Penny the Doberman pinscher wins the 150th Westminster dog show

A Doberman pinscher named Penny won best in show Tuesday night at the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show, netting U.S. show dogs' most coveted prize.

Oil giants brace for a bruising earnings season — with shareholder returns at risk

A weaker crude price environment has ramped up the pressure on Big Oil’s commitment to allocating cash to shareholders.

Brothers of Renee Good call for action in Congress

The brothers of Renee Good, killed by federal immigration officers in Minneapolis, called on Congress to do something about the violence on American streets as a result of immigration operations.

2/3: CBS Evening News

Ransom note sent in disappearance of Savannah Guthrie's mom, Nancy, sheriff says; 13-year-old boy swam for hours to save family swept out to sea off Australian coast

Australian man dies skiing in Japan days after Queensland snowboarder killed in ski lift accident

The 27-year-old died after reportedly collapsing while skiing with friends near a Niseko ski resort

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A 27-year-old Melbourne man has died at a ski resort in Japan, days after the death of Queensland snowboarder Brooke Day.

The man collapsed and suffered a heart attack while skiing with six others in Niseko, Hokkaido, on Monday, according to a spokesperson for a local ski lodge who asked not to be identified.

I’m married, Pakistani – and I don’t want children. That doesn’t make me broken | Fizza Abbas

I live in a country where a woman’s value is often measured by motherhood, but for me and many others fulfilment simply looks different

I booked an online appointment with a gynaecologist in Karachi during the pandemic. I had a severe urinary tract infection and needed immediate relief. Everything felt routine at first: the doctor joined the video call late, held her phone awkwardly and asked about my symptoms. I explained, she prescribed medication, and then came the expected questions: Was I married? For how long? Any children? When I said “no,” her tone shifted as she asked, “Bachay tou chaihiye na aap ko?” (You do want children, right?). It felt subtly menacing – the assumption was clear: not wanting kids meant something was wrong.

What shocked me more was my own response. “Ji, ji, bilkul,” (Yes, yes, of course) I mumbled. Later, I was furious with myself for crumbling under pressure – for not being honest.

Zero net migration would shrink UK economy by 3.6%, says thinktank

Jump of £37bn in budget deficit by 2040 would force government to increase taxes, NIESR predicts

The UK economy would be 3.6% smaller by 2040 if net migration fell to zero, forcing the government to raise taxes to combat a much bigger budget deficit, a thinktank has predicted.

The National Institute of Economic and Social Research (NIESR) said falling birthrates in the UK and a sharp decrease in net migration last year had led it to consider what would happen if this trend continued to the end of the decade.

‘If I think about what this means, I want to cry’: what happens when a city loses its university?

When Essex University’s Southend campus opened, it was a message of hope for a ‘left behind’ UK seaside town. Its closure will be felt far beyond its 800 students, some of whom will not get their degrees

The seaside city of Southend-on-Sea, on England’s east coast, looks grey on a winter afternoon in term-time. Its cobbled high street, bordering the university campus, is sparsely populated with market stalls, vape shops and discount retailers, and feels unusually quiet.

“There used to be lots of shops, restaurants and youth clubs around here,” says 23-year-old Nathan Doucette-Chiddicks. Now, the city is about to lose something else that it can scarcely do without.

Penny the Doberman pinscher wins best in show at Westminster Dog Show

A Doberman pinscher named Penny won best in show at the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show.

The people betting on catastrophic world events – podcast

Prediction markets allow you to put money on everything from the US attacking Iran to Jesus returning. Saahil Desai explains their dizzying rise

In the early hours of 3 January, Donald Trump ordered a surprise attack on the Venezuelan capital, Caracas, to kidnap the country’s leader, Nicolás Maduro. Millions of Venezuelans’ lives were thrown into uncertainty. Politicians at home and abroad scrambled to respond. It seemed this was something no one had seen coming. Except one person did actually predict it.

In the hours before the attack, someone - and we have no way of knowing who - placed a series of bets that Donald Trump would oust Maduro on a prediction market platform, netting them nearly $500,000 when it happened. These platforms allow their users not just to bet on whoever’s going to win the Super Bowl, but also on world events. Heavily regulated under the Biden administration, these apps have enjoyed a huge boom in popularity since Trump came to power.

Ukraine-Russia talks: how close is a peace deal and what does each side want?

Despite Trump-appeasing shows of willingness, a big gap remains between the positions of delegations meeting in Abu Dhabi

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Senior Ukrainian and Russian officials are due to meet in Abu Dhabi for a second round of talks brokered by the Trump administration.

