Credit cards cancelled, Google accounts closed: ICC judges on life under Trump sanctions 18. February 2026 (13:00) Kimberly Prost and Luz del Carmen Ibáñez Carranza vow US reprisals will not affect work of international criminal courtWhen the Canadian Kimberly Prost learned Donald Trump’s administration had imposed sanctions on her, it came as a shock.For years, she has sat as a judge at the international criminal court, weighing accusations of war crimes, genocide and crimes against humanity; now she is on the same list as terrorists and those involved in organised crime. “It really was a moment of a bit of disbelief,” she said. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
US lawmakers demand accountability for Palestinian-American teen detained in Israel 18. February 2026 (13:00) Exclusive: 15 Congress members write to Marco Rubio about nine-month detention of Mohammed IbrahimFifteen members of Congress have written to Marco Rubio, the US secretary of state, demanding to know what steps the United States has taken in response to the mistreatment of a Palestinian-American teenager who spent nine months in Israeli detention.The letter, led by Senator Peter Welch and first seen by the Guardian, is centered around the case of Mohammed Ibrahim, a Florida resident who was 15 when Israeli soldiers arrested him during a raid on his family’s West Bank home in February 2025. He was charged with throwing objects at moving vehicles before being released on 27 November following a guilty plea and suspended sentence, and was taken directly to hospital upon his return. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Nazi letters reveal paper restorers’ role in compiling Holocaust ‘hitlist’ 18. February 2026 (12:23) Exclusive: Research uncovers programme to make centuries-old records legible to detect people’s ancestryLarge numbers of paper restorers and bookbinders were recruited by the Nazis and “contributed directly to genocide” during the second world war, according to research.A British historian has uncovered a Europe-wide programme in the 1930s and 1940s in which restorers repaired and cleaned historic church and civil records, making them legible so that the Nazis could detect anyone with Jewish ancestry. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Zelenskyy says peace talks could have reached final stage but Russia ‘dragging out negotiations’ – Europe live 18. February 2026 (12:10) ‘Difficult’ and ‘very tense’ negotiations end abruptly after about two hours, reports sayThe peace talks ended abruptly today after about two hours, according to reports, in contrast with yesterday’s negotiations that apparently took place over six hours.Neither side have offered any public sign of progress, but instead said the talks were “difficult” with Russian news agencies quoting sources describing the negotiations as “very tense”. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Reeves sidesteps question about whether rise in youth minimum wage will be delayed – UK politics live 18. February 2026 (12:09) GMB union tells Labour delaying or halting equalisation to adult rates would be unacceptableThis is from Rupert Harrison, chief of staff to George Osborne when he was Tory chancellor, on Robert Jenrick’s commitment not to abolish the OBR (which Osborne established). See 10.34am.Sensible and obvious first move from Robert Jenrick to de-risk Reform’s economic policy.Will go some way to reassuring markets, but one test will be whether Farage, Tice and other spokespeople can hold this line given their previous statements about the OBR and the Bank.We already have incentives to hire young people with the apprenticeship rate of the minimum wage, but also no national insurance contributions for the youngest workers.But we do recognise there are challenges and that is why we’re extending the number of further education college places, extending the number of apprenticeship places to help young people get the skills and the experience that they need to move into work. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Third British skier dies as another avalanche hits French Alps 18. February 2026 (11:51) Death of Briton along with Polish citizen near La Grave comes four days after fatal avalanche at Val d’IsèreA third British man has been killed in an avalanche in the French Alps.The man had been skiing with a group of four others when the avalanche struck near the resort town of La Grave on Tuesday morning, local media reported. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Boss of BAE Systems urges ministers to publish delayed military spending plan 18. February 2026 (11:36) CEO of UK’s biggest defence company says delay is holding back investment as BAE posts record salesThe boss of Britain’s biggest defence company has urged ministers to publish a long-delayed blueprint for military spending as soon as possible, as it posted record sales driven by a global increase in demand after Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.Charles Woodburn, the chief executive of BAE Systems, said companies want clarity on how the money would be spent, adding that the defence investment plan (DIP) – due in late 2025 – was holding back investment. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Ryanair may let dual nationals board UK flights without a British passport 18. February 2026 (11:33) Airline statement will reassure Britons abroad anxious about new immigration rules coming into effect next weekBritish dual nationals may be able to board Ryanair flights in Europe to the UK even if they do not have a current British passport when new immigration rules come into force next week, the airline has said.The airline is complying with controversial rules being introduced by the Home Office but has said alternative documents that prove a person is a British national may be accepted. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Eleven arrested over killing of far-right activist Quentin Deranque in France 18. February 2026 (10:55) Assistant to hard-left parliamentarian among those held over fatal attack on 23-year-old during protest in LyonFrench authorities have arrested 11 suspects over the killing last week of a far-right activist, including an assistant to a hard-left member of parliament, a prosecutor and an informed source said.Quentin Deranque, 23, died after sustaining a severe brain injury when he was attacked by at least six people on the sidelines of a far-right protest against a leftwing politician speaking at a university in the south-eastern city of Lyon. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Miner Glencore to give $2bn to shareholders despite profit slump 18. February 2026 (10:15) FTSE 100 company reports 6% fall in annual profits weeks after collapse of $260bn merger with Rio TintoGlencore is to give $2bn (£1.47bn) to shareholders after a turbulent year in which profits slumped and talks collapsed over a blockbuster $260bn merger with the fellow mining company Rio Tinto.The FTSE 100 company announced the payout on Wednesday despite reporting that annual profits slipped 6% on the previous year to $13.5bn. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
