Louvre president resigns as jewellery heist inquiry reveals ‘systemic failures’ 24. February 2026 (19:26) Laurence des Cars steps down days after parliamentary inquiry called Paris museum a ‘state within a state’The president of the Louvre in Paris has resigned, four months after a gang of thieves broke into the museum’s Apollo gallery and made off with €88m (£76m) of Napoleonic jewellery in France’s most dramatic heist in decades.Laurence des Cars, who had offered to step down in the immediate aftermath of the burglary, tendered her resignation to Emmanuel Macron on Tuesday in what the French president called “an act of responsibility”, the Elysée Palace said. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Visitors flock to Yosemite for firefall light show despite heavy snow 24. February 2026 (19:00) Sunset phenomenon at national park’s Horsetail waterfall still drew large crowds even with freezing temperaturesHeavy snow did not deter visitors from flocking to Yosemite in recent days, in hopes of seeing the park’s spectacular natural light show.Firefall occurs each year in February during sunset when the light hits Horsetail Fall in such a way that, for a brief period, the waterfall appears illuminated by lava. In recent years, the phenomenon has drawn large crowds – and lots of photographers. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Police sorry for failing to arrest Calocane before killings, Nottingham inquiry told 24. February 2026 (17:58) Leicester and Nottingham officers accept they missed opportunities to act on earlier warrant Two police forces have apologised to bereaved families and survivors of the Nottingham attacks for failing to act on an arrest warrant for Valdo Calocane that was issued 10 months before he killed three people, a public inquiry has heard.NHS England and the NHS trust that cared for Calocane, who has paranoid schizophrenia, also apologised to the families over missed opportunities. “The NHS and the system as a whole failed you with devastating consequences,” the lawyer representing NHS England said. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Mexico pledges safety for World Cup after violence erupts from cartel boss’s killing 24. February 2026 (17:52) Mexico’s president says there is ‘no risk’ for those visiting for Fifa games after military killed drug lord ‘El Mencho’Violence in Mexico after military kills notorious drug cartel boss – a visual guideMexico’s president, Claudia Sheinbaum, has said that there is “no risk” for visitors coming to Fifa World Cup games scheduled to be held in the country, after the death of a top cartel boss triggered a wave of retaliatory violence from gunmen who blocked roads and attacked security forces across the country.The Mexican military attempted to detain “El Mencho”, the leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel, in a dawn raid on Sunday, leading to a firefight in which he was fatally wounded, before dying while being airlifted to hospital. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
North-east US digs out after massive blizzard blankets the region 24. February 2026 (17:51) Hundreds of thousands are still without power as businesses and schools slowly come back onlineCities across the north-east US are digging out from the snow after Monday’s blizzard, which halted travel across the region and caused hundreds of thousands of power outages.Meteorologists said that the storm was the strongest in a decade, dumping more than 2ft (61cm) of snow in parts of the region. More than 3ft (91cm) fell in Rhode Island – surpassing snow totals from the north-east’s historic blizzard of 1978. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Mandelson arrested: Epstein files fallout intensifies – The Latest 24. February 2026 (17:50) Former US ambassador Peter Mandelson has been released on bail after his arrest over claims he committed misconduct in public office during his friendship with the convicted child sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Police have been investigating allegations that he leaked Downing Street emails and market-sensitive information to the disgraced US financier during his time as business secretary. Mandelson has denied any wrongdoing. Lucy Hough speaks to the Guardian’s head of national news, Archie Bland – watch on YouTube Continue reading...(The Guardian)
British dual nationals risk imminent refusal of travel to UK, Home Office affirms 24. February 2026 (17:32) Government ignores pleas for a grace period before new rules come into force on WednesdayBritish citizens with a second nationality risk being blocked from entering the UK from Wednesday, the Home Office has confirmed.The government has decided to ignore pleas from families, the Liberal Democrats and the former Conservative cabinet minister David Davies for a grace period to allow British dual nationals to adapt to the new rules they face. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Senate Democrats investigate CBS over blocked Colbert interview 24. February 2026 (17:26) Richard Blumenthal seeks records from FCC and Paramount Global amid claims of political censorshipSign up for the Breaking News US email to get newsletter alerts in your inboxUS Senate Democrats are launching an investigation into whether the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and the CBS parent company, Paramount, prevented Stephen Colbert, the network’s talkshow host, from broadcasting an interview with the Texas Democratic candidate, James Talarico.Richard Blumenthal, the ranking Democrat on the Senate’s permanent subcommittee on investigations, has written to the FCC’s enforcement bureau and to the CEO of Paramount Skydance, David Ellison. The Democratic senator demands information and documents relating to the Colbert controversy, including any communications with Donald Trump’s White House. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Husband’s ‘physical and sexual violence’ caused wife to kill herself, UK court told 24. February 2026 (17:09) Christopher Trybus charged with manslaughter of Tarryn Baird, rape and coercive and controlling behaviourA woman who took her own life after being subjected to a campaign of “physical and sexual violence” by her husband told her family “I am so sorry but I just couldn’t take it any more”, a court has heard.Tarryn Baird, 34, was found dead at her home in Swindon, Wiltshire, on 28 November 2017. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Armed police flood Iran’s universities to crush student protests 24. February 2026 (17:06) Campus clashes provide uneasy backdrop to third round of talks on nuclear programme in GenevaPlainclothes police and security forces, many of them armed, have tried to flood Iran’s remaining open universities in an attempt to crush a fourth day of student protests against the supreme leader, Ali Khamenei.Running battles were reported on some campuses, with videos showing fistfights between the Basji state-backed militia and students at the University of Science and Technology in Tehran. Pick-up trucks with machine-guns were photographed parked outside the University of Tehran, with demonstrations also in Mashhad. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