The two-day talks are expected to mirror last month’s format, with negotiators from Washington, Kyiv and Moscow in attendance.

Pinterest CEO rebukes, fires 'obstructionist' employees who created tool to track layoffs

Pinterest CEO Bill Ready lashed out at staffers who created an internal tool to track layoffs at the company, and fired those involved.

Charlie Kirk killing: key Utah prosecutor denies conflict of interest

Lawyers for accused Tyler Robinson urge removal because prosecutor’s daughter attended rally where Kirk was killed

A Utah prosecutor involved in the case against Tyler Robinson, the alleged killer of the rightwing activist Charlie Kirk, denied allegations of a conflict of interest in the case during a hearing on Tuesday.

Robinson’s attorneys have argued that a judge should disqualify local prosecutors because the adult daughter of Chad Grunander, a deputy county attorney, was in attendance at the rally on a Utah college campus where Kirk was shot dead. The defense alleges that the office’s move to seek the death penalty just days after Kirk’s killing indicated a “strong emotional reaction” from Grunander, and suggested a conflict of interest.

Mother says asking 13-year-old son to swim four hours to save family ‘one of the hardest decisions’

‘What have I done?’ thought Joanne Appelbee as she waited for rescue with her two other children in rough seas off Western Australia

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Joanne Appelbee says asking her 13-year-old son Austin to swim four hours through dangerous waters to get help after her family was swept out to sea was “one of the hardest decisions” she has ever made.

“I knew he was the strongest and he could do it,” she told the ABC. “I would have never went because I wouldn’t have left the kids at sea, so I had to send somebody.”

Teaching our kids they have the ability to say no empowers them with better reasons to say yes | Myke Bartlett

Learning to say no helps them resist impulsiveness and builds reflection into the decision-making process

• Sharing the load is a column about parenting children of all ages

One of the most frustrating aspects of parenting is having to force your kids to do something they will undoubtedly enjoy. The effort required to get them out of the house for football practice, a museum visit or a swim at the beach can often outweigh any potential reward (a temporary reprieve from holiday boredom, for example).

Couples talk about love languages. Parents are more familiar with the multifarious languages of no. These range from blunt refusal through to nuclear meltdowns and very temporary and highly specific vision loss – the latter rendering essential objects such as clothes and shoes invisible, even within a high-contrast setting.

Mitch McConnell admitted to hospital with ‘flu-like symptoms’

Statement says Republican senator, 83, checked himself into local hospital and prognosis is ‘positive’

The Republican senator Mitch McConnell was admitted to a hospital on Monday night due to “flu-like symptoms”, his office said in a statement.

“In an abundance of caution, after experiencing flu-like symptoms over the weekend, Senator McConnell checked himself into a local hospital for evaluation last night,” the statement reads. “His prognosis is positive and he is grateful for the excellent care he is receiving.”

'Muskonomy' shakeup: SpaceX valuation approaches Tesla's after merger with xAI

Elon Musk is now overseeing two companies worth over $1 trillion, at least on paper.

Trump signs funding bill to end shutdown after package clears House

The House on Tuesday voted 217 to 214 to fund major parts of the government and end the partial shutdown.

Judge restricts use of tear gas, projectile munitions at Portland protests

The ruling comes just days after federal agents launched tear gas at a crowd of demonstrators, including young children, that local officials described as peaceful.

NASA moon launch off until March due to issues during tests

NASA says it can't try until March at the earliest to send a crewed spacecraft on a flight around the moon and back, due to hydrogen leaks during testing of the Artemis II rocket.

NASA hopes to fix Artemis II moon rocket leak with on-pad repair

NASA plans to test the planned leak repair with a second dress rehearsal fueling test later this month.

Power outages collide with boil-water advisories after winter storm

In Mississippi, more than 36,000 homes and businesses have now gone a second week without electricity after a historic winter storm.

Hydrogen leaks delay Artemis II moon mission until March

NASA announced the long-awaited flight to send four astronauts on a trip around the moon was being delayed to March after a test launch ran into a variety of problems and ultimately was called off. Mark Strassmann reports.

Renee Good's brothers testify on Capitol Hill: "We're here to ask for your help"

Renee Good's brothers were among several people who testified on Capitol Hill about federal agents and their use of force. Nicole Sganga has the latest.

Clintons will testify in Epstein probe after contempt threat, House panel says

Hillary Clinton will appear for a deposition on Feb. 26, while former President Bill Clinton will appear on Feb. 27, according to the House Oversight Committee.

Ransom note being investigated in Nancy Guthrie's disappearance, sheriff says

The sheriff says the note was sent to a local Arizona news station, which agreed not to report on it, following the disappearance of "Today" show co-host Savannah Guthrie's mother, Nancy Guthrie.

