Maine university pulls support from conference on Palestine, citing Trump sanctions 25. February 2026 (20:05) Organizers scramble for new venue after University of Southern Maine cites sanctions over Francesca Albanese’s virtual talkThe University of Southern Maine abruptly revoked access to an on-campus venue days before a conference about Palestine was to take place there, citing the participation in the program of an individual under US sanctions and following pressure from local legislators.More than 300 participants have registered to attend the “Consequence of Palestine” conference, which was slated to include remote participation from Francesca Albanese, the United Nations special rapporteur for the occupied Palestinian territories, who has been under sanction by the Trump administration since last year. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Reeves must back defence investment plan or be sacked, says Unite union boss 25. February 2026 (19:58) Sharon Graham tells chancellor she should ‘back British industry’ by increasing military spendingThe head of Britain’s largest trade union has demanded that Rachel Reeves be sacked as chancellor if the Treasury continues to hold up a multibillion-pound defence investment plan.Sharon Graham, the general secretary of Unite, said tens of thousands of jobs were at risk from political dithering and called on ministers to “back British industry” by signing off on future defence contracts. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Sondra Lee, Broadway star of Hello, Dolly! and Peter Pan, dies aged 97 25. February 2026 (19:48) The Broadway actor’s nine-decade career included beloved screen roles and coaching Marlon Brando and Jane FondaSondra Lee, the Broadway and film star, died on Monday of natural causes at the age of 97.The news of her death came from her collaborator and friend the Rev Joshua Ellis, a former Broadway publicist and an interspiritual minister. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Police and MI5 waged campaign of illegal interference against BBC journalist, tribunal told 25. February 2026 (19:44) Former Northern Ireland correspondent Vincent Kearney subjected to ‘unprecedented’ surveillance, says lawyerPolice and MI5 subjected a BBC journalist to a “long and consistent campaign of unlawful interference” by obtaining communications data from his mobile phone, a tribunal has heard.The surveillance was targeted at Vincent Kearney, who was the BBC’s Northern Ireland home affairs correspondent, and occurred over an eight-year period as authorities sought to identify his sources. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
‘Build a narrative and fight back’: Mandelson draws on own advice for crisis management 25. February 2026 (19:40) Ex-US ambassador’s media strategy looks set to be ‘attack as best form of defence’, PR consultants suggestFor those seeking to understand Peter Mandelson’s media strategy as he navigates the greatest crisis of a crisis-strewn life, the latest instalment of the Jeffrey Epstein files may offer a steer.“You and your lawyers must start setting down the irrefutable facts, build a narrative and fight back,” Mandelson advised the disgraced financier in May 2011, according to the emails released by the US Department of Justice. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
British public want deeper economic ties with EU, business secretary says 25. February 2026 (19:11) Peter Kyle signs cooperation deal on competition and says it is not a case of being nostalgic for pre-Brexit pastThe British public are “not nostalgic” for the pre-Brexit past but are pragmatic and want to move forward and “deepen” ties with the EU on trade and the economy, the business secretary, Peter Kyle, has said.Signing an agreement in Brussels to cooperate closely on competition issues, Kyle said he thought the deal was “a real vindication of the reset and the relationships that have emerged between the EU and the UK” since Labour came to power. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Berlin film festival organisers to hold crisis talks amid Gaza rows 25. February 2026 (18:40) Emergency meeting called to discuss festival’s ‘future direction’ after series of controversiesThe organisation that manages the Berlin film festival is to meet for talks amid reports that its American director faces dismissal after a series of rows over Gaza.In a statement on Wednesday, the office of Germany’s federal government commissioner for culture and media said the emergency meeting on Thursday had been called to debate the “future direction of the Berlinale”. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Brazilian politician brothers convicted of ordering murder of Rio city councillor 25. February 2026 (18:29) João Francisco Inácio Brazão and Domingos Inácio Brazão sentenced for murder of Marielle Franco, a gay Black woman and rising political star Two influential Brazilian politician brothers have been convicted by Brazil’s supreme court of ordering the murder of Marielle Franco, the Rio de Janeiro city councillor, nearly eight years ago.João Francisco Inácio Brazão, the former congressman known as Chiquinho, and the former adviser to Rio’s court of auditors Domingos Inácio Brazão were sentenced to 76 years and three months in prison for the murders of Franco, 38, and her driver, Anderson Gomes, 39. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
US to offer passport services to citizens in illegal West Bank settlements 25. February 2026 (18:22) Israel welcomes move described by Palestinian Authority as undermining possibility of an independent stateThe US will provide on-site consular services in two Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank for the first time, breaking with previous policy, in a move that has been criticised by Palestinian officials as “a clear violation of international law”.In a post on X, the US embassy in Jerusalem said that as part of an initiative to mark the 250th anniversary of US independence, it would provide Americans with routine passport services in the West Bank settlement of Efrat on Friday “for one day only”. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Neuroscientist resigns from Columbia amid revelations about Epstein ties 25. February 2026 (17:56) Nobel laureate Richard Axel announced resignation as co-director of Columbia University’s neuroscience instituteDr Richard Axel, a molecular biologist and Nobel laureate, has announced that he was stepping down as the leader of a prestigious neuroscience institute at Columbia University over his ties to Jeffrey Epstein.Axel, who has taught at Columbia for 53 years, said in a statement on Tuesday that he would be leaving his post as co-director of the university’s Zuckerman Mind Brain Behavior Institute to “focus on research and teaching in my lab.” Continue reading...(The Guardian)
