Michelle Obama documentary rises 13,000% in views as Melania film opens 04. February 2026 (22:52) Becoming garners 47.5m minutes viewed on same weekend as current first lady’s documentary released in cinemasMichelle Obama’s 2020 documentary Becoming saw a major rise in views over the same weekend that Melania was released in cinemas.The film, which followed the former first lady in the wake of her hit book, saw a rise in views of more than 13,000% over the past weekend, with 47.5m minutes viewed, according to the Hollywood Reporter. The weekend before saw only 354,000 minutes watched, according to Luminate. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
US agency investigates Nike for alleged discrimination against white workers 04. February 2026 (22:44) EEOC demands firm turn over ‘DEI-related objectives’ amid Trump administration’s crackdown on diversity initiativesThe US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) has launched an investigation into Nike over allegations that the sports giant discriminated against white employees and job applicants.The federal agency is demanding that Nike turn over information related to the allegations, including the company’s “Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion-related 2025 Targets and other DEI-related objectives”, it announced on Wednesday. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
California can use new congressional maps in November, supreme court rules 04. February 2026 (22:33) Approved by voters, the new maps give Democrats as many as five seats, neutralizing five GOP seats added by TexasCalifornia can use a new congressional map that was approved by voters in November, the supreme court has ruled, handing Democrats a major victory in their effort to neutralize Donald Trump’s push to protect Republicans’ fragile House majority in this year’s midterm elections.In December, the court said Texas could use its redrawn congressional map in 2026, designed to carve out as many as five Republican-friendly congressional districts, rejecting a lower-court ruling that found it had been racially gerrymandered. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Mediterranean diet can reduce risk of stroke by up to 25%, long-term study suggests 04. February 2026 (22:00) Two-decade study indicates a diet rich in foods such as olive oil, nuts and vegetables can cut risk of every type of strokeA Mediterranean diet can reduce the risk of every type of stroke, in some cases by as much as 25%, a large study conducted over two decades suggests.A diet rich in olive oil, nuts, seafood, whole grains and vegetables has previously been linked to a number of health benefits. However, until now there has been limited evidence of how it might affect the risk of all forms of stroke. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Labour MPs say Starmer’s days as PM are numbered amid fury over Mandelson 04. February 2026 (21:07) MPs say release of papers on Mandelson’s appointment as US ambassador could trigger leadership challengeLabour MPs have warned that Keir Starmer’s days as prime minister are numbered after a day of fury over the appointment of Peter Mandelson as US ambassador despite his friendship with Jeffrey Epstein.The government was on the brink of a defeat in the Commons until a mid-debate amendment brokered by Meg Hillier and Angela Rayner to force the release of documents about Mandelson’s appointment and the depth of his relationship with the convicted child sex offender. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Mandelson’s links with US tech firm Palantir must be fully exposed, campaigners warn 04. February 2026 (20:41) Government faces call for transparency on former peer’s involvement amid fears he may have leaked more sensitive informationPeter Mandelson’s involvement with the US tech company Palantir must be exposed to full public transparency, campaigners have said, amid fears he may have leaked more sensitive information than is alleged in his emails to Jeffrey Epstein.Palantir, an $300bn startup that provides military technology to the Israel Defense Forces and AI-powered deportation targeting for Donald Trump’s ICE units, has UK government contracts worth more than £500m. Global Counsel, a lobbying company Mandelson co-founded and part-owns, also works for Palantir. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
How much did Starmer really know about Mandelson’s ties to Epstein? 04. February 2026 (20:39) No 10 is under huge pressure to reveal exactly how the former peer was vetted for his job as US ambassadorAfter the release of a vast tranche of documents and emails that shed further light on the close relationship between Peter Mandelson and Jeffrey Epstein, the government has come under intense pressure to release details about its vetting process before Mandelson’s appointment as US ambassador in December 2024. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
US and Iran talks at risk of collapse after US rejects move to Oman 04. February 2026 (20:36) Talks were scheduled in Turkey with Arab states present, but Iran requests move amid attempts to limit agenda Talks between the US and Iran scheduled for Friday appear to be collapsing after the US rejected Iran’s request to move them from Turkey to Oman without the presence of a group of Arab states.Iran has also vowed that the talks will be confined to its nuclear programme, while other issues the US would like to discuss, such as the range of Tehran’s ballistic missile programme, will be permanently excluded. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Florida bill seeks to ban use of ‘West Bank’ in schools and state agencies 04. February 2026 (20:34) The bill would mandate use of the biblical term ‘Judea and Samaria’ after a similar effort passed in ArkansasFlorida legislators are pushing to pass legislation that would ban the use of the term “West Bank” in K-12 public schools and state agencies, including public colleges and universities, and mandate use of the term “Judea and Samaria”.The West Bank is the internationally recognized term for the Israeli-occupied Palestinian territory west of the Jordan River that was seized from Jordan by Israel in 1967. The rightwing Israeli government refers to the area as “Judea and Samaria” in reference to the biblical kingdoms of ancient Israel as part of broader efforts to bolster historical and religious claims to the land. The international community, on the other hand, broadly recognizes the West Bank as occupied land that must be part of a future Palestinian state. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
DWP chief accused of overseeing ‘culture of complacency’ that led to carer’s allowance scandal 04. February 2026 (20:27) Commons committee chair says DWP repeatedly failed to prioritise the vulnerable and was slow to fix errorsThe government’s most senior welfare official has been accused of presiding over a “culture of complacency” that led to thousands of unpaid carers inadvertently running up huge benefit debts.Debbie Abrahams, the chair of the work and pensions select committee, said the Department for Work and Pensions had repeatedly failed to prioritise vulnerable people, was unwilling to learn from its mistakes, and slow to fix errors. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
