UK pledges to send £540m worth of weapons to Ukraine - Europe live 12. February 2026 (14:54) The commitment includes US-made interceptors and lightweight missiles for Ukraine’s air defencesWhile Ukraine is reeling from last night’s barrage of attacks, the Kremlin said it expected the next round of peace talks to happen soon.“We have a certain understanding (of the details), and we will keep you informed,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
‘Movies can change the world but not in a political way’ says Wim Wenders 12. February 2026 (14:51) At a press conference to open the 76th edition of the Berlin film festival, the jury president said ‘cinema has an incredible power’ but little influence on political decision makersVeteran director Wim Wenders has hailed the power of cinema to help heal a broken planet as he takes up the jury presidency of the Berlinale, the most politically charged of Europe’s big three international film festivals.Asked about the role of movies in the current climate of war and social upheaval, the auteur behind Wings of Desire and the Oscar-nominated Perfect Days said he saw film-making as an act of bridge-building and generating empathy. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Portugal urged to adapt to climate emergency after series of deadly storms 12. February 2026 (14:40) Continuing extreme weather has caused deaths of 16 people, evacuation of thousands and destruction of homesEurope live – latest updatesPortugal is under pressure to draw up plans to adapt to the climate emergency as the country continues to be lashed by an unprecedented series of storms that have killed at least 16 people and left tens of thousands without electricity.More than 3,000 people were evacuated from the Coimbra area of central Portugal on Wednesday as the Mondego River reached critical levels, while part of the country’s main motorway, the A1, collapsed after a dyke on the Mondego gave way under the weight of flood water. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Six Republicans join Democrats in vote to block Donald Trump’s Canada tariffs - US politics live 12. February 2026 (14:34) President warned prior to the vote that any Republican who voted against tariffs would ‘suffer the consequences’ In a short while, we’ll hear from Trump’s “border czar” Tom Homan, who will address members of the media at 9am ET. A reminder that Homan took over the federal immigration enforcement operation in Minnesota from senior border official Gregory Bovino, after the second fatal shooting of a US citizen in Minneapolis by immigration officers, and the ensuing backlash from residents.On Tuesday, governor Tim Walz said that after recent conversations with Homan, he is convinced that the immigration crackdown in his state will end in a matter of days. A reminder, that the administration drew down 700 federal immigration officers last week — still leaving around 2000 stationed in the North Star State. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Kim close to naming teenage daughter as future North Korean leader, South believes 12. February 2026 (14:14) South Korea’s spy agency monitoring whether girl, believed to be 13, will appear at political conference this monthSouth Korea’s spy agency has told lawmakers it believes the teenage daughter of Kim Jong-un, the North Korean dictator, is close to being designated as the country’s future leader, as Kim moves to extend the family dynasty to a fourth generation.The assessment by the national intelligence service (NIS) comes as North Korea is preparing to hold its biggest political conference later this month, where Kim is expected to outline his main policy goals for the next five years and take steps to tighten his authoritarian grip. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Five plots to kill Syrian president or ministers were foiled last year, says UN 12. February 2026 (13:11) Report on Islamic State says Ahmed al-Sharaa was targeted twice by IS front group that bombed Damascus churchFive separate plots to assassinate Syria’s president or his senior ministers were foiled last year, the UN has said in a report on Islamic State.According to the report, the Syrian president, Ahmed al-Sharaa, was targeted twice, once in northern Aleppo and another time in southern Daraa, by Saraya Ansar al-Sunnah, an IS front group that carried out a bombing of a church in Damascus last summer. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Barbados PM Mia Mottley sweeps back into power in third election victory 12. February 2026 (13:04) Opposition leader ousted as Barbados Labour party wins all 30 seats in assemblyThe prime minister of Barbados, Mia Mottley, has won her third election victory, with her Barbados Labour party sweeping all seats in the House of Assembly, state TV reported.Mottley’s BLP won all 30 seats available in the lower house of parliament, unseating the opposition leader, Ralph Thorne, after the prime minister – who has built one of the strongest global profiles of any Caribbean leader – won the support of voters across the island country, CBC Barbados reported early on Thursday. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
‘Unprecedented’ spate of toxic mushroom illnesses jar California 12. February 2026 (13:00) After state sees four deaths and 40 hospitalizations, public health officials and foraging experts urge cautionA wet winter in California has produced a surge of wild fungi – a shroom boom that would typically have foragers cheering. But among the chanterelles and porcinis, a much more dangerous fungus called the death cap – also known as the Amanita phalloides – is causing alarm.The state health department reports that, between late November 2025 and early February 2026, there have been four deaths and 40 hospitalizations linked to consumption of dangerous mushrooms, an outbreak the department describes as “unprecedented”. That’s far above the average for the state, which typically sees fewer than five mushroom-poisoning cases annually. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Children’s vocabulary shrinking as reading loses out to screen time, says Susie Dent 12. February 2026 (12:46) Exclusive: Countdown lexicographer urges families to read, talk and play word games to help language developmentSusie Dent’s tips and tricks to add muscle to a child’s vocabularyChildren’s vocabulary is shrinking as reading loses out to screen time, according to the lexicographer Susie Dent, who is urging families to read, talk and play word games to boost language development.The Countdown star’s warning comes as the government prepares to issue its first advice to parents on how to manage screen use in under-fives, amid concerns that excessive screen time is damaging children’s language development. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
‘Utterly evil’: Louisiana pastor sentenced to seven years’ prison for molesting teen girl 12. February 2026 (12:00) Milton Otto Martin III received maximum sentence for indecent behavior inflicted on teenager 15 years agoThe Louisiana Pentecostal pastor who repeatedly molested a teenage girl told her that her “world would turn upside down” if she ever reported his crimes, she said in a statement on Wednesday in a suburban New Orleans court.Milton Otto Martin III would blame her for his crimes, saying he couldn’t resist the temptation that she presented, the survivor’s statement added. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
