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Israel approves West Bank land registration, Palestinians slam ‘de-facto annexation’
Israel's cabinet on Sunday approved further measures ​to tighten Israel's control over the occupied West Bank and make it easier for settlers to buy land, a move Palestinians called a "de-facto annexation". The West Bank is among the territories that ​Palestinians seek for ‌a future independent state. Much of it is under Israeli military ⁠control, with limited Palestinian self-rule in some areas run by the Western-backed Palestinian Authority. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who is ‌facing an election later this year, deems the establishment of any Palestinian state a ⁠security threat. His ruling coalition, which has a large voter base in the settlements, includes many members who want Israel to annex the West Bank, land captured ​in the 1967 Middle East war to which Israel cites biblical and ‌historical ties. France 24, February 16

Russia’s Wagner Group pivots to European sabotage, say western officials
Recruiters and propagandists who previously worked for Russia’s Wagner Group have emerged as a main conduit for Kremlin-organised sabotage attacks in Europe, according to western intelligence officials. The fighter group’s status has been uncertain since a failed rebellion against the top brass of the Russian army in June 2023 prompted a clampdown and the death of its founder, Yevgeny Prigozhin. But Wagner recruiters who specialised in persuading young men from Russia’s hinterland to fight in Ukraine have been given a new task - recruiting economically vulnerable Europeans to carry out violence on Nato soil, the officials said. Russia’s military intelligence agency (GRU) “is using the talent it has got available to it”, said one western intelligence official, referring to the Wagner network. The GRU and Russia’s domestic intelligence agency (FSB) have both become highly active in seeking to recruit “disposable” agents in Europe to sow chaos. Financial Times, February 15

Ukrainian civilian casualties surged by 26% in 2025, say researchers
Civilian casualties in Ukraine caused by bombing soared by 26 per cent during 2025, reflecting increased Russian targeting of cities and infrastructure in the country, according to a global conflict monitoring group. Action on Armed Violence said 2,248 civilians were reported killed and 12,493 injured by explosive violence in Ukraine according to English-language reports - with the number of casualties and incidents rising significantly. An average of 4.8 civilians were reported killed or injured in each strike, 33 per cent more than in 2024, with the worst attack taking place in Dnipro on 24 June. Russian missiles hit a passenger train, apartments and schools, killing 21 and injuring 314, including 38 children. Iain Overton, executive director of AOAV, said the figures showed “Ukraine fits a wider collapse of restraint that is now visible across multiple wars”, and respect for the distinction of proportionality in war “has broken”. The Guardian, February 16

UK considering significant increase to defence spending
The prime minister is considering making a significant increase in defence spending, the BBC has learned. Downing Street is mulling over the idea of meeting an existing spending target earlier than planned at a potential cost of billions of pounds. Sir Keir Starmer signalled his attitude over the weekend at the Munich Security Conference, telling world leaders: "To meet the wider threat, it's clear that we are going to have to spend more, faster." The prime minister promised last year to spend 2.5 per cent of national wealth - measured as gross domestic product (GDP) - on core defence by April 2027. But he also set out an "ambition" to increase that spending to 3 per cent of GDP in the next parliament. The BBC has been told the prime minister's aides are now looking at proposals to meet that 3 per cent ambition by the end of the current parliament, which could last until 2029. No decision has been taken and the Treasury is said to be cautious. BBC news, February 16

Workers’ rights reforms push a third of employers to cut hiring
More than a third of employers are set to cut back on hiring because of the government’s workers’ rights reforms, a survey of employers has found. Businesses warned that new rules giving enhanced protections to workers will place a “further handbrake on job creation” after they were hit by an ­increase to national insurance last April. The survey, carried out by the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development, found that 37 per cent of 2,000 firms polled planned to reduce the recruitment of new permanent staff as a result of the changes. It also found that more than half of businesses expected an increase in workplace conflict. The new measures for workers introduced by ministers this year include a day one right to statutory sick pay, new rights to ease trade union recognition and a shorter qualification period for unfair dismissal. The Times, February 16

