The World Adjusts as US-Russia Relations Shift, Middle East Conflicts Persist, and Europe Navigates Trump Diplomacy.

Good Morning,

Recent geopolitical developments highlight a complex web of international relations. At the United Nations, there are signs of a potential thaw in US-Russia relations amidst the ongoing war in Ukraine. Meanwhile, tensions flare in the Middle East as Israel's Defense Minister, Israel Katz, vows to prevent southern Syria from becoming a stronghold like southern Lebanon, following recent IDF strikes in Syria. In Syria, Kurdish forces continue to battle Turkish aggression even months after the fall of Assad. Across the Atlantic, European leaders, exemplified by French President Emmanuel Macron, are navigating the challenges of engaging with President Trump's administration by employing a strategy of flattery followed by gentle resistance. In the UK, Prime Minister Keir Starmer is preparing for a meeting with Trump, bolstered by increased defense spending at the expense of international aid, as he seeks to advocate for Ukraine's cause.

Top Stories

• War in Ukraine: A tangible rapprochement between the US and Russia at the UN (www.lemonde.fr)

• IDF strikes in Syria, Katz warns Israel will not allow 'another southern Lebanon' "We will not allow southern Syria to become southern Lebanon," Defense Minister Israel Katz said in a Saturday statement. (www.jpost.com)

• 'We are still at war': Syria's Kurds battle Turkey months after Assad's fall (www.bbc.com)

• How Can Europe Talk to Trump? Flatter, Then Gently Resist: Emmanuel Macron, the French president, epitomized how the continent’s leaders are trying to navigate President Trump’s increasingly hostile administration. (www.nytimes.com)

• UK’s Starmer to Meet Trump With a Boost on Defense and Pleas for Ukraine: Prime Minister Keir Starmer of Britain cut international aid to raise military spending. He’s hoping to make a case for Ukraine in the White House. (www.nytimes.com)

United States

• ‘Against everything this country stands for’: ex-NFL player Chris Kluwe takes his local anti-Maga protest national (www.theguardian.com)

• An unvaccinated child has died in the Texas measles outbreak (apnews.com)

• Elon Musk says DOGE 'accidentally' cut Ebola prevention (www.businessinsider.com)

• Trump faces Truth Social backlash over AI video of Gaza with topless Netanyahu and bearded bellydancers (www.theguardian.com)

• House Foreign Affairs GOP staffers told to call occupied West Bank Judea and Samaria (www.axios.com)

• Canada wants new oil pipelines to avoid Trump tariffs; nobody wants to build them (www.reuters.com)

Africa

• At Least 46 Dead in Sudan Military Plane Crash (www.newsweek.com)

• UN food agency pauses aid to famine-hit Sudan displacement camp of half a million people (www.apnews.com)

• Nigerian governor launches programme to transform education (premiumtimesng.com)

Middle East

• Jordan and Syria leaders agree to bolster border security during a meeting in Amman. (www.reuters.com)

• IDF strikes in Syria, Katz warns Israel will not allow 'another southern Lebanon' "We will not allow southern Syria to become southern Lebanon," Defense Minister Israel Katz said in a Saturday statement. (www.jpost.com)

• 'We are still at war': Syria's Kurds battle Turkey months after Assad's fall (www.bbc.com)

Indo-Pacific

• Xi Urges Officials to Stay Calm as US Raises Pressure on China (www.bloomberg.com)

• How the state is propping up China’s housing market (ig.ft.com)

• About 70% of foreign nationals in Japan questioned by police on the streets: survey (www.japantimes.co.jp)

• Japan's Pocketalk to debut phone-based instant translation for 75 languages (asia.nikkei.com)

• China holds 'shooting' drills off Taiwan's coast, vows 'reunification' push (www.reuters.com)

Europe

• Trump says he will impose 25% tariffs on imports from the EU (www.ft.com)

• The US is now the enemy of the west (www.ft.com)

• Merz dashes to Paris for surprise talks with Macron as security fears weigh on EU (www.politico.eu)

• US intelligence chief criticises UK demand for Apple data ‘back door’ (on.ft.com)

• Starmer Tries to Buy Ukraine Time With Security Pitch to Trump (www.bloomberg.com)

South America

• Trump Reverses Course on Venezuela, Revoking Biden-Era Oil Deal (wsj.com)

• In Brazil, mining giant Vale is sued over metal contamination found in Indigenous peoples (apnews.com)

• Brazil creates almost three times the expected number of formal jobs in January (reuters.com)

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