Hundreds of film-makers back Berlinale director in row over winners’ Gaza comments 26. February 2026 (14:07) Tilda Swinton among those to sign petition supporting Tricia Tuttle, who reportedly faces sack after pro-Palestine speeches at galaProminent directors and actors have rallied in support of the American head of the Berlin film festival in response to reports she could be sacked over comments by award-winners criticising the war in Gaza and the German government’s support for Israel.Germany’s federal government commissioner for culture and media, Wolfram Weimer, convened a crisis meeting on Thursday on the “future direction of the Berlinale”, which is among Europe’s top three cinema showcases with Cannes and Venice. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Number of young people in UK not in work or education rises closer to 1m 26. February 2026 (14:02) Number of Neets climbs to 957,000, up 11,000 on previous quarter, ONS says, driven by rise among young womenThe number of young people in the UK not working or in education has risen closer to a million, figures show, as a government adviser warned that society’s expectation of each generation doing better than the next was “now being broken”.The Office for National Statistics (ONS) said the number of people aged 16 to 24 who were not in education, employment or training (Neet) rose to 957,000 in the final three months of last year, equating to 12.8% of this age group. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Far-right Base group claims murders in Ukraine amid questions over Russia ties 26. February 2026 (14:00) Leaked information obtained by Guardian paints disturbing picture of violence waged by terror group’s Ukrainian cellThe Ukrainian wing of an internationally proscribed terrorist organization with suspected links to Russia is continuing to claim multiple murders in Ukraine, which comes after it was linked to the brazen assassination of an intelligence officer in Kyiv over the summer.In a Telegram post, the Ukrainian cell of the Base – born in the US, but with a web of cells all over the world – claimed “a successful operation to eliminate an enemy agent in Odesa” in a car bombing, which was later reported on in local Ukrainian media. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Disabled activist and guest of Ilhan Omar says she did not intend to disrupt State of the Union 26. February 2026 (14:00) Before arrest at US House chamber Tuesday, Aliya Rahman had only a month earlier been dragged from her car by ICEWhen Aliya Rahman accepted Minnesota representative Ilhan Omar’s invitation to attend the State of the Union address, she said she had no intention of disrupting Donald Trump’s high-profile speech.“It is a locus of people gathering and an opportunity to talk to legislators and to be in DC and try to understand – for someone like me, that doesn’t work in politics, who is not involved in policy work and organizing – what is the texture of this stuff here?” Rahman told the Guardian. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Corbyn to be Your Party parliamentary leader as Sultana joins leadership committee 26. February 2026 (13:35) Former Labour leader says time for ‘real work’ to begin as his candidates take 14 of 24 available places on executive committeeUK politics live – latest updatesJeremy Corbyn is to become the parliamentary leader of Your Party, after an election in which his rival Zarah Sultana was also voted on to the party’s leadership committee.Corbyn’s allies declared victory immediately after the vote in which Corbyn-backed candidates took 14 of the 24 available places on the party’s central executive committee (CEC). Sultana-backed candidates took seven of the seats, while three went to independents. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Second suspect arrested after man with axe reportedly entered Manchester mosque 26. February 2026 (13:35) Man in 20s arrested on Thursday after man in 40s reportedly carrying weapons apprehended at scene on TuesdayA second suspect has been arrested after a man allegedly entered Manchester Central Mosque with an axe and a knife on Tuesday.Greater Manchester police announced on Thursday that a man in his 20s had been arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to commit a section 18 assault in relation to the incident. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Calls to move England’s home insulation scheme into council workers’ hands 26. February 2026 (13:00) Thinktank proposes councils stop using private contractors in attempt to improve quality and spendingCouncils should train up their own workers to install insulation in England’s draughty houses, and offer home upgrades street by street, beginning in the most deprived areas, according to proposals for cutting energy bills.Setting up “home improvement corporations” would allow greater control by councils over low-carbon retrofits for housing, and would be a more efficient way of spending limited public funds for insulation, according to the Common Wealth thinktank, sets out the proposals in a report this week. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Democrats in four states seek to bar ICE employees from future civil service jobs 26. February 2026 (13:00) Bills aim to make ICE employees ineligible for jobs in law enforcement, public education and state civil serviceSupercharged by billions in dollars from Congress, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has hired thousands of new officers to carry out Donald Trump’s mass deportation campaign in an effort it has likened to “wartime recruitment”. In several states, Democratic lawmakers want applicants to think twice about taking part.Bills introduced in recent weeks in the legislatures of at least four Democratic-led states would impose long-term consequences on new ICE employees by rendering them ineligible for jobs in law enforcement, public education, and, in their most expansive form, the entire state civil service. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Orbán calls for EU ‘fact-finding mission’ to inspect Druzhba pipeline amid escalating tension with Ukraine – Europe live 26. February 2026 (12:04) Orbán asked that the mission included experts from Hungary and Slovakia, both of which are affected by the disrupted oil transit via the pipelineMeanwhile, the Nordic countries are on high alert amid concerns about a potential strike against their energy infrastructure, Sweden’s TV4 reported.The broadcaster claimed that “an actor, believed to be linked to a foreign power, has threatened the energy network throughout the Nordic region, including Sweden.” Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Guardian joins media coalition to protect original journalism from unpaid use by AI 26. February 2026 (12:00) BBC and Financial Times among those calling for frameworks to help publishers gain control over their content being ‘scraped and copied’A coalition of UK media companies including the Guardian has urged industry peers to back global frameworks ensuring AI firms pay for the journalism they use.The news providers are calling on leaders across publishing, broadcasting, media and news to join their newly created group, with the aim of protecting “original journalism” and securing “the long-term sustainability of our industry”. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
