In Lebanon, more than one million have been displaced due to Israeli air strikes and land incursions; In Laos, the Government is celebrating its 50th anniversary as a communist state; and in Vatican City, Michelangelo's masterpiece, The Last Judgement, is set to be cleaned for the first time in 30 years.

In Japan, restrictions may limit the first female Prime Minister; vigilance is required in Tenerife after a cluster of small earthquakes; and a notorious detention centre that housed thousands linked to the so-called Islamic State closes.

In Ukraine, Kharkiv marks the fourth anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion; in Cuba, fuel shortages, hyperinflation and mass emigration are placing enormous pressure on residents; and in Turkey, it's the first anniversary of the Kurdish insurgents' decision to abandon violence.

In India, a scourge of toxic air pollution has caused top athletes to withdraw from tournaments in Delhi; the planned refurbishment of the British Houses of Parliament could cost €18bn and force politicians to leave for 20 years; and thousands of Nigerian refugees are returning home from Cameroon.

In Venezuela, the promised release of political prisoners is being closely watched; there is consternation over Donald Trump's threat to prevent a new bridge in Canada; and a deadly police response to arriving migrant boats is making news in the French island of Mayotte

Russian strikes on energy infrastructure in Ukraine leave tens of thousands struggling in freezing winter. In Libya the assassination on Saif al-Islam Gaddafi, son of the former Libyan leader. And an investigation into the murder of an investigative journalist in Slovakia.

In Denmark, Tom Carstensen reports on negotiations underway between the United States, Denmark and Greenland; Isabel Conway reports from the Alps, where the start of the year has seen an increasing number of fatal avalanches; And in Lebanon, Mary Fitzgerald tells us about the closure of the Beirut hotel

Australia's parliament voted for gun reforms and tougher action on hate speech While some European nations have already decided to join US president Donald Trump's controversial Board of Peace, others are still mulling it over A year on from the fall of the Assad regime in Syria the daily life of many Syrian people remains shaped by hardship

Canada plans to create a 300,000 strong civil defence force as the country worries about defense. Drug-related turf wars in Marseille has led to several deaths including some involving children. A setback for the British arms industry which was excluded from an EU financial assistance programme for countries to improve their defence capabilities.

Geopolitical tensions leave the leaders of Central Europe with a delicate balancing act. An uptick of online harassment and abuse against female journalists in Cameroon. Calls for an AI technology designed to protect elephants to be introduced throughout India.