Vance says Minnesota’s Medicaid funds halted as part of Trump’s ‘war on fraud’ 25. February 2026 (23:23) Vice-president makes announcement with Mehmet Oz, who says other states will be next after MinnesotaJD Vance announced on Wednesday that the Trump administration would “temporarily halt” more than a quarter-billion dollars in Medicaid reimbursements to the state of Minnesota as part of Donald Trump’s newly announced “war on fraud”.“What we’re doing is we are stopping the federal payments that will go to the state government until the state government takes its obligations seriously to stop the fraud that’s being perpetrated against the American taxpayer,” the vice-president said at a press conference in Washington, where he was joined by Mehmet Oz, administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Memorial to 72 victims of Grenfell fire to be funded by new legislation 25. February 2026 (23:20) Housing secretary says bill will give spending authority needed to build and maintain ‘dignified memorial’A permanent memorial to the 72 people who died in the Grenfell Tower fire will be funded by new government legislation, the housing secretary has announced.Steve Reed said the bill would provide the spending authority needed to support the memorial commission and community in building and maintaining a “lasting and dignified memorial” to those who died in the blaze on 14 June 2017 in west London. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
France’s Engie strikes deal to buy UK Power Networks for £10.5bn 25. February 2026 (22:43) French utility to acquire owner of electricity cables and power lines across London, south-east and east of EnglandA French utility has agreed to buy the owner of the electricity cables and power lines across London, the south-east and the east of England in a deal worth £10.5bn.Paris-headquartered Engie said on Wednesday that it had struck a deal to buy UK Power Networks (UKPN) in a “major milestone” for the company’s ambition to become the “best energy transition utility”. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Death Valley erupts in wildflowers in sign of developing superbloom 25. February 2026 (22:34) Record rainfall in famously arid California park has caused a wildflower eruption nearing levels of a superbloomDeath Valley and parts of southern California have erupted in wildflowers thanks to record rain that helped deliver spectacular blooms.In the famously arid national park, the rare display has covered miles of the landscape in vibrant shades of yellow and purple. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Cuba says border guards killed four gunmen on US-registered speedboat 25. February 2026 (22:11) Rare clash off island’s coast comes amid oil embargo and heightened tensions between two countries The Cuban Interior Ministry has said that border guards killed four gunmen and wounded six more on a speedboat bearing a Florida registration off Cayo Falcones in Cuba’s Villa Clara province.The rare clash off Cuba’s coast, which took place on Tuesday, comes at a moment of heightened tensions between the United States and Cuba during an oil embargo that has led to an energy and humanitarian crisis on the island. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Spanish officer who led 1981 coup dies on day documents declassified 25. February 2026 (21:18) Antonio Tejero, who has died aged 93, was part of rightwing network whose efforts were thwarted by King Juan CarlosThe Spanish officer who led his armed followers into the Spanish congress in a failed military coup in 1981 has died on the same day that the socialist-led government declassified documents relating to the murky attempt to overthrow the country’s post-Franco democracy.Antonio Tejero, who died aged 93, was part of a network of rightwing police and military officers whose efforts to seize power were thwarted after King Juan Carlos refused to support the coup and ordered the generals to obey the democratic constitutional order. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
FBI raids Los Angeles school district headquarters and superintendent’s home 25. February 2026 (21:04) Federal officials search district chief Alberto Carvalho’s home, but allegations being examined remain unclearThe FBI raided the headquarters of the Los Angeles unified school district, the second largest school district in the US, as well as the home of Alberto Carvalho, the district’s superintendent, federal officials confirmed on Wednesday.An unnamed source familiar with the investigation told the Associated Press that authorities served warrants that were part of an “ongoing investigation”. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Home secretary granted permission to challenge ruling on Palestine Action ban 25. February 2026 (20:33) Shabana Mahmood given green light to take case to court of appeal with ban to remain in place pending outcomeThe home secretary has been granted permission to challenge the high court’s ruling that the decision to ban Palestine Action under anti-terrorism laws was unlawful.An order issued by the high court on Wednesday said Shabana Mahmood could take the case to the court of appeal and that the ban would remain in place pending the outcome of the fresh hearing. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
US and Iran nuclear talks at critical stage amid threat of Trump tearing up terms of success 25. February 2026 (20:15) Tehran says deal is possible as long as Washington abides by agreed-on preconditions, but Trump’s view is unclearIran enters critical talks on its nuclear programme with the US on Thursday, insisting a deal is in reach as long as Washington sticks by its willingness to concede Iran’s symbolic right to enrich uranium, allow Tehran to dilute its stockpile of highly enriched uranium in country, and not to impose controls on Iran’s ballistic missile programme.The three preconditions for success are seen as critical by Iranian diplomats, but it remains unclear whether Trump accepts these parameters. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Ilhan Omar guest arrested for standing at Trump’s State of the Union address 25. February 2026 (20:09) Aliya Rahman, who was dragged out of her car in January by agents, arrested for ‘refusing to obey orders’ to sit downA guest of Congresswoman Ilhan Omar, a Democrat from Minnesota, was arrested by Capitol police during the State of the Union address.Omar had invited Aliya Rahman, a US citizen and Minneapolis resident who in January was removed from her car and dragged by immigration agents in the city as part of the Trump administration’s increased efforts to arrest and deport alleged undocumented immigrants. The officers had been shouting at her to move. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
