A brutal massacre in Nigeria’s Kwara state left more than two hundred dead after gunmen attacked two Muslim-majority villages for rejecting extremist teaching. Witnesses said the attackers arrived on motorcycles, entered a mosque and shot worshippers, then moved house to house killing, kidnapping and burning residents. Many victims were tied before execution, and entire families were wiped out. Survivors fled, leaving only a few men to bury bodies among destroyed homes. Authorities blamed Boko Haram-linked militants, and the army deployed troops while local groups struggled to respond. The violence reflects Nigeria’s wider insurgency, where armed factions target both Muslims and Christians, spreading fear across communities. International partners are now providing intelligence support, yet the tragedy shows the urgent need for protection, reconciliation and healing for traumatised survivors who have lost loved ones and livelihoods. In related news, the USA is to send two hundred soldiers to Nigeria to train local forces: see Nigeria’s military recently claimed to have killed a senior Boko Haram commander and ten other militants in Borno.

A small Canadian community is grieving after a tragic school shooting in Tumbler Ridge, British Columbia, left eight people dead and many injured. The 18-year-old suspect, Jesse van Rootselaar, started to identify as a female six years ago and dropped out from the school at the age of 14. They first killed two family members at home before going to the school and shooting a teacher and four young students. Police responded within minutes and found the attacker dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Authorities confirmed previous contact with the suspect related to mental health concerns. In a close-knit town of about 2,400 residents, the loss has deeply shaken a community where everyone knows one another. Hundreds gathered in vigils across the town and in Vancouver, sharing silence, tears and support for affected families.

Rising tensions in the Middle East frame a significant meeting between Donald Trump and Benjamin Netanyahu in Washington. Israel is seeking a comprehensive agreement restricting Iran’s nuclear programme, missile development, and support for regional proxy groups, while Iran has signalled willingness to limit nuclear activity in exchange for sanctions relief but rejects broader demands. The USA has increased military presence in the region, warning of possible strikes if negotiations fail, yet leaders on all sides are continuing the dialogue. Iran’s position has been weakened by the huge recent protests, while Israel fears a deal that leaves long-term threats unresolved. At the same time, the Trump administration is pressing Israel and Hamas to implement the next phase of their ceasefire agreement in Gaza, with accusations of violations and little progress towards reconstruction.

The president of Venezuela’s national assembly, Jorge Rodríguez, has said no presidential election will take place soon, stressing that the government’s priority is national stability. Following the controversial 2024 vote and the abduction of president Nicolás Maduro by the USA, vice president Delcy Rodríguez is now acting president. Authorities say they must rebuild institutions and reach agreement with opposition groups before setting an electoral timetable. A proposed amnesty law aims to release political prisoners and encourage reconciliation, though critics fear repression may continue in other forms. The re-arrest and house arrest of opposition figure Juan Pablo Guanipa has intensified concerns about civil liberties, while opposition leaders question whether genuine political participation will be allowed. The situation reflects a nation seeking normalcy amid deep division, uncertainty, and competing claims of legitimacy, highlighting the fragile path toward democratic stability and lasting reconciliation.

Growing social media interest in prime minister Sanae Takaichi appears to have significantly influenced Japan’s lower house election on 8 February, contributing to a decisive victory for her Liberal Democratic Party. Many voters reported seeing daily clips of her speeches and travel despite chronic illness, creating familiarity and sympathy. Her personal X account gained far more followers than other party leaders, with spikes occurring even during controversy over a missed debate due to medical treatment. Supporters’ viral posts often countered criticism, amplifying positive perceptions. On YouTube, campaign-related videos featuring Takaichi attracted extraordinary engagement, including an advertisement viewed over 150 million times. Independent creators further boosted her visibility, producing most election-related content online. Exit polls showed nearly a quarter of voters relied primarily on social media when deciding how to vote, with strong shifts toward the ruling party among them. Online popularity appears to have translated directly into ballots cast.

