The Middle East conflict continues to escalate with US military incidents in Iraq, Iranian threats to block the Strait of Hormuz and mine-laying allegations, and surging global oil prices, while Israel conducts airstrikes and faces scrutiny over military actions.

• Middle East crisis live: rescue under way after US military refuelling plane crashes in Iraq; top Iranian nuclear scientists killed, Israel says — The Guardian -
• Iran War Live Updates: U.S. Officials Say Iran Is Laying Mines in Key Oil Route — New York Times World -
• Here is the latest. — New York Times World -

• Senate again fails to pass homeland security funding as department shutdown nears one month – live — The Guardian -
• What Is the Strait of Hormuz and Why Is Iran Blocking It? — New York Times World -
• Rescue effort under way as US military refueling plane crashes in Iraq — The Guardian -
• Netanyahu issues veiled threat to new supreme leader of Iran. — New York Times World -
• Iran Is Laying Mines in the Strait of Hormuz, U.S. Officials Say — New York Times World -
• Pentagon tells lawmakers Iran war costs top $11.3bn – but true price unknown — The Guardian -
• New Iranian Leader Vows to Keep Global Oil Gateway Blocked — New York Times World -
• Iran's new supreme leader vows to block Strait of Hormuz in first statement — BBC World -
• Emirati minister tells BBC Iran must end strikes on Gulf — BBC World -
• Pardoning Netanyahu Now Would Be Improper, Key Israeli Office Says — New York Times World -
• Displaced Lebanese Haunted by Strikes from the Sky — New York Times World -
• Iraq vents anger at strikes on former militias now under government control. — New York Times World -
• California officials say no imminent Iran threat found after FBI alert — The Guardian -
• In linking Iran to Russia, Healey could be laying ground for hard choices ahead — The Guardian -
• Putin’s ‘hidden hand’ lies behind Iran’s drone tactics, UK defence secretary says — The Guardian -
• How The Times Uses Graphics and Maps to Track the Mideast Conflict — New York Times World -
• Israel strikes Beirut and orders south Lebanon evacuation as conflict mounts — The Guardian -
• Watchdog puts UK fuel retailers ‘on notice’ over profiteering from Iran war — The Guardian -
• British tourist among 20 charged in Dubai over videos of Iranian missile strikes — The Guardian -
• Middle East war creating ‘largest supply disruption in the history of oil markets’ — The Guardian -
• Jo Malone sued for using her own name in collaboration with Zara — BBC World -
• Iran vows to fight on in first message issued in name of Mojtaba Khamenei — The Guardian -
• ‘We make a lot of money’: Trump downplays rise in gas prices during Iran war — The Guardian -
• Attacks on two tankers prompt Iraq to close oil terminals. — New York Times World -
• Dismay as ancient heritage sites across Iran damaged in US-Israel bombing — The Guardian -
• Closures of Middle East oil terminals add to jitters about prices. — New York Times World -
• Stryker Cyberattack Adds to Fears of New Front in Iran War — New York Times World -
• War has sent thousands of planes flying in the other direction. — New York Times World -
• Iran War Causing Largest Ever Oil Disruption, I.E.A. Says — New York Times World -
• How Iran war laid bare the world's reliance on Gulf oil and gas — BBC World -
• Deadly Attack on Oil Tankers Prompts Iraq to Close Oil Terminals — New York Times World -
• Questions mount for Hegseth over possible US involvement in strike on Iranian school — BBC World -
• Iran-linked group says it hacked US company in retaliation for Minab school bombing — The Guardian -
• Oil price tops $100 again as Iran strikes economic targets across Middle East — The Guardian -
• Iran Has Fired Widely Banned Cluster Munitions at Israel — New York Times World -
• Ground Down by War, Hezbollah’s Loyal Base Shows Cracks — New York Times World -
• Trump says Iran war is ‘very complete, pretty much’ as economic toll rises | First Thing — The Guardian -
• We attacked Iran with no clear plan for regime change, Israeli security sources say — The Guardian -
• ‘America’s mortal enemy’: Pete Hegseth expressed extreme antipathy toward Iran for years — The Guardian -
• Iranian regime-linked handler investigated by Australian police over alleged death threat — The Guardian -
• Iran’s Naval Mines: A History of Threats to Persian Gulf Shipping — New York Times World -
• Trump’s Iran War Is Causing Problems For His Ally in Italy, Giorgia Meloni — New York Times World -
• How Hegseth Came to See Moral Purpose in War as Weakness — New York Times World -
• Why Oil Prices Surged Even After the Release of Strategic Reserves — New York Times World -
• Oil price jumps despite deal to release record amount of reserves — BBC World -
• Thursday briefing: What an Iran negotiator thinks could happen next – and why Trump still has an off-ramp — The Guardian -
• Will Trump TACO on Iran? — New York Times World -
• First 6 Days of Iran War Cost U.S. $11.3 Billion, Pentagon Says — New York Times World -
• Israel Bombards Lebanese Capital in Latest Round of Strikes — New York Times World -
• European drivers face €220 a year jump in fuel costs due to Iran conflict, say experts — The Guardian -
• US orders petroleum reserve release in bid to calm markets – as it happened — The Guardian -
• U.S. to Release 172 Million Barrels of Oil From Strategic Reserves, Energy Dept. Says — New York Times World -
• Asia scrambles to confront energy crisis unleashed by Iran war – with no end in sight — The Guardian -
• Countries Scramble to Shore Up Global Oil Supplies as Ships Are Attacked — New York Times World -
• Trump puts pressure on Senate majority leader – as it happened — The Guardian -
• U.S. at Fault in Strike on School in Iran, Preliminary Inquiry Says — New York Times World -
• U.N. Security Council Condemns Iran’s Retaliatory Strikes in the Middle East — New York Times World -
• Justified or not? US military families on fears of Iran war — BBC World -
• What role has cyber warfare played in Iran? — BBC World -

