Meta agrees $60bn deal with chipmaker AMD despite AI bubble fears 24. February 2026 (14:18) Facebook owner’s investment described by semiconductor company as ‘big bet’ on artificial intelligenceBusiness live – latest updatesThe owner of Facebook has agreed to buy $60bn (£44.5bn) of artificial intelligence chips from the US semiconductor company Advanced Micro Devices despite fears over the vast sums being spent on the AI industry.Meta, which also owns Instagram and WhatsApp, has clinched the five-year deal in which it will also buy 10% of the chip company. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Witness to immigration agent’s killing of friend last year dies in Texas car crash 24. February 2026 (14:13) Joshua Orta was passenger when Ruben Ray Martinez was fatally shot in his car by immigration agent in March 2025The passenger in the car when Texas driver Ruben Ray Martinez was fatally shot in March 2025 by a federal immigration agent gave a lengthy statement to lawyers for the slain man’s family disputing the government’s version of events.That witness died on Saturday in a fiery car crash in San Antonio, a lawyer for Martinez’s family said. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Increase in religious schools and home schooling could prevent ‘deeper social cohesion’, Julian Hill says 24. February 2026 (14:01) Labor MP says some children reach adulthood without mixing with people from different cultures and religionsGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastA rise in faith-based education and home schooling risks Australian children growing up without any meaningful exposure to peers outside their cultural and ethnic groups, a Labor frontbencher says.Julian Hill, the Albanese government’s assistant minister for citizenship, customs and multicultural affairs, says recent educational trends are seeing some children reach adulthood without mixing with people from different cultures and religions. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Abigail Spanberger: Democrats turn to centrist as party seeks return to relevance 24. February 2026 (14:00) Choice of Virginia governor to give Trump rebuttal suggests DNC believes moderate approach could bring midterm wins On Tuesday night, Abigail Spanberger will walk out on to the historic grounds of Colonial Williamsburg and deliver the Democratic response to Donald Trump’s State of the Union address. With midterm elections approaching and Democrats desperately searching for a roadmap back to relevance, the party has turned to a moderate who once flipped a Republican-held congressional seat in the suburbs of Richmond and then parlayed that into the governorship by 15 points.Since taking the office from Republican Glenn Youngkin in January, Spanberger has moved with lighting speed that has caught conservatives flat-footed, much to the delight of those who still identify as liberal. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Trans activists say restoring traditional Pride flag at Stonewall isn’t enough 24. February 2026 (14:00) Raising the rainbow Pride flag instead of the more inclusive Progress flag excludes the trans community, activists sayThousands of protesters gathered outside of the iconic Stonewall Inn on a near-freezing night last week to re-raise the rainbow Pride flag in defiance of the Trump administration, which had unceremoniously ordered its removal days earlier.It was meant to be a joyous occasion, an act of protest for the New York City LGBTQ+ community, but trans activists in the crowd were deeply disappointed by what they say was exclusion of their community in choosing to raise the historic rainbow Pride flag instead of the newer, inclusive Progress pride flag. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
UK’s biggest student housing provider hit by fall in international enrolment 24. February 2026 (13:54) Unite Group cuts rents at some universities and raises cash by selling London site to joint venture for £186mBusiness live – latest updatesA drop in the number of international students coming to the UK has hit the student housing provider Unite Group, which lowered its profit outlook for the third time in four months as weaker demand prompted it to cut rents in some cities.Shares in the FTSE 250-listed company – which says it is the UK’s biggest student housing provider – fell almost 10% to the lowest level since early 2015. It said it would not build any more student housing, after the completion of its first build-to-rent project in Stratford with 719 beds, expected in June. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Russia opens criminal case into Telegram founder Pavel Durov 24. February 2026 (13:49) Claim of ‘abetting terrorist activities’ comes as Kremlin attempts to steer users on to state-controlled appRussia has launched a criminal investigation into the Telegram founder, Pavel Durov, on suspicion of “abetting terrorist activities”, further escalating the Kremlin’s standoff with the widely used messaging app.The state newspaper Rossiyskaya Gazeta reported on Tuesday that a case had been opened “based on materials from Russia’s federal security service”, which accused the app of being compromised by western and Ukrainian intelligence. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Court backlog to grow until end of decade despite Lammy axing of jury trials, says MoJ 24. February 2026 (13:47) Justice secretary says only his measures will stop backlog in England and Wales from increasing exponentiallyThe backlog in criminal courts in England and Wales will continue to rise until the end of the decade before it falls despite radical changes including curtailing jury trials, according to figures from the Ministry of Justice.The justice secretary, David Lammy, said the government was determined to press ahead with the jury trial changes despite a potential rebellion from Labour MPs, warning that no other measures would stop the backlog from rising exponentially. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Amyl and the Sniffers embroiled in US legal battle after photographer countersues singer 24. February 2026 (12:45) The rock band’s Amy Taylor claimed copyright infringement over sales of prints but now faces counter action in Los Angeles courtRock band Amyl and the Sniffers have become embroiled in a legal battle over photoshoot rights between their lead singer and a photographer who has applied for the case to be thrown out.Amy Taylor, the band’s frontwoman, had taken the photographer, Jamie Nelson, to court for selling fine art prints based on photos of Taylor. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Trump to proclaim success of first year in lengthy State of the Union speech 24. February 2026 (12:00) President says ‘we have so much to talk about’ as polls show decline in Americans’ support for handling of key issuesDonald Trump will deliver the annual State of the Union address Tuesday evening, where he is set to proclaim the success of his first year in office before an American public that polls show has soured on his handling of the issues they care about most.The speech to a joint session of Congress will be a key moment ahead of the November midterm elections, in which Trump’s Republican allies are defending their slim control of the Senate and House of Representatives. It will take place amid a decline in Trump’s approval ratings fueled by discontent with his handling of the economy and immigration, both issues at the center of his successful re-election campaign in 2024. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