Elon Musk calls Spanish PM a ‘tyrant’ over plan to ban under-16s from social media and curb hateful content

Pedro Sánchez says urgent action needed to protect children from ‘digital wild west’, drawing anger from owner of X

Spain has proposed a ban on social media use by teenagers as attitudes hardened in Europe against the technology, drawing personal insults against the prime minister from Elon Musk.

The government is preparing a series of measures including a social media ban for under-16s, the prime minister, Pedro Sánchez, said, promising to protect children from the “digital wild west” and hold tech companies responsible for hateful and harmful content.

Mississippi family faces power outage with no way to follow boil-water advisory

Across parts of the South, prolonged power outages are colliding with boil-water advisories, leaving some families without a way to make their water safe to drink. Kati Weis reports and Rob Marciano has the forecast.

Blood found inside home of Savannah Guthrie's mother, source says

Investigators are combing through the house of "Today" show co-host Savannah Guthrie's mother, Nancy, in search of clues to the 84-year-old's disappearance.

Sen. Mitch McConnell hospitalized with "flu-like symptoms"

A spokesman for Sen. Mitch McConnell said the Kentucky Republican's "prognosis is positive."

U.S. shoots down Iranian drone that approached aircraft carrier, military says

U.S. Central Command said the drone "aggressively" approached the USS Abraham Lincoln as it was crossing through the Arabian Sea.

Massive release of Epstein files includes 3 million documents and photos

The Justice Department released more new documents Friday from the Jeffrey Epstein files, more than a month after the DOJ's original deadline to do so.

Ransom note sent in disappearance of Savannah Guthrie's mom, Nancy, sheriff says

A ransom note was sent to a local Arizona news station following the disappearance of "Today" show co-host Savannah Guthrie's mother, Nancy Guthrie, the Pima County sheriff told CBS News. Jonathan Vigliotti has the latest.

Lawyers for alleged Charlie Kirk killer again ask to have prosecutors removed

Tyler Robinson's attorneys want the entire Utah County Attorney's Office disqualified because one of the prosecutors has a daughter who was present at the rally where Kirk was shot.

Australia’s long, complicated energy transition is finally working – and not a moment too soon | Tony Wood for the Conversation

Renewables and energy storage contributed more than 50% of supplied electricity last quarter as real progress is being made – but it’s not yet job done

Ten years ago, if a heatwave as intense as last week’s record-breaker had hit the east coast, Australia’s power supply may well have buckled. But this time, the system largely operated as we needed, despite some outages.

On Australia’s main grid last quarter, renewables and energy storage contributed more than 50% of supplied electricity for the first time, while wholesale power prices were more than 40% lower than a year earlier.

Senate Banking Democrats demand delay on Warsh nomination until Powell and Cook investigations end

Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C., has separately vowed to hold up the nomination until the DOJ resolves its criminal investigation of Fed Chair Jerome Powell.

US shoots down Iranian drone flying towards aircraft carrier, navy says

Shahed-139 said to have approached USS Abraham Lincoln ‘with unclear intent’ in lead-up to expected US-Iran talks on Tehran’s nuclear programme

The US military says it shot down an Iranian drone that “aggressively” approached the Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier in the Arabian Sea.

The Iranian Shahed-139 drone was flying toward the carrier “with unclear intent” when an F-35 fighter jet shot it down, US Central Command said on Tuesday.

Women in tech and finance at higher risk from AI job losses, report says

‘Mid-career’ females also being sidelined by rigid hiring processes, says City of London Corporation

Women working in tech and financial services are at greater risk of losing their jobs to increased use of AI and automation than their male peers, according to a report that found experienced females were also being sidelined as a result of “rigid hiring processes”.

“Mid-career” women – with at least five years’ experience – are being overlooked for digital roles in the tech and financial and professional services sectors, where they are traditionally underrepresented, according to the report by the City of London Corporation.

One in six autistic pupils in UK have not attended school at all since September

Data comes as government prepares to publish plans to overhaul Send system in England

One in six autistic pupils have not been to school at all since the start of this academic year, according to a new survey which found that mental health issues were often behind high levels of school absence.

Nearly half (45%) of the parents and children who responded to the UK-wide survey by the Ambitious About Autism charity said they felt “blamed” by the government for the absences.

Microsoft promotes sales leaders as company pursues AI growth

Judson Althoff, CEO of Microsoft's commercial business, wants to reduce the customer feedback loop as the company sells artificial intelligence services.

