Ex-cabinet secretary condemns Starmer’s sacking of Chris Wormald as ‘shabby’ – UK politics live

13/02/2026 09:35 The Guardian

Gus O’Donnell urges Starmer to ‘get a grip’ of ‘disastrous’ advisers as PM heads to Munich Security ConferenceReform UK’s showcase council in Kent faces “extreme risk” and “instability”, opposition politicians have warned, after it passed its first budget. Ben Quinn has the story.Good morning. Keir Starmer is heading off to the Munich Security Conference today, where he will no doubt be glad to be able to put UK domestic politics behind him for a bit. Patrick Wintour has a good article here about what is on the agenda. Continue reading...

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Weather tracker: cyclones hit Australia and Madagascar and -40C cold snap in northern Europe

Western Australia and Madagascar struck by destructive winds and rain, while Finland and Norway have coldest January since 2010Tropical Cyclone Mitchell hit the coast of Western Australia last week. It initially developed as a weak tropical low over the Northern Territory in early February, then tra...

13/02/2026 11:41 The Guardian

Munich Security Conference: Rubio flies in amid testing times for US-Europe ties – live

German chancellor Friedrich Merz among key figures to speak as three-day security gathering opens If you need a primer on what’s on the agenda for the next three days, I spoke with the MSC’s head of policy Nicole Koenig, the author of the European part of their security report published ahead of...

13/02/2026 11:28 The Guardian

Trump’s repeal of landmark climate ruling ‘un-American’ and ‘Orwellian’, says John Kerry – US politics live

Former secretary of state condemns to decision revoke ruling that underpins ability to limit climate-heating pollutionSecretary of state Marco Rubio met his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi on Friday on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference, an AFP journalist said, at a time of heightened Washi...

13/02/2026 11:26 The Guardian

UK weather: major road across Pennines shut as Arctic blast brings snow and ice

Section of A66 closed and warning of travel disruption amid freezing temperatures in Scotland and northern England A major road across the Pennines has been closed as an Arctic blast brought snow, ice and freezing temperatures to Scotland and northern England.The Met Office said widespread travel di...

13/02/2026 09:41 The Guardian

Reform UK’s Kent council faces ‘extreme risk’ after passing first budget

Councillors vote for 3.99% council tax increase while mounting ‘attack on the vulnerable’, opposition saysReform UK’s showcase council in Kent faces “extreme risk” and “instability”, opposition politicians have warned, after it passed its first budget.The party’s councillors voted it...

13/02/2026 08:19 The Guardian

Israeli journalists fear for press freedom if UK billionaire sells TV channel stake

Union urges Leonard Blavatnik to scrap Channel 13 deal, saying it is part of Netanyahu plan ‘to capture the media’Israeli journalists have appealed to a British billionaire not to proceed with the sale of a stake in an Israeli television channel, which they warn would represent a severe blow to...

13/02/2026 07:00 The Guardian

‘Everything is frozen’: bitter winter drags on for Kyiv residents as Russia wipes out power

Kremlin’s repeated targeting of infrastructure has left thousands without heating, reliant on shelters and desperate home hacksNatalya Pavlovna watched her two-year-old son, Danylo, play with Lego. “We are taking a break from the cold,” she said as children made drawings inside a warm tent. Ad...

13/02/2026 05:00 The Guardian

Criminals exploit ‘stigma and embarrassment’ to sell fake erectile dysfunction drugs

UK officials have seized almost 20m fake pills since 2021, many containing incorrect doses or toxic ingredientsMen have been warned against buying illegal erectile dysfunction pills online after nearly 20m pills – enough to fill two doubledecker buses – were seized in the last five years.The “...

13/02/2026 00:01 The Guardian

Break in the grey as Aberdeen sees sunshine for the first time in 21 days

Glimpse of sun after weeks of unrelenting rain marks end of longest sunless period in area since records began Aberdeen has finally had some sunshine, for the first time in 21 days – marking the end of the longest sunless period in the area since Met Office records began in 1957. Residents of th...