In the US, public safety concerns arose from a synagogue ramming incident in Michigan and a fatal shooting at Old Dominion University investigated as terrorism, while political debates continued over homeland security funding and Trump's influence on immigration and foreign policy.

• Suspect dead after ramming vehicle into Michigan synagogue, officials say — The Guardian -
• Trump-endorsed Republican in Louisiana accused of rape in 2007 — The Guardian -
• Fatal shooting at Virginia university investigated as act of terrorism, FBI says — The Guardian -

• Trump Tempers María Corina Machado’s Political Ambitions in Venezuela — New York Times World -
• Eswatini says it received more ‘third country’ deportees as part of deal with Trump administration — The Guardian -
• Trump to Target Forced Labor in Global Tariff Scheme — New York Times World -
• U.S. Trade Deficit Falls in January — New York Times World -
• EPA chief met with Bayer CEO over supreme court fight, agency records show — The Guardian -
• US officer having a ‘mild anxiety attack’ took ambulance meant for man shot by police — The Guardian -
• Iran escalates attacks on infrastructure and transport networks across the Gulf | First Thing — The Guardian -
• Panel awards $3.8m to ‘mom and pop’ investors whose risky investments tanked — The Guardian -
• Trump Casts a Shadow Over One of Mexico’s Deadliest States — New York Times World -

Australia is grappling with deadly floods and missing persons in Queensland, a Qantas Covid flight credit settlement, debates on capital gains tax benefits, child welfare concerns following a convicted killer residing with foster children, and controversial hate speech laws.

• Australia news live: Qantas to pay $105m to settle Covid flight credit dispute; man missing in flood waters near Bundaberg — The Guardian -
• Two teenagers die after ebike crash with motorbike south of Brisbane — The Guardian -
• Iraqi official urges Australia to take back alleged IS fighters during meeting with ambassador — The Guardian -

• Capital gains tax discount ‘overwhelmingly’ benefits investors in Australia’s richest electorates, analysis shows — The Guardian -
• NSW minister ‘not going anywhere’ as calls mount for independent inquiry into children living with convicted killer — The Guardian -
• Queensland’s ‘from the river to the sea’ laws likened to Bjelke-Petersen era anti-protest regime — The Guardian -
• SA Liberals dump candidate who said homosexuality ‘opens up demonic realms’ after initially standing by him — The Guardian -
• Robodebt was the great test of Australia’s accountability mechanisms – and they failed — The Guardian -
• ‘Beggars belief’: calls for federal intervention after extension to ‘carbon bomb’ open-cut coalmine approved by Queensland government — The Guardian -
• Woman and child found dead in Queensland home after father hit by car nearby — The Guardian -
• ASX suffers more heavy losses as Middle East crisis spooks investors – as it happened — The Guardian -
• Former spy chief on $5,000 a day quits antisemitism royal commission, saying he was ‘way overpaid’ — The Guardian -
• More airlines hike flight prices as Iran war continues to disrupt oil supply — The Guardian -
• Bodies of two Chinese backpackers found in Australian floodwaters — BBC World -
• Queensland floods: police believe bodies found are those of missing backpackers — The Guardian -
• The scale of northern Australia’s record-breaking floods revealed in data and maps — The Guardian -

The UK political scene is marked by potential Labour MP defections to the Greens, concerns over misogyny among young boys, a modern slavery case, Starmer's apologies regarding a controversial ambassadorial appointment, and ongoing issues with asylum appeal backlogs.