Google warns EU against ‘erecting walls’ in tech sovereignty push
Google’s top legal officer has warned that Europe risks undermining its own competitiveness drive by restricting access to foreign technology, as Brussels steps up efforts to reduce its reliance on US tech giants. Kent Walker, president of global affairs and chief legal officer at Google, told the FT that the EU faces a “competitive paradox” as it seeks to spur growth while “restricting the use of the technologies it needs to get there”. “We deliver a lot of value to Europe,” he said. “Erecting walls that make it harder to use some of the best technology in the world, especially as it’s advancing so quickly, would actually be counter-productive.” His warning comes as EU leaders on Thursday gathered for a summit in Belgium focused on how to increase European competitiveness in a more volatile global economy. Europe’s push for greater digital sovereignty has gained new momentum in recent months, sparked by fears that US President Donald Trump’s foreign policy could force a “tech decoupling”. Financial Times, February 13

Bangladesh Nationalist Party claims victory in landmark post-Hasina election
The Bangladesh Nationalist Party on Friday claimed a thumping win in the first elections held since a deadly 2024 uprising, with leader Tarique Rahman poised to become prime minister. Final results are still to come, but the United States was swift to offer its congratulations to Rahman and the BNP for an "historic victory", its embassy in Dhaka said. Rahman had told AFP two days before polling he was "confident" that his party - crushed during the 15 years of ousted premier Sheikh Hasina's autocratic rule - would regain power in the South Asian nation of 170 million people. "This victory was expected. It is not surprising that the people of Bangladesh have placed their trust in a party … capable of realising the dreams that our youth envisioned during the uprising," Salahuddin Ahmed, a leading BNP committee member, told AFP on Friday. France 24, February 13

Democrats at Munich security summit to urge Europe to stand up to Trump
US Democrats will use a security summit this weekend to urge European leaders to stand up to Donald Trump, with the continent divided over how to keep the unpredictable US president on side. Democrats at the annual Munich Security Conference will include some of Trump’s most outspoken critics, such as the governor of California, Gavin Newsom, the New York congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, the Arizona senator Ruben Gallego and the Michigan governor, Gretchen Whitmer. Newsom has already urged Europeans to realise that “grovelling to Trump’s needs” makes them “look pathetic on the world stage”, telling reporters at the World Economic Forum in Davos last month he “should have brought a bunch of knee pads”. Gallego was almost as forthright. “[Trump] is destroying our world reputation or potentially our economic might around the world because he is being petty. None of this is rational. Everyone needs to stop pretending this is rational,” he said. The Guardian, February 13

Trump repeals rule that greenhouse gases endanger public health
President Trump has repealed the scientific finding that greenhouse gases are harmful to human health, declaring the rule “the legal foundation for the Green New Scam”. It represents the most sweeping climate change policy shift by Trump, who has repeatedly railed against what he describes as the climate “hoax”. He has overseen a string of regulatory cuts and moves designed to increase fossil fuel development and thwart the rollout of clean energy projects. On Thursday the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued a final rule rescinding a 2009 declaration known as the “endangerment finding”. The Obama-era policy determined that CO₂ and other greenhouse gases endangered public health and welfare. The Times, February 13

Ratcliffe sorry language 'offended some' after immigration comments
Sir Jim Ratcliffe has apologised for "offending some people" with his language after saying the UK had been "colonised by immigrants", but maintained an "open debate" on the matter was needed. The billionaire co-owner of Manchester United had faced criticism from Sir Keir Starmer, who described his comments on Wednesday as "offensive and wrong". On Thursday, Sir Jim said: "I am sorry that my choice of language has offended some people in the UK and Europe and caused concern but it is important to raise the issue of controlled and well-managed immigration that supports economic growth." The club has not directly addressed the remarks, but said it "prides itself" on being "inclusive". "Our diverse group of players, staff and global community of supporters, reflect the history and heritage of Manchester; a city that anyone can call home," the club said in a statement, external on Thursday. "Manchester United reflects the unity and resilience of all the communities we are so privileged to represent. We will continue to represent our people, our city and our fans with purpose and pride." Sources told BBC Sport that the FA is examining whether Sir Jim's comments brought the game into disrepute. BBC news, February 12