Trump: If states can't run elections 'honestly,' then 'somebody else should take over'

Trump had been asked what he meant when he called on members of the Republican Party to "take over the voting" in a recent interview with Dan Bongino.

House committee report accuses DHS of Good, Pretti killings cover-up

The Democratic members of a U.S. House committee have released the findings of a report examining last month's fatal shootings in Minneapolis by federal immigration officers.

‘The smart, the rich, the powerful’: Epstein associated with Silicon Valley elite years after his release from prison

Billionaires and intellectuals attended events with the disgraced financier years after he served time for sex offense, files reveal

Newly released emails and travel itineraries appear to show that for years after Jeffrey Epstein served time for procuring underage girls for prostitution, he continued to attend exclusive dinners alongside Silicon Valley’s most famous billionaires.

The emails, part of a trove released by the Department of Justice on Friday, show that as late as 2018, Epstein was invited to or attended dinners alongside the likes of Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos, Google founders Larry Page and Sergey Brin, Twitter co-founder Evan Williams, Microsoft founder Bill Gates, and Google vice-president and later Yahoo CEO Marissa Mayer.

AMD shares drop as forecast comes up short of some expectations

AMD's first-quarter forecast fell short of what some analysts were hoping for amid an AI spending boom.

Nvidia, OpenAI appear stalled on their mega deal. But the AI giants still need each other

Five months after OpenAI and Nvidia announced a $100 billion deal, no contract has been signed and no money has changed hands.

Trump suggests Republicans should nationalize voting

President Trump has continued to claim without evidence that there is widespread fraud in U.S. elections.

China bans hidden car door handles, which can trap people after crashes

China has introduced new regulations, starting in 2027, requiring all car doors to open manually from both sides. Electric door handles can malfunction in a crash or battery failure.

Chipotle stock sinks as restaurant chain reports falling traffic, weak guidance

Chipotle stock has fallen about 33% over the last year, dragging the company's market value down to about $51 billion.

Apple adds agents from Anthropic and OpenAI to its coding tool

Apple is introducing agentic coding to Xcode, jumping into one of the biggest trends in technology.

Collision between Greek coastguard patrol and migrant boat kills 14

Search and rescue operation involving boats, helicopter and divers under way off the eastern Aegean island of Chios

A collision between a speedboat carrying migrants and a Greek coastguard patrol vessel off the eastern Aegean island of Chios has killed at least 14 people, the coastguard said.

A search and rescue operation involving four patrol vessels, an air force helicopter and a private boat carrying divers was under way for potential missing passengers.

More companies are pointing to AI as they lay off employees

Although economists have generally downplayed the impact of artificial intelligence on jobs, some employers are highlighting their adoption of AI.

Jimmy Lai’s son says UK government did not do enough to help him on China visit

Sebastien Lai criticises ministers for not putting conditions on his father’s release during Beijing trip

The British son of the jailed Hong Kong media entrepreneur Jimmy Lai has criticised the UK government for failing to place conditions on his father’s release during the prime minister’s visit to China last week.

Speaking at a parliamentary hearing on Tuesday, Sebastien Lai said his father’s incarceration was not only a humanitarian and national security issue, but an issue “where our values are being locked up” along with him.

‘It’s sick’: Trump administration uses mascot called ‘Coalie’ to push dirtiest fossil fuel

Cartoon lump of coal with giant eyes was spotlighted by US interior secretary in X post saying: ‘Mine, Baby, Mine!’

The Trump administration has turned to an unusual weapon in its attempt to resurrect coal mining – a cartoon lump of coal, complete with giant eyes and yellow mining garb, called “Coalie”.

The administration’s new mascot, kitted out with a helmet, boots and gloves, was introduced in a seemingly artificial intelligence-generated picture posted online by Doug Burgum, Donald Trump’s interior secretary.

Kai Havertz adds killer touch as Arsenal hold off Chelsea to book final place

When the final whistle blew, a huge wave of relief swept over this stadium. Arsenal may not have been at all convincing against a Chelsea side who caused them the occasional problem but Mikel Arteta will not care one bit. After four successive semi-final defeats, Arsenal are on their way to Wembley. At last.

After the drama of the first leg at Stamford Bridge that saw Liam Rosenior’s side travel to north London needing to overturn a 3-2 deficit, this was a much more cagey affair that was eventually settled in stoppage time by Kai Havertz’s breakaway goal against his former club. Arsenal had seemed content to keep Chelsea at arm’s length for most of the evening and rarely looked like extending their advantage until then.

Watchdog shares whistleblower complaint involving Gabbard with Congress after delay

The complaint was closed administratively by the intelligence community inspector general's office in June 2025, under prior leadership, watchdog says.