A social media video shared by Donald Trump and later deleted drew widespread condemnation across political lines. The clip promoted false election claims and, near its conclusion, depicted Barack and Michelle Obama with their faces superimposed onto dancing apes. Posted during Black History Month, the video revived racist imagery historically used to justify slavery and segregation. The White House initially defended the post as a meme but later said a staff member had shared it in error. Politicians (including some Republicans), diplomats, and commentators criticised the content as dehumanising and harmful. Analysts noted that such inflammatory behaviour might not significantly affect Trump’s political support because public opinion around him is already polarised. One commentator said, ‘That Trump chose to post this video is yet another indicator of how reactionary racism has become mainstream and normalised within his Republican party, as the GOP continues to lurch dangerously rightwards.’

Zimbabwe’s cabinet has approved constitutional changes that could extend president Emmerson Mnangagwa’s rule until 2030, sparking strong opposition concern. The proposals would lengthen presidential terms from five to seven years and allow parliament, rather than voters, to choose the president. Supporters say the measures would ensure political stability and continuity for development programmes, but critics argue the reforms undermine democratic processes and require a national referendum. Since coming to power in 2017, Mnangagwa has faced growing scrutiny from civil society groups who fear weakening constitutional protections. He has presided over a collapsing economy which has suffered hyperinflation and unemployment, undermined by alleged corruption and cronyism. The opposition, fragmented and weakened after years of repression, has failed so far to mount significant resistance to the proposal.

At a recent meeting in Washington, Grace Jin Drexel shared the moving story of her father, Pastor Ezra Jin, imprisoned in China for his Christian faith. He was arrested in October alongside 27 other leaders from Zion Church, in what has been described as one of the largest crackdowns on independent churches since the Cultural Revolution. Grace explained that the arrests are part of China’s aggressive campaign to bring all religious life under Communist Party control. Churches have been forced to remove crosses, replace worship songs with revolutionary anthems, rewrite sermons to align with socialist ideology, and install surveillance cameras inside sanctuaries. Zion Church was targeted after refusing to install facial recognition cameras. Despite closures and intimidation, the church adapted, developing hybrid online and offline gatherings. During the pandemic, this model led to remarkable growth, expanding to over a hundred meeting spaces in forty cities and reaching thousands daily. Grace also spoke of the severe prison conditions facing detained leaders, her family’s separation, and harassment abroad. Yet she testified confidently that God remains faithful, prayers are not in vain, and repression cannot extinguish the Church.

What began as a simple family day at the beach off Western Australia became a terrifying ten-hour ordeal for Joanne Appelbee and her children. Strong winds carried them far beyond the safety of the shore, leaving them clinging to paddleboards as daylight faded. Realising help was needed, Joanne sent her 13-year-old son Austin back to raise the alarm. What followed was extraordinary. After a damaged kayak capsized, Austin was forced to swim four kilometres through rough seas, eventually abandoning his lifejacket and pressing on exhausted and afraid. For hours he prayed, sang Christian songs, and fixed his thoughts on his family, not knowing whether they were still alive. Reaching land at last, he made the call which triggered a rescue operation. Hours later, Joanne and her younger children were found alive, cold and frightened but safe. Though rescuers called his effort 'superhuman', Austin simply described it as doing what had to be done.

Labour MPs have warned that Keir Starmer’s leadership is under serious threat following intense backlash over the appointment of Peter Mandelson as ambassador to the USA. Fury erupted after Starmer admitted he was aware of Mandelson’s past friendship with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein before approving the appointment. A Commons debate nearly ended in government defeat, narrowly avoided through a last-minute amendment forcing the future release of documents relating to Mandelson’s vetting and appointment. Several Labour MPs described a collapse of trust, with some openly questioning whether they could support Starmer in a confidence vote. The mood, described as 'dark' and 'terminal’, has unsettled even long-standing loyalists. MPs warned that once withheld documents are released - currently delayed by a Metropolitan Police investigation - a leadership challenge could follow. Though Starmer has pledged transparency and announced plans to strip Mandelson of honours, and ministers insist he acted in good faith, many MPs fear lasting damage to the government’s credibility and moral authority.