12/02/2026 23:08 The Guardian

NHS deal with AI firm Palantir called into question after officials’ concerns revealed

Exclusive: in 2025 briefing to Wes Streeting, officials warned reputation of tech firm behind US ICE operations would hinder rollout of data system in UK Health officials fear Palantir’s reputation will hinder the delivery of a “vital” £330m NHS contract, according to briefings seen by the Gu...

12/02/2026 23:04 The Guardian

Irishman held by ICE was issued warrant over 2009 drug offense in Ireland

Seamus Culleton has been held for five months despite having valid work permit and being married to US nationalAn Irish court apparently issued a warrant for the arrest of the Irish man currently embroiled in controversy with US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), which has been ramping up de...

12/02/2026 21:00 The Guardian

Who is Antonia Romeo and why is she tipped to be the next cabinet secretary?

With Chris Wormald forced out, Romeo is a frontrunner with a reputation for being forthright but also warmAntonia Romeo is not a typical civil servant, according to almost everyone who has worked with or met her in a professional context.Charming, ambitious and not afraid to publicise her own achiev...

12/02/2026 18:38 The Guardian

Union chief calls for Angela Rayner to replace Keir Starmer or risk Labour defeat to Reform UK

Exclusive: TSSA general secretary wants Rayner to take over after Gorton byelection which she expects party to loseUK politics live – latest updatesThe head of a Labour-affiliated union has called for Angela Rayner to replace Keir Starmer, warning that Starmer risks leading the party into a heavy...

12/02/2026 18:01 The Guardian

Pentagon policy chief tells European Nato members to step up combat capabilities

Elbridge Colby tells meeting in Brussels that US plans to reduce conventional forces in Europe but remains committed to Nato allianceThe Pentagon’s policy chief, Elbridge Colby, has told European Nato defence ministers in Brussels that they need to step up their combat capabilities and take the le...

12/02/2026 17:36 The Guardian

UK pledges to send £540m worth of weapons to Ukraine - Europe live

The commitment includes US-made interceptors and lightweight missiles for Ukraine’s air defencesWhile Ukraine is reeling from last night’s barrage of attacks, the Kremlin said it expected the next round of peace talks to happen soon.“We have a certain understanding (of the details), and we wil...

12/02/2026 15:57 The Guardian

Trump’s pick for top diplomatic role faces scrutiny over ‘white supremacist’ views

Jeremy Carl, assistant secretary of state nominee, has espoused ‘racist, antisemitic’ views, says non-profit leaderUS politics live – latest updatesDonald Trump’s pick for a top diplomatic post has championed “white supremacist, racist, antisemitic and homophobic views”, a former US stat...

12/02/2026 15:18 The Guardian

Billions in funding wrongly released to Hungary, says EU court’s top adviser

Advocate general questions decision, saying reforms needed to unfreeze about €10bn have not been carried outEurope live – latest updatesThe top adviser to the EU’s highest court has said it should annul a decision by the European Commission to unfreeze billions of euros of payments to Hungary...

12/02/2026 15:11 The Guardian

New Jersey governor bans immigration agents from some state property

Mikie Sherrill, a Democrat, also launches online portal for residents to share footage of ICE enforcement activityNew Jersey governor Mikie Sherrill has banned immigration agents from some state property and launched an online portal for residents to share videos and photos of enforcement activity.S...

12/02/2026 14:50 The Guardian

Six Republicans join Democrats in vote to block Donald Trump’s Canada tariffs - US politics live

President warned prior to the vote that any Republican who voted against tariffs would ‘suffer the consequences’ Trump’s “border czar” Tom Homan kicked off his press conference today announcing that the administration’s immigration crackdown in Minnesota has “yielded the successful res...

12/02/2026 14:21 The Guardian

‘Movies can change the world but not in a political way’ says Wim Wenders

At a press conference to open the 76th edition of the Berlin film festival, the jury president said ‘cinema has an incredible power’ but little influence on political decision makersVeteran director Wim Wenders has hailed the power of cinema to help heal a broken planet as he takes up the jury p...

12/02/2026 13:51 The Guardian

Portugal urged to adapt to climate emergency after series of deadly storms

Continuing extreme weather has caused deaths of 16 people, evacuation of thousands and destruction of homesEurope live – latest updatesPortugal is under pressure to draw up plans to adapt to the climate emergency as the country continues to be lashed by an unprecedented series of storms that have...

