Five European governments—the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Sweden and the Netherlands—issued a joint statement on Saturday at the Munich Security Conference announcing that laboratory analyses of tissue samples taken from the body of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny “conclusively” detected the neurotoxin epibatidine, a compound found in South‑American poison‑dart frogs and not naturally present in Russia. The statement accuses the Russian state of deliberately administering the toxin, asserting that Russia had the means, motive and opportunity to do so. The ministers said the findings justify reporting Russia to the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons for a breach of the Chemical Weapons Convention and the Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention. Navalny died on 16 February 2024 in an Arctic penal colony while serving a 19‑year sentence. Russian officials have denied involvement, describing the allegations as Western propaganda. The European nations did not disclose how the samples were obtained or which laboratories performed the analyses.

Israeli forces carried out attacks on Sunday that resulted in the deaths of at least nine Palestinians in Gaza and strikes on alleged Hezbollah warehouses in southern Lebanon. Medical sources reported five deaths in the southern Gaza city of Khan Younis, beyond the Israeli‑stationed “yellow line,” and four deaths in a displaced‑people tent in the al‑Faluja area of northern Gaza. The Israeli military said it hit a building in northern Gaza after armed fighters entered, killing at least two militants, and also killed another individual who allegedly crossed the yellow line and posed an immediate threat. In Lebanon, the Israeli military claimed it struck warehouses it identified as Hezbollah arms storage sites in the country’s south. No immediate comment was offered by Israeli or Lebanese officials. The incidents occurred despite a U.S.‑brokered ceasefire that began on October 10, 2023.

The U.S. military announced on Saturday that American aircraft carried out ten airstrikes against more than 30 Islamic State (IS) targets in Syria between Feb. 3 and the preceding Thursday, striking weapons‑storage sites and other infrastructure. The strikes were conducted in retaliation for the Dec. 13 ambush that killed two U.S. soldiers—Sgt. Edgar Brian Torres‑Tovar and Sgt. William Nathaniel Howard—and civilian interpreter Ayad Mansoor Sakat. U.S. Central Command reported that at least 50 IS members have been killed or captured, and over 100 IS targets have been hit since the campaign began after the December attack. In related developments, the Syrian Defense Ministry said government forces seized the Al‑Tanf base, previously operated by U.S. troops, and the U.S. completed the transfer of thousands of IS detainees from Syria to Iraq for trial.

Scotland beat England 31‑20 at Murrayfield in a Six Nations match. The article lists player ratings for both sides. Scotland: * “Player of the match Huw Jones” (9) – “Ran the length for decisive try after George Ford was charged down.” * Tom Jordan (7) – “Solid under high ball, did his bit in a cohesive attacking display.” * Kyle Steyn (7) – “Profound threat with powerful, direct running – and he kept coming all game.” * Finn Russell (7) – “Class. Brilliant tap‑on for Jones’s opener and accurate place‑kicking helped build lead. Stunning jinking run and clever kick created third try.” * Ben White (9) – “Excellent box‑kicking combined with slick distribution was crucial in Scotland’s early salvo.” * Zander Fagerson (6) – “Dominated in scrums. Withdrawn early after a pummelling from Ellis Genge…” * Jack Dempsey (8) – “Solid, composed, physical. Played a full part in a high‑class performance from the Scottish pack.” England: * Freddie Steward (6) – “Fulfilled job description: solid if unspectacular.” * Tom Roebuck (5) – “Sloppy handling error when England were searching for a bonus point.” * Ellis Genge (7) – “Made his presence felt in scrums and the loose but calamitous defensive bungle allowed White in to score before half‑time.” * Maro Itoje (7) – “Far from his most impactful afternoon in an England shirt. One costly knock‑on but generally efficient.”

United States Central Command announced that on Friday, thousands of detainees affiliated with the Islamic State (ISIL) were transferred from detention facilities in Syria to Iraq, where they are expected to face trial. The transfer was carried out at the request of the Iraqi government and was welcomed by the US‑led coalition fighting the militant group. In a related statement released on Saturday, CENTCOM reported that between 3 and 12 February, U.S. forces conducted precision strikes on more than 30 ISIL targets in Syria, hitting about 100 infrastructure and weapons‑storage sites as part of “Operation Hawkeye.” The operation, launched in response to the December killing of two U.S. soldiers and an American civilian interpreter by ISIL near Palmyra, has resulted in over 50 ISIL fighters killed or captured over the past two months. Additionally, the Syrian Ministry of Defence confirmed that government forces have taken control of the al‑Tanf base, previously operated by U.S. troops. The combined actions reflect ongoing U.S. efforts to pressure ISIL remnants while transitioning detainees to Iraqi jurisdiction.

The article reports that the “13th parliamentary election in Bangladesh” followed a mass uprising that “toppled Hasina’s autocracy in August 2024.” When the ballots were counted, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) “had secured a decisive victory, returning to power after years in the political wilderness under Sheikh Hasina’s 15‑year rule.” Bangladesh Jamaat‑e‑Islami (JI) “secured 68 seats, while the Jamaat‑led bloc secured 77 seats in parliament,” a historic gain compared with “just 18 seats in 1991.” The newly formed National Citizen Party (NCP) captured “five seats.” The piece notes that “surveys suggested a hardcore 5 to 7 percent [of Awami League voters] would never defect, but beyond that lay a larger bloc – perhaps 20 to 25 percent – either undecided or unwilling to disclose preferences,” and that “pre‑election field research and multiple polls indicated that many non‑hardcore AL voters were breaking towards the BNP.” It further states that “without significant AL turnout, BNP would likely secure a plurality in a tight race… that wave never materialised.”

Newcastle beat Aston Villa 3‑1 in the FA Cup fourth round at Villa Park, a match “full of controversy, with the video assistant referee (VAR) once again the big talking point – even though it wasn’t being used.” For this season and the previous FA Cup campaign, “it has not been brought in until the fifth round.” Key incidents cited were “Tammy Abraham’s opener for Villa [was] off‑side,” a “Lucas Digne’s second‑half handball should have been given as a penalty rather than a free‑kick outside the box,” and Digne “was also fortunate to escape a red card for a reckless challenge on Jacob Murphy.” Manchester United‑born manager Eddie Howe said, “I’m so torn because the game is better without VAR… but it does give accurate results… When VAR is there, there is a tendency to think, ‘oh well I won’t give that because VAR is there to check it’.” Villa’s boss Unai Emery added, “Today it makes sense understanding that VAR is necessary. It’s necessary to help the referees.” Ex‑England striker Alan Shearer told BBC Match of the Day, “These guys look petrified to make a decision today because they didn’t have a comfort blanket.” Newcastle progressed to the last 16.

Former President Barack Obama spoke on a Saturday podcast with commentator Brian Tyler Cohen, condemning a video posted on former President Donald Trump’s Truth Social account on February 5. The roughly one‑minute clip, set to “Lion Sleeps Tonight,” placed the faces of Barack and Michelle Obama on the bodies of apes for about a second and was described as apparently AI‑generated. The post, shared during Black History Month, prompted bipartisan criticism; the White House initially dismissed the backlash, later blamed a staff error and removed the video. Obama said a majority of Americans “find this behaviour deeply troubling” and warned it could damage Republican prospects in the upcoming midterm elections. He also criticized recent federal immigration enforcement actions in Minnesota, comparing the conduct of ICE agents and related fatal shootings to practices in authoritarian regimes, and praised community resistance through protests and documentation. The article notes that the Department of Homeland Security faced a partial shutdown on Saturday as lawmakers disputed funding for the agency overseeing ICE operations.

The U.S. District Judge Richard Stearns ordered the Trump administration “to facilitate the return” of 19‑year‑old college student Any Lucia Lopez Belloza “within 14 days.” The judge wrote, “Wisdom counsels that redemption may be found by acknowledging and fixing our own errors” and that “the government commendably admits that it did wrong. Now it is time for the government to make amends.” Lopez Belloza, who entered the United States from Honduras at age 8, was detained at a Boston airport after immigration officials told her she had an “order of removal.” Her lawyer said she was unaware of the order. Within hours a federal judge ordered the government not to remove her, yet she was “deported to Honduras” on November 22, 2025, in violation of that order. Stearns gave the government an opportunity to “rectify the mistake,” recommending a student visa, but U.S. Attorney Leah Foley argued the Secretary of State “lacks the legal authority to unilaterally issue visas” and warned she would face “immediate detention and removal.” The judge said an immigration court should determine “the extent of Any’s due process rights and the legality of her removal,” and ordered a status report on the return steps by next week.

Cyclone Gezani struck Mozambique’s southern coastal province of Inhambane on Saturday, killing at least four people. Meteorologists reported wind speeds of up to 215 km/h (134 mph). The storm downed trees and power lines, leaving more than 13,000 residents without electricity, and cut water supplies in several districts of Inhambane city, which has a population of roughly 100,000. The cyclone had hit Madagascar the previous day, killing at least 41 people, injuring about 427, and displacing roughly 16,300. Madagascar’s government declared a national emergency and estimated damages at $142 million. The eye of the storm passed over Toamasina, the island’s second‑largest city of about 400,000 residents, on Tuesday, destroying an estimated 75–80 % of the city’s infrastructure. World Food Programme officials reported severe damage to their offices and a warehouse, and noted that the city was operating on about 5 % of its electricity with no water supply.

Jordan Stolz “added his second gold medal in two attempts at the Milan Cortina Olympics by sprinting to victory in the men’s 500 meters on Saturday.” His “time of 33.77 seconds gave him his second Olympic record in four days,” and he had “captured the 1,000 meters on Wednesday.” He “joined Eric Heiden as the only skaters to win both the 500 and 1,000 meters at the same Olympics.” Jenning de Boo of the Netherlands took silver, and “Canada’s Laurent Dubreuil got the bronze in 34.26.” Stolz’s next races are the “1,500 meters on Thursday, and the mass start on Feb. 21.” Lucas Pinheiro Braathen, a “25‑year‑old… delivered the first gold medal by a South American athlete at the Winter Olympics” in the giant slalom with a “two‑run time of 2 minutes, 25 seconds,” beating defending champion Marco Odermatt by “0.58 seconds.” Loic Meillard earned bronze. Maren Kirkeeide “earned gold in the women’s 7.5‑kilometer sprint, clearing all 10 of her shots before crossing the finish line in 20 minutes and 40.8 seconds,” ahead of Oceane Michelon (France) by “3.8 seconds” and Lou Jeanmonnot by “23.7 seconds.” Norway “claimed gold” in the women’s 4 × 7.5‑kilometer relay with a time of “1 hour, 15 minutes and 44.8 seconds, 50 seconds ahead of Sweden.” Finland took bronze, “more than a minute back.”

Gunmen on motorcycles “ramped through three villages in northern Nigeria,” killing at least 46 people and abducting “several more,” according to witnesses and local police. The attacks occurred in villages in the Borgu local government area of Niger State, on the border with Kwara and Katsina states. The “bloodiest attack” was in Konkoso, where “at least 38 people were shot dead or had their throats slit,” many homes were burned and “other bodies are being recovered.” A resident said the gunmen first attacked the nearby village of “Tungar Makeri” before moving on to Konkoso. Niger State police spokesperson Wasiu Abiodun confirmed the raid, stating: “Suspected bandits invaded Tunga‑Makeri village. Six persons lost their lives, some houses were also set ablaze, and a yet‑to‑be ascertained number of persons were abducted.” He added that the assailants then “moved on to Konkoso village.” Jeremiah Timothy, a Konkoso resident, told Reuters the attackers entered “around 6 am (05:00 GMT) on Saturday, shooting indiscriminately,” and residents heard “military jets flying overhead.” Abdullahi Adamu, another resident, said the gunmen “were operating freely without the presence of any security.” The raids occur “amid a complex security crisis in northern Nigeria, featuring armed groups affiliated with ISIL … and gangs that abduct people for ransom.” Religious leaders in Borgu have urged President Bola Tinubu to set up a military base in the area.