Three-quarters of cancer patients in England to survive by 2035 under new plans

Government to invest £2bn in NHS cancer services in England as figures show diagnosis made every 75 seconds in the UK

Three in four cancer patients in England will beat cancer under government plans to raise survival rates, as figures reveal someone is now diagnosed every 75 seconds in the UK.

Cancer is the country’s biggest killer, causing about one in four deaths, and survival rates lag behind several European countries, including Romania and Poland. Three-quarters of NHS hospital trusts are failing cancer patients, a Guardian analysis found last year, prompting experts to declare a “national emergency”.

‘People are dying, you have to help’: Guardiola decries wars in Sudan, Ukraine and Palestine

• Manchester City manager opens up on global conflicts

• UN reports UAE have backed Sudan paramilitary group

Pep Guardiola has spoken out against killings across the world, including in Sudan, where a paramilitary group backed by the United Arab Emirates, which in effect owns Manchester City, is embroiled in a civil war that has cost more than 150,000 lives.

Guardiola named Sudan when talking about conflicts where innocent people were dying. War crimes are said to have been carried out by both sides in the conflict. The vice‑president of the UAE, Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed al-Nahyan, owns City, where Guardiola is the manager.

New York to create team of legal observers to document ICE raids

Attorney general Letitia James says observers will monitor if Trump enforcement ‘remains within bounds of the law’

New York is creating a team of legal observers that will don purple vests to monitor and record the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement officers as they seek to detain and deport migrants, the state’s attorney general said on Tuesday.

The announcement follows weeks of sometimes violent tumult in Minneapolis, where Donald Trump has deployed thousands of armed, masked agents as he tries to deport more migrants than any of his predecessors.

Netflix co-CEO grilled by US senators over Warner Bros Discovery merger

While most focused on competition issues, Josh Hawley accused Netflix of promoting trans content to children

Netflix co-chief executive Ted Sarandos faced tough questioning over whether the streamer is “overwhelmingly woke” or killing competition on Tuesday afternoon during a congressional hearing focused on its pending acquisition of the film and streaming assets of Warner Bros Discovery.

The hearing was conducted by the Senate subcommittee on antitrust, competition policy, and consumer rights. Bruce Campbell, chief revenue and strategy officer for Warner Bros Discovery, also testified in the packed Senate hearing room.

Nvidia's Jensen Huang denies OpenAI deal rumors: 'There's no drama'

Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang said the chipmaker's plan to invest in OpenAI remains "on track."

Trump signs bill ending federal government shutdown

President Donald Trump signed a federal government funding package hours after the House of Representatives approved it.

Disney names Josh D'Amaro as its new CEO

D'Amaro will take over next month from Bob Iger, who has led the company for nearly two decades.

SBA shuts out non-U.S. citizens from its main lending program

Starting March 1, the SBA will no longer guarantee loans for small businesses owned by foreign nationals, including green card holders.

Pfizer says obesity injection shows promise as monthly treatment in mid-stage trial

The data on Pfizer's GLP-1 offer early evidence that the injection can be administered less frequently than existing drugs without sacrificing efficacy.

Pfizer beats quarterly estimates despite Covid product decline, reaffirms modest outlook

The pharmaceutical giant reaffirmed the modest 2026 outlook that rattled investors in December.

PepsiCo's drink sales are improving, and it's planning to cut snack prices

PepsiCo reported fourth-quarter earnings and revenue that topped Wall Street's estimates.

Merck tops quarterly estimates, posts modest 2026 guidance as generic competition looms

Merck posted a modest 2026 outlook that fell short of estimates, as it prepares for some drugs to go off patent later this year and face generic competition.

Sen. Warner calls Gabbard to testify after Georgia election office raid, Trump FBI call

President Donald Trump, in an interview with former FBI deputy director and podcaster Dan Bongino, recently called on members of the Republican Party to "take over the voting."

Syria, once home to a large Jewish community, takes steps to return property to Jews

A Jewish heritage foundation has set out to help restore private property appropriated after Syrian Jews left the country.

NASA delays the launch of Artemis II lunar mission by at least a month

NASA is targeting March for the launch of four astronauts on a ten-day mission to circle the moon and return safely to Earth, traveling farther than any humans have ventured in deep space.

Arizona officials say they ‘don’t know where’ Savannah Guthrie’s mother is, three days after disappearance

Nancy Guthrie was last seen on Saturday night and is believed to have been taken against her will

Officials in Arizona said on Tuesday afternoon they were no closer to finding the missing mother of Savannah Guthrie, the Today show host, three days after the octogenarian disappeared from her Tucson home – which detectives are treating as “a crime scene”.

