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In today's newsletter: What the newly disclosed Epstein pages really tells us - and why some survivors are frustrated with the way the narrative is being toldGood morning. The mills of God may grind slowly, but the wheels of the US justice department appear to turn even more sluggishly when it comes to those connected with the convicted child sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.Over the past few days, the release of millions of previously sealed documents relating to Epstein has reignited scrutiny of his relationships with politicians, business leaders and public figures around the world. But amid the frenzy over names and emails, there are growing concerns that the disclosure risks repeating a familiar pattern: centring powerful men, while the experiences of survivors once again slip into the background.Jeffrey Epstein | Peter Mandelson is facing a possible police investigation into his alleged leak of market-sensitive information to Jeffrey Epstein at the height of the financial crisis; and the charity of Sarah Ferguson has announced it is closing after new revelations emerged about the former duchess's friendship with Epstein.UK news | Dan Norris, a former Labour minister and now an independent MP, has been arrested for a second time on suspicion of rape, sexual assault, voyeurism and upskirting. Norris has denied the allegations.Doctors | Resident doctors in England have voted in favour of continuing industrial action over the next six months, the British Medical Association has announced.Gaza | The Rafah border crossing between Gaza and Egypt has been reopened by Israel for people on foot, as fragile diplomatic efforts inch forward. According to an Egyptian official, only 50 Palestinians will be permitted to cross in each direction on the first day of operations.Environment | A damning report has found that the EU's renewable energy targets for 2030 are out of reach" because of lack of progress in domestic production, refining and recycling. Continue reading...

David Littleproud says party will take our time' to consider Sussan Ley's offer

Masoud Pezeshkian instructs foreign minister to seek negotiations with US as Trump warns bad things would happen' if no solution agreedIran's president said on Tuesday that he had instructed his foreign minister to pursue fair and equitable negotiations" with the US, as the two countries reportedly prepared to send top envoys to Istanbul for high-stakes talks on the Iranian nuclear programme later this week.President Masoud Pezeshkian said in a post on X: I have instructed my minister of foreign affairs, provided that a suitable environment exists - one free from threats and unreasonable expectations - to pursue fair and equitable negotiations, guided by the principles of dignity, prudence, and expediency." Continue reading...

Sleek car doors reduce vehicle drag but are prone to losing operability in the event of a crash, officials sayChina will soon ban concealed door handles on electric vehicles (EVs), becoming the first country to do so after several deadly incidents triggered global scrutiny of the controversial design first popularised by Tesla.According to regulations announced on Monday by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, cars sold in China will now be required to have a mechanical release on both the inside and outside of every door except the boot. Continue reading...

Euphoric scenes are a snub to theocracy's culture of piety, say analysts, and carry message of rebellionIranians killed in recent protests that rocked the country have been laid to rest in boisterous funerals featuring loud pop music and dancing, apparently intended to convey defiance to the ruling Islamic regime.Instead of holding sombre traditional mourning ceremonies presided over by a Shia cleric, bereaved relatives are turning the burials into exultant celebrations of the lives of their loved ones in what analysts say is an intentional snub to the culture of piety demanded by Iran's theocracy. Continue reading...

Broader investigation under way into police handling of allegations against 37-year-old, who has still not been found

Josie Scott, who has played in the Australian heavy metal band with her brother Kim for 40 years, writes to fans: I've decided to embrace, rather than endure, who I am'

Exclusive: One Nation leader gifted the flight from company of Australia's richest person last year, but did not declare in line with parliamentary rules

Latest release of files about disgraced financier reveals she told Epstein he was the brother I have always wished forThe charity of Sarah Ferguson has announced that it is closing after new revelations emerged about the former duchess's friendship with convicted child sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.Sarah's Trust, the international charity launched by the ex-wife of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, will close for the foreseeable future" after some months" of discussion, according to a spokesperson. Continue reading...

Caroline Willgoose, whose 15-year-old son was killed by another pupil, says murder was senseless and avoidable'The family of a 15-year-old boy who was stabbed to death at school by another pupil has said her son's murder was senseless and avoidable" and that a report ordered by the school showed too many red flags" were missed.Harvey Willgoose died one year ago to the day, and his killer, Mohammed Umar Khan, is serving a minimum term of 16 years' detention. A report commissioned by the trust that runs Harvey's school, All Saints Catholic high school in Sheffield, has highlighted a number of missed opportunities in the run-up to the murder. The review was undertaken by a former school headteacher and inspector of schools at Learn Sheffield. Continue reading...

