Tony Blair’s thinktank accuses Ed Miliband of driving up energy prices 13. February 2026 (01:01) Report by Tony Blair Institute urges government to drop some green policies amid criticism of decarbonisation goalTony Blair’s thinktank has accused Ed Miliband of driving up energy prices in his push to make Britain’s energy supply more environmentally friendly.The Tony Blair Institute (TBI) published a report on Friday criticising the government’s green policies and urging the energy secretary to drop some of them altogether, including almost completely decarbonising the electricity system by 2030. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Food firms urge Europe not to ban calling non-meat products ‘sausages’ 13. February 2026 (01:01) Exclusive: Manufacturers tell European Commission proposed ban would cause unnecessary confusionMore than a dozen food companies have urged the European Commission not to ban the use of words such as “sausage” and “burger” for non-meat products.Companies including Linda McCarney Foods, Quorn and THIS have signed a joint letter calling on commissioners to “let common sense prevail” ahead of a debate on the proposed ban, which they say would cause “unnecessary confusion” for customers “without helping anyone”. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Tony Blair’s oil lobbying is a misleading rehash of fossil fuel industry spin 13. February 2026 (01:01) Ex-PM’s thinktank urges more drilling and fewer renewables, ignoring evidence that clean energy is cheaper and better for billsA thinktank with close ties to Saudi Arabia and substantial funding from a Donald Trump ally needs to present a particularly robust analysis to earn the right to be listened to on the climate crisis. On that measure, Tony Blair’s latest report fails on almost every point.The Tony Blair Institute for Global Change (TBI) received money from the Saudi government, has advised the United Arab Emirates petrostate, and counts as a main donor Larry Ellison, the founder of Oracle, friend of Trump and advocate of AI. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Criminals exploit ‘stigma and embarrassment’ to sell fake erectile dysfunction drugs 13. February 2026 (01:01) UK officials have seized almost 20m fake pills since 2021, many containing incorrect doses or toxic ingredientsMen have been warned against buying illegal erectile dysfunction pills online after nearly 20m pills – enough to fill two doubledecker buses – were seized in the last five years.The “stigma and embarrassment” of erectile dysfunction is being “exploited by criminals”, according to the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA). Continue reading...(The Guardian)
More exam stress at 15 linked to higher risk of depression as young adult – study 13. February 2026 (00:30) UK charity warns against excessive academic pressure and suggests reducing the number of high-stakes testsExam stress at age 15 can increase the risk of depression and self-harm into early adulthood, research suggests.Academic pressure is known to have a detrimental impact on mood and overall wellbeing, but until now few studies had examined the long-term effects on mental health. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
NSW police say agreement to allow Muslims to finish prayer at Sydney protest didn’t reach officers 13. February 2026 (00:26) Men praying were grabbed at Sydney town hall rally against Israeli president Isaac Herzog’s visitFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastA lack of communication between officers contributed to the violent disruption of a group of Muslim worshippers at a protest against the visit of the Israeli president, Isaac Herzog, New South Wales police say.Footage of a group of Muslims being shoved and dragged by police while performing the sunset prayer outside Sydney town hall on Monday sparked widespread outrage. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Break in the grey as Aberdeen sees sunshine for the first time in 21 days 13. February 2026 (00:08) Glimpse of sun after weeks of unrelenting rain marks end of longest sunless period in area since records began Aberdeen has finally had some sunshine, for the first time in 21 days – marking the end of the longest sunless period in the area since Met Office records began in 1957.Residents of the Granite city in north-east Scotland glimpsed the sun late on Thursday afternoon, with sunshine having been last recorded on 21 January. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Angus Taylor becomes opposition leader after defeating Sussan Ley in Liberal party leadership ballot 12. February 2026 (23:50) Former shadow defence minister wins partyroom vote, ending Ley’s tumultuous nine-month reign as the first female leader of the LiberalsFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastAngus Taylor has been elected the Liberal party’s new leader, ousting Sussan Ley in a partyroom ballot, 34 votes to 17.The stronger than expected victory sees the conservative and former shadow defence minister become the party’s 17th leader, ending Ley’s nine-month tenure as Australia’s first female opposition leader. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Anthropic raises $30bn in latest round, valuing Claude bot maker at $380bn 12. February 2026 (23:46) Maker of chatbot boasting coding ability said annualized revenue grew tenfold in each of past three years, to $14bnThe artificial intelligence company Anthropic said on Thursday it raised $30bn in its latest funding round that values the Claude maker and OpenAI rival at $380bn, underscoring the breakneck pace of AI investments.The round, led by the Singapore sovereign wealth fund GIC and hedge fund Coatue Management, is among the largest private fundraising deals on record and comes just five months after Anthropic closed its previous round at a $183bn valuation – meaning the company has more than doubled in value since September. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Senate Democrats block DHS funding over immigration tactics 12. February 2026 (23:42) Though Department of Homeland Security almost certain to shutter at midnight Friday, ICE to be largely unaffectedUS politics live – latest updatesDemocrats in the US Senate have blocked a funding package for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) amid ongoing fury over the Trump administration’s crackdown and the deaths of two people in Minneapolis.Thursday’s vote means that the department is almost certain to shut down at midnight on Friday evening, affecting a range of services yet largely leaving the Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency (ICE) – the target of Democrats’ ire – unaffected because it is already the recipient of lavish federal funding. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