On Friday, 13 February 2026, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen told reporters at the Munich Security Conference that she believes U.S. President Donald Trump still wants to “own” Greenland, stating “Unfortunately, I think the desire is the same.” Her comment followed Trump’s recent retreat from earlier threats to seize the Danish autonomous territory after a “framework” deal with NATO Secretary‑General Mark Rutte. Frederiksen and Greenlandic premier Jens‑Frederik Nielsen condemned pressure on Greenland’s residents as “unacceptable,” while noting some positive steps. The same conference featured U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio meeting the Danish leaders and delivering a speech calling for a renewed trans‑Atlantic partnership. Additionally, on Thursday, U.S. District Judge James Boasberg ordered that Venezuelan men deported under the Trump administration be allowed to return to the United States to pursue due‑process claims.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy addressed the Munich Security Conference on Saturday, urging that the upcoming US‑brokered peace negotiations in Geneva (scheduled for Tuesday and Wednesday) be “serious, substantive” and warning that the United States often presses Ukraine to make concessions without comparable pressure on Russia. Zelenskyy called for clear, long‑term security guarantees—preferably 20 years or more—rather than the 15‑year proposal cited by the US, and stressed the need for European participation at the negotiating table, which Russia opposes. He noted Russia’s demand for a full Ukrainian troop withdrawal from Russian‑held parts of Donetsk and Ukraine’s refusal to accept a unilateral pullback without security assurances. Zelenskyy said the US, represented by President Donald Trump, has urged him to move quickly toward a ceasefire, and he asked allies for stronger sanctions and additional weapons. He also expressed surprise at Russia’s change of delegation to the Geneva talks, interpreting it as a possible delay tactic.

The article lists 2025 TV moments that surprised viewers. In Jack Thorne’s drama Adolescence, Jamie “slowly reveal[s] that he’s not an innocent kid, but warped by misogyny and a twisted sense of entitlement” during a session with psychologist Briony. “The Celebrity Traitors” included “Celia Imrie farting in a tense moment at the start of a challenge,” which Imrie described as “It’s nerves, but I always own up.” EastEnders recreated its famous line when Zoe Slater shouted “you ain’t my mother!” and Kat answered “YES I AM!” Doctor Who’s finale “The Reality War” ended with “The Doctor regenerated into … 2005 companion Rose Tyler (Billie Piper).” Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly posted an Instagram Reel stating they were “calling it quits.” “The Last of Us” depicted Joel’s death as “shot and repeatedly beaten with a golf club and then stabbed.” Louis Theroux was “shoved” by Daniella Weiss in a documentary about Israeli settlements. Ryan Murphy’s All’s Fair received “the 18th zero‑star review in the Guardian’s 204‑year history.” Eurovision entrant Miriana Conte was told she must change “the controversial C‑word referencing lyrics” of her song “Serving Kant.”

Researchers in Yellowstone National Park are “analyzing those howls with cutting‑edge AI technology to better monitor and track wolves,” according to “Matt Standal of PBS Montana reports.” The effort aims to decode wolf howls using artificial intelligence.

The National Weather Service (NWS) issued winter storm warnings for more than eight million people and blizzard warnings for nearly two million on Sunday afternoon, forecasting a rapidly intensifying “bomb cyclone” over the Midwest and Great Lakes through Monday. Meteorologists expect heavy snow, blizzard conditions, extreme cold, and damaging winds from Montana east to Maine and from Texas north to Pennsylvania. NWS Lead Forecaster Bob Oravec told NPR that 6–12 inches of snow are expected across east‑central Minnesota, northern Wisconsin, and Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, with some areas along Lake Superior receiving a foot of snow and 40‑65 mph winds. Blizzard‑related near‑zero visibility and possible power outages are forecast for Sunday night‑Monday evening in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. Minnesota faces up to 10 inches of snow in the Twin Cities, while Havre, Montana may see wind chills as low as –15 °F. In Dallas, temperatures are expected to drop from the 80s on Sunday to the 40s on Monday, and freezing rain is predicted for northern New England and New York.

Israel’s authorities have recently permitted commercial traders to bring “dual‑use” items—goods such as generators, metal pallets and tent‑pole metal that are barred for humanitarian organisations—into the Gaza Strip through the same three tightly controlled Israeli checkpoints used for aid shipments. According to military, diplomatic and humanitarian sources, these items have been entering Gaza for at least a month and are now sold on the open market. The Israeli defence ministry unit COGAT, which controls Gaza access, maintains the policy applies uniformly to UN agencies, donor countries and the private sector, though it denied any preferential treatment. In the past week, Israeli officials told 37 NGOs operating in Gaza that they must cease activities within 60 days unless they provide detailed staff information. UNRWA’s acting director for Gaza noted that generators are only available via the private sector at marked‑up prices. The United States’ military presence at the Civil‑Military Coordination Center has raised concerns over the dual‑use list, seeking its revision for items like tent poles. Israel argues the restrictions are security‑driven to prevent Hamas from exploiting the goods, while critics argue the policy creates a two‑tier system that undermines humanitarian aid.

Jenny Hollingworth, a “27‑year‑old” “Norwich native,” releases her first solo album, Quicksand Heart. The record “reflects on grief (she lost her partner in 2019) and the temporary disintegration of her lifelong friendship with Walton,” and its introspection is set to a “knowingly nostalgic 1980s new wave” sound. When “the choruses don’t sparkle,” the album can feel like “plodding through the past,” but it also delivers “irresistible melody[s]” such as the track “Every Ounce of Me,” described as bridging “the gap between Olivia Rodrigo and the Waterboys.” The review highlights the “archetypally perfect powerpop number ‘Appetite’” and the “genre‑bending ‘Do You Still Believe in Me?’,” noting that Hollingworth “patchworks together breakbeats, vertiginously swooping vocals, squealing hair metal bombast and shoegazey dissonance.”

A Jane Austen‑themed ball celebrating “the author’s 250th anniversary” was held in the “high‑arched lobby of the Bank of England Museum” where “lines of women in flowing satin dresses twirl around men wearing stiff collars and black tailcoats.” Participants include “David Symington, 73, and Irina Porter,” who “became friends through such gatherings,” and “Gemima Lodge, 40,” who calls the events “a really effective socialising space.” Costume makers such as “Mary Davidson, 26, and Lian Cooper, 37” sew Regency‑era dresses from “old bedsheets, curtains and secondhand sarees.” The dances are reconstructed from 18th‑century manuals, for example John Playford’s 1651 *The Dancing Master* and Thomas Wilson’s notation books, and from the “Beauchamp‑Feuillet system … first published by Raoul‑Auger Feuillet in his 1700 book *Chorégraphie*.” Jennifer Thorp, “a dance historian and emeritus archivist for New College, Oxford,” says the system “is the first visual guide we get.” Paul Cooper of the Hampshire Regency Dancers converts these instructions into animations, describing them as “close to being a computer programme.” He and caller Jorien van der Bor adapt dances such as the Triple Minor for modern participants. Helen Davidge, the caller at the Bank of England Museum ball, notes her favourite “The Duchess of Devonshire’s Reel,” which “was choreographed by Charles Ignatius Sancho, who was sold into slavery as a child and later became a prominent composer and abolitionist.” Davidge founded the Georgettes of Oxford dancing society in 2023 to “build community, marry her love of history and ballet, and enjoy a bit of escapism.”

A writer of the Guardian’s Country Diary recounts a personal bird‑watching outing that took place today on a wetland, water and scrub area in post‑industrial West Yorkshire. During the walk the author recorded 37 bird species and, after spotting a little owl near the gates on the way out, brought the total to 38 species observed in a single day. The piece also references a recent event from the previous week in which three acquaintances participated in the Michael Clegg Memorial Bird Race, an annual competition held to raise funds for the Yorkshire Swifts charity, and reported seeing 84 species on the same site. The author lists various birds seen, including magpie, long‑tailed tit, pochard, golden‑eye, brambling, kestrel, redwing, fieldfare, marsh harrier, heron, greater black‑backed gull, cormorant, and the little owl. The account is presented as a personal diary entry describing the numbers of species identified, the locations within the area, and the author’s reflections on the experience.

The review notes that “Wonder Man” consists of “the eight episodes only around half an hour long.” The story follows “Simon Williams (Yahya Abdul‑Mateen II, who plays the DC Comics’ character Black Manta in the Aquaman films) … an actor who has been trying to make it in LA for the last decade.” Because “his inability to stop overthinking a role makes him an utter pain on set and gets him fired even when he does manage to land a part,” he “has loved the Wonder Man character all his life and when the chance comes to audition for a role in a superhero film about him, Simon leaps at it.” On set he is “befriended by Trevor Slattery (Ben Kingsley … a washed‑up, drug‑addled actor) … the cat’s paw of the Department of Damage Control, the shadowy government organisation set on protecting the public from supernatural threats.” The Department “has been tracking our man Simon since he was 13 and emerged unscathed from a house fire that should have killed him.” “Ignorant of the DODC’s existence, Simon still keeps his powers hidden because … people with such abilities are forbidden to work after an on‑set disaster” that is featured “about halfway through the series.” The reviewer adds that “for those who want more of the superhero stuff, Wonder Man will disappoint” but notes occasional scenes of “Simon’s rumbling powers build and … unleashed.” The series is currently available: “Wonder Man is on Disney+ now.”

In Syria, Kurdish groups “vow to ‘fight until last breath’ despite government push.” One woman expressed her desire to leave, saying, “I want to leave this place, so my daughter can study and live her life. She has the right to an education, to visit a park, to get medical care. If she's ill, God forbid, she should be able to go to hospital like any other child, without soldiers going with us.”

A couple hired 24/7 Locksmiths UK expecting a cost of less than £50 to address a lock issue. The locksmith later issued an invoice for £2,802, ten times the original quote. The couple reported that the work was substandard, requiring them to engage a second locksmith to replace the entire door and frame, incurring an additional expense of £2,244. The incident highlights a case of alleged overcharging and poor service by the first locksmith.

A research team led by Christoph Randler of the University of Tübingen conducted an experiment to test whether listening to birdsong affects physiological stress markers. Volunteers took a 30‑minute walk in a park where loudspeakers played recordings of rare bird songs; control groups heard natural birdsong or wore noise‑cancelling headphones with no birdsong. Half of all participants were instructed to actively attend to the birdsong. Blood pressure, heart rate, and cortisol levels were measured before and after the walk. Results, published in the journal Landscape and Urban Planning, showed that all participants experienced reductions in these stress indicators, confirming that the walk itself lowered stress. Adding rare birdsong did not produce greater reductions than natural birdsong, but participants who deliberately focused on the birdsong showed a more pronounced decrease. The study suggests attentive listening to birdsong can enhance the stress‑relieving benefits of a walk.

Lisa Bloom, a U.S. lawyer who represents 11 victims, said “The more Epstein documents get released, the more we see how he had so many powerful friends, and that’s ultimately what helped him,” adding “That’s not the way the justice system is supposed to work.” New Epstein files were released “last week,” prompting a criminal investigation into “allegations that Peter Mandelson leaked Downing Street emails and market‑sensitive information to Epstein.” In the House of Commons, “Wednesday’s events … unleashed a Westminster scandal which threatens to engulf Sir Keir Starmer’s premiership,” and the prime minister’s political future may hinge on “convinc[ing] MPs that he is being transparent over the fateful decision to make Peter Mandelson the UK’s ambassador in Washington.” In the United States, a “reckoning” is noted, with Bill Gates “vehemently dismiss[ed] lurid claims … as false.” The article reports that “the billionaire venture capitalist Peter Thiel … was in contact with Epstein, and reportedly an investment firm he co‑founded accepted $40 m from him.” It also states that “Howard Lutnick, the US secretary of state for commerce, visited Epstein’s private island with his wife and children in 2012,” and that “Richard Branson wrote … ‘Any time you’re in the area, would love to see you. As long as you bring your harem!’” Emails show “Larry Page and Sergey Brin” attending Epstein‑funded dinners and “Noam Chomsky … advising Epstein on how to deal with ‘hysteria’ … and his ‘horrible’ treatment in the press.” Bill and Hillary Clinton will testify in the congressional investigation “this month,” and victims are demanding the Department of Justice fully release the heavily redacted files.

