Mandelson’s downfall is one of fastest ever seen in British public life 23. February 2026 (21:47) Epstein links have taken political operator from a vaunted position in British diplomacy to arrest in under six monthsJust six months ago Peter Mandelson seemed unassailable as the UK’s ambassador to the US, one of the most vaunted positions in British diplomacy. As our man in Washington, Mandelson appeared to have used his skill for schmoozing, learned over years as a cabinet minister and a European commissioner, to secure a good relationship with the tricky Trump administration. He was considered instrumental in securing a relatively favourable US trade deal for the UK.He was also an influential voice in Labour politics with the ear of the prime minister and his inner circle, notably his friend and protege Morgan McSweeney, Starmer’s then chief of staff. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Ryan Coogler’s X-Files reboot lands with Danielle Deadwyler leading 23. February 2026 (21:37) Sinners film-maker’s much-anticipated relaunch of the paranormal hit show finally receives official green lightRyan Coogler’s reboot of The X-Files has received the official green light with Danielle Deadwyler set as the first co-lead.The film-maker behind Black Panther and Sinners has long talked about his love for the hit paranormal drama series and how he wants to make some new episodes that are “really fucking scary”. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Mexico faces uphill battle to appease kingpin Trump after cartel boss’s killing 23. February 2026 (21:08) Trump tells Mexico to ‘step up’ effort to combat cartels even after military operation kills drug lord known as ‘El Mencho’Violence in Mexico after military kills notorious drug cartel boss – a visual guideWith schools still closed, flights cancelled and the charred carcasses of buses smouldering on streets across the country, Mexico was still reeling from the cartel backlash prompted by the killing of cartel kingpin Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, also known as “El Mencho.”Defense minister Ricardo Trevilla Trejo was moved almost to tears on Monday as he offered his condolences to the families of soldiers felled in the operation to kill the country’s most wanted drug lord. Mexican military personnel, he said, “fulfilled their mission”. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Australia news live: Canadian PM to visit next month; One Nation just behind Labor in new federal poll 23. February 2026 (20:47) Mark Carney coming to Australia as part of Pacific diplomatic tour. Follow today’s news liveGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastJeff Howard has been removed as chief executive of the merged Seven West Media and Southern Cross entity Southern Austereo after only two months in the job.Howard was appointed boss the new company but has gone just before new financial results are published.On behalf of the board, I would like to thank Jeff for his efforts across the period of transition, with the successful implementation of the scheme of arrangement [for the merger] and creation of a market-leading, multi-platform media company now complete.The board is confident in our team’s capability to apply the financial discipline and industry leading expertise to drive scale and performance for Southern Cross Media Group going forward. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Communication is key to the chances of Send reforms succeeding 23. February 2026 (20:46) Bridget Phillipson and her team are making sure MPs and the public grasp the need to overhaul the special educational needs system In her first week as a cabinet minister Bridget Phillipson held a meeting for new Labour MPs with one subject – special educational needs. Almost 100 MPs came to that first meeting.There were new MPs for whom the issue was personal to their own families – Jen Craft, Daniel Francis, Steve Race, as well as the then business secretary, Jonathan Reynolds. Dozens more knew the system was at breaking point because of their previous work in the charity sector, for unions and in the disability sector. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Brandi Carlile concert raises over $600,000 for families affected by ICE 23. February 2026 (20:46) Singer criticizes Trump administration’s ‘violent theater’ as she supports people caught up in Minneapolis crackdownBrandi Carlile’s weekend concert in Minneapolis, Minnesota, raised over half a million dollars for families affected by the disruptive presence of US Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and border patrol agents in the city.Carlile, a Grammy-winning Americana artist from Washington state, livestreamed her show Be Human: A Concert for Minneapolis from the Target Center on 21 February. The show, played for over 12,000 people, raised more than $600,000 for the Minnesota-based Advocates for Human Rights organization, “so that they can help and represent thousands of families who desperately need it”, the singer announced on Instagram. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Inquiry into Andrew’s links to Jeffrey Epstein is matter for MPs, says No 10 23. February 2026 (20:22) Anthony Albanese says Australia would not object to his removal from royal succession lineA parliamentary inquiry into Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor’s links to Jeffrey Epstein is a matter for MPs, Downing Street has said, as ministers faced a new push to uncover details about the former prince’s role as a trade envoy.It comes as the Australian prime minister, Anthony Albanese, wrote to Keir Starmer to say his country would have no objection to Mountbatten-Windsor being removed from the royal line of succession. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
US evacuates staff from Lebanon embassy amid tensions with Iran 23. February 2026 (20:10) US state department official says it’s ‘prudent’ to reduce their footprint to essential personnelWashington has evacuated dozens of non-essential personnel from its embassy in Lebanon as US ships and warplanes have been positioned in the region for a potential strike against Iran in the coming days.The diplomatic drawdown followed reports that dozens of US personnel had been evacuated through Lebanon’s Beirut-Rafic Hariri international airport to protect them from a possible Iranian counterattack if tensions between the US and Iran escalate into war. Roughly 30-50 US embassy personnel have left the country, estimates suggest. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Jeremy Hunt urges medics to do more to improve detection of rare childbirth condition 23. February 2026 (20:06) Exclusive: Former health secretary throws weight behind campaign to boost diagnosis of placenta accreta spectrumJeremy Hunt has urged leading doctors to do more to help maternity specialists detect a rare complication of childbirth that can lead to a women bleeding to death within minutes.The former health secretary has thrown his weight behind a new campaign, aimed at improving the NHS’s identification of placenta accreta spectrum. The campaign was set up by Amisha Adhia and her husband, Nik, after five hospitals failed to spot that she had PAS. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Nottingham killer was not sectioned because of his race, inquiry told 23. February 2026 (19:58) Valdo Calocane released in 2020 after mental health staff considered research on over-representation of young black men in detentionMental health professionals decided not to detain the Nottingham triple killer Valdo Calocane despite a violent incident in 2020, after they considered research that addressed the over-representation of young black men in custody, a public inquiry has been told.Calocane, who has paranoid schizophrenia, fatally stabbed 19-year-old students Barnaby Webber and Grace O’Malley-Kumar, and 65-year-old Ian Coates, and severely injured three others on 13 June 2023. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
