Politics

A senior US official told the UN Conference on Disarmament that Washington has evidence China carried out secret nuclear explosive tests, which the US says would breach an international ban.

Canada is opening a consulate in Nuuk, Greenland, and Governor General Mary Simon will attend the event; the step comes amid heightened tensions after U.S. President Donald Trump made public statements about Greenland's status.

The Institute for Fiscal Studies says freezing the repayment threshold will raise average lifetime repayments for Plan 2 borrowers by about £3,000, and the government has frozen the threshold for three years starting from the planned April rise.

Thousands attended a funeral in Bani Walid for Seif al-Islam Gadhafi, who officials said was killed earlier this week; authorities reported an initial investigation found he was shot and details remain under investigation.

Canada and France opened diplomatic consulates in Nuuk, Greenland, this week and said the moves signalled support for their NATO ally Denmark. Officials said the posts will focus on cooperation on climate, cultural matters and political ties.

Russian and U.S. negotiators said they agreed there is a need to start arms control talks after the New START treaty expired, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said.

Multiple armed groups — including jihadist militants, kidnapping gangs, farmer-herder militias and secessionist factions — are reported to be driving insecurity across Nigeria, and officials blamed a Boko Haram faction for recent killings in Kwara state.

Escapees interviewed said that under a 2020 law banning South Korean media, people have faced public executions and long forced‑labour sentences, and a UN report and rights groups warned of increased surveillance and control.

Senior US and Iranian officials are due to meet in Oman on Friday; the agenda remains undecided and both sides have signalled different priorities.

An explosion at an illegal rat‑hole coal mine in Meghalaya has left 18 people dead and one seriously injured, and rescue operations are ongoing.

Opinion polls this week suggest the ruling LDP and its coalition partner could secure a two-thirds lower-house majority, and much of the party’s momentum is linked to Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s high public profile and social media reach.

Kyiv and Moscow completed a major prisoner exchange during a US-brokered two-day round of talks in Abu Dhabi. Negotiators agreed to resume negotiations soon, while US special envoy Steve Witkoff said significant work remains.

A family video shows Donald Trump calling Robert and Linda Ollis to tell them their son, Staff Sergeant Michael Ollis, will receive a posthumous Congressional Medal of Honor and be invited to the White House.

Senior US and Iranian officials are due to meet in Oman for direct talks amid concerns about a possible military confrontation. The meeting follows a US military build-up in the Middle East and reports by human rights groups of widespread violence during recent protests in Iran.

The New START Treaty, signed in 2010, expired on 5 February 2026, ending the treaty limits on US and Russian nuclear stockpiles.

The New START treaty between the United States and Russia expired, removing agreed limits on deployed strategic nuclear warheads; Russian officials said the parties are no longer bound by the treaty and are free to decide how to proceed.

New START has officially lapsed, leaving the United States and Russia without treaty limits; Russia’s foreign ministry said the parties are no longer bound and are free to choose their next steps.

Gunmen attacked two neighbouring villages in Kwara state, with a lawmaker reporting at least 162 people killed and Amnesty International reporting over 170 deaths.

Melania Trump says she is in direct talks with Vladimir Putin's team to pursue returns of Ukrainian children; officials say 15 children have been returned so far since her advocacy began.

Vice President JD Vance will lead the U.S. delegation at the Milan-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics and will then travel to Armenia and Azerbaijan to advance a White House-brokered peace agreement.

Jesse Jackson Jr. is campaigning for his old U.S. House seat and openly addresses his 2013 campaign fraud conviction as part of his return; early voting begins ahead of the March 17 primary.

President Trump has repeatedly promised $2,000 "tariff dividend" checks since November 2025, but no payments have been made and his public statements about timing and need for congressional approval have been inconsistent.

Explosions were reported in Kyiv overnight, with officials saying at least four people were injured and air raid alerts active across Ukraine; Ukrainian negotiators are due to meet US and Russian delegations in Abu Dhabi on Wednesday and Thursday.

The US deputy attorney general said the legal review of the Epstein Files was "over," while survivors including Lisa Philips say the process is not finished and are calling for more transparency.

The Los Angeles Times reported that two insiders said Mayor Karen Bass sought edits to the LA Fire Department's October after-action report on the Pacific Palisades fire; Bass has denied directing changes.

The New START treaty between the United States and Russia has expired, removing binding limits on their strategic nuclear arsenals; UN Secretary‑General António Guterres described the timing as "grave" and urged both powers to return to negotiations for a successor framework.

Residents of Tavriiske and nearby villages are leaving as local transport has stopped and evacuations are under way; U.S.-brokered talks between Russia and Ukraine are due to begin in Abu Dhabi.

A video filmed on January 8 in Ardabil shows a truck driving into a crowd; independent reporting says one woman was killed and three people were injured.

A public consultation has opened on a proposed 1.68-mile (2.7km) walking and cycling route linking the Govan-Partick bridge with Pollok Country Park; the scheme is the first element of the Connecting Greater Govan active travel project and the consultation closes at the end of March.

Ukraine-born Aonishiki, a 21-year-old ozeki who has won two consecutive grand tournaments, is training in Tokyo ahead of the spring Osaka tournament where a win would make him eligible for promotion to yokozuna.