12/02/2026 13:40 The Guardian

Susie Dent’s tips and tricks to add muscle to a child’s vocabulary

To help combat the impact of screen-time creep, the Countdown word supremo has a few suggestionsChildren’s vocabulary shrinking as reading loses out to screen time, says Susie DentChildren’s vocabulary is shrinking as reading loses out to screen time, the Countdown lexicographer Susie Dent has s...

12/02/2026 12:18 The Guardian

Children’s vocabulary shrinking as reading loses out to screen time, says Susie Dent

Exclusive: Countdown lexicographer urges families to read, talk and play word games to help language developmentSusie Dent’s tips and tricks to add muscle to a child’s vocabularyChildren’s vocabulary is shrinking as reading loses out to screen time, according to the lexicographer Susie Dent, w...

12/02/2026 11:46 The Guardian

Anthony Albanese raises bulldozed Australian war graves with Israeli president

Prime minister stresses importance of repairs to graves in Gaza being conducted as soon as possible in meeting with Isaac HerzogFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastThe prime minister, Anthony Albanese, has raised the issue...

12/02/2026 06:43 The Guardian

Russia attempted to ‘fully block’ WhatsApp, Meta-owned company says

Move is a ‘backwards step’, company spokesperson says, amid concerns Kremlin is seeking more state control via messaging apps such as MaxRussia has attempted to “fully block” WhatsApp in an attempt to push users towards its own state-sponsored communications app, Max, a spokesperson for the...

12/02/2026 05:49 The Guardian

DNA technology used to catch Golden State Killer leads to NSW arrest over historic alleged sexual assaults

Police charge Kempsey man for alleged attacks between 1991 and 2002Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastSex crimes detectives have used emerging DNA technology to arrest an elderly man for a series of alleged sexual assaults...

12/02/2026 03:52 The Guardian

Despite Trump’s threats, six House Republicans side with Democrats in effort to end tariffs on Canada – live

President warned that any Republicans who voted to end his tariffs ‘will seriously suffer the consequences come Election time’Transportation secretary Sean Duffy said the El Paso airport closure was to “address a cartel drone incursion”.“The threat has been neutralized, and there is no dan...

12/02/2026 01:42 The Guardian

Chaos and confusion in El Paso after airspace closed and quickly reopened

Officials in US border city say FAA decisions caused major disruption – and residents are still scrambling for answersOfficials in Texas were left scrambling for answers on Wednesday after the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued a surprise order to shut down the airspace over El Paso for...

11/02/2026 23:16 The Guardian

Trump’s attempt to indict Democrats for video to troops an ‘alarm for democracy’

Mark Kelly speaks out after grand jury declines to indict six lawmakers over video urging troops to resist illegal ordersArizona senator Mark Kelly warned that the Trump administration’s failed attempt to secure an indictment against him and five other Democratic lawmakers for a video urging servi...