Margaret Thatcher and Deng Xiaoping “came to power within months of each other at the tail end of the 1970s”, with “Thatcher wanted to reinvigorate capitalism in Britain” and Deng launching “a programme of reform and liberalisation that he called socialism with Chinese characteristics”. Since then “China was essentially a peasant economy … but it has since become an industrial powerhouse”, while “Britain has ceased to be a major manufacturing player and instead became a country dominated by services”. On “Keir Starmer’s visit to China last week”, the article draws three lessons. First, “manufacturing matters”: “Services now account for about 80% of the British economy, 10 times the size of manufacturing”, and “Exports of services do not compensate for a trade deficit in goods that has persisted since the early 1980s”. The pandemic of 2020 “brutally exposed” the danger of relying on imported goods. Second, “it is not too late to rebuild Britain’s industrial base”, citing Denmark’s wind‑turbine sector as proof that “small, rich western countries can still enjoy industrial success”. Third, rejuvenating manufacturing will “require a colossal effort”, proposing a “dedicated economic ministry”, a “thriving domestic steel sector”, and policies such as “a domestic component for goods sold in Britain”, a “‘buy British’ procurement policy”, and “subsidies and tax credits … of the sort Joe Biden introduced in the US”. “The bottom line is that to rebuild manufacturing Britain has to see the world through the prism of a developing country not a developed one”.

The United States and Iran are slated to begin “high‑stakes talks” in Oman over Tehran’s nuclear programme, described as “one of the last chances to prevent a new US attack.” These negotiations are the first since the United States “struck Iranian nuclear targets in June, joining in the final stages of a 12‑day Israeli bombing campaign.” Washington, according to U.S. secretary of state Marco Rubio, wants to expand the talks to cover Iran’s ballistic missiles, “support for armed groups around the region and ‘treatment of their own people’,” though Iranian negotiators say only the nuclear dispute will be discussed initially. The talks occur against “repeated warnings by Donald Trump that he will strike Iran militarily from the US carrier strike group Abraham Lincoln if no progress is made.” Iranian foreign minister and nuclear negotiator Abbas Araghchi will face Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner. Iran seeks “assurances that the US is not using the talks as a smokescreen to impose regime change.” It has warned it “will not hesitate to attack Israel or US military bases in the region if it is attacked” and maintains that its “right to enrich uranium on Iranian soil…is not negotiable.”

The Bangladesh national election is “scheduled for February 12” and is “Bangladesh’s first national election since the removal of former prime minister Sheikh Hasina,” expected to feature genuine competition after years of “tightly managed polls, opposition boycotts and allegations of repression.” The interim administration “under Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus … has banned her Awami League from electoral politics.” The Bangladesh Nationalist Party “is seeking to reassert itself under the leadership of Khaleda Zia’s son, Tarique Rahman.” For the first time, overseas Bangladeshis can vote: “more than seven million expatriates worldwide have registered … making them a substantial 5 percent of the total electorate of about 127 million.” In the United Kingdom “just over 32,000 Bangladeshi citizens are registered to vote,” while the 2021 census records “about 645,000 people in England and Wales identify as Bangladeshi or British Bangladeshi,” with “Bangladeshis make up nearly 35 percent of residents” in Tower Hamlets. Eligibility “is limited to Bangladeshi citizens holding a national identity card (NID).” Voters must obtain an NID, undergo biometrics and complete “another digital process through a mobile app,” which many describe as “simply too complicated.” Community members expressed mixed reactions: Khaled Noor said “people haven’t stopped talking about it,” Mizanur Khan missed the deadline, Radwan Ahmed “decided to boycott the election” because of the Awami League ban, and Jahanara Begum said she was “very happy” to have voted. The Bangladesh High Commission in London “did not respond” to requests for comment.

At the Grammy Awards “last week,” Bad Bunny “walked away with the ceremony’s biggest prize.” Before thanking his producers and label, he “took the mic and declared ‘ICE out’.” The article notes that this was “a reference to the Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers who have led large operations detaining immigrants in cities across the US.”

At least 10 Ukrainians have died from hypothermia this year, described as “white deaths,” in the Ternopil and Rivne regions, according to emergency and health officials. The deaths occur as Russian attacks have cut heat, power and water to “millions of people throughout Ukraine” during winter temperatures “far below minus 10 degrees Celsius (14 degrees Fahrenheit).” On the night after Taira Sluisarenko’s 16th birthday, a Russian drone struck her apartment building in eastern Kyiv on January 9, “shattering windows and outer walls of apartments several storeys above hers.” A second drone detonated 30 minutes later, killing 56‑year‑old emergency medic Serhiy Smolyak and wounding colleagues. Russia launched 242 drones and 36 missiles that night, including an Oreshnik ballistic missile that President Vladimir Putin calls “meteor‑like” and “cannot be intercepted by advanced Western air defence systems.” The assault killed four people, wounded dozens and “destroyed energy infrastructure.” A 41‑year‑old man in Ostroh, Rivne, died of “general hypothermia of the body.” UNICEF’s Munir Mammadzade warned that “newborns and infants… are at heightened risk of hypothermia and respiratory illness.” Other reported health impacts include “at least 18 deaths from carbon monoxide,” “hundreds of cases of frostbite” and “thousands of instances of pneumonia and acute colds.” Kyiv mayor Vitali Klitschko said on January 22 that 600,000 residents had left the city of 3 million and urged those with “options” to relocate to the countryside.

Nahid Islam, the 27‑year‑old head of Bangladesh’s newly formed National Citizen Party (NCP), participated in a video interview with Al Jazeera late last week, discussing his candidacy for the Dhaka‑11 parliamentary seat in the upcoming 12 February 2025 election. During the interview, Islam described an intensive door‑to‑door canvass, expressed fatigue from a full day of campaigning, and reiterated his pledge to deliver change and good governance. The same week, at a public rally in Dhaka held on Sunday, Jamaat‑e‑Islami leader Shafiqur Rahman announced that, should the Jamaat‑NCP alliance secure power, Islam would be appointed a minister. The alliance, which fields NCP candidates in 30 of the 300 constituencies, is aiming to combine the NCP’s youth appeal with Jamaat’s organizational machinery. Islam’s interview and the rally statement constitute recent, concrete developments within the last 48 hours, highlighting the alliance’s electoral strategy and its potential impact on Bangladesh’s parliamentary race.

The review covers “Looney Tunes: The Day the Earth Blew Up,” a feature that “stars Daffy Duck and Porky Pig (both voiced by Eric Bauza).” In this version the two are “best friends forever,” “raised together like brothers by their adoptive parent, Farmer Jim (Fred Tatasciore), who then promptly carks it in the first 10 minutes after enjoining them to always stick together.” The plot “depends on a new flavour of chewing gum that becomes a vehicle for alien mind control.” Porky’s “sometime ladyfriend Petunia (Candi Milo), a very marginal figure in the original shorts, [is] … key to the plot’s machinations because she’s a food scientist obsessed with inventing new flavours.” The film includes “nostalgic callbacks … reference to his 1953 masterpiece Duck Amuck,” and the character design “takes inspiration more from his very earliest incarnations when he was a very energetic wiry duck, prone to hyperactive explosions of destruction and anarchy.” It “never provokes full‑on out loud laughs, but there are wry chuckles.” The movie is “in UK and Irish cinemas from 13 February, and streaming on Netflix in Australia.”

Rachel Reeves is under pressure to reassure MPs about the UK’s public finances as the “£6bn‑a‑year Send bill” threatens the government’s financial buffer. Meg Hillier, chair of the Treasury committee, said the chancellor must make clear her long‑term plans for this bill. Reeves, who will appear before the committee next month, wrote to MPs that she will delay a decision until next year. City analysts warned investors could be uneasy if the £6bn cost were taken from the budget surplus, which the chancellor raised to “£22bn” in November’s budget. The Office for Budget Responsibility noted the Send bill is currently unaccounted for and that the historical backlog could reach “£18bn by 2028‑29”. The government announced it will “cover up to 90% of historical debts” from English councils and will “clear about £5bn of the debt up to 31 March this year”, provided councils agree to revise service delivery in an upcoming white paper. Ministers added they will “continue to take an appropriate and proportionate approach, though it will not be unlimited”. The Treasury declined to comment.

The article reports that a co‑writer of “Brat” says the “Wuthering Heights soundtrack” is “the perfect pivot for Charli XCX.” The co‑writer explains the approach was “trying to balance those two things of making it feel like a really strong song but also a piece that would perfectly fit in a movie and have this emotional depth to it.”

Watershed Investigations and the Guardian uncovered “a string of toxic pollution hotspots” across Cumbria and Lancashire after a freedom‑of‑information request showed “high concentrations of Pfos in Environment Agency samples taken in January 2025”. Pfos, a “type of per‑ and polyfluoroalkyl substance (Pfas)”, is described as a “forever chemical”. Twenty‑five sites recorded Pfos levels “well above drinking water guideline limits of 100 ng/l for the combined total of 48 Pfas compounds”, including one groundwater sample with “3,840 ng/l”. A resident with a private‑well business said they learned of the contamination in “November 2021” from an “unofficially” informed Environment Agency employee, stopped drinking the water, and received “no help” from the agency or Westmorland and Furness council. The council, informed by the Environment Agency in “late 2021”, said the business “switched over to the mains water supply” and continued to support compliance. The Environment Agency reported it first identified elevated Pfas in the area in “2022” and alerted the borehole owner after detecting Pfas above guidelines, informing councils, the UK Health Security Agency, the Food Standards Agency and the Drinking Water Inspectorate in “2025”. Potential sources listed in the agency’s March 2025 report include a Beetham paper mill (assets sold to a new operator in “June 2025”), five historical landfills, one operational landfill, sewage works, fire stations and caravan‑park discharges. The government’s new Pfas action plan, “published on Tuesday”, proposes tighter controls, new guidance on contaminated land and a consultation on statutory drinking‑water limits. Water UK warned: “We risk falling further behind other European nations…”. Wildlife and Countryside Link called the plan “a roadmap to nowhere”.

Tim Dowling narrates a day at his home, staring out “our front window” at “a large puddle running along the road’s edge outside our house.” The puddle, normally temporary, “has now been there for three uninterrupted months,” is “a foot deep in the middle and too wide to jump across – more moat than puddle,” and appears to be fed “by an underground source.” A “man in a hi‑vis vest is placing cones around the edge of the puddle.” His wife says, “We need to do something about these curtains,” noting that the heavy curtains have “large horizontal tears … on the lining side.” She holds a ladder and says, “I think if you can just take them down, I might be able to unpick the lining.” It takes “15 minutes to unhook both curtains.” Later she suggests swapping the curtains over the side door: “Let’s put these … over there.” The curtains are different sizes, requiring “the transfer of six curtain sliders – three per side.” After an hour’s work one set “will never fully close” and the other “will never fully open,” but “it’s still better.” He later sees a sign announcing “remedial work on the puddle, by the water company, beginning a week hence.”