The White House says the president is not involved' in running his businesses. Ethics experts remain concernedDonald Trump has been accused of corruption, plain and simple" after it was revealed that a member of the Emirati royal family was behind a $500m investment into the Trump family's cryptocurrency company.Ethics experts say the deal - struck just days before the US president's inauguration last January - amounts to a deep conflict of interest for the White House, amid calls for a congressional investigation into the transaction. Continue reading...

Author says accusations spread and amplified' by people more interested in outrage and getting clicks'Neil Gaiman has said that multiple sexual assault allegations against him are simply untrue" and claimed to be the victim of a smear campaign", in the first post addressing the accusations for almost a year.Gaiman, 65, author of novels including American Gods and the Ocean at the End of the Lane, has faced allegations of sexual abuse and coercive behaviour, which were outlined in a podcast by the Tortoise Media team in July 2024. Continue reading...

Move from Claudia Sheinbaum comes after Trump signed an order threatening tariffs on countries that sell oil to CubaMexico's president Claudia Sheinbaum has pledged to send humanitarian aid this week to Cuba and said Mexico was exploring all diplomatic avenues to be able to send fuel to the Cuban people," despite efforts from Washington to cut off oil to the Caribbean nation.Donald Trump last week signed an executive order allowing the US to slap tariffs on countries sending crude oil to Cuba and on Saturday said that Sheinbaum had agreed to halt shipments of oil at his request - a claim the Mexican leader rejected. Continue reading...

Commissioner to file motion requesting return of property unlawfully taken during raid related to 2020 electionFulton county leaders said they would fire back in court on Monday, intent on limiting the scope of a federal warrant that led the FBI to seize 2020 elections documents last week.County attorneys intend to file a motion in federal court asking for an order mandating the return of property that was unlawfully seized or retained, said the Fulton county commissioner Marvin Arrington Jr. Continue reading...

Ruling clears Denmark's Orsted to resume construction on its Sunrise Wind project off the coast of New YorkAll five offshore wind projects halted by the Trump administration in December can resume construction after a federal judge's ruling on Monday that cleared Denmark's Orsted to proceed with its Sunrise Wind project off the coast of New York.Orsted's request for an injunction blocking the interior department order was the fifth brought by an offshore wind developer since the 22 December pause on five leases. The agency stopped work on the multibillion-dollar facilities due to national security concerns around radar interference. Continue reading...

Gordon Brown calls for inquiry over Peter Mandelson's apparent disclosure of highly sensitive government information to Jeffrey EpsteinPeter Mandelson leaked a sensitive UK government document to Jeffrey Epstein while he was business secretary that proposed 20bn of asset sales and revealed Labour's tax policy plans", the Financial Times is reporting.In his story, Jim Pickard says:The memo, dubbed Business Issues", was written on June 13 2009 by Nick Butler, who at the time was special adviser to the then prime minister Gordon Brown.The confidential document, which was released by the US Department of Justice as part of a tranche of millions of files relating to Epstein, had been sent to British government officials including cabinet secretary Jeremy Heywood.It is right that Peter Mandelson is no longer a member of the Labour party. Disciplinary action was underway prior to his resignation.

The latest revelations and reaction to them may mean he has finally encountered a scandal he is unable to outrunIt was the evening of 6 May 2010 and months after being released from jail for procuring a child for prostitution, Jeffrey Epstein was curious as to the result of Britain's general election.Well?" he emailed Peter Mandelson, the then de facto deputy prime minister in Gordon Brown's government. Continue reading...

British Medical Association members back further action as union's chair says a deal is there to be done'

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Demand for year 7 pupils is expected to fall by 7.6% over the next four years, with similar numbers expected in primary schoolsSchools in London could lose 45m in funding over the next four years as pupil numbers continue to fall, a report has warned, with secondary schools facing staff and curriculum cuts as budgets dwindle.Until now, primary schools in the capital have been worst hit by falling birth rates, leading to about 90 school closures or mergers in the past five years. But the crisis is now spreading to secondary schools, which are expected to see steep declines in pupil numbers. Continue reading...

Poor communication also cited as factor in death of Ellame Ford-Dunn, 16, on Worthing hospital's groundsA shortage of mental health beds and poor communication between agencies contributed to the death of a teenage girl on hospital grounds, an inquest has found.Ellame Ford-Dunn, 16, who had a history of self-harm, died in March 2022 after absconding from an acute children's ward where she had been put because of a dearth of appropriate mental health beds. Continue reading...