11/02/2026 23:03 The Guardian

BREAKING NEWS

13/02 11:41 - Weather tracker: cyclones hit Australia and Madagascar and -40C cold snap in northern Europe 13/02 11:30 - Rubio warns Europe of new era in geopolitics before big Munich speech 13/02 11:28 - Munich Security Conference: Rubio flies in amid testing times for US-Europe ties – live 13/02 11:26 - Trump’s repeal of landmark climate ruling ‘un-American’ and ‘Orwellian’, says John Kerry – US politics live 13/02 11:12 - Where to next for AI? The farm? The Church, even? 13/02 10:32 - European leaders face tough talks at Munich Security Conference 13/02 10:32 - European leaders face tough talks at Munich Security Conference 13/02 10:24 - Germany puts caveat on more missiles for Ukraine 13/02 10:16 - Ukraine Says U.S. Is Increasing Pressure for a Deal as the Midterms Loom 13/02 10:01 - News24 | Iran frees two as US warships ready ‘traumatic’ consequences if nuclear talks fail 13/02 09:41 - UK weather: major road across Pennines shut as Arctic blast brings snow and ice 13/02 09:35 - Ex-cabinet secretary condemns Starmer’s sacking of Chris Wormald as ‘shabby’ – UK politics live 13/02 09:29 - Retired US Army officer jailed for sharing secrets with online date 13/02 09:19 - Sudan protecting Africa from foreign interference in war with RSF, says FM 13/02 09:19 - Sudan protecting Africa from foreign interference in war with RSF, says FM 13/02 09:08 - Whatever it takes? EU in race to shore up sovereignty 13/02 09:06 - Russia faces Ukraine casualties, broken communications and total oil ban 13/02 09:06 - Russia faces Ukraine casualties, broken communications and total oil ban 13/02 08:19 - Reform UK’s Kent council faces ‘extreme risk’ after passing first budget 13/02 07:34 - Israelis charged with using Iran war secrets to place bets 13/02 07:00 - Israeli journalists fear for press freedom if UK billionaire sells TV channel stake 13/02 06:14 - Live: Rubio says he will have chance to meet Ukraine’s Zelensky at Munich security forum 13/02 05:00 - ‘Everything is frozen’: bitter winter drags on for Kyiv residents as Russia wipes out power 13/02 04:20 - US warship collides with refueling vessel (VIDEOS) 13/02 03:14 - South Africa’s Ramaphosa says troops will deploy to tackle crime gangs 13/02 03:14 - South Africa’s Ramaphosa says troops will deploy to tackle crime gangs 13/02 02:50 - Arctic blast on the way for UK with snow and ice warnings 13/02 02:33 - North Korea warns of ‘terrible response’ over South Korean drone flights 13/02 01:56 - Russia-Ukraine war: List of key events, day 1,450 13/02 01:56 - Russia-Ukraine war: List of key events, day 1,450 13/02 00:55 - EU leaders back major economic overhaul to counter pressure from US, China and Russia 13/02 00:01 - Criminals exploit ‘stigma and embarrassment’ to sell fake erectile dysfunction drugs 12/02 23:30 - More exam stress at 15 linked to higher risk of depression as young adult – study 12/02 23:27 - 'We warned nursery about abuser Vincent Chan - they dismissed us,' parents tell BBC 12/02 23:08 - Break in the grey as Aberdeen sees sunshine for the first time in 21 days 12/02 23:04 - NHS deal with AI firm Palantir called into question after officials’ concerns revealed 12/02 22:18 - California Investigates Why Most of the Eaton Fire Victims Were Black 12/02 22:01 - Do Drug Cartels Actually Use Drones at the Border? 12/02 21:00 - Irishman held by ICE was issued warrant over 2009 drug offense in Ireland 12/02 20:19 - Judge Temporarily Blocks Hegseth From Punishing Mark Kelly Over ‘Illegal Orders’ Video 12/02 20:09 - European nations are now being judged on military credibility - and the UK is falling short 12/02 20:00 - How A.I. Companies Are Preying on College Students 12/02 19:10 - Ukrainian Olympian Is Disqualified Over Helmet Honoring War Dead 12/02 18:40 - Zelenskyy says ‘no rules broken’ after Olympics bans Ukraine racer 12/02 18:40 - Zelenskyy says ‘no rules broken’ after Olympics bans Ukraine racer 12/02 18:38 - Who is Antonia Romeo and why is she tipped to be the next cabinet secretary? 