Politics

Pakistani authorities say they launched strikes on Kabul, Kandahar and other areas in response to cross-border attacks, and the Afghan Taliban says it carried out a large-scale retaliatory operation; both sides have disputed each other’s casualty claims.

Hannah Spencer, a local plumber and Green party councillor, won the Gorton and Denton byelection, overturning Labour's 13,000-vote majority and becoming the Green party's first MP in northern England. In her victory speech she emphasised her working-class background, pledged to earn the trust of all constituents, criticised the influence of wealthy donors, and called for community unity.

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney arrived in Mumbai for a four-day visit to India aimed at resetting relations and deepening trade cooperation; he will meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi on Monday.

A local ceasefire brokered with the IAEA will let teams repair backup power lines to the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant, which is not producing electricity and depends on external power to keep its nuclear material cool.

Democracy Volunteers reported multiple instances of family voting at many polling stations in Gorton and Denton; election officials said no reports were made by polling staff and disputed the group's decision to raise the issue after polls closed.

Russian officials reported missile damage to energy infrastructure in Belgorod, causing power, water and heating disruptions; President Zelensky said a US-brokered trilateral peace meeting is likely in Abu Dhabi in early March.

A privately funded Ukraine Museum opened in a Second