• Man charged with murder of court bailiff in County Durham — The Guardian -
• Starmer may face more resignations after release of Mandelson WhatsApp messages, say sources — The Guardian -
• ‘Nowhere near enough’ being done to tackle misogyny among young boys — The Guardian -

• Woman kept in ‘Dickensian’ servitude for 25 years speaks out as abuser jailed — The Guardian -
• Google’s former Europe boss close to becoming next head of BBC, sources say — The Guardian -
• New Green MP calls for tolerance and inclusivity in first Commons speech — The Guardian -
• Threats against female MPs having ‘chilling effect’ on women in public life, minister says — The Guardian -
• Sons were suspects in nearly one in five cases of women killed by men in UK in past year — The Guardian -
• UK regulator examines IT glitch that enabled bank customers to see others’ accounts on app — The Guardian -
• Undercover officers spied on family of innocent man shot dead by Met police, inquiry told — The Guardian -
• No 10 rejects claims it covered up Starmer’s role in Mandelson appointment — The Guardian -
• Several Labour MPs in talks with Greens about defecting to the party, sources say — The Guardian -
• Glasgow’s only high-ladder fire engine unavailable during office block inferno — The Guardian -
• John Lewis pays first annual staff bonus in four years as profits rise — The Guardian -
• Welsh Water to pay £44.7m after ‘unacceptable’ sewage works failings — The Guardian -
• Starmer Was Warned About Risk of Appointing Friend of Epstein as Ambassador — New York Times World -
• Asylum appeal backlog doubles in a year, Home Office statistics show — The Guardian -
• UK government axes flagship global health project — The Guardian -
• Sussex therapist who claimed he could heal trauma with sex jailed for 11 years — The Guardian -
• ‘She didn’t want me to hug her’: carer of enslaved woman describes her recovery — The Guardian -
• Judge halts removal of Eritrean asylum seeker from UK to France under ‘one in, one out’ — The Guardian -
• ‘Sly stowaway’ UK fox finds new home at Bronx Zoo after illicit transatlantic trip — The Guardian -
• ‘I have never seen anything like it’: MP warns of rise in extreme views on race and identity — The Guardian -
• Families given a week to decide whether to leave UK voluntarily plead for more time — The Guardian -
• Gordon Brown calls for international criminal court for crimes against children — The Guardian -
• Proposed law change will protect abusive men who push women to suicide, campaigners warn — The Guardian -

Global discussions on technology focus on Ukraine's use of drone videos for AI training, a US trial on social media addiction, misidentification by AI facial recognition leading to wrongful arrest, concerns over rogue AI agents and mass surveillance in Africa, and Tesla's entry into the British electricity market.

• Ukraine to Make Drone Videos Available for Training A.I. Models — New York Times World -
• ‘IG is a drug’: jury to deliberate as US trial over social media addiction wraps up — The Guardian -
• Tennessee grandmother jailed after AI facial recognition error links her to fraud — The Guardian -

• Lincolnshire council approves AI datacentre despite emissions warnings — The Guardian -
• AI scams drove UK reports of fraud to record 444,000 last year — The Guardian -
• ‘Exploit every vulnerability’: rogue AI agents published passwords and overrode anti-virus software — The Guardian -
• Elon Musk’s Tesla given go-ahead to supply electricity in Great Britain — The Guardian -
• Palantir’s NHS England contract ‘opens door to government abuse of power’, health bosses told — The Guardian -
• ‘Invasive’ AI-led mass surveillance in Africa violating freedoms, warn experts — The Guardian -
• ‘Devastating blow’: Atlassian lays off 1,600 workers ahead of AI push — The Guardian -

Diverse international news includes a deadly drone strike in Congo, the sentencing of individuals for the Moscow concert hall massacre, Israel dropping charges against soldiers for detainee abuse, China's controversial 'ethnic unity' law, and Hungary's election campaign influenced by the Ukraine war.

• Trump Tempers María Corina Machado’s Political Ambitions in Venezuela — New York Times World -
• With New Right-Wing President, Chile Shifts Toward Region’s Conservative, Pro-Trump Alignment — New York Times World -
• Walid Khalidi, Scholar Called Father of Palestinian Studies, Dies at 100 — New York Times World -