Francesca Onody’s former husband, Metropolitan police superintendent Malcolm Baker, set fire to their cottage in late summer 2022 after police arrived to arrest him; the house exploded, killing Baker and destroying the property. Baker had earlier emptied their joint accounts and cancelled insurance. Following his death, Onody and her children lived in a caravan on the ruined site. Because the deed and mortgage were solely in Baker’s name, Onody could not sell or rebuild. She spent 28 months contesting Baker’s will under the Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) Act, eventually being appointed personal representative in February 2025. She discovered £34,700 in mortgage arrears and legal fees had accumulated, and Halifax issued a repossession order. After contacting Guardian Money in June 2025, Halifax halted the order, agreed to transfer the mortgage into Onody’s name, and paid £500 compensation. In February 2026, Halifax reduced the mortgage balance by over £21,000 to the date of Baker’s death, and Onody paid off the remaining mortgage, taking legal ownership of the land in November 2025. The article was amended on 14 February 2026 to include Halifax’s updated statement.

Fernando Rospigliosi, head of Peru’s Congress, announced a special plenary session to consider the removal of interim President José Jeri. The session is scheduled for the morning of 17 February, as posted on Congress’ social‑media channels. The move comes amid accusations that Jeri, who assumed the presidency in October after the impeachment of Dina Boluarte, engaged in bribery and influence‑peddling, including undisclosed meetings with Chinese businessmen Zhihua Yang and Jiwu Xiaodong and irregular hiring practices within his administration. Jeri has denied illegal conduct, calling the meetings “mistakes” but insists he has not lied or broken the law. He will not run in the upcoming April 12 presidential election. The debate marks the latest development in Peru’s ongoing political instability, which has seen eight presidents in the past decade.

At the Munich Security Conference, Nick Schifrin interviewed Finnish President Alexander Stubb. Stubb said he has “just written a book saying that the world order is actually in transition,” adding that “world orders change… after World I… after World II… after the Cold War… and now we’re looking for something new.” He emphasized that “the transatlantic partnership still stands in the middle of it.” When asked about a European foreign minister’s claim that Europe “cannot defend itself conventionally” and might need “more European countries getting nuclear weapons beyond France and the United Kingdom,” Stubb disagreed, citing Finland’s “830 miles of border with Russia,” “one million men and women…trained in Arctic conditions,” “62 F‑18s,” “just bought 64 F‑35s,” long‑range missiles, and “the biggest artillery in Europe together with Poland.” He said “we still need the U.S. nuclear umbrella” and noted NATO’s three deterrent pillars, with the nuclear pillar coming “from the United States.” Stubb dismissed doubts about the U.S. umbrella, saying “no, I don’t think there should be any doubt in that.” He noted the nuclear landscape now includes a “third one…China with 600 nuclear warheads…going to 1,500.” Regarding Russia, Stubb said “we’re not concerned,” argued that “Russia is losing this war” and that “Russia is not going to test Article 5,” but affirmed it is “a long‑term threat” because “in its DNA is imperialism and expansion.” He expressed hope that Russia would end the war but was skeptical about Putin’s willingness, citing “the social and political cost…too high.”

James Van Der Beek needed financial assistance for “costly treatments” because, according to him, he was paid “almost nothing” for *Dawson’s Creek” and his contract “didn’t include residuals” – the payments “writers, actors and directors receive when their work is re‑aired on television.” The article notes that “actors on other still‑popular shows from that same period, like *Friends*, are said to make about $20 m annually from such payments.”

At the men’s figure skating free skate at Milan‑Cortina 2026, Mikhail Shaidorov of Kazakhstan was “the only one to skate clean” and “won gold – his country's first Winter Olympic gold in 32 years.” Yuma Kagiyama of Japan, described as “Malinin's nearest rival for gold,” “fell on a quad flip and had to settle for silver.” Bronze went to his compatriot Shun Sato. Ilia Malinin, the “red‑hot favourite” for gold, “fell twice and missed out on the medals entirely” and “finished eighth after a horrendous free skate in which he visibly crumbled under the pressure.” Of the final six athletes, “five suffered falls.”

Scotland “stormed” England in the Six Nations to “seal Calcutta Cup glory”, ending England’s “12‑Test unbeaten record”. Gregor Townsend’s side entered the match “under pressure after their opening round defeat in Rome”. The Scots built a “24‑10 interval cushion” with “sharp tries by Jones, Jamie Ritchie and Ben White”. A second Huw Jones try came after a “charged‑down George Ford drop‑goal attempt”. England were reduced to 14 men when “Henry Arundell [was] shown red in the 37th minute … for taking out Kyle Steyn in the air”, leaving them a player short for about 20 minutes. Later, Matt Fagerson “charged down” another Ford drop‑goal, allowing Jones to sprint 60 metres for a “bonus‑point score”. England’s consolation try was scored by “Ben Earl”. The victory “dramatically resuscitated” Scotland’s title hopes ahead of their next match against Wales.

Dina Asher‑Smith reclaimed the British 60 m title at the UK Indoor Championships in Birmingham on Saturday, posting “7.05 – a championship record” after “7.11 in the semi‑finals” and “7.17sec in the heats”. She beat Amy Hunt, who ran “7.15 for silver”. Asher‑Smith said she has “learned so much about herself over the past few years” and is “really enjoying training in this environment”. She will now “head to next month’s World Indoor Championships in Poland, alongside Hunt”. In the men’s 60 m, Jeremiah Azu won in “6.56” ahead of Romell Glave’s “6.62”. Keely Hodgkinson broke her own British indoor 800 m record with “1 min 56.33 sec”, the “third‑fastest indoor time in history”. She announced she will contest only the 800 m heats in Birmingham and will race at a meeting in France, aiming to break the world record of “1:55.82” set on “3 March 2002”.

Sandro Tonali scored two goals and substitute Nick Woltemade added the clincher to give Newcastle United a “fifth‑round place” after a comeback against a 10‑man Aston Villa at Villa Park. Referee Chris Kavanagh – “promoted to the UEFA elite list in December” – and his assistants were criticised for several decisions. Newcastle manager Eddie Howe said, “We had the benefit of replays and we felt very aggrieved,” adding, “I think the referees and officials are making honest decisions. They’ve got them wrong on more than one occasion but I thought the players did really well to control their emotions, to stay calm.” Aston Villa manager Unai Emery argued, “VAR is necessary to help referees, to have as a reference.” Tammy Abraham’s opener, his “first goal for the club since 2019,” stood despite being “clearly off‑side.” Lucas Digne received a first‑half yellow for a challenge on Jacob Murphy. Villa goalkeeper Marco Bizot was sent off for a last‑man foul on Murphy after “a second look on the touchline video screen.” Emi Martínez replaced him. Kieran Trippier defended his side, saying, “You see all this stuff on social media which he doesn’t deserve.” Bruno Guimarães was unavailable, with Howe saying, “He’s devastated.” Tonali’s second strike was “laid up by Burn,” and Woltemade scored from close range after Villa’s “withdrawal of Morgan Rogers and Douglas Luiz.”

BrewDog, the Scotland‑based craft beer maker founded by James Watt and Martin Dickie, announced that it has engaged consulting firm AlixPartners to run a structured sale process for the business, raising the possibility of the company being broken up. The move follows the company's decision last month to close its distilling brands to concentrate on beer production. BrewDog said the action reflects “a challenging economic climate” and a focus on long‑term sustainability after a year of cost‑cutting measures in 2025. No final decision on a sale or breakup has been made. The firm, which employs roughly 1,400 people and operates four breweries (including its Ellon, Aberdeenshire site) and 72 bars worldwide across the UK, US, Australia and Germany, previously announced job cuts in October following a £37 million loss. BrewDog’s spokesperson emphasized that operations continue normally and that the consultancy will evaluate potential new investment opportunities.

Gregor Townsend said Scotland’s supporters now have “something to smile about for the next 12 months” after his side “regained the Calcutta Cup” with a 30‑21 win over England. He described the performance as “some of the best rugby we’ve ever played” in the opening quarter and said he was “quite emotional”. Townsend added that “the effort in the second half … we became a real team that will fight for each other and our supporters.” He praised Finn Russell’s display as “one of Finn Russell’s best performances for Scotland” and called the forwards’ work rate “superb”. Scotland captain Sione Tuipulotu said he felt “desperate this week” and that his side had “bossed” an England team that had been unbeaten in 12 Tests. He expressed pride in the coaching staff and the group and looked to “back up this performance next week in a stadium we’ve previously had problems in”. England head coach Steve Borthwick said he was “bitterly disappointed”, noting Scotland’s advantage from the aerial contest and the impact of Henry Arundell’s red card. Injuries mentioned: Jack Dempsey (biceps), Jamie Ritchie (knee) and Jamie Dobie (shoulder) are unavailable for the upcoming Wales match.

Liverpool beat Brighton 3‑0 in the FA Cup fourth‑round tie at Anfield on Valentine’s Day. The match report notes that “the home side were excellent” and that “Mo Salah and Dominik Szoboszlai – who combined so elegantly for Liverpool’s wonderful second goal –” featured prominently. Salah converted a penalty (“There was pressure for sure [on the penalty] … I’m glad we managed to win the game”) and later supplied the assist for Szoboszlai’s strike, while “Gakpo smacks a header home from close range” for the third goal. Curtis Jones received “the official player of the match award” and said, “we scored three very good goals … a clean sheet as well.” Liverpool made four changes to their starting line‑up after their 1‑0 win at Sunderland: “Dominik Szoboszlai returns from suspension, while Curtis Jones, Milos Kerkez and Federico Chiesa all step up.” Brighton made three changes: “Jason Steele replaces Bart Verbruggen in goal, while Charalampos Kostoulas and 17‑year‑old Harry Howell come in for Kaoru Mitoma and Danny Welbeck.” Referee Stuart Attwell (Warwickshire) oversaw the game; the victory sends Liverpool “into the hat for the fifth round.”

Two months after Liverpool’s December league meeting with Brighton at Anfield, Liverpool defeated Brighton in a cup tie to reach round five. Mohamed Salah started, delivered “a sublime assist, his fourth since returning from the Africa Cup of Nations”, and later “won and converted the penalty” for Liverpool’s “commanding victory”. Curtis Jones opened the scoring when “Milos Kerkez … swept a dangerous low cross … Jones … side‑footed home via the underside of the crossbar”. Cody Gakpo “headed in from Szoboszlai’s free‑kick … from an off‑side position”. Szoboszlai then “lashed an emphatic first‑time drive” to Salah, who scored. Brighton substitute Rio Ngumoha had a late goal “wrongly disallowed for offside”. Liverpool manager Arne Slot said, “It is very nice to have Mo on the scoresheet again”. Salah described Szoboszlai as “one of the best players in the world right now”. Brighton coach Fabian Hürzeler added, “Moments decided the game, unfortunately in the wrong direction”.

Two fans – “Vita Kalniņa and her husband, Alexander Kalniņš,” who are “fans of the Latvian hockey team” living in Germany – raised a large Greenland flag during the United States‑Denmark men’s ice‑hockey game at the Winter Olympics on Saturday. They held the flag “during warmups and again when the Danish team scored the opening goal” at the “Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena.” Kalniņš told the Associated Press, “We are Europeans and I think as Europeans we must hold together,” adding that “the Greenlandic people decide what will happen with Greenland… we support both countries against the US.” The United States won the game 6‑3. Other spectators noted that “sports transcends politics” amid recent “tensions between their governments over Greenland.” The article states that the “red‑and‑white Greenland flag … is not flown in an official capacity at the Olympics” because the International Olympic Committee “only recognizes independent sovereign states,” and Greenland is “an autonomous territory within the Kingdom of Denmark.” Fans have also displayed the flag in Anterselva where the two Greenlandic biathlon athletes competed.

Jakara Anthony, the world No 1 Australian moguls skier and three‑time Olympian, entered the Milano Cortina Games intent on defending her single‑moguls gold from Beijing. In the single moguls event she “slid off course,” which “cost her a medal” and led to “tears, meetings with sport psychologists and heartfelt conversations with family, friends, coaches and teammates.” Less than three days later she “has a smile back on her face and a gold medal around her neck after winning the first Olympic women’s dual moguls event” in Livigno. She said, “To be honest, I was doubting myself a bit this morning after what happened the other day… That was really heartbreaking, the singles… To be able to turn that around, with the help of my support crew around me, has been a pretty massive feat, I think, and makes this medal even more special.” Anthony became “Australia’s first two‑time winter gold medallist” and “the first to win the women’s dual moguls Olympic event.” Her victory contributed to “Australia’s third [gold] in four days,” making it the nation’s most successful Winter Games.