Nancy Guthrie, 84, was last seen on Saturday night and is believed to have been taken against her will, Chris Nanos, the Pima county sheriff, said. Media reports on Tuesday said blood was found at the residence, and there were signs of forced entry.

The U.K. investigates its ex-ambassador to the U.S. over alleged leaks to Epstein

The U.K. government says newly released files related to Jeffrey Epstein suggest that the former British ambassador to the U.S. may have shared market-sensitive information with Epstein.

Trump suggests Republicans should ‘take over’ elections to protect the party

President claims idea to ‘nationalize’ elections in 15 states before midterms is to prevent rare noncitizen voting

Donald Trump suggested on a conservative podcast released on Monday that Republican state officials “take over” and “nationalize” elections in 15 states to protect the party from being voted out of office.

Trump framed the issue as a means to prevent undocumented immigrants from voting. Claims that noncitizens are voting in numbers that can affect an election are a lie. But it raises concerns about potential efforts by the president to rig the November midterm elections.

Gold and silver rebound, pulling global mining stocks and precious metal ETFs higher

Gold and silver prices rebounded after suffering a historic selloff, with analysts suggesting that the recent violent correction was more a positioning reset.

LIV Golf tour hits out at decision to only award ranking points to top-10 finishers

• Ranking points to be awarded at LIV events for first time

• Saudi-backed tour attacks ‘unprecedented restriction’

The Saudi Arabia-backed LIV Golf Tour has hit out at what it regards as victimisation from those presiding over the sport’s world rankings process, despite seeing their wait of nearly four years for recognition by the system finally end.

It was confirmed on Tuesday that those competing in LIV tournaments will receive official world golf ranking points but only when finishing in the top 10. A statement from the OWGR board said this “recognises there are a number of areas where LIV Golf does not meet the eligibility standards set out”.

French prosecutors ask appeal court to keep ban on Marine Le Pen running for office

Far-right leader was barred for five years after being found guilty of extensive fake jobs scam at European parliament

French state prosecutors have asked appeal court judges to maintain a five-year election ban on the far-right leader Marine Le Pen for embezzlement of European parliament funds in a fake jobs scandal.

If the judges decide to grant the request, Le Pen would probably not be able to run in France’s 2027 presidential election.

Trump refuses to be outdone by Europe, signing his own U.S.-India trade deal

The U.S. deal comes after global trading partners have been signing trade pacts, leaving America looking ostracized and more isolated.

Jill Biden’s ex-husband charged with murder of his wife

Linda Stevenson found unresponsive on 28 December after police responded to domestic dispute

The ex-husband of former US first lady Jill Biden has been arrested and charged with the murder of his wife, officials said on Tuesday.

William Stevenson, 77, was taken into custody on Monday and is facing a charge of first-degree murder in the death of Linda Stevenson, according to a grand jury indictment filed in Delaware.

Met police launch investigation into alleged Mandelson-Epstein email leaks

Epstein files appear to show then business secretary passing market sensitive information to child sex offender

• UK politics live – latest updates

The Metropolitan police have formally launched a criminal investigation into allegations that Peter Mandelson leaked Downing Street emails and market sensitive information to the child sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

Documents from the Epstein files released in recent days appeared to show the then business secretary sent confidential details of internal discussions to the late financier in the aftermath of the financial crash.

Elon Musk is taking SpaceX’s minority shareholders for a ride | Nils Pratley

Merger with loss-making xAI looks to some investors more like a bailout than a rocket trip to the future

• Elon Musk merges SpaceX with xAI at $1.25tn valuation

To Elon Musk’s fanclub, there is nothing to see apart from more evidence of the great man’s visionary genius. SpaceX, the rocket firm, is buying xAI, the artificial intelligence developer, and the combination of these two Musk-controlled entities is being valued at $1.25tn (£910bn). Feel the positive vibes ahead of a stock market debut due in June! The most valuable private company in history! The largest ever transaction!

Or, as Musk described it, he is creating “the most ambitious, vertically integrated innovation engine on (and off) Earth, with AI, rockets, space-based internet, direct-to-mobile device communications and the world’s foremost real-time information and free-speech platform”.

Zelenskyy accuses Russia of violating Trump-brokered truce amid cold snap

Moscow launched ‘terrorising’ attack on energy grid as temperatures reached -20C, Ukrainian president says

Volodymyr Zelenskyy accused Russia on Tuesday of violating an agreement with Donald Trump to hold off from attacking Ukraine’s energy systems in the depths of a freezing winter, as its forces carried out large-scale airstrikes on Kyiv on the eve of three-way talks in Abu Dhabi.

