Developments include Macron's skepticism about Russia-Ukraine peace talks on the war's four-year anniversary, a military thinktank's assessment of Russia's ability to continue the war, a Moscow rail hub explosion identified as a suicide bomb, Russia's criminal investigation into Telegram's founder for abetting terrorism, Iranian preparations for war amid US consideration of targeted strikes, and China's increased pressure on Japan with export restrictions.

• Macron ‘very sceptical’ about Russia-Ukraine peace talks Europe marks four years of war – Europe live — The Guardian -
• Russia can keep fighting Ukraine war throughout 2026, says military thinktank — The Guardian -
• Moscow rail hub explosion was suicide bomb, Russian officials say — BBC World -

• Russia Moves Closer to Banning Telegram App, Saying It Foments Terrorism — New York Times World -
• Zelenskyy urges Trump to visit Ukraine in speech marking invasion anniversary — The Guardian -
• Iranians Brace for War as Trump Considers Targeted Strikes — New York Times World -
• Russia opens criminal case into Telegram founder Pavel Durov — The Guardian -
• Hong Kong lodges 'strong protest' after Panama takes control of canal ports — BBC World -
• Europe’s New Way of War — New York Times World -
• China Amps Up Pressure on Japan With Restrictions on Exports — New York Times World -
• How Russia Put Its Future at Risk by Remaking Its Economy for War — New York Times World -
• France blocks US ambassador’s access to officials after he fails to attend meeting — The Guardian -
• How Bookbinders Helped the Nazis Track Holocaust Victims — New York Times World -
• Oil prices hit seven-month highs as tensions rise before US-Iran talks — The Guardian -
• 'Anyone who runs is shot': Watch Russian soldiers describe killings of troops who refuse orders — BBC World -
• Tuesday briefing: The long and winding road of war in Ukraine, as the human cost mounts — The Guardian -
• Bowen: Why Ukraine remains defiant and does not feel close to defeat — BBC World -
• Russian soldiers tell BBC they saw fellow troops executed on commanders' orders — BBC World -
• ICC judges hear charges against ex-Philippine president Duterte: What you need to know — BBC World -
• These Ukrainians Don’t Want to Be Traded to Russia for Peace — New York Times World -
• Four years into Ukraine invasion, Russia’s gains are small, while Kyiv remains resilient — The Guardian -
• France Summons U.S. Ambassador Over Comments on Activist’s Killing — New York Times World -
• US accuses China of ‘massively’ expanding nuclear arsenal amid fears of new arms race — The Guardian -
• Tributes paid to ‘very loving and caring’ British hiker killed in Nepal bus crash — The Guardian -

Key headlines report **Trump's new global tariffs kicking in at 10% and Meta striking a $60bn chip deal with AMD, low American approval for Trump's priorities ahead of his State of the Union speech, the president's plan to proclaim his first-year success amidst a deeply polarized country, and FedEx suing the US government for tariff refunds** after a Supreme Court ruling.

• Trump’s new global tariffs kick in at 10%; Meta strikes $60bn chip deal with AMD - business live — The Guardian -
• Just 32% of Americans say Trump has right priorities, new poll finds, ahead of State of the Union speech – live — The Guardian -
• Abigail Spanberger: Democrats turn to centrist as party seeks return to relevance — The Guardian -

• What time is Trump’s State of the Union – and how can I watch? — The Guardian -
• The European Union Hits Pause on Its U.S. Trade Deal — New York Times World -
• First Thing: Trump Iran airstrikes decision to be guided by Kushner and Witkoff’s advice — The Guardian -
• Trump to proclaim success of first year in lengthy State of the Union speech — The Guardian -
• Trump to deliver State of the Union address in deeply polarized country — The Guardian -
• Donald Trump’s new 10% global tariff comes into effect — The Guardian -
• Hakeem Jeffries invites family of Jesse Jackson and Epstein survivor to Trump’s State of the Union address – as it happened — The Guardian -
• Trump’s scramble to fix his crumbling tariff strategy sows global chaos and confusion — The Guardian -
• FedEx sues US government, seeking ‘full refund’ over Trump tariffs — The Guardian -

Following the killing of drug lord 'El Mencho,' Mexico is caught between Trump's demands and cartel retaliatory violence, with travel advisories warning about safety for tourists, 23 inmates sprung from jail in a wave of violence, and Mexican forces tracking 'El Mencho' through a romantic partner.