Croydon school's principal says success of Olivia Dean and Lola Young is a brilliant celebration' of free arts educationAs the Grammy winners took to the stage in Los Angeles on Sunday night, one common thread emerged: many had once walked the halls of a comprehensive school in Croydon, south London.British performers Olivia Dean, who won the prestigious gong for best new artist; Lola Young, who took home best pop solo performance for Messy; and FKA twigs, who won best dance/electronic album for Eusexua, all attended the Brit school in Selhurst. As did Raye, who earlier in the week received the Harry Belafonte best song for social change award for Ice Cream Man. Continue reading...

Former Italian PM and ECB chief says Europe must urgently unify on defence and foreign affairsUkraine's Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the country's energy system remained seriously" challenged by the impact of recent Russian strikes.More than 200 buildings are still without heating in Kyiv, as temperatures plummeted to -17 Celsius, with crews from many regions of Ukraine ... deployed for the repair work."Europe absolutely can defend yourself. Please stop whining. Why is this so much whingeing about [on], you know, if the US leave, what are we going to do? Come on.... Europe ... why are we so scared: please, don't leave the US leave...' Please stand up to my president. Hold us accountable. Make us live up to our talking points." Continue reading...

Gothams LLC's draft proposal, obtained by the Guardian, suggests seven-year trucking and logistics monopolyA US disaster response firm submitted a plan to White House officials that would guarantee 300% profits and a seven-year monopoly over a new trucking and logistics plan for Donald Trump's Board of Peace in Gaza, according to a November proposal obtained by the Guardian.The draft plan from Gothams LLC would allow it to collect a fee for every truck moving goods into Gaza, and charge for the use of its warehousing and distribution system. Continue reading...

Charge is designed to protect much-loved monument from overtourism, but not all visitors like the ideaTeresa Romero is in Rome to celebrate a milestone birthday and one of the first things she did on Monday was visit the Trevi fountain to participate in the ritual of tossing a coin into the waters of the late baroque masterpiece.But before the Portuguese tourist could get close to the fountain, she had to hand over 2 (1.70) - the cost of an access fee that has finally been enacted by Rome council officials after years of discussions. Continue reading...

Emails from 2009 appear to show the then business secretary shared confidential UK tax plans with Jeffrey Epstein

Responding to critics of policy, Pedro Sanchez says Spain is choosing path of dignity, community and justice'

Labor can afford a few moments of glee now, but spending, emissions, AI and Aukus are just some of the challenges on the road to the next election

Dozens of eCourier workers who deliver vital NHS samples claim they are classed wrongly as self-employedDozens of drivers are taking legal action against a Royal Mail-owned courier service, arguing that they are entitled to workers' rights.The 46 drivers are classified as self-employed by eCourier. They work around the clock making deliveries, including transporting vital blood and tissue samples to and from NHS hospitals. Continue reading...

The US president tried to kill offshore wind projects - now four are back under constructionConstruction has resumed on four offshore wind mega-projects after they survived a near fatal attack by Donald Trump's administration thanks to rulings by federal judges. These are being seen as victories for clean energy amid a wider war being waged on it by the Trump administration.The wind farms are considered critical by grid planners as America faces an energy affordability crisis. Together, the four projects will contribute nearly five gigawatts of energy to the east coast, enough to power 3.5 million homes. Continue reading...

Island's first tropical storm of season may bring 150mm of rain - meanwhile, eastern Europe freezes with possible night-time lows of -30CAt least three people have died and nearly 30,000 people have been affected by flooding after Madagascar's first tropical storm of the season hit over the weekend.Tropical Cyclone Fytia formed to the north-west of Madagascar over the northern Mozambique Channel on Thursday. Continue reading...

Tens of thousands of ill and wounded Palestinians await evacuation as diplomatic efforts inch forward

Labour suspended Norris, 66, last year after his original arrest on suspicion of child sexual abuse offencesDan Norris, a former Labour minister and now an independent MP, has been rearrested on suspicion of rape, sexual assault, voyeurism and upskirting, it is understood.Labour suspended Norris, 66, who defeated Jacob Rees-Mogg at the last election, last year after his original arrest. Continue reading...

Explore the Guardian's tracker to see which operators are nationalised and if services are improving under public ownershipThe majority of Great Britain's major rail operators are now in public ownership, as the Labour government continues its efforts to make the railways more reliable, affordable and accessible".The nationalisation of West Midlands Trains on 1 February represents the tenth major passenger service to be brought back into public ownership, leaving six to go before the government's deadline of completing every operator by 2027. Continue reading...