Ukraine’s president said Moscow carried out a massive and “deliberate” attack overnight as temperatures in Kyiv plunged to -20C. It involved a record number of 71 ballistic missiles as well as 450 drones, he said, sent to destroy energy infrastructure.

Asian elephant born at Washington DC zoo for first time in 25 years

Smithsonian’s National Zoo invites public to vote for name for female calf born to mother Nhi Linh

For the first time in almost 25 years, an Asian elephant has been born at the Smithsonian National Zoo in Washington DC.

The 308lb (140kg) female calf was born at 1.15am on 2 February to 12-year-old mother Nhi Linh and 44-year-old father Spike, the zoo announced in a statement.

What we know about Savannah Guthrie's missing mother

Nancy Guthrie is 84 and has mobility issues, but she is mentally sharp, Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos said. She was last seen Saturday evening at her home near Tucson, Ariz.

Back seats aren't as safe as they should be. A crash test is trying to help

Better engineering has made the front seat much safer in head-on collisions. But the back seat hasn't kept pace. It's a problem one vehicle safety group is trying to solve.

December CRE deal volume sinks further, but office is a surprising bright spot

The recovery in office has been swelling, as return-to-office orders and a boom in AI employment counter the pandemic-driven narrative that office is over.

Mandy wonders where it all went wrong as Labour throws him to the wolves | John Crace

Mandelson tried to explain as everyone from Harriet Harman to Robert Jenrick lined up to condemn him

Last week, Peter Mandelson was giving his comeback interview to the Times, scheduled to be published later this month. He posed for cosy pics with the dog as he explained how hard done by he had been and how much the country could benefit from his largesse and expertise.

Late on Sunday night, that interview was crowbarred into a hastily rearranged one to take in Mandy’s sudden resignation from the Labour party after seemingly more revelations of Peter taking money in the recently released Epstein files. Mandelson appeared to take it in his stride.

US private investigator did ‘unlawful stuff’ for the Daily Mail, court hears

In case brought by Prince Harry and others, Daniel Portley-Hanks says he received about $1m for work for Associated Newspapers Ltd

A US-based private detective bought a large house in California and had $150,000 in savings “almost entirely” from work he did for the publisher of the Daily Mail, the high court has heard.

Daniel Portley-Hanks, also known as “Detective Danno”, said he received about $1m for work carried out for the Mail on Sunday, another title published by Associated Newspapers Ltd (ANL).

IOC president gives clearest signal so far that Russia could be at 2028 Olympics

• Kirsty Coventry: ‘Keep sport a neutral ground’

• Ukraine sports minister hits out at Fifa president

The International Olympic Committee president, Kirsty Coventry, has given her clearest signal yet that Russia could be back for the 2028 Los Angeles Games.

A day after the Fifa president, Gianni Infantino, said he wanted Russia reinstated to international football, Coventry used her opening address to the 145th IOC congress in Milan to argue that all athletes should be allowed to compete in sport – regardless of their government’s behaviour.

New home, new outlook? What’s next for the Sundance film festival?

The final Utah edition of the hub for American independent film saw slow sales and a mixed bag of movies but a future in Colorado could bring a refresh

Sundance is over. Well, not quite. The Sundance we all know, with Robert Redford as its head and Park City, Utah, as its location, is over. The festival’s beloved founder died last year months after the festival also opted for a move to Boulder, Colorado.

But on the alarmingly snow-light ground, there was also chatter about what would become of Sundance as a whole, once the shining beacon of American independent cinema, after it entered a new phase. There were standout films as ever but again not quite enough to override concerns over what the festival now represents in a harsh new world where it’s arguably easier to make an indie (or whatever cobbling together bits of AI slop might be called) but harder to get it sold.

Are the Whitecaps about to die? Vancouver sound alarm bells amid difficult sale process

Scheduling and financial impasses at Vancouver’s World Cup stadium are leading down a road the league hasn’t traveled in over a decade

On the surface, Vancouver Whitecaps CEO Axel Schuster’s press conference last week would have felt familiar to almost any North American sports fan. Once again, a team was agitating for more money or a better stadium. Once again, local governments were at least partially to blame.

Some of his comments, though, felt more alien, and raised a question that seemed unfathomable just a couple of months ago: are the Vancouver Whitecaps about to die?

House votes to end partial government shutdown, setting up contentious talks on ICE

The House has approved a spending bill to end a short-lived partial government shutdown. Now lawmakers will begin contentious negotiations over new guardrails for immigration enforcement.