12/02 18:01 - Union chief calls for Angela Rayner to replace Keir Starmer or risk Labour defeat to Reform UK 12/02 17:36 - Pentagon policy chief tells European Nato members to step up combat capabilities 12/02 17:31 - Corbyn alleges UK ‘complicity’ after Streeting’s admission of Gaza abuses 12/02 17:31 - Corbyn alleges UK ‘complicity’ after Streeting’s admission of Gaza abuses 12/02 17:31 - Strong Storm Is Forecast to Hit the South This Weekend With a Risk of Heavy Rain 12/02 17:00 - Milano-Cortina: Controversy erupts over Ukrainian athlete’s helmet 12/02 16:45 - Arctic Sentry: Europe takes the lead in NATO Arctic security mission 12/02 16:24 - Most Germans want dialogue with Russia – poll 12/02 16:10 - NATO downplays Greenland dispute as US defence chief absent from summit 12/02 16:06 - Man who ran gun-conversion factory and prepared for 'race war' jailed 12/02 16:06 - Russia fully blocks WhatsApp, intensifying it's 'crackdown on free expression' 12/02 16:02 - Milano-Cortina: Ukrainian athlete disqualified over war tribute helmet 12/02 15:57 - UK pledges to send £540m worth of weapons to Ukraine - Europe live 12/02 15:18 - Trump’s pick for top diplomatic role faces scrutiny over ‘white supremacist’ views 12/02 15:11 - Billions in funding wrongly released to Hungary, says EU court’s top adviser 12/02 14:50 - New Jersey governor bans immigration agents from some state property 12/02 14:36 - Russia bans WhatsApp, pushes state-backed alternative 12/02 14:36 - Russia bans WhatsApp, pushes state-backed alternative 12/02 14:21 - Six Republicans join Democrats in vote to block Donald Trump’s Canada tariffs - US politics live 12/02 14:03 - German govt ‘embezzling’ taxpayer money to fund Ukraine – veteran politician 12/02 14:01 - Fractures in NATO exposed amid Ukraine and Greenland talks 12/02 13:58 - The emotional debate behind Ukrainian skeleton racer's ban 12/02 13:51 - ‘Movies can change the world but not in a political way’ says Wim Wenders 12/02 13:40 - Portugal urged to adapt to climate emergency after series of deadly storms 12/02 12:42 - In Aleppo, art bridges Syria’s war divisions 12/02 12:42 - In Aleppo, art bridges Syria’s war divisions 12/02 12:25 - NATO defence ministers to meet on Ukraine weapons, Greenland security 12/02 12:24 - Trump wants to reopen coal era, rolls back key climate rule 12/02 12:22 - Call to make NATO 'more European' - as key figure misses alliance summit 12/02 12:18 - Susie Dent’s tips and tricks to add muscle to a child’s vocabulary 12/02 12:13 - Top Iran official accuses Israel of trying to sabotage US talks 12/02 12:13 - Top Iran official accuses Israel of trying to sabotage US talks 12/02 12:02 - Analyst Peter Zalmayev 'not very hopeful US tone has changed decisively' on Ukraine 12/02 11:46 - Children’s vocabulary shrinking as reading loses out to screen time, says Susie Dent 12/02 11:21 - UN begins clearing massive wartime waste dump in Gaza City 12/02 11:21 - UN begins clearing massive wartime waste dump in Gaza City 12/02 11:09 - Russia blocks WhatsApp for failing to comply with local law, pushes state-backed alternative 12/02 10:51 - Fyodor Lukyanov: The US wants a deal. Russia wants a system 12/02 10:47 - Locked Out, Locked In: Witnessing the Gaza War from afar 12/02 10:47 - Locked Out, Locked In: Witnessing the Gaza War from afar 12/02 10:42 - France's Duplomb law debate reignites over controversial pesticides 12/02 10:39 - France proposes bold measures to boost birth rate 12/02 10:30 - Ukraine skeleton athlete at Winter Olympics disqualified over helmet 12/02 10:30 - Ukraine skeleton athlete at Winter Olympics disqualified over helmet 12/02 10:15 - Russia orders block on WhatsApp in messaging app crackdown 12/02 10:06 - Why IOC has banned Ukraine's Heraskevych 12/02 10:00 - These Ukrainian Drones Don’t Just Kill. They Deliver Oatmeal Cookies. 12/02 09:44 - Ukrainian skeleton racer feels 'emptiness' after Olympic ban 12/02 09:23 - Ukrainian Olympian banned from competing over helmet honouring war dead 12/02 09:10 - News24 | Jeffrey Epstein wanted Russian help with woman blackmailing ‘powerful’ businessmen 12/02 08:45 - 'The price of our dignity': Ukraine athlete disqualified from Olympics over memorial helmet 12/02 08:45 - Ukraine skeleton racer Heraskevych disqualified from Olympics over memorial helmet 12/02 08:32 - 'Price of dignity' - Ukrainian banned by IOC over war dead helmet 12/02 07:18 - Iran’s Larijani accuses Israel of trying to sabotage US negotiations