Charlotte Mortlock, a former Coalition staffer to Andrew Bragg and founder of Hilma’s Network—a grassroots group she created “to bring ‘Liberal‑minded women’ together”—announced on Sunday that she was leaving the Liberal Party and quitting the network. She said, “I have decided the time has come for me to step down as executive director of Hilma’s Network and I have also relinquished my Liberal party membership,” adding that “Due to recent events I have decided there are other ways I can support women and Australia.” Mortlock has been “outspoken in pushing the party to adopt a more progressive stance on the climate crisis” and has called for gender quotas to raise female representation to 50% in the party. She helped bring a gender‑quota proposal to the New South Wales Liberal executive; the proposal, slated for presentation at the state council on 7 March, was “dropped from the agenda by the management committee.” Deputy leader Jane Hume described Mortlock’s exit as “a really sad moment,” and Hilma’s Network’s Victorian representative Erin Watson will assume the role of chief executive, saying the organisation remains “really healthy.”

New South Wales Premier Chris Minns announced on Sunday that the state will add an extra public holiday on the Monday following Anzac Day when the 25 April observance falls on a weekend in 2026 and 2027. The measure creates a three‑day Anzac Day weekend in those years, matching the already‑existing practice in Western Australia and the Australian Capital Territory. Minns said the change recognises the contribution of service personnel and gives families additional time, while acknowledging potential strain on small businesses. Acting RSL NSW president Vince Williams expressed support, noting it would benefit defence members who work on Anzac Day itself. The NSW government will evaluate the economic and social impacts before deciding whether to make the holiday permanent. In contrast, Queensland Premier David Crisafulli and a Victorian government spokesperson confirmed their states will not introduce similar holidays, saying no plans exist to amend current arrangements. NSW currently has the fewest state‑specific public holidays on the mainland, with only the King’s Birthday and Labour Day in addition to the national holidays.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called Russia’s Vladimir Putin a “slave to war” in a speech to the Munich Security Conference on Saturday, adding that Russia’s attacks had “damaged every power plant in the country.” He said Kyiv was doing “everything” to end the war and that Ukraine wants “security guarantees for a minimum of 20 years from the US” before signing a peace deal with dignity. Zelenskyy also urged a “clear date” for Ukraine’s EU accession, noting some EU officials cite 2027. The Kremlin’s Dmitry Peskov said the US‑brokered talks between Russia and Ukraine will be held on Tuesday and Wednesday. Earlier, Zelenskyy warned Europe to “stand up to Russia” and called a half‑baked deal an “illusion.” He later held bilateral talks with US official Marco Rubio and spoke with envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner; Rubio described the United States as the “child of Europe.” UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer called for a closer UK‑Europe defence relationship, saying “we are not the Britain of the Brexit years any more.” NATO’s Mark Rutte said Russia is suffering “crazy losses,” about 65,000 soldiers in two months, and asserted that NATO “will win every fight with Russia if they attack us now.” A Russian drone killed an elderly woman in Odesa, and a Ukrainian drone killed a civilian in Bryansk, officials reported Saturday.

Destanee Aiava, a 25‑year‑old Australian tennis player, announced on Instagram that she will “call time on her playing career at the end of 2026.” In her post she called the sport “racist, misogynistic, homophobic and hostile to anyone who doesn’t fit the mould” and described tennis as “my toxic boyfriend.” She said, “Life is not meant to be lived in misery and half assed,” and added, “I’m 25, turning 26 this year and I feel so far behind everyone else, like I’m starting from scratch.” Aiava directed a “ginormous fuck you” to critics, trolls, gamblers and “a sport that hides behind so‑called class and gentlemanly values.” Her career highlights include a career‑high singles ranking of 147 in 2017, a third‑round Wimbledon appearance at age 17 in 2017, and a second‑round Australian Open result in 2025. She is currently ranked No 321, was eliminated with partner Maddison Inglis in the first round of women’s doubles in January, and “has not stepped onto the court for a competitive match since then.” Aiava said she will shape her post‑2026 life “one led by purpose, creativity and passion.”

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced a $30 bn facility for AUKUS submarines during a visit to the Osborne shipyards in Adelaide, saying he has “no doubt” Australia will receive nuclear submarines under the deal and that the government has delivered the “substance and the detail” of the AUKUS agreement. He pledged a $3.9 bn “down payment” and said the yard will be “the only facility in the southern hemisphere capable of building nuclear submarines.” Opposition leader Angus Taylor and deputy Jane Hume “have flagged that immigration will be an early policy fight for the Liberals, claiming that numbers are too high.” Hume added the party leadership was “spilled as ‘something has to give’” after the Liberals faced their worst result since 1944. Former Liberal staffer Charlotte Mortlock “quit the Liberals following the removal of Sussan Ley.” Trade minister Don Farrell said barriers to an EU free‑trade deal have been “significantly reduced.” A man was charged after a police chase that ended in a crash killing two in Sydney’s west; a 34‑year‑old man was killed in a stabbing in Sydney’s north‑west, and a 39‑year‑old man was left in critical condition after riding away from police without a helmet. Four boats were destroyed in a fire at Hillary’s boat harbour in Perth; the cause is unknown. The New Zealand Court of Appeal heard an appeal by Christchurch gunman Brenton Tarrant seeking to revoke his guilty pleas. Auction activity rose to 2,061 auctions nationwide, with a preliminary clearance rate of 70.7 %.

The Cuban government is facing an acute fuel shortage after the United States imposed an oil blockade in January, halting oil shipments from Mexico, its largest supplier. In the past week, all three Canadian airlines and two Russian carriers suspended flights to Cuba because of a lack of aviation fuel, and the UK Foreign Office revised its travel advice to allow only essential travel. The United Nations World Food Programme reported that the shortage is jeopardising food distribution, especially in cities, and warned of weeks‑long humanitarian impacts. Diplomats in Havana, including ambassadors from traditionally US‑allied nations, expressed frustration with US chargé d’affaires Mike Hammer’s vague plans to “starve” the island and discussed contingency evacuations. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum, despite condemning the sanctions, sent 800 tons of aid. Cuban authorities have closed universities, schools, and non‑essential services to conserve resources, while citizens resort to makeshift wood‑burners for cooking. The crisis follows the US executive order imposing tariffs on oil suppliers to Cuba and follows a recent US military operation against Venezuela, which heightened US pressure on Cuba.

Queensland police arrested a 52‑year‑old man of no fixed address on Russell Island in Moreton Bay on Saturday evening, following a two‑day investigation into a burglary at the Abbey Museum of Art and Archaeology in Caboolture, north of Brisbane. The theft occurred at about 3 a.m. on Friday when a window was smashed and several Egyptian objects were taken, including a 3,300‑year‑old necklace, a mummy mask, and a 2,600‑year‑old wooden cat sculpture from Egypt’s 26th dynasty. Police located a camper van parked at the Cleveland ferry terminal about 80 km from the museum; inside they recovered most of the stolen items, with the mummy mask wrapped in a Venezuelan flag. The arrested suspect was charged with breaking and entering and three counts of wilful damage and is due to appear in court on Monday.

The Spycops public inquiry this week heard testimony from former undercover officer Jim Boyling, who in 1996 was arrested at an environmental protest at Transport for London offices using a fabricated identity. In 1997 Boyling and six activists were prosecuted for public‑order offences; Boyling gave evidence under his false name while senior Special Demonstration Squad officers, including DCI Keith Edmondson and Supt Eric Docker, authorised him to maintain the cover and later praised his conduct in internal memos. The magistrate was not informed that Boyling was a police spy. Boyling and the activists were acquitted, but two co‑defendants later had their convictions overturned after Boyling’s true role was revealed in 2011. The inquiry is examining a broader pattern where senior police deliberately concealed undercover officers’ identities in at least 13 trials between 1970‑1998, compromising defendants’ right to a fair trial. The hearing highlights ongoing scrutiny of the SDS’s practice of deploying officers in covert operations that spanned from 1968 to at least 2010.

Premier Group Recruitment entered administration in September with £2.9 million of debts, including £647,000 owed to HM Revenue and Customs. Three days later its assets were purchased by a newly formed company, PGGBR Ltd, founded by Andrew Woosnam, the former 99 % shareholder of Premier. The deal involves an initial £10,000 payment plus monthly instalments of £25,000 through 30 September 2027, totalling £610,000. PGGBR Ltd announced an all‑expenses‑paid “End of Year Trip 2026” to Las Vegas for staff who meet sales targets. Prior to the sale, Woosnam had taken a £1.2 million director’s loan from the old business, which has since risen by £265,000. Premier’s 2022‑23 reports show £1.95 million in dividends paid to shareholders. Administrators estimate they will recover about half of the outstanding director’s loan and note the transaction as a case of “phoenixism,” where a company’s assets are transferred to a new, debt‑free entity. Neither Woosnam nor the administrators responded to requests for comment.

Crossbar, described as “the giant ‘Crossbar’ flanked by two stylised crosses”, opened in Brighton a “stone’s throw from Churchill Square” on 6 February. Co‑owners Lucy Tallant and her wife Pippa Tallant announced the venture to “12 followers on Instagram, all their close friends” in early December; since then the account has attracted “more than 17,000 followers on Instagram”. The bar occupies an “unloved and empty bar on the corner of Upper North Street and Regent Hill”, featuring “deep green tiles behind the bar, the black and white ones on the floor … hardwood floors, the function rooms, the space for the pool table, the floor‑to‑ceiling windows in the Clubhouse and the exposed brick in the smaller Boot Room”. Lucy, who also coaches Brighton Seagals FC, said the concept grew from frequent “moan about why there isn’t a female‑centric space, but also somewhere that supported women’s sports”. The tagline is “The best place to watch women’s sport, and the best place for women to watch sport”. A late licence allows screening of the Super Bowl, and the venue will “show the World Cup in the summer”. Opening night tickets “sold out within four minutes”. Early patrons said, “I’ve been waiting for a place that really focuses and appreciates women’s sport” (Popsy Greader‑Palme) and “this space is the perfect place for people like me” (Serena Ferguson). The bar was funded by the owners, with Pippa investing “her inheritance after the death of her mother”.

Brazilian alpine skier Lucas Pinheiro Braathen won the men’s giant slalom in Bormio on Saturday, securing Brazil’s first ever Winter Olympic medal – a gold. The race, part of the 2026 Winter Games in Italy, saw Braathen beat reigning champion Marco Odermatt of Switzerland. Brazil’s president, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, praised the achievement, noting its historic significance for the nation and the continent. Braathen, born in Norway and competing under Brazil’s flag, celebrated with a samba performance on the podium and highlighted the national anthem playing in the mountains. The victory marks the inaugural Winter Olympic gold for both Brazil and South America.

A UK High Court last week declared the proscription of the protest group Palestine Action unlawful, describing the ban as “disproportionate” and noting that most of the group’s activities did not meet the legal threshold for terrorism. The judgment found that former Home Secretary Yvette Cooper had not followed her own policies when imposing the ban last summer. In response, current Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood said she will appeal the ruling, meaning the ban remains in force while the appeal is considered. Separately, the UK foreign ministry, together with France, Germany, Sweden and the Netherlands, announced that forensic analysis of samples taken from the late Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny’s body identified the toxin epibatidine, a poison derived from South‑American dart frogs. The joint assessment concluded that only the Russian state had the means, motive and opportunity to deploy the toxin while Navalny was imprisoned, and the ministers said they will refer Russia to the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons for a breach of the Chemical Weapons Convention.