Nationals leader met with Liberal counterpart less than two weeks after spectacularly blowing up the Coalition

Exclusive: Andy George, who has been subject to several investigations, believes there is an effort to marginalise the views of those he representsI tell you now, there is an attempt by some of the longer serving chief constables to get rid of me," says Ch Insp Andy George. I can guarantee I know exactly what they think of me: that I'm a wee upstart, so I am, that doesn't know my place," he adds with a smile.The eldest son of a Protestant mother from Armagh in Northern Ireland and a father who was born in Malaysia but served in the British army, George is the longest-serving president of the National Black Police Association (NBPA). Continue reading...

Nationwide says average price of UK home rose by 0.3% last month after surprise fall in late 2025

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I need to focus on getting better, on being with family and friends and making sure that I'm giving my health my best shot', Afternoons host says

Ahead of a major exhibition in London documenting the South American wetland as it faces unprecedented threat, Lalo de Almeida recounts the stories behind his award-winning imagesLalo de Almeida is a documentary photographer based in Sao Paulo, Brazil. In 2021 his photo essay Pantanal Ablaze was awarded first place in the environment stories category at the World Press Photo contest. In 2022, he won the Eugene Smith grant in humanistic photography and World Press Photo's long-term project award for his work Amazonian Dystopia, which documents the exploitation of the world's largest tropical forest.I have been photographing socio-environmental issues for more than 30 years, especially in the Amazon. 2020 was no different. News of the uncontrolled fires devastating the Pantanal began to catch my attention. So, together with a fellow journalist, I decided to go and see what was happening for myself. Continue reading...

Exclusive: Underdrawing suggests attempt to debunk myth that former wife of Henry VIII had sixth fingerAnne Boleyn's Hever Rose" portrait is one of history's most iconic faces, with her B" pendant, her French hood, her dark eyes and a red rose in her right hand. Now a secret that has remained hidden for nearly 500 years has been discovered beneath the layers of paint.Scientific analysis of the painting at Hever Castle, her childhood home in Kent, has uncovered evidence that an Elizabethan artist sought to create a visual rebuttal" to claims that Henry VIII's ill-fated wife was a witch with a sixth finger on her right hand. Continue reading...

Woman, 22, thought to have suffered a cardiac arrest after being dragged along the snow and suspended mid-air

Report covering 23 conflicts over last 18 months concludes more than 100,000 civilians have been killed as war crimes rage out of controlAn authoritative survey of 23 armed conflicts over the last 18 months has concluded that international law seeking to limit the effects of war is at breaking point, with more than 100,000 civilians killed, while torture and rape are committed with near impunity.The extensive study by the Geneva Academy of International Humanitarian Law and Human Rights describes the deaths of 18,592 children in Gaza, growing civilian casualties in Ukraine and an epidemic" of sexual violence in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Continue reading...

William Blake House in Northants accused of mismanagement after revelation it paid one of its own trustees 1mA group of families have called for an urgent inquiry into a charity caring for their highly vulnerable disabled relatives which is under threat of closure after running up debts of 1.6m in unpaid taxes and paying 1m to one of its own trustees.Earlier this month, a judge gave the charity, William Blake House, just weeks to pay off its debts to HMRC or face a winding up order. The charity's accounts show auditors have routinely questioned whether it is a viable business. Continue reading...

US naval battle group gathers off Iran's shores as supreme leader in Tehran warns attack would spark regional warDonald Trump has said Iran is talking to the US, hinting at a deal that would avoid the use of military strikes, as Iran's supreme leader warned that any attack by the US would spark a regional war.The US president's comments came as Washington deployed a naval battle group led by the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln off Iran's shores, after Trump's threats to intervene in Iran's deadly crackdown on anti-government protests. Continue reading...

More than 100 police and volunteers in five-day search of Mount Buffalo national park, near Porepunkah

Clive Palmer's Mineralogy was the single biggest political donor in 2024-25, giving $53.1m to Trumpet of Patriots, which failed to win a seat

With big numbers for Kendrick Lamar, Lady Gaga, Bad Bunny and more, check out the nominated artists this year

Those who stuck to minimum loan repayments through last year's rate cuts will bear the brunt of Tuesday's anticipated hike, while those already paying extra are in a great position'

Departure from party follows release of documents in US appearing to show Jeffrey Epstein sent former US ambassador $75,000Peter Mandelson has said he has resigned his membership of the Labour party to avoid causing it further embarrassment" after more revelations about his friendship with Jeffrey Epstein.The peer, who was sacked as US ambassador last year because of his links to Epstein, featured in documents released by the US Department of Justice on Friday related to the convicted sex offender. Continue reading...