News 25/02/26

Jeffrey Epstein blamed “Charles” on the day Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor stepped down as UK trade envoy.

On 21 July 2011, Epstein wrote, “I assume he knows that this is Charles’ doing,” in response to an associate noting, “Lots of TV coverage on PA and always big feature on you. Insane.” PA is understood to refer to Prince Andrew.

The Metropolitan Police has apologised to Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle for “inadvertently revealing information” connected to Lord Mandelson’s arrest.

Hoyle had passed details to the Met regarding the former business secretary after lawyers claimed a “baseless suggestion” that Mandelson was a flight risk prompted his Monday arrest. A Met spokesperson said: “The Met has apologised to the Speaker of the House of Commons this afternoon for inadvertently revealing information during an investigation into allegations of misconduct in public office.”

Firefighters were called to Poyle Road in Slough early on Saturday, 21 February, following reports of a vehicle fire.

Crews from Slough and Langley arrived around 3.25am, but found a lorry leaking a significant amount of hydraulic fuel rather than flames. Using absorbent granules, firefighters contained the spill to prevent it spreading across the road. The Environment Agency and National Highways were notified to assess any wider impact and arrange follow‑up action.

A former head gamekeeper has been found guilty of the shotgun murder of an ex-colleague.

David Campbell, 77, shot Brian Low, 65, on a remote track near Aberfeldy, Perthshire, in February 2024 and fled the scene using his wife’s e-bike. He was sentenced to life imprisonment at the High Court in Glasgow and must serve at least 19 years. Judge Lord Scott described the killing as an appalling and senseless act of extreme wickedness.

Temperatures have reached their highest level this year, with the Met Office reporting 18.7 Celsius at Kew Gardens, London, on Wednesday afternoon.

Parts of East Anglia and south-east England rose above 17 Celsius in sunshine, while cloud and rain further north and west kept temperatures in the low to mid teens. A milder southerly wind has boosted temperatures and could bring vivid sunsets as Saharan dust moves across the UK.

Sir Keir Starmer has raised concerns after a “serious incident” at a mosque in Manchester.

Police arrested a man who allegedly entered Manchester Central Mosque during Ramadan prayers carrying several weapons, including an axe. The suspect, a white man in his 40s, was with another man, a black male. The arrest occurred at around 8.40pm on Tuesday in the Victoria Park area of south Manchester. The first man remains in custody, held on suspicion of carrying an offensive weapon and possession of class B drugs, as officers continue questioning him.

The UK is “pausing” the process of legally confirming the deal to transfer control of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius while discussions continue with the United States.

The agreement would see the UK cede sovereignty of the islands and pay an average of £101 million a year to lease back a joint UK-US military base on the largest island. Foreign Office Minister Hamish Falconer told MPs that following interventions from the US, concerns are now being discussed directly with Washington, after President Donald Trump urged Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer last week to reconsider the deal despite earlier support.

Phil Collins, Oasis, Pink and Shakira are among 17 artists nominated for the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame this year.

Other nominees include Jeff Buckley, Lauryn Hill, Mariah Carey and Wu-Tang Clan. Artists or bands become eligible 25 years after releasing their first commercial recording. Oasis and Carey have been nominated twice before. Pink is now eligible, 26 years after her debut single, while Shakira could become one of only a handful of Latin American musicians ever admitted.

A man who stabbed a nine year old girl outside her mother’s embroidery shop has been jailed for a minimum of 25 years.

Deividas Skebas, 26, attacked Lilia Valutyte as she played with a hula hoop in Boston, Lincolnshire, on 28 July 2022. She was stabbed in the heart. Skebas, a Lithuanian national with schizophrenia who had moved back to the UK weeks earlier, denied murder but admitted manslaughter by diminished responsibility. Lilia’s mother, Lina Savickiene, said she found her daughter covered in blood with the hoop still around her.

The Commons Speaker has confirmed he spoke to police about Peter Mandelson.