The article notes a “managerial merry‑go‑round” and points readers to “Nicky Bandini’s piece on Spurs’ new manager Igor Tudor” and “Jonathan Wilson’s piece”. It states “Arsenal take on Wigan in the late kick off in the fifth round of the cup”, adding that “Arsenal will be keen to bounce back after their draw against high flying Brentford” and that “Wigan … sit 22nd in League One”. It reports that “Leeds are fresh off their 2-2 draw against Chelsea” and that “Birmingham are eight games unbeaten in all competitions”. Upcoming fixtures listed include “Brighton & Hove Albion v Arsenal (2:30pm)”, “Birmingham v Leeds United (12pm)”, “Arsenal v Wigan Athletic (4:30pm)” and several other matches. Results quoted are: “Hull City 0-4 Chelsea”, “Wrexham 1-0 Ipswich Town”, “Burnley 1-2 Mansfield Town”, “Manchester City 2-0 Salford City”, “Norwich City 3-1 West Bromwich Albion”, “Southampton 2-1 Leicester City”, “Aston Villa 1-3 Newcastle United”, “Liverpool 3-0 Brighton & Hove Albion”. The article says “Mo Salah was back to his best as Liverpool saw off Brighton 3-0”. It also notes “Newcastle came from behind to beat Aston Villa 3-1” and mentions “questionable officiating”, specifying “Aston Villa’s first goal was offside, Newcastle should have had a penalty and Lucas Digne was lucky to stay on the pitch”. Regarding the FA Cup, it records a “big upset … League One Mansfield Town beat Premier League strugglers Burnley 2-1 at Turf Moor”. It adds that “Louis Reed’s brilliant knuckleball free kick gave Mansfield their first win over a top flight side since 1969 and ensured they advanced to the FA Cup fifth round for the first time in over 50 years”.

At the Munich Security Conference on 15 February 2026, EU officials made a series of statements. European Commission President Kaja Kallas – a former Estonian prime minister – said, “contrary to what some may say woke decadent Europe is not facing civilizational erasure,” and added that “Russia is broken, its economy is in shreds” and “the greatest threat Russia presents right now is that it gains more at the negotiation table, then it has achieved on the battlefield.” She also noted, “what matters more than having a seat at the table is knowing what to ask [for] when you are sitting there,” and proposed “a concrete mandate … of the asks that we would have to Russia.” Kallas later said, “My feeling is that the member states are not ready to give a concrete date” regarding Ukraine’s EU accession. ECB President Christine Lagarde, speaking on competitiveness, said, “If you read Jean Monnet, if you read Schuman, if you read the founding fathers, they all say the same thing: Europe grows in times of crisis,” and described the EU’s response as “the kick in the butt that we all received as a result of president Trump’s change of attitude towards Europe.” UK Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper claimed, “we have together found the evidence of this lethal toxin that was found in Alexei Navalny’s body at time he died… only the Russian regime had the motive, the means and the opportunity.” Latvian President Edgars Rinkēvičs said, “we understand that we need Ukraine in the European Union,” but added there is “no readiness to [agree on] a date.” French minister Benjamin Haddad argued that “European preference” on defence purchases is “common sense.”

"Back with the men’s curling, GB lead Germany 5‑2 playing the seventh" and later "Britain now lead Germany 5‑2 in the men’s curling". In the women's giant slalom, "Durr of Germany ... finishes 0.34 off the lead in second", "Goggia of Italy ... slots in third, 0.46 off the lead", and "Brignone is in sight, while Shiffirin is seventh". The article notes "The second and final run is coming up at 12.30pm GMT". In monobob, "Laura Nolte of Germany leads the first run, with Nicoll of GB 14th, 1.10 off the lead". It adds that "Brignone smashed her leg at the end of last season, fought her way back" and that "1:03.23 is her time! That puts her 0.74 up on Colturi, Hector and Stjernesund, plus a whole 1.02 on Shiffrin!" Also, "Gasienica Daniel of Poland ... is 10th". In giant slalom qualifying, "Valerie Grenier of Canada ... goes fifth, 0.29 off the lead", "Colturi ... finishes in 1:03.97", "Scheib from Austria ... slots in fifth, 0.39 off the lead". The leaders are "Thea Louise Stjernesund of Norway and Sara Hector of Sweden lead with 1:03.97", while "Mikaela Shiffrin of USA ... third, 0.28s off the lead". The schedule mentions "Adele Nicoll ... going in the monobob, heats starting now; Txema Mazet‑Brown ... snowboard slopestyle, starting at 9.20; Charlotte Bankes and Huw Nightingale ... snowboard cross mixed team; Tabby Stoecker and Matt Weston ... mixed team skeleton; Anastasia Vaipan‑Law and Luke Digby ... figure skating pairs; women’s 500 m speed skating and women’s individual large hill ski jump".

"Darcie Brown is bowled by Reddy and that is that." Reddy "ends up with four wickets" and "new Aussie captain Sophie Molineux is left unbeaten amongst the wreckage." The Australian batting "collapses from 87‑5 at the halfway stage to 133 all out 8 overs later," giving "Advantage India." Score snapshots in the live commentary include: "17th over: Australia 130‑9 (Molineux 4, Brown 1)"; "16th over: Australia 128‑8 (Molineux 2, Garth 1)"; "15th over: Australia 126‑7 (Sutherland 3, Molineux 2)"; "14th over: Australia 121‑6 (Carey 12, Sutherland 0)"; "13th over: Australia 111‑5 (Wareham 20, Carey 12)"; "12th over: Australia 102‑5 (Wareham 17, Carey 6)"; "11th over: Australia 95‑5 (Wareham 11, Carey 5)"; "10th over: Australia 87‑5 (Wareham 4, Carey 4)". The line‑ups announced: Australia – "Beth Mooney (wk), Georgia Voll, Phoebe Litchfield, Ellyse Perry, Ashleigh Gardner, Georgia Wareham, Annabel Sutherland, Nicola Carey, Sophie Molineux (c), Kim Garth, Darcie Brown"; India – "Smriti Mandhana, Shafali Verma, Jemimah Rodrigues, Harmanpreet Kaur (c), Richa Ghosh (wk), Deepti Sharma, Arundhati Reddy, Shreyanka Patil, Kranti Gaud, Sree Charani, Renuka Singh Thakur". "Vice‑captain Tahlia McGrath and veteran quick Megan Schutt are left out of the side"; "Nicola Carey is recalled to the side for the first time since 2022." The match is the first T20I of the series in Sydney, with a brief "mizzle" and delayed toss: "The players head out for the anthems but there is still a bit of mizzle lingering in Sydney" and "The drizzle seems to be abating." Sophie Molineux "will captain the side into a new era after Alyssa Healy announced she is calling time on her storied career." India are described as "the reigning World Champions in ODI cricket."

The article titled “Real Madrid vs Real Sociedad 4-1: La Liga – as it happened” states that “this page is now closed, but a summary of the game is available below, and you can click here for our full match report.” It also includes the thanks: “Thanks for joining us at Al Jazeera Sport.”

Iran and the United States are “presenting clashing views” ahead of expected talks after “thousands were killed during last month’s nationwide protests.” Washington wants to “limit Iran’s missile programme and end all its nuclear enrichment,” while Iran has “rejected both demands,” saying it could “dilute highly enriched uranium … in exchange for the lifting of sanctions.” U.S. President Donald Trump told the White House on Friday he is sending a second aircraft carrier to the Middle East and said “regime change” in Iran would be the “best thing that could happen.” Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, speaking at a Tehran conference on Saturday, thanked the leaders of Azerbaijan, Turkiye, Qatar, Oman, Saudi Arabia and others for “mediating to prevent a US military attack,” adding that a war would “impact the entire Middle East.” Switzerland’s Foreign Ministry announced on Saturday that Iran and the U.S. will hold the next round of talks in Geneva “next week,” with Oman mediating. On Saturday, “a large number of Iranians abroad … participated in rallies across the world” in Munich, Los Angeles, Toronto, Sydney, Melbourne and other cities, calling for an “end to religious rule.” Reza Pahlavi urged a “global day of action” to “take Iran back.” The United Nations and human‑rights groups said they documented “widespread use of lethal force by state forces,” a claim the Iranian government denied, labeling the deaths as caused by “terrorists” and “rioters” funded by the U.S. and Israel.

South Africa, captained by Aiden Markram, beat New Zealand “by seven wickets” in a Twenty20 World Cup match in “Ahmedabad, India”. New Zealand “posted 175‑7” on “Saturday”, their first loss, as “South Africa’s Marco Jansen took four wickets”. Markram “hit four sixes and eight boundaries in his unbeaten knock of 86 off 44 balls”, the “highest by a South African captain in the tournament’s history”, taking South Africa to “178‑3 with 17 balls to spare”. South Africa chose to bowl first; Jansen was named “player of the match” with figures “4‑40”. During the chase, Markram “hit three sixes and five boundaries” to move South Africa to “62‑0 in four overs”, later reaching the 100‑run mark. David Miller added an “unbeaten 24” to bring up the winning runs. The win puts South Africa “on the brink of reaching the Twenty20 World Cup’s Super Eight stage” and they will finish the group stage against the United Arab Emirates, while New Zealand play Canada the next day.

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban delivered his annual state‑of‑the‑nation address on Saturday, warning that the European Union poses a greater danger to Hungary than Russia and pledging to eliminate what he termed the EU’s “oppressive machinery” before the parliamentary election on 12 April. In the speech he accused Brussels of threatening Hungary’s sovereignty and portrayed opposition leader Peter Magyar’s Tisza Party as a “Brussels puppet” linked to Ukraine aid. On Friday, U.S. President Donald Trump endorsed Orban on his Truth Social platform, calling him a strong leader. The same day, Orban highlighted Trump’s support as bolstering his anti‑liberal campaign. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio is slated to visit Hungary on Sunday, arriving from the Munich Security Conference with a planned stop in Slovakia to meet Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico. The article notes Orban’s long‑standing ties with Russian President Vladimir Putin and his ongoing effort to curb liberal influences ahead of the upcoming election.

More than 100 prominent artists—including Mark Ruffalo, Javier Bardem, Nobel laureate Annie Ernaux and musician Annie Lennox—signed an open letter from “Artists for Palestine” on Saturday offering “full support to Francesca Albanese, a defender of human rights and, therefore, also of the Palestinian people’s right to exist.” The letter added: “There are infinitely more of us in every corner of the Earth who want force no longer to be the law. Who know what the word ‘law’ truly means.” Albanese, the United Nations special rapporteur for the occupied Palestinian territory, faced calls from France and Germany to resign. French lawmakers sent a letter to Foreign Minister Jean‑Noël Barrot condemning her remarks as “anti‑Semitic,” and Barrot later called on her to step down, saying France “unreservedly condemns the outrageous and reprehensible remarks.” German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul described her position as “untenable.” At a recent Al Jazeera Forum Albanese said “we as humanity have a common enemy”; a later‑debunked video misquoted her as naming Israel the “common enemy.” She clarified she meant “the system that has enabled the genocide in Palestine.” UN High Commissioner for Human Rights spokesperson Marta Hurtado said officials are “very worried” about the backlash, noting UN staff face “personal attacks, threats and misinformation.” Since the October 10 “ceasefire,” nearly 600 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza; overall, at least 72,000 Palestinians have been killed and 171,000 wounded since October 2023.

