UK ‘working with US’ to analyse impact of supreme court’s ruling against tariffs 20. February 2026 (19:34) Government ‘expects privileged trading position’ to go on as EU ‘seeks clarity’ over Trump administration’s next stepsBritain and the EU said they were assessing the implications of the US supreme court ruling against Donald Trump’s global tariffs, while business groups reacted to the court’s announcement with caution.A spokesperson for Downing Street said: “The UK government is working with the US to understand how the overturning of Donald Trump’s tariffs by the supreme court will affect the UK but expects our privileged trading position with the US to continue.” Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Five former education secretaries urge Labour MPs to back Send reforms 20. February 2026 (19:33) Exclusive: David Blunkett and Estelle Morris among those calling plans a ‘once in a generation chance’ to fix systemFive former education secretaries have made a joint appeal to Labour MPs to back the overhaul of special education provision in English schools, calling it “a once in a generation chance” to fix a failing system.The open letter is signed by David Blunkett, Estelle Morris, Charles Clarke, Ruth Kelly and Alan Johnson, who between them held the post for a decade from 1997. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Tributes paid to teen couple who died of suspected carbon monoxide poisoning in Yorkshire 20. February 2026 (19:21) Cherish Bean, 15, and Ethan Slater, 17, were discovered at a rental property in Little Eden Holiday Lodge Park on WednesdayA teenage couple who died from suspected carbon monoxide poisoning at an East Yorkshire holiday park have been named by police.Cherish Bean, 15, and Ethan Slater, 17, were discovered at a rental property at Little Eden holiday park, near Bridlington, on Wednesday. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Hamas reportedly holds leadership vote at critical moment for militant group 20. February 2026 (19:09) New head will face decisions crucial to movement’s future, such as how far to cooperate with Trump’s Gaza planHamas has reportedly begun holding leadership elections among its members at a time when the militant Palestinian movement faces imminent decisions which will be critical to its own continued existence and the potential for peace in Gaza.According to the BBC and press reports in the Gulf, Hamas members in Gaza have already voted. Those in the West Bank, in Israeli prisons and the diaspora are also expected to cast ballots for delegates to the movement’s 50-member general Shura council, which ultimately chooses its politburo and a new interim leader. The process could last weeks. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Ministers to consider removing Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor from line of succession 20. February 2026 (19:04) Move would follow any police investigation after former prince questioned on suspicion of misconduct in public officeThe government will consider passing legislation to strip Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor of his right to inherit the throne once any police investigation has concluded, it is understood.Several politicians have called for the former prince to be removed from the line of succession after he was arrested and questioned by detectives on Thursday on suspicion of misconduct in public office. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Officials race to contain virus outbreak after 72 captive tigers die in Thailand 20. February 2026 (18:05) Dozens of the animals in Chiang Mai region first began to show signs of illness earlier this monthA highly contagious virus is believed to have caused the deaths of 72 captive tigers in northern Thailand this month, with officials racing to contain the outbreak.Teams are urgently disinfecting enclosures and preparing to vaccinate surviving animals. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Police to question Andrew’s former protection officers over his Epstein links 20. February 2026 (17:56) Officers being asked to ‘consider carefully whether anything they saw or heard’ may be relevant to review of Epstein filesDetectives have urged Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor’s former close protection officers to “consider carefully whether anything they saw or heard” may be relevant to their investigation into the convicted child sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and his associates.The Metropolitan police said they were working with counterparts in the US to establish whether London airports had been used to “facilitate human trafficking and sexual exploitation”. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Democrats revel in supreme court decision curbing Trump’s tariff spree 20. February 2026 (17:49) Schumer says ‘overreach failed’ after court rules president cannot bypass Congress’s power to taxUS politics – follow liveDemocratic lawmakers are rejoicing after the supreme court ruled that Donald Trump overstepped his authority by imposing steep tariffs on global imports, toppling one of the president’s most aggressive assertions of executive power.The 6-3 ruling found that a 1977 emergency powers law did not provide legal justification for most of the administration’s sweeping tariffs, a ruling the Senate minority leader, Chuck Schumer, framed as a win for “American consumers” and an example of how Trump’s “overreach failed”. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Stockport man in court accused of plot to drug and rape his wife 20. February 2026 (17:44) Man in 60s also faces charges of raping and sexually assaulting his wife over period of 20 yearsA man has appeared in court accused of conspiring with other men to drug his wife and rape her while she was unconscious.The man, in his 60s, from the Stockport area of Greater Manchester, also faces charges of raping and sexually assaulting his wife over a period of 20 years. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Former Mail on Sunday journalist denies being PI ‘handler’ at high court 20. February 2026 (17:42) Ex-investigations editor Paul Henderson says allegation he was link for corrupt private investigators is an ‘absolute lie’A former Mail on Sunday journalist has denied being the “handler” of a private investigator alleged to have bugged homes and tapped the phones of his targets, the high court has heard.Paul Henderson, who was the Mail on Sunday’s investigations editor and briefly its news editor, said it was surreal to be described as having a close relationship with Gavin Burrows, a private investigator whose disputed confessions provide the most serious accusations of unlawful information gathering against the Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