• Drone Strike in Congo Kills 3, Including U.N. Worker — New York Times World -
• Israeli military drops charges against soldiers accused of abusing Palestinian detainee — BBC World -
• Israel Drops Case Against Soldiers Accused of Abusing Palestinian Detainee — New York Times World -
• Israeli military drops charges against soldiers accused of Gaza detainee abuse — The Guardian -
• France's ghost car scandal that allowed one million illegal vehicles onto the roads — BBC World -
• Yanar Mohammed, 65, Iraqi Women’s Rights Advocate, Is Killed by Gunmen — New York Times World -
• Parents accused of hiding daughter's HIV infection and neglect — BBC World -
• Senegal approves tougher anti-gay law as rights groups raise concerns — BBC World -
• 15 Are Sentenced to Life for Moscow Concert Hall Massacre — New York Times World -
• Death toll from Ethiopia floods and landslides rises to more than 100 — BBC World -
• Venice Biennale risks losing EU funding over planned Russia involvement — The Guardian -
• Cartoonist freed after 15 years in prison without charge in Eritrea — BBC World -
• Unexplained Moscow internet blackouts spark fears of web censorship plan — The Guardian -
• Nineteen jailed over deadly Moscow concert attack — BBC World -
• Nineteen jailed over deadly Moscow concert attack — BBC World -
• China Wants Its Ethnic Minorities to Blend In. Now It’s the Law. — New York Times World -
• Iran’s Frantic Attempt to Save Its Ships Before Torpedo Attack — New York Times World -
• Nasa spacecraft weighing 1,300lb re-enters Earth's atmosphere — BBC World -
• 'Fingers on the trigger': Deadly warnings for Iranians being urged to take action — BBC World -
• ‘A few beatings won’t kill you’: judge rejects divorce request of woman abused by husband in Afghanistan — The Guardian -
• Two People Die After Paid Plasma Donation at Clinics in Canada — New York Times World -
• War in Ukraine spills into Hungarian election campaign — BBC World -
• War in Ukraine spills into Hungarian election campaign — BBC World -
• How Russia’s Scorched-Earth Attacks Put Ukraine’s Power Grid Near Collapse — New York Times World -
• Chinese national arrested over attempt to smuggle 2,000 queen ants from Kenya — BBC World -
• China approves 'ethnic unity' law requiring minorities to learn Mandarin — BBC World -
• China approves 'ethnic unity' law requiring minorities to learn Mandarin — BBC World -
• Hungary’s Orbán claims Ukrainians ‘threatened’ his family as election campaign ramps up — The Guardian -
• What did we learn from China's biggest political meeting? — BBC World -
• What did we learn from China's biggest political meeting? — BBC World -
• At China’s Big Political Meeting, a Rare Debate About Inequality — New York Times World -
• Video shows moment point-blank gunshot misses Indian politician — BBC World -
• A young girl is knocked over at Tokyo crossing – what’s behind Japan’s ‘bumping’ trend? — The Guardian -
• Haitian President’s Widow Recalls Killers Spoke Spanish and Used Nicknames — New York Times World -
• Quit fossil fuels to stem deadly floods in Brazil’s coffee heartland, say scientists — The Guardian -
• Why Namibia's green energy dream could be a red flag for penguins — BBC World -
• A small US grocer is calling out the lower prices at big chains — BBC World -
• China’s rubber-stamp parliament set to approve ‘ethnic unity’ law — The Guardian -

In culture and lifestyle, Netflix confirmed a KPop Demon Hunters sequel, the Pussycat Dolls announced a reunion tour, Morrissey canceled a concert due to city noise, a controversy arose over a Crufts winner with an animal cruelty conviction, and Bruce Springsteen contributed to a Shane MacGowan tribute album.

• Your Oscars Guide — New York Times World -
• KPop Demon Hunters sequel confirmed at Netflix: ‘This is only the beginning’ — The Guardian -
• ‘He looked devastated’: club tells of Barcelona fan who ended up in Exeter — The Guardian -

• Pussycat Dolls Announce New Single and Reunion Tour — New York Times World -
• Morrissey cancels Valencia concert after being left in ‘catatonic state’ by city noise — The Guardian -
• Crufts winner’s animal cruelty conviction prompts complaints to Channel 4 — The Guardian -
• 'I imagine they had a healthy sex life early on' - Jones and Grant in Austen-inspired drama — BBC World -
• Naples museum to allow visually impaired visitors to experience art through touch — The Guardian -
• Noma chef resigns amid allegations of physical abuse of staff — The Guardian -
• Hozier, Jessie Buckley and Bruce Springsteen record Shane MacGowan tribute album — BBC World -
• Hozier, Jessie Buckley and Bruce Springsteen record Shane MacGowan tribute album — BBC World -
• Jack Osbourne names baby daughter Ozzy to honour late father — The Guardian -
• Her Lab Worked to Future-Proof Fruits and Vegetables — New York Times World -
• The Pussycat Dolls confirm reunion: 'We're celebrating where we're at as women' — BBC World -
• Draper fights to 'mind-blowing' win over Djokovic — BBC World -
• Bruce Springsteen, Kate Moss and Johnny Depp to appear on all-star Shane MacGowan tribute album — The Guardian -
• Noma head chef resigns from restaurant amid abuse allegations — BBC World -
• Noma head chef resigns from restaurant amid abuse allegations — BBC World -
• Kanye West ordered to pay $140K in Malibu mansion renovation lawsuit — BBC World -
• Epstein used modelling agent to recruit girls, Brazilian women tell BBC — BBC World -