Ben Jennings on the latest revelations from the Epstein files – cartoon

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From ‘nerdy’ Gemini to ‘edgy’ Grok: how developers are shaping AI behaviours

AIs are not sentient – but tweaks to their ethical codes can have far-reaching consequences for users

Do you want an AI assistant that gushes about how it “loves humanity” or one that spews sarcasm? How about a political propagandist ready to lie? If so, ChatGPT, Grok and Qwen are at your disposal.

Companies that create AI assistants, from the US to China, are increasingly wrestling with how to mould their characters, and it is no abstract debate. This month Elon Musk’s “maximally truth-seeking” Grok AI caused international outrage when it pumped out millions of sexualised images. In October OpenAI retrained ChatGPT to de-escalate conversations with people in mental health distress after it appeared to encourage a 16-year-old to take his own life.

The dump dinner: spaghetti is now being served straight on to the table – but why?

A raft of online videos show parents serving up dinner without a single plate in sight, to the amazement of their families

Name: Dump dinners.

Age: Horribly new.

Jacob Bethell dismantles Sri Lanka tail to deliver T20 series clean sweep for England

• 3rd T20i: England, 128-9, bt Sri Lanka, 116, by 12 runs

• Bethell takes 4-11 in 3.3 overs to seal 3-0 series win

It was a thriller on a Pallekele turner, the game going England’s way. Jacob Bethell’s part-timers turned lethal, his three-wicket over dismantling Sri Lanka’s tail to help secure a 12-run win in the third and final Twenty20 international.

The tourists put up just 128, their total built by Sam Curran’s 48‑ball 58, a score to which no one else came close. But it proved enough on a worn surface as England’s raft of spinners went to work. And while Adil Rashid and Liam Dawson are the veteran frontliners, this night belonged to Bethell and Will Jacks. The left-armer finished with four for 11, the offie with three for 14 off the full allotment.

Cristiano Ronaldo’s no-show leaves Saudi Pro League facing awkward questions

League’s star said to be unhappy over his club’s transfer dealings and Karim Benzema’s move. Now he could face his first backlash

Jurassic Park sounded great given the spectacular beasts on display, but there was chaos after they started to do their own thing. When Cristiano Ronaldo, surely the T rex, and Karim Benzema, perhaps a velociraptor, are scoring in spectacular fashion there are headlines around the world, but the Saudi Pro League is finding out that when they start to flex their muscles off the pitch, there is even more interest and, it turns out, a real problem for the competition.

What happened on a manic Monday in the SPL should have been about what unfolded on the pitch. Al-Hilal, in first, drew with third-placed Al-Ahli. Al-Nassr won, to stay second, closing to within a point of the leaders. If Brendan Rodgers, having a whale of a time with Al-Qadsiah, wins his game in hand then four points will separate the top four with just over a third of the season remaining. It is the kind of title race most leagues would love.

French magistrate reportedly summons two French-Israelis over ‘complicity in genocide’

Nili Kupfer-Naouri and Rachel Touitou said to be accused of trying to block delivery of humanitarian aid to Gaza

A French investigating magistrate has issued summonses to two French-Israeli nationals in relation to “complicity in genocide” over allegations they tried to block the delivery of humanitarian aid to Gaza, French media have reported.

The summonses, which reportedly mark the first time a country has considered the blocking of aid “complicity in genocide”, were issued for Nili Kupfer-Naouri and Rachel Touitou in July, Le Monde and Agence France-Presse reported.

Want to see Super Bowl 2026 commercials early? These ads are already live.

Many Super Bowl 60 ads are already online, along with teasers for commercials that will be unveiled during the NFL championship on Feb. 8.

Lens condemn racist abuse of Saint-Maximin after player’s children targeted in Mexico

• Winger suffers online racism on return to France

• Abuse of Frenchman’s family led him to leave Mexico

Lens have condemned the racist abuse aimed at new signing Allan Saint-Maximin after a previous racist incident involving the former Newcastle winger’s children ended his career in Mexico’s top flight.

Saint-Maximin joined Lens on a six-month deal during the winter transfer window. He left Mexican side Club América, saying his children were the victims of racist abuse there.

Meryl Streep cast as Joni Mitchell in new biopic

The Oscar-winning actor will star in the Cameron Crowe-directed feature about the singer-songwriter’s life

Meryl Streep is to play Joni Mitchell in a forthcoming biopic of the singer-songwriter directed by Cameron Crowe, according to record executive Clive Davis.

Davis confirmed the rumours surrounding the casting at his pre-Grammys party on Saturday, reports Rolling Stone. Last year, Anya Taylor-Joy was linked to the project in the role of the younger Mitchell, as was Streep’s Mamma Mia! co-star Amanda Seyfried.