At the start of business in the House, Sir Lindsay Hoyle said he passed on information to the Metropolitan Police in good faith, as was his duty and responsibility. His statement follows a report in The Times that he told officers Mandelson was a potential flight risk after receiving a tip. The former US ambassador was arrested on Monday afternoon.

Some parts of the UK are expected to see temperatures reach 19 Celsius, making it warmer than holiday destinations including Malta and Barcelona.

The milder spell comes at the end of a winter which has brought rainfall above the 30 year average. Forecasters say it will be mild almost everywhere on Wednesday, with plenty of sunshine in some areas, before cooler conditions move in from Thursday. Sky News meteorologist Dr Christopher England said abundant sunshine in the southeast helped temperatures reach 16.6 Celsius at Frittenden in Kent and High Beach in Essex yesterday.

Tourette’s campaigner John Davidson says the BBC should have worked harder to prevent anything he said at the Bafta Film Awards from being broadcast.

Davidson, who has involuntary tics, shouted a racist slur while actors Michael B Jordan and Delroy Lindo were on stage at Sunday’s ceremony. He told Variety he remembered a microphone directly in front of him and questioned whether that was wise, knowing he would tic. The BBC said the language arose from involuntary verbal tics associated with Tourette syndrome, apologised it was not edited out, and confirmed it has been removed from iPlayer.

Almost a quarter of English councils are set to miss the official deadline to provide weekly food waste collections to all homes, a BBC investigation has found.

Defra had promised “every household in England” would receive weekly collections from next month, but over 70 councils reported they will not meet that timetable. Delays have been blamed on high demand for new specialist vehicles and ongoing funding challenges, despite more than £340 million in grants from Defra. Environment minister Mary Creagh said councils also received a “significant uplift in this year’s budget” to support the policy and help ensure its success.

British dual nationals without a valid British passport could be stopped from entering the UK under rules coming into force today.

To board a flight, ferry, or train, they must present a valid passport or a Certificate of Entitlement, which costs £589. Those who cannot show one of these documents risk being denied boarding, as the government begins enforcing its new Electronic Travel Authorisation scheme.

Ofgem has confirmed that the average annual energy bill will fall by seven per cent in April.

The reduction follows government intervention and had been forecast by Cornwall Insight. Between April and June, the typical dual fuel bill will drop to £1,641, down from the current cap of £1,758. Compared with the same period in 2025, bills will be £208, or 11 per cent, lower, benefiting most households across England, Wales and Scotland.

Donald Trump has delivered what is believed to be the longest State of the Union speech on record.

The address ended with an extended focus on America’s two hundred and fiftieth anniversary. He cited the taming of the dangerous Wild West, victories over fascism and communism, and major technological advances. The President placed himself at the centre of that history, repeating his pledge to usher in a Golden Age and saying he has delivered. The speech lasted around one hour and forty eight minutes.

The Government has approved requests in principle for exceptional financial support from Slough Borough Council and the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead to help set balanced budgets.

Councils can apply for a capitalisation direction, known as EFS, to manage financial pressures. For the 2026 to 2027 financial year, RBWM will be allowed to borrow 48.75 million pounds in principle. In February last year, it also received permission for 103 million pounds of support.

The NHS says it has secured alternative medical cement to ensure joint surgery can continue.

Hospitals were told last week to postpone procedures, including knee and hip replacements, after the main supplier reported a major production problem. At the time, the health service was thought to have just two weeks of stock and was prioritising emergency patients and the most complex cases. NHS England now believes the shortfall will be covered after a new supplier was found and another increased deliveries.

Energy bills are set to fall in April following changes to costs by the Government.

Details of the reduction will be announced shortly. Most households in England, Wales and Scotland are expected to benefit, regardless of tariff, although savings will vary. Ofgem will publish its next price cap soon. Forecasts suggest those on variable tariffs could see bills cut by around seven per cent. However, prices remain high, debts have grown, and customers are urged to shop around.