Real Madrid “thrash Real Sociedad 4-1 to move top of La Liga”. “Vinicius Junior scored two penalties” as Madrid “moved top of La Liga with a 4-1 win over Real Sociedad”, despite “missing superstar Kylian Mbappe”. Mbappe “watched from the substitutes’ bench” after “discomfort in his left knee”, and “Jude Bellingham, out with a hamstring injury, watched” as Madrid ended Sociedad’s “11‑game unbeaten run” and moved “two points clear of Barcelona”. “Gonzalo Garcia opened the scoring with a slight touch to Trent Alexander‑Arnold’s cross” in the fifth minute. A penalty was conceded by “Dean Huijsen for bringing down Yangel Herrera” and “Mikel Oyarzabal duly equalised from the spot”. “Referee Francisco Jose Hernandez Maeso awarded another penalty” when “Jon Aramburu caught Vinicius’s ankle”, and Vinicius “scored from the spot”. “Madrid captain Fede Valverde gratefully scored the third … first goal of the season”. “Dani Carvajal made his long‑awaited return … first league appearance since Madrid’s 2‑1 loss to Barcelona in October”. Elsewhere, “Borja Iglesias scored in stoppage time … 2‑2 draw for Celta Vigo at Espanyol”, “Getafe held on to upset visiting Villarreal 2‑1”, and “10‑man Sevilla drew with Alaves 1‑1”.

Thousands of fishermen converged on the milky waters of the Matan Fadan river, a UNESCO heritage site in northwestern Nigeria’s Argungu, for the annual fishing contest. President Bola Tinubu joined spectators on Saturday, cheering competitors who used only traditional methods such as hand‑woven nets, calabash gourds, and bare hands. The Kebbi State waterway was filled with woven nets and canoes as fishermen waded through. The champion caught a 59 kg (130‑pound) croaker fish and received a cash prize. Participants also sell their catch, boosting the local economy. The river, closed throughout the year, is overseen by the Sarkin Ruwa, the water chief. The contest is the highlight of an international fishing festival that includes traditional wrestling and musical performances. “I thank God that I got something to take home to my family to eat. I am very happy that I came,” said 63‑year‑old fisherman Aliyu Muhammadu. The festival originated in 1934, marking peace between the Sokoto Caliphate and the Argungu emirate, ran continuously until 2010, briefly resumed in 2020, and returned this year after a pause. “Our challenge now is that people are scared of coming. A lot of people don’t attend the event like before because of insecurity,” said Hussein Mukwashe, the Sarkin Ruwa. President Tinubu described the return as a sign of stability.

The provincial government of Punjab legally held the Basant spring festival in Lahore “for the first time since 2007,” after a ban that began that year and earlier regulations in 2005. In early February shoppers “crammed shoulder to shoulder into the narrow, dimly lit streets near Mochi Gate” to buy kites that were “stamped with a QR code” indicating vendor registration. The revival followed “new legislation … late last year” that repealed a 2001 ordinance and imposes “a possible prison sentence of up to five years or a fine of more than $7,000, or both” for violations. Authorities cited “dozens were killed during Basant — some cut by kite strings coated with chemicals and glass paste” as the reason for the restrictions. The government also required “motorbike riders to install a safety rod between their handlebars” and police warned about banned “chemical string … that stretches” and can “cut the throat or wherever it touches.” No deaths from kite string occurred this year, though six people died from falls or electrocution while retrieving kites. After the three‑day event, “kite flying is back to being prohibited” under Punjabi law, and officials said it is “unclear whether Basant will return … next year.”

Vladyslav Heraskevych of the Ukrainian skeleton sled racing team was “disqualified from competing in the Olympic Games this week because of what was on his helmet.” The helmet displayed “images of the faces of Ukrainian athletes and coaches who have been killed in Russia's invasion of Ukraine.” He told reporters, “I believe they deserve to be here because of their sacrifice” and added, “I want to honor them and I want to honor their families.” The International Olympic Committee said the helmet “violated their guidelines against political speech, or what they call, ‘athlete expression.’” When asked, Heraskevych said, “What do you consider as ‘expression’?” and argued, “Many athletes here have helmets with different paints and I believe it's also a kind of expression. Some athletes have national symbols, it's also an expression.” IOC President Kirsty Coventry delivered the decision on the practice track, speaking “through tears.” She said, “No one, especially me, is disagreeing with the messaging,” and added, “The challenge was to find a solution for the field of play. Sadly we've not been able to find that solution.” The article also notes that “Katarina Witt, who had won a figure skating gold medal at the 1984 Olympics in Sarajevo, came back for the 1994 games in Lillehammer, Norway to perform a program to ‘Where Have All the Flowers Gone’” and that she “finished seventh place.” The piece concludes that “This week, Vladyslav Heraskevych was barred from competing in the Olympics.”

NASA’s SpaceX Crew‑12 mission docked with the International Space Station on Saturday afternoon, after launching from Cape Canaveral, Florida, just before dawn on Friday. The four‑person crew consists of NASA astronauts Jessica Meir and Jack Hathaway, French astronaut Sophie Adenot, and Russian cosmonaut Andrey Fedyaev. Upon arrival they were welcomed aboard the ISS, where they will begin an eight‑month expedition conducting scientific research aimed at preparing for deep‑space exploration and improving food production in microgravity. Crew‑12 replaces the previous Crew‑11, which left the station a month early in January after a medical evacuation, leaving the ISS operating with only three occupants. NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman highlighted the mission’s role in demonstrating international cooperation and noted concurrent preparations for the Artemis II lunar flyby slated for as early as March.

"European law enforcement agencies are opening investigations based on recent troves of documents released by the U.S. government, leading to job and title losses for European royals, officials and politicians," the article states. In the United Kingdom, "former Prince Andrew was stripped of his royal titles and forced to move out of the royal estate" and now "faces an investigation by British police over claims he shared confidential trade information with Epstein in 2010," with King Charles III described as "ready to support" investigators. Peter Mandelson "was stripped of his position in September and resigned from the House of Lords earlier this month" and "now faces a criminal investigation after new files suggest he received payments from Epstein and shared government documents." Norway's former prime minister Thorbjørn Jagland was "charged with 'gross corruption' by police" and could face up to ten years in prison; Mona Juul "resigned as Norway's ambassador to Jordan" after learning Epstein left $10 million to her children. French former culture minister Jack Lang "resigned as head of a Paris cultural center" after the foreign ministry sought to question him. In the United States, President Trump and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick "have so far largely kept their positions of power." Lutnick, who earlier said he had "very limited interactions" with Epstein, "acknowledged that he and his family traveled to Epstein's private island in 2012" at a Senate hearing. Larry Summers "stepped away from his teaching position at Harvard," Brad Karp "resigned as chair of Paul Weiss," and Kathryn Ruemmler "announced she'll resign from Goldman Sachs at the end of June."

At the Milan Cortina Olympic Games, Dutch skater Jutta Leerdam set an Olympic record in the 1000‑meter race and then turned to find her fiancé Jake Paul in the stands; both were “visibly weeping” and made “heart signs to one another with their hands.” Downhill‑skiing champion Breezy Johnson’s longtime boyfriend proposed to her near the finish line Thursday, surrounded by members of the U.S. Ski Team. The women’s skeleton finals on Valentine’s Day featured Belgium’s Kim Meylemans and Brazil’s Nicole Rocha Silveira, who said, “It’s always a bit of a Valentine’s Day,” and added, “It is part of our sport every day, our love.” Their national Olympic committees arranged for them to bunk together in the Olympic village, half the room decorated for Belgium and half for Brazil. They “high‑five and kiss before each run,” and Meylemans said, “It doesn’t matter which one is on the podium. At the end of the day, it’s a victory for our team.” Volunteers Lori and Curtis Brown, married over 30 years, will spend Valentine’s Day at the skating arena. Curtis, 60, called it “the most special Valentine’s Day of our lives,” while Lori, 61, said, “It’s not so much about gift giving, just going out and doing something together.” Canadian hockey forward Laura Stacey and her wife, team captain Marie‑Philip Poulin, will meet Germany in the quarterfinals in Milan; Stacey said, “I think on February 14th… it’s important for us to just appreciate that and not take it for granted.”

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio addressed the annual Munich Security Conference on Saturday, offering “a reassuring message” while emphasizing the Trump administration’s policy positions. He said the United States will remain “forever tied to the continent” even as it seeks “changes in the relationship and the institutions” of the post‑World II order. Rubio denounced “a climate cult” and “an unprecedented wave of mass migration that threatens the cohesion of our societies,” and noted that “this is why President Trump demands seriousness and reciprocity from our friends here in Europe.” He added that the “end of the trans‑Atlantic era … is neither our goal nor our wish,” and affirmed that “our home may be in the Western hemisphere, but we will always be a child of Europe.” EU Commission president Ursula von der Leyen called the speech “very reassuring” but said “in the administration, some have a harsher tone on these topics.” British Prime Minister Keir Starmer warned “we shouldn’t get in the warm bath of complacency,” urging the UK to move “from overdependence to interdependence.” Estonia’s defence minister Hanno Pevkur called the “child of Europe” line “quite a bold statement” and said “still a lot of work has to be done.” Rubio met Friday in Munich with Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen and Greenlandic leaders; Frederiksen said the dispute over Greenland “has not passed” and that “the Greenlandic people have been very clear, they don’t want to become Americans.”

At least 32 people were killed in simultaneous dawn attacks on three communities—Tunga‑Makeri, Konkoso, and Pissa—in the Borgu area of Niger State, north‑central Nigeria. The assaults occurred on Saturday, with gunmen operating freely without security presence. Niger State police spokesman Wasiu Abiodun reported six deaths in Tunga‑Makeri and said an undetermined number of residents were abducted; he confirmed the attack on Konkoso but gave no casualty figures. Resident Abdullahi Adamu, speaking from Konkoso, said 26 people were killed there. Joint security teams were dispatched to assess the scene and conduct rescue operations. The attacks are part of a broader security crisis in northern Nigeria involving Islamic militants and armed gangs that kidnap for ransom. This incident follows a previous large‑scale attack earlier in the month in neighboring Kwara State that left 162 dead. No specific motive for the Saturday attacks was provided.

The Swiss Foreign Ministry announced on Saturday that Iran and the United States will hold a second round of indirect nuclear talks next week in Geneva, with Oman acting as host. The first round took place on Feb. 6 between Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and U.S. Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff, attended by a senior U.S. military commander. President Donald Trump warned Tehran that failure to reach an agreement would be “very traumatic” and noted the deployment of the aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford to the Middle East. The talks aim to address Iran’s nuclear program; the U.S. insists Iran must abandon uranium enrichment, while Iran claims its program is peaceful but has hinted at nuclear weapons capability. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, meeting with Trump, urged inclusion of missile and proxy‑group restrictions. The announcement reflects a new development in the ongoing diplomatic effort to contain Iran’s nuclear activities.

Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, speaking at the Munich Security Conference in Germany, thanked “American and European allies for helping Ukraine by providing air defense systems that protect infrastructure like power plants and ‘save lives’.” He said “questions remain” over future security guarantees for Ukraine. Zelenskyy noted that previous U.S.–led efforts, including “two rounds of talks in Abu Dhabi,” have failed to resolve “the future of Ukraine's Donbas industrial heartland” occupied by Russian forces. He questioned how the U.S.‑proposed “free trade zone” would work in Donbas, which Russia says Kyiv must give up for peace. He said the United States wants “peace as quickly as possible” and to sign “all the agreements on Ukraine at the same time,” whereas Ukraine wants “guarantees over the country's future security signed first.” European nations, including the U.K. and France, have said they will “commit troops to Ukraine to guarantee its future security,” and the U.S. is expected to be involved. Zelenskyy described a Russian proposal that Ukraine “withdraw from its own territory or exchange it” as “a little bit crazy.” He warned that a foreign‑soldier‑patrolled free‑zone could lead to a “big occupation” and “big risks” for Ukraine and any guarantor. He also said Moscow must accept cease‑fire monitoring and exchange “some 7,000 Ukrainian prisoners of war in exchange for more than 4,000 Russian prisoners.” The day before, drone strikes killed one person in Ukraine and one in Russia, including an elderly woman in Odesa.