• Mexico Is Caught Between Trump and the Cartels — New York Times World -
• After Six Decades of the War on Drugs, What Works? — New York Times World -
• Is It Safe to Travel to Mexico Right Now, Given the Cartel Violence? — New York Times World -

• Mexico hunts 23 inmates sprung from jail during wave of violence — BBC World -
• Violence Ebbs but Mexico Remains on Edge After Killing of Cartel Boss — New York Times World -
• Mexican Forces Say They Tracked El Mencho to Cabin by Following His Lover — New York Times World -
• BBC's Will Grant on the atmosphere in Mexico following unrest — BBC World -
• 'Burned and destroyed': Locals and tourists describe Mexico unrest — BBC World -
• Drug Lord ‘El Mencho’ Was Killed in Mexico. What’s Next for the Cartel He Led? — New York Times World -
• After Chaos Rips Across Mexico, the Remnants of Cartel Violence Haunt Residents — New York Times World -
• Here’s the latest. — New York Times World -
• 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 -

Headlines reveal a minister labeling Andrew 'rude, arrogant and entitled' as the government backs trade envoy document release, Reform UK's Danny Kruger criticizing the 'unregulated sexual economy', a Cabinet Office minister under investigation for targeting reporters, Rupert Lowe failing to block an MPs' watchdog investigation, and Peter Mandelson's arrest and release amid Epstein accusations adding to a political scandal.

• Andrew ‘rude, arrogant and entitled’, says minister as government backs release of trade envoy documents – UK politics live — The Guardian -
• Reform’s Danny Kruger criticises UK’s ‘totally unregulated sexual economy’ — The Guardian -
• Minister under investigation over targeting of reporters makes late donation declaration — The Guardian -

• Rupert Lowe fails in effort to block investigation by MPs’ watchdog — The Guardian -
• Husband’s ‘physical and sexual violence’ caused wife to kill herself, UK court told — The Guardian -
• Mandelson’s Arrest Adds to Scandal That Has Rattled Starmer and Labour Party — New York Times World -
• Royal Artillery under fire after denying access to looted Asante treasure — The Guardian -
• Netflix, Disney+ and Prime Video to come under stricter regulation in UK — The Guardian -
• UK’s biggest student housing provider hit by fall in international enrolment — The Guardian -
• Court backlog to rise for decade despite Lammy slashing of jury trials, says MoJ — The Guardian -
• Bafta judge quits over ‘utterly unforgivable’ handling of Tourette N-word incident — The Guardian -
• Russell Brand pleads not guilty to two more sexual offences — The Guardian -
• Mandelson’s downfall is one of fastest ever seen in British public life — The Guardian -
• Tuesday briefing: The long and winding road of war in Ukraine, as the human cost mounts — The Guardian -
• Government announces review of triple zero laws – as it happened — The Guardian -
• Criminals ‘systematically’ targeting UK shops, costing £400m last year, say retailers — The Guardian -
• Reform mayor courted US oil and gas executive about fracking in UK — The Guardian -
• The Queen Stuck by Prince Andrew. King Charles Is Pulling Away — New York Times World -
• New Zealand would back removal of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor from royal line of succession, says PM — The Guardian -
• David Lammy lifts cap on court sitting days in effort to cut backlog of cases — The Guardian -

News includes environmentalists being 'gobsmacked' by a federal green light to bulldoze tropical savanna, recommendations for banning under-16s from riding ebikes and e-scooters, a poll showing over half of Australians open to voting for One Nation, Labor MPs accused of contempt for Australian women and children stuck in Syria, and Prime Minister Albanese's evacuation from his residence due to a bomb threat.

• NT environmentalists ‘gobsmacked’ at federal green light to bulldoze nearly 3,000 hectares of tropical savanna — The Guardian -
• Ban under-16s from riding ebikes and e-scooters then require a driver’s licence, Queensland inquiry to recommend — The Guardian -
• Guardian Essential poll: more than half of Australians open to voting for One Nation despite Hanson’s Muslim comments — The Guardian -

• In 2022, Labor MPs urged compassion for Australian women and children stuck in Syria. Now Albanese has only contempt | Dan Jervis-Bardy — The Guardian -
• Increase in religious schools and home schooling could prevent ‘deeper social cohesion’, Julian Hill says — The Guardian -
• Amyl and the Sniffers embroiled in US legal battle after photographer countersues singer — The Guardian -
• Anthony Albanese evacuated from official Canberra residence for three hours due to bomb threat — The Guardian -
• Albanese says One Nation doesn’t ‘represent working people’ and claims Pocock ‘seeks to promote grievance’ — The Guardian -
• ‘Her life mattered, her love mattered’: Tammy Shipley remembered by grieving family at inquest into her death in custody — The Guardian -
• Government announces review of triple zero laws – as it happened — The Guardian -
• Gus Lamont’s parents appeal to public for information and say ‘every moment without him is unbearable’ — The Guardian -
• High-speed train ticket between Newcastle and Sydney to cost $31 for one-hour journey from 2039 — The Guardian -
• Landmark royal commission into antisemitism prompted by Bondi shooting begins — BBC World -
• Chris Baghsarian’s body dumped on Sydney’s outskirts within 40 hours of kidnapping, police suggest — The Guardian -
• Full details of Bondi attack won’t be heard by royal commission, inquiry head says at first public hearing — The Guardian -
• Australian women held in Syrian camp say they would accept children returning home separately — The Guardian -
• Tax expert worried Australia on path to neo-feudal society as housing wealth drives inequality — The Guardian -

