Politics

Sri Lanka signed a letter of intent on 17 February 2026 to join the Global Charter for Children's Care Reform, with Minister Saroja Paulraj signing during a visit by UK Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy; the UK also provided £1 million in humanitarian assistance for communities affected by Cyclone Ditwah.

Donald Trump said he would be "indirectly" involved in US–Iran talks due to start in Geneva, and Tehran's foreign ministry said the US position on the nuclear issue appeared "more realistic."

A national Australian Human Rights Commission study found racism is systemic at universities, reporting high rates of indirect and direct incidents and shortcomings in complaints processes; the report includes 47 recommendations and the federal government says it will review them and introduce legislation to strengthen the regulator.

An AFP analysis using Institute for the Study of War data says Kyiv recaptured about 201 sq km last week, mainly east of Zaporizhzhia, the largest short-term gain since June 2023. ISW reported the counterattacks are likely linked to a recent block on Russian access to Starlink.

Imran Khan's sons say they are seeking access after reports their father suffered vision loss in custody; a medical board reported reduced swelling and improved vision and the Supreme Court has sought details of his treatment.

Keir Starmer said the government will move quickly to change rules on young people’s social media access and that a ban for under-16s is being considered but has not been decided; amendments to two bills would give ministers powers to act and any secondary legislation will need parliamentary approval.

Thirty-four Australian citizens from 11 families departed the Roj camp in northeast Syria on Monday to travel to Damascus and then fly to Australia, camp officials and relatives said. The Roj camp holds about 2,200 people and is under the control of the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces.

President Lai thanked Taiwan's armed forces and pledged to bolster the island's defences in a Lunar New Year address, while his proposal for an extra $40bn in defence spending has not been reviewed by the opposition-controlled legislature.

Unemployment in Gaza is estimated at about 80%, and although humanitarian aid deliveries have increased since the October ceasefire, many people still lack cash to buy essentials because prices remain high.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he told U.S. President Donald Trump last week that any U.S. deal with Iran should dismantle Iran's nuclear infrastructure rather than only halting enrichment.

Ministers are planning changes to the SEND system that favour more support in mainstream schools, and the government has delayed its white paper while carrying out consultations with parents and professionals.

Gisèle Pelicot watched video messages of support during her first televised interview on Newsnight and became visibly emotional; her husband was sentenced in December 2024 after being convicted of sexual offences against her.

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said no online platform will get a 'free pass' on children's safety; the government will launch a consultation on social media protections in March and plans legal changes to tighten rules for AI chatbots.

The UK Foreign Office says samples from Alexei Navalny's body contained the toxin epibatidine, and Britain and allied governments have blamed the Kremlin for his death.

Britain's and Germany's top military chiefs wrote that Russia's forces have shifted westward and are rearming, and they framed increased defence spending and industrial expansion as necessary responses; NATO has set a target for members to spend 5% of GDP on defence and security by 2035.

Local rescue services and hospitals reported that Israeli airstrikes in the Gaza Strip killed at least 12 people and injured others, and the Israeli military said the strikes were a response to alleged ceasefire violations by Hamas.

A Telegraph article titled "Student loans architect says interest rate should be lowered" was published on 15 February 2026; the supplied content contains only the author's biography for Tom Cotterill and not the article text.

The article argues scrapping tuition fees would be a mistake and calls for reforms to address high interest on Plan 2 loans and to link fee rises to teaching quality.

Britain and four European allies said tests found the toxin epibatidine in Alexei Navalny's body and blamed Russia; the Kremlin has rejected the claims.

AP reports that Iranian security agents conducted early-morning raids across the country detaining people accused of joining recent protests, and activists say many are being held incommunicado while an internet blackout hampers reporting.

A Cabinet Office memorandum says the UK would increase net zero targets and pursue 'dynamic alignment' with EU renewable rules, while ministers are negotiating re-entry to the EU internal electricity market.

Local media and the BNP reported that Thursday's election gave the Bangladesh Nationalist Party a parliamentary majority, and Tarique Rahman returned from 17 years in self-imposed exile late last year.

The Electoral Commission chief said ministers do not have a sufficient reason to delay May local elections, and the postponements could affect up to 3.5 million voters.

The article reports Alexei Navalny died in detention in February 2024 and that foreign laboratory tests identified the neurotoxin epibatidine in samples smuggled from his body.

At the Munich Security Conference, Keir Starmer argued for closer European defence and economic cooperation; the article praises that stance while warning against exaggerated historical comparisons and reopening the Brexit debate.

An opinion piece by a former editor of the Jewish Chronicle argues that European leaders at the fringes of the Munich Security Conference seem preoccupied even as the author describes rising global violence.

Iranian authorities moved Nobel laureate Narges Mohammadi to a prison in Zanjan without notifying her family, and her family and supporters report concern about her health and limited contact.

The U.N. Human Rights Office reported that more than 6,000 people were killed during a late‑October Rapid Support Forces offensive around el‑Fasher and said the actions may amount to war crimes and crimes against humanity. Undetermined at this time.

Bishop Richard Moth was installed as the 12th Archbishop of Westminster and said he is "most aware" of occasions when the Church has failed abuse victims; he succeeds Cardinal Vincent Nichols and becomes president of the Bishops' Conference of England and Wales.

In an interview with Brian Tyler Cohen, Barack Obama said he supported demonstrators in Minneapolis who opposed what he described as unprecedented ICE operations; he and Michelle Obama also called the killing of Alex Pretti a heartbreaking tragedy.