Africa’s top regional body opened its annual summit on Saturday in Ethiopia. The 39th African Union Summit in Addis Ababa is scheduled for Saturday and Sunday with the theme “water and sanitation,” and “discussions will feature the continent’s response to climate change and humanitarian crises following foreign aid cuts.” Analysts say the African Union “faces a legitimacy crisis among youth for failing to meet their expectations.” Youth on social media describe the AU as “a bloc of old leaders.” Senior Crisis Group analyst Liesl Louw‑Vaudran said, “What the youth is really asking and why people are frustrated is because this is not an African Union for citizens. It’s not a people‑driven African Union.” In Uganda, the AU Commission issued a statement “commending” the conduct of the presidential poll, while the AU election observer mission noted “reports of harassment, intimidation and arrest of opposition leaders, candidates, supporters’ media and civic society actors.” Professor Macharia Munene identified “weak enforcement of resolutions” because “not all members meet their dues or fully accept what is generally decided.” AU Commission Chairperson Mahamoud Ali Youssouf warned, “From Sudan to the Sahel… our people continue to pay the heavy price of instability,” and called for an immediate halt to the “extermination.. of the Palestinian people.”

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security shutdown began early Saturday, affecting the agency that screens passengers and bags at airports nationwide. “TSA officers … are expected to work without pay” while lawmakers have not reached an agreement on DHS funding. The department’s contingency plan says “about 95% of TSA workers are deemed essential personnel and required to keep working.” Funding for Homeland Security expired at midnight, but the rest of the federal government remains funded through Sept. 30, so Federal Aviation Administration air‑traffic controllers will continue receiving paychecks. Trade groups for the travel industry and major airlines warned that a prolonged lapse in DHS appropriations could lengthen security lines. Past shutdowns showed disruptions “tended to build over time, not overnight,” including a temporary closure of two checkpoints at Philadelphia International Airport and an order for airlines to reduce domestic schedules. Travelers are advised to arrive early and allow extra time. John Rose, chief risk officer for Altour, said, “I tell people to do this even in good times,” and urged checking line‑wait times online in advance. He also recommended packing only allowed items and “practice patience and empathy,” noting TSA agents “are not getting paid” and may be working with reduced staff. The White House and Democratic lawmakers have not yet reached a funding deal; Democrats say they will not approve more DHS money until new immigration restrictions are imposed after recent shootings. A joint statement from U.S. Travel, Airlines for America and the American Hotel & Lodging Association warned that the shutdown “threatens to disrupt air travel … as the busy spring break travel season approaches.”

On Saturday, roughly 250,000 people gathered in Munich, Germany, to protest Iran’s government, responding to a call from exiled Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi for a “global day of action.” Demonstrators chanted for regime change, waved Iran’s pre‑1979 flag, and displayed “Make Iran Great Again” caps, with U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham speaking to the crowd. Parallel rallies occurred in Toronto (about 350,000 participants) and Nicosia, Cyprus (≈500 protesters). The protests aimed to press international pressure after Iran’s deadly crackdown on nationwide demonstrations the previous month, which the U.S.-based Human Rights Activists News Agency says killed at least 7,005 people, while Iran officially reported 3,117 deaths on Jan. 21. Pahlavi warned of further fatalities if democracies remain passive. The Munich rally coincided with the opening of an annual security conference hosting European leaders. No independent verification of casualty figures was available due to Iranian internet disruptions.

Four new astronauts arrived at the International Space Station on Saturday, restoring full crew strength. SpaceX launched the U.S., French and Russian astronauts from Cape Canaveral. The crew—NASA’s Jessica Meir and Jack Hathaway, France’s Sophie Adenot and Russia’s Andrei Fedyaev—will stay for “eight to nine months.” They replace the previous team after a “medical evacuation” last month, described as NASA’s “first in 65 years of human spaceflight.” An astronaut experienced a “serious health issue” on Jan. 7, leading the “ailing astronaut and three others” to return to Earth more than a month early; they spent their first night back “in the hospital before returning to Houston.” Their early departure left “only three crew members to keep the place running — one American and two Russians — prompting NASA to pause spacewalks and trim research.” Meir is a marine biologist; Fedyaev a former military pilot; Adenot a military helicopter pilot and “the second French woman to fly in space”; Hathaway is a U.S. Navy captain. Upon docking, Adenot said “Bonjour!” and Meir added, “Grateful to be on board, and we're ready to get to work.” NASA “refused to divulge the identity of the astronaut who fell ill” and said it did not change pre‑flight medical checks.

Tom Banton says he is “older, wiser and, quite simply, better” now. It is “coming up to seven years” since the England batter “first caught the eye as a 19‑year‑old by hitting a stunning 71 from 37 balls to help Somerset chase 204 against Surrey in the T20 Blast.” A “reverse flick for six off Sam Curran” drew attention from judges. “The following winter Banton was picked by England for their tour of New Zealand,” and “kept his place the next summer…picked as the fresh face to help take the 2019 World Cup winners on into a new era.” He “made 58 against Ireland and 71 in a T20 against Pakistan,” the only scores above 50 in 15 matches. “Another five caps came and went in 2022, making this current run the 27‑year‑old’s third go at international level.” His “match‑winning 63 not out in England’s five‑wicket win against Scotland on Saturday” was described as his “best knock for his country.” Banton reflected: “I think just a bit, obviously older, more mature, got a better understanding of my game…When I came onto the scene, I was just about scraping into Somerset’s second team. Then six months later, I was playing for England…”

"Russia killed opposition leader Alexei Navalny using dart frog toxin, UK says." The United Kingdom, Russia, Ukraine and the United States are holding trilateral talks in Abu Dhabi. "The meetings between the three countries comes as both Ukraine and Russia say no peace deal can be reached until territorial issues are resolved."

A Labour think tank commissioned APCO Worldwide, as shown in a contract addressed to Simons and seen by BBC News. The firm agreed to investigate “the sourcing, funding and origins” of the Sunday Times reporting, as well as the journalist Paul Holden and Matt Taibbi, an American reporter. The contract notes that Paul Holden “has since published a critical book on Keir Starmer and his former chief of staff Morgan McSweeney.”

The article reports that a man asserted his girlfriend’s death in a car was “an accident.” He claimed the argument continued “because Jenna had taken cocaine and he disapproved.” He also said he “only bitten her because she had hold of his testicles” and that it “was the only way he could make her let go.”

Team GB's women curlers “kickstarted their campaign with a superb first victory of these Winter Olympics” by beating Canada 7‑6. The British team had lost its opening matches against China and South Korea. Rebecca Morrison's rink “raised their game significantly”, with Morrison making shots she had missed earlier, to defeat a Canadian side that “looked fragile after their loss to the United States on Friday.” Skip Sophie Jackson told BBC Sport, “It just feels absolutely amazing to go out there and get our first win,” and added, “Becca played absolutely fantastically – we all did – but it’s great to see Becca when she’s like that and I’m sure she’ll be on a roll now.”

The article titled “‘Fast-spreading’ measles outbreak hits several schools in London” reports that a measles outbreak is affecting multiple schools in London. A spokesperson said children who had missed doses should “catch up as soon as possible” to protect themselves and other children who are “too young to be vaccinated or unable to do so for health reasons,” she added.

Iranian minister Takht‑Ravanchi told the BBC that Iran is “ready to discuss compromises to reach nuclear deal”. He noted that the United States and Iran held indirect talks in the Gulf state of Oman “earlier in February”. Takht‑Ravanchi confirmed a second round “was set to take place in Geneva on Tuesday” and said the talks had been “more or less in a positive direction but it is too early to judge”. The article adds that “Trump has also described those talks as positive”.

The Justice Department has released a new batch of documents linking several current and former Trump administration officials to Jeffrey Epstein. Among them is a February 2016 email from Dr. Mehmet Oz to Epstein inviting him to a Valentine’s Day party, with a link to a now‑inactive Paperless Post invitation. Deputy Secretary of Defense Stephen Feinberg appears in business records from 2009‑2018 involving his firm Cerberus Capital Management and Deutsche Bank, a bank known to have dealt with Epstein. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. shows up in Epstein’s flight logs and a 2012 email exchange referencing a 1993‑94 fossil‑hunting trip to the Dakotas. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick exchanged emails with Epstein in 2012 about a possible boat trip to Epstein’s private island and later confirmed a brief visit during a Senate hearing. Navy Secretary John Phelan is listed on a March 2006 flight manifest for Epstein’s jet. Fed nominee Kevin Warsh appears on a 2010 “St. Barth’s Christmas” list linked to Epstein. Elon Musk’s 2012‑13 emails discuss island visits, which he says he declined. Steve Bannon’s texts and emails with Epstein span January 2018‑June 2019, shortly before Epstein’s arrest. Most agencies and individuals declined comment; the releases followed President Trump’s Jan. 30 nomination of Warsh.

Figure skating world shocked by Ilia Malinin's Olympic performance Milan – Entering the Milan Cortina Olympics as the “heavy gold‑medal favorite,” 21‑year‑old Ilia Malinin “stumbled multiple times during his routine and lost 72 points to deductions as he fell from first to eighth place.” He “failed to perform his signature quadruple axel jump, and he fell after attempting a quadruple lutz.” NBC Sports Olympic correspondent Scott Hamilton said, “I’m in shock…There was no way he could lose…he’s unbeatable.” Nathan Chen, 2022 men’s gold‑medalist, related: “[Malinin] went into his quad axel and singled…And by the end of it, just was not his night.” Malinin later said, “All of this pressure, all of the media, and just being the Olympic gold hopeful was a lot. It was too much to handle.” Tara Lipinski called the performance “all mental.” NBC’s Johnny Weir noted the “huge…pressure” of “six minutes in front of the world.” Malinin, who “has won the last two World Championships, three straight Grand Prix finals and three straight U.S. Championships,” had not lost since 2023.

The men’s curling match between Canada and Sweden took place in Milan on Friday, ending in an “8‑6 win for the Canadians.” Sweden “accused Canada of cheating,” specifically alleging that Canadian player Marc Kennedy “was illegally touching his stone, giving it a secondary push with his finger after releasing the handle on top.” Swedish skip Oskar Eriksson said, “We want a game that is as sportsmanlike, honest and clean as possible, so we call it out as soon as I see that the Canadian No. 2 is… poking the stone,” adding that “you can’t then poke it in any other part than the electronic handle.” Kennedy responded, “I don’t like being accused of cheating after 25 years on tour and four Olympic Games,” and later said he “told him where to stick it.” World Curling’s statement to CBC noted that “the issue of second touches… was brought to the umpire’s attention” and that “there were no hogline violations or retouches of the stone during the observation period.” Officials gave Kennedy a verbal warning “regarding the language used,” warning that further misconduct would “result in additional sanctions.” Sweden fell to 0‑3 in round‑robin play after the loss.

Brazilian skier Lucas Pinheiro Braathen won gold in the men’s giant slalom, giving South America its first Winter Olympic medal in “102 years” — the breakthrough “until Saturday.” He said he hoped the win would “inspire some kids out there that, despite what they wear, despite how they look, despite where they come from, they can follow their own dreams and be who they really are.” American speed‑skater Jordan Stolz captured gold in the men’s 500‑meter final with a time of 33.77 seconds, beating Dutch skater Jenning de Boo, who finished 0.11 seconds slower. After the race de Boo “slipped and slid into a boundary.” Stolz is now “2 for 2 at these Games” after previously winning the 1,000‑meter final and setting an Olympic record; he will compete in the 1,500‑meter final and the mass‑start event next week. Team USA men’s hockey defeated Denmark 6‑3. In dual moguls, Jaelin Kauf (USA) took silver behind Australia’s Jakara Anthony, while Liz Lemley (USA) earned bronze after having won the individual moguls gold “just days earlier.” In men’s curling “yesterday,” a shouting match occurred after Team Sweden accused Canada of cheating; World Curling issued a verbal warning to Team Canada “regarding the language used.”