This section covers a Florida teen charged with homicide in a cruise ship death, two Missouri deputies killed hours apart in shootings, airlines adding flights after storm and snow cancellations in the Northeast, **activists raising almost $20m to help Minnesota, and trans activists saying restoring a traditional Pride flag isn't enough at Stonewall**.

• Florida teen charged with homicide in death of his stepsister on cruise ship — The Guardian -
• Two Missouri deputies killed hours apart in shootings as suspect is shot dead — The Guardian -
• Airlines Add Flights After Storm and Snow in Northeast Cause Cancellations — New York Times World -

• She’s raised almost $20m to help Minnesota – she thinks you can do it too — The Guardian -
• Witness to immigration agent’s killing of friend last year dies in Texas car crash — The Guardian -
• Trans activists say restoring traditional Pride flag at Stonewall isn’t enough — The Guardian -
• Guthrie suspect believed to have visited home before she went missing — BBC World -
• More than 5,000 flights cancelled as US east coast digs out of record snow — BBC World -
• Missing North Carolina woman found ‘alive and well’ after 24 years — The Guardian -
• Police AI chief admits crime-fighting tech will have bias but vows to tackle it — The Guardian -
• Millions under road travel bans as blizzard conditions slam US north-east — The Guardian -

Key business and tech stories include **AstraZeneca boss Pascal Soriot's pay rising to £17.7m, Meta agreeing to a $60bn chip deal with AMD despite AI bubble fears, the looming threat of a Taiwan chip disaster for Silicon Valley, and Reddit being fined £14.5m in the UK over under-13s' data use**.

• AstraZeneca boss Pascal Soriot’s pay rises to £17.7m — The Guardian -
• The Looming Taiwan Chip Disaster That Silicon Valley Has Long Ignored — New York Times World -
• Reddit fined £14.5m in UK over use of under-13s’ data — The Guardian -

• Meta agrees $60bn deal with chipmaker AMD despite AI bubble fears — The Guardian -
• Canada to Probe What OpenAI Knew About Tumbler Ridge Shooter — New York Times World -
• Crypto exchange Binance may have funded Iranian entities, reports say — The Guardian -

This topic highlights the International Booker prize longlist announcement featuring diverse themes, a review of 'Mother Russia' as a funny and smart play, the first UK baby born to a mother after a womb transplant from a dead donor, BTS's comeback show immediately selling out in Seoul, and a probe underway after illness killed 72 tigers in a Thai tourist park.

• Witches, Nazi collaborators and banned books: International Booker prize announces 2026 longlist — The Guardian -
• Italian ministers accused of ‘serious blunder’ as police officer arrested for murder — The Guardian -
• ‘Mother Russia’ Review: A New Play That’s as Funny as It’s Smart — New York Times World -

• Ghana drops coup leader's name from main airport on putsch anniversary — BBC World -
• Celebrity doctor Peter Attia steps down from CBS over Epstein links — BBC World -
• New edition of Ferrara bible shows how persecuted Jews kept faith alive in Spanish — The Guardian -
• Destitute survivors of south-east Asia’s cyberscam farms an ‘international crisis’ — The Guardian -
• How Bookbinders Helped the Nazis Track Holocaust Victims — New York Times World -
• Robert Carradine, Lizzie McGuire and Revenge of the Nerds star, dies aged 71 — BBC World -
• BTS comeback show sells out immediately as 260,000 fans set to descend on Seoul — The Guardian -
• Baby boy born to UK mother after womb transplant from dead donor — The Guardian -
• Probe under way after illness kills 72 tigers in Thai tourist park — BBC World -
• Norway’s Century-Long Watch on the Northern Lights — New York Times World -
• Robert Carradine, Revenge of the Nerds and Lizzie McGuire actor, dies aged 71 — The Guardian -
• What Brontë Country Tells Us About Britain Today — New York Times World -