges at the ICC for drug war killings, and over 600 migrants have died in the Mediterranean this year.

• Australian families in convoy from Syrian camp warned they would be attacked unless they turned around — The Guardian -
• The Zero Units Fought for the C.I.A. in Afghanistan. In the U.S., They’re Living in Fear. — New York Times World -
• Ukraine negotiator tells BBC how it feels to sit across table from Russia — BBC World -

• EU Support for Ukraine Stumbles as Hungary Looks to Delay Aid — New York Times World -
• More than 600 people have died trying to cross Mediterranean in 2026, UN says — The Guardian -
• Duterte Won’t Appear at Hearing as I.C.C. Weighs Evidence Against Him — New York Times World -
• Duterte at ‘very heart’ of murderous drug crackdowns in Philippines, ICC told — The Guardian -
• Robert Mugabe’s son charged with attempted murder over Johannesburg shooting — The Guardian -
• What's at stake as ICC judges hear charges against ex-Philippine president Duterte? — BBC World -
• ‘Our classrooms are empty because the graveyards are full’: Iran’s students on why they are protesting again — The Guardian -
• Robert Mugabe's son charged with attempted murder in South Africa — BBC World -
• The taekwondo teacher tasked with healing India's troubled state — BBC World -
• The Ukrainian Bureaucrat Working to Squeeze Russia’s War Machine — New York Times World -
• NSW prepares for possible return of Islamic State-linked women and children from Syria — The Guardian -
• Israeli journalist who said 100,000 Gazans should have been killed after 7 October could be denied Australia visa — The Guardian -
• Four years into its full-scale war in Ukraine, Russia is feeling the effects — BBC World -
• India’s Hindu Right Seems Unstoppable. This City Shows How. — New York Times World -

A major blizzard has slammed the US North-East, causing widespread travel bans and flight cancellations, as the CDC deputy director abruptly resigns, and the Supreme Court prepares to weigh a major climate suit from the oil industry.

• Millions under road travel bans as blizzard conditions slam US north-east — The Guardian -
• More than 5,000 flights cancelled as US east coast digs out of record snow — BBC World -
• Utah House voting map that helps Democrats can be used, federal court rules — The Guardian -

• Supreme Court to Weigh Oil-Industry Effort to End a Major Climate Suit — New York Times World -
• US military strike on boat allegedly smuggling drugs kills three men — The Guardian -
• CDC deputy director abruptly resigns from role as agency reels from turnover — The Guardian -
• US supreme court takes up fossil fuel firms’ climate accountability case — The Guardian -
• Fears of polio resurgence as US vaccine adviser questions need for childhood shots — The Guardian -
• Watch: Winter storm covers parts north-east US in snow — BBC World -
• Powerful winter storm slams US north-east as NYC issues travel ban — BBC World -
• Zohran Mamdani orders travel ban in New York as US north-east braces for heavy snow amid blizzard warnings — The Guardian -

Calls for help have surged for aged care advocacy services due to a new assessment tool, Sydney Water is ordered to clean a fatberg-ridden plant, and a Trump Tower is planned for Surfers Paradise, while monsoon lows threaten year's worth of rain for several states.

• ‘Stuff of nightmares’: calls for help surge by 50% after Australia launches aged-assistance tool — The Guardian -
• High-speed rail link between Sydney and Newcastle could be ‘shovel-ready’ in two years, Albanese government says — The Guardian -
• Bill Kelty’s tax reform comments cast a harsh light on Labor’s lack of ambition — The Guardian -

• Tammy Shipley drank 67 glasses of water before her death in custody from water intoxication, inquest hears — The Guardian -
• Modest pullback on ASX after Trump tariff hike – as it happened — The Guardian -
• Alleged victim of former NSW MP tells court he didn’t understand their meet-up was for a sexual encounter — The Guardian -
• Trump Tower planned for Surfers Paradise will be Australia’s tallest building and ‘best resort’, local developer claims — The Guardian -
• Monsoon low could bring year’s worth of rain in a week to NSW, Queensland and South Australia — The Guardian -
• Australian prosecutors consider reopening British girl's cold case disappearance — BBC World -
• Chris Baghsarian: evidence linked to Sydney kidnap victim, 85, discovered in burnt-out car as search continues — The Guardian -
• Grindr tests AI match-making in Australia amid dating app fatigue and safety concerns — The Guardian -
• Sydney Water ordered to clean Malabar treatment plant where fatberg is birthing poo balls — The Guardian -

Shares for the owner of Wegovy and Ozempic fell sharply after its next-gen weight-loss drug was deemed "obsolete," while a **former DJ was jailed in London for a £40m global fraud selling fake aircraft parts, and the UK job vacancies dropped to a five-year low**.

• Ex-DJ jailed in London for selling fake parts to airlines — The Guardian -
• Wegovy and Ozempic owner dealt blow as next-gen weight-loss drug is labelled ‘obsolete’ — The Guardian -
• Netflix boss says $83bn Warner Bros takeover will benefit industry — The Guardian -

• How budget fast fashion is taking small-town India by storm — BBC World -

The US Women's Olympic Hockey team celebrated gold, an X-Files reboot is greenlit, Burberry returns to brand prominence with classic coats, a Yosemite waterfall transformed into molten orange, and a musical road in Mumbai has residents pleading for respite.

• Burberry is back on brand as a purveyor of the classic British coat — The Guardian -
• Ryan Coogler’s X-Files reboot lands with Danielle Deadwyler leading — The Guardian -
• Women’s Olympic Hockey Gold Medalist Has Her Brothers’ Eccentric Support — New York Times World -

• Lovejoy episode helps antiques dealer identify stolen Napoleon III artefacts — The Guardian -
• Rob Jetten becomes Netherlands' youngest ever PM — BBC World -
• ‘This Has Been a Day:’ U.S.-Canada Hockey Game Puts Rivalry on the Line — New York Times World -
• German tourists trying to create floating sauna rescued from Swedish ice floe — The Guardian -
• Nick Reiner due in court for arraignment over parents’ killings — The Guardian -
• Watch: Yosemite waterfall turns molten orange — BBC World -
• Briton among 19 killed in Nepal bus crash — BBC World -
• Briton among 19 killed in Nepal bus crash — BBC World -
• No evidence behind RFK Jr’s claim keto diet can cure schizophrenia, experts say — The Guardian -
• The Japanese Airport That Doesn’t Lose Bags — New York Times World -
• Tour Montparnasse Is One of Paris’s Uglier Landmarks. It’s Getting a Makeover. — New York Times World -
• Drives me crazy: Mumbai residents plead for respite from ‘musical road’ — The Guardian -
• Kim Jong Un re-appointed leader of North Korea's ruling party — BBC World -
• Kim Jong Un re-appointed leader of North Korea's ruling party — BBC World -
• The tragedy of Punch the monkey: why do mother animals abandon their offspring? — The Guardian -
• BBC presenting duties to be shared for World Cup – but who will host the final? — The Guardian -
• Are you cut out for living and working in Antarctica? — BBC World -