Roman Polanski rape scandal movie to follow perspective of 13-year-old victim 02. February 2026 (17:23) The Girl, based on Samantha Geimer’s memoir, will revisit ‘one of Hollywood’s most notorious scandals through the eyes of the person most misrepresented by it’A new movie will explore the notorious Roman Polanski statutory rape scandal from the perspective of the 13-year-old girl, Samantha Geimer.The Girl, based on Geimer’s 2013 memoir The Girl: A Life in the Shadow of Roman Polanski, will trace her time in the famous director’s orbit in the 1970s, her experience being subjected to sexual assault and the media maelstrom that followed after Polanski, then 43, was arrested in 1977 on charges of statutory rape and lewd and lascivious act with a child. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Resident doctors in England vote to continue industrial action for another six months 02. February 2026 (17:19) British Medical Association members back further action as part of long-running row over pay and jobsUK politics live – latest updatesResident doctors in England have voted in favour of continuing industrial action over the next six months, the British Medical Association has announced.Ninety-three per cent of medics voted in favour of continuing industrial action in a new ballot. The turnout was 53%. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Russian captain of ship that hit tanker off UK guilty of killing crew member 02. February 2026 (17:18) Vladimir Motin was on sole watch when his vessel crashed into the Stena Immaculate near the Humber estuaryThe Russian captain of a ship that crashed into an oil tanker off the Yorkshire coast has been found guilty of killing a crew member in the collision.Vladimir Motin, a 59-year-old from St Petersburg, was on sole watch when his ship, the Solong, collided into the Stena Immaculate oil tanker near the Humber estuary on 10 March last year. Mark Angelo Pernia, a 38-year-old Filipino man, was killed in the wreck. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Damning EU report lays bare bloc’s ‘dangerous dependence’ on critical mineral imports 02. February 2026 (17:00) Auditor calls renewable energy targets ‘unrealistic’ unless ‘EU ups its game’ in mining, refining and recycling of metals such as rare earthsThe EU is struggling to free itself from dependence on China and countries in the global south for critical minerals and rare earths needed for everything from smartphones to wind turbines and military jets.A damning report by the European Court of Auditors (ECA) in Luxembourg found that the bloc’s targets for 2030 were “out of reach” because of lack of progress in domestic production, refining and recycling. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
US contractor sent Gaza plan to White House that would secure 300% profits 02. February 2026 (17:00) Gothams LLC’s draft proposal, obtained by the Guardian, suggests seven-year trucking and logistics monopolyA US disaster response firm submitted a plan to White House officials that would guarantee 300% profits and a seven-year monopoly over a new trucking and logistics plan for Donald Trump’s Board of Peace in Gaza, according to a November proposal obtained by the Guardian.The draft plan from Gothams LLC would allow it to collect a fee for every truck moving goods into Gaza, and charge for the use of its warehousing and distribution system. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
‘This is history, it should be free’: Rome’s €2 Trevi fountain fee divides opinion 02. February 2026 (16:55) Charge is designed to protect much-loved monument from overtourism, but not all visitors like the ideaTeresa Romero is in Rome to celebrate a milestone birthday and one of the first things she did on Monday was visit the Trevi fountain to participate in the ritual of tossing a coin into the waters of the late baroque masterpiece.But before the Portuguese tourist could get close to the fountain, she had to hand over €2 (£1.70) – the cost of an access fee that has finally been enacted by Rome council officials after years of discussions. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Brazilian influencer who defended US immigration crackdown arrested by ICE 02. February 2026 (16:10) Trump supporter Júnior Pena falsely claimed migrants being rounded up, including Brazilians, were ‘all crooks’A rightwing Brazilian influencer who claimed Donald Trump’s immigration crackdown targeted only “crooks” has been arrested by ICE agents in New Jersey.Júnior Pena, whose full name is Eustáquio da Silva Pena Júnior, declared his support for the US president in a recent video message to his hundreds of thousands of social media followers. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Chumbawamba call on Spain’s far-right Vox to stop using their best-known song 02. February 2026 (16:04) British pop collective decry use of 1997 hit Tubthumping to promote the party’s ‘small-minded, hate-fuelled agenda’The British pop collective Chumbawamba has asked Spain’s Vox to stop using their best-known song to promote “its small-minded, hate-fuelled agenda” after the far-right party chose its 1997 hit single Tubthumping to soundtrack a social media post railing against migration.Santiago Abascal, who leads Vox, visited the north-eastern Spanish town of Caspe last week in the run-up to this weekend’s regional election in Aragón. He posted images of the visit to Facebook on Friday, along with the caption: “Great welcome yesterday in Caspe … for a street press conference. The locals are sick of the migratory invasion. And we stand with them.” Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Trump threatens to sue Trevor Noah over Epstein joke at Grammys – US politics live 02. February 2026 (15:02) President calls host a ‘pathetic, talentless, dope of an M.C’ after jibe about his connections to late sex offender at ceremonyThe House will try and advance a five-bill funding package, as well as a continuing resolution to fund the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) today.Late last week, the Senate voted to pass the final bundle of appropriations bills, but separated legislation that funds the DHS, amid widespread backlash over the fatal shootings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti. While the House prepares to vote, a partial shutdown is under way. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Spanish PM defends plans to regularise half a million undocumented migrants 02. February 2026 (15:02) Responding to critics of policy, Pedro Sánchez says Spain is choosing path of ‘dignity, community and justice’Spain’s prime minister has pushed back against critics of plans to regularise 500,000 undocumented migrants and asylum seekers, asserting that Spain was choosing the path of “dignity, community and justice”.The 46-second video, which features Pedro Sánchez speaking in English with subtitles in Spanish, was posted on social media at the weekend. “Some say we’ve gone too far, that we’re going against the current,” he said. “But I would like to ask you, when did recognising rights become something radical? When did empathy become something exceptional?” Continue reading...(The Guardian)
