French prosecutors ask appeal court to keep ban on Marine Le Pen running for office 03. February 2026 (20:22) Far-right leader was barred for five years after being found guilty of extensive fake jobs scam at European parliamentFrench state prosecutors have asked appeal court judges to maintain a five-year election ban on the far-right leader Marine Le Pen for embezzlement of European parliament funds in a fake jobs scandal.If the judges decide to grant the request, Le Pen would probably not be able to run in France’s 2027 presidential election. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Jill Biden’s ex-husband charged with murder of his wife 03. February 2026 (20:18) Linda Stevenson found unresponsive on 28 December after police responded to domestic disputeThe ex-husband of former US first lady Jill Biden has been arrested and charged with the murder of his wife, officials said on Tuesday.William Stevenson, 77, was taken into custody on Monday and is facing a charge of first-degree murder in the death of Linda Stevenson, according to a grand jury indictment filed in Delaware. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Life expectancy of LGB+ people a year lower than that of heterosexuals, ONS finds 03. February 2026 (20:13) Academic says risk factor is not sexual orientation but society’s treatment of sexual minority peopleLife expectancy for people who identify as gay, bisexual or another sexual orientation in England and Wales was approximately a year lower than their heterosexual counterparts, according to the first analysis of its kind by the Office for National Statistics.The life expectancy for men who identified as LGB+ was 1.2 years lower than men who identified as straight, at 59.4 years and 60.7 years respectively. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Epstein called Mandelson ‘devious’ after he lobbied bank to back mining project 03. February 2026 (20:10) In 2010 then business secretary contacted Jes Staley, then at JP Morgan, about funding for £700m listing on London Stock ExchangeJeffrey Epstein described Peter Mandelson as “devious” after lobbying a bank to underwrite a mining project launched by their mutual friend Nat Rothschild, emails included in the latest tranche of Epstein files suggest.In April 2010, the then business secretary appears to have contacted banker Jes Staley, then at JP Morgan, from his personal email account in what appears to be an attempt to secure funding for Rothschild, Mandelson’s longtime friend. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Met police launch investigation into alleged Mandelson-Epstein email leaks 03. February 2026 (20:09) Epstein files appear to show then business secretary passing market sensitive information to child sex offender• UK politics live – latest updatesThe Metropolitan police have formally launched a criminal investigation into allegations that Peter Mandelson leaked Downing Street emails and market sensitive information to the child sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.Documents from the Epstein files released in recent days appeared to show the then business secretary sent confidential details of internal discussions in a string of emails to the late financier in the aftermath of the financial crash. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
US shoots down Iranian drone flying towards aircraft carrier, navy says 03. February 2026 (19:58) Shahed-139 drone approached USS Abraham Lincoln ‘with unclear intent’ as US warships headed towards IranThe US military says it has shot down an Iranian drone that “aggressively” approached the Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier in the Arabian Sea.The Iranian Shahed-139 drone was flying toward the carrier “with unclear intent” when it was shot down by a F-35 US fighter jet, US Central Command said on Tuesday. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
French magistrate reportedly summons two French-Israelis over ‘complicity in genocide’ 03. February 2026 (17:59) Nili Kupfer-Naouri and Rachel Touitou said to be accused of trying to block delivery of humanitarian aid to GazaA French investigating magistrate has issued summonses to two French-Israeli nationals in relation to “complicity in genocide” over allegations they tried to block the delivery of humanitarian aid to Gaza, French media have reported.The summonses, which reportedly mark the first time a country has considered the blocking of aid “complicity in genocide”, were issued for Nili Kupfer-Naouri and Rachel Touitou in July, Le Monde and Agence France-Presse reported. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Gordon Brown writes to Met commissioner with information on Mandelson Epstein leaks scandal – UK politics live 03. February 2026 (17:56) The former prime minister said Peter Mandelson’s alleged disclosure of r The Department for Work and Pensions has named 12 disability experts with “lived experience of disability or long-term health conditions” who will sit on the steering group of the review looking at the future of the personal independence payment (Pip), a disability benefit. Stephen Timms, the minister leading the review, says:Disabled people deserve a system that truly supports them to live with independence and dignity, and that fairly reflects the reality of their lives today.That’s why we’re putting disabled people at the heart of this review – ensuring their voices shape the changes that will help them achieve better health, greater independence, and access to the right support when they need it.* Could we see a crunch point as soon as tomorrow over Mandelson?* Tories have an opposition day debate - could they force a vote on Mandelson vetting disclosure. Shadow cabinet sources tell me they’re thinking about it Continue reading...(The Guardian)
‘It’s sick’: Trump administration uses mascot called ‘Coalie’ to push dirtiest fossil fuel 03. February 2026 (17:36) Cartoon lump of coal with giant eyes was spotlighted by US interior secretary in X post saying: ‘Mine, Baby, Mine!’Donald Trump’s administration has turned to an unusual weapon in its attempt to resurrect coal mining – a cartoon lump of coal, complete with giant eyes and yellow mining garb, called ‘Coalie.’The administration’s new mascot, kitted out with a helmet, boots and gloves, was introduced in a seemingly artificial intelligence-generated picture posted online by Doug Burgum, Trump’s interior secretary. “Mine, Baby, Mine!” Burgum wrote on X, adding that Coalie will act as a “spokesperson” for Trump’s “American Energy Dominance Agenda.” Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Human Rights Watch researchers resign after report on Palestinian right of return blocked 03. February 2026 (17:00) The organization claims the report, which finds Israel’s denial of the right of return is a crime against humanity, is ‘paused pending further analysis and research’Two Human Rights Watch (HRW) employees who make up the organization’s entire Israel and Palestine team are stepping down from their positions after leadership blocked a report that deems Israel’s denial of Palestinian refugees the right of return a “crime against humanity”.In separate resignation letters obtained by Jewish Currents and the Guardian, Omar Shakir, who has headed the team for nearly the last decade, and Milena Ansari, the team’s assistant researcher, said leadership’s decision to pull the report broke from HRW’s customary approval processes and was evidence that the organization was putting fear of political backlash over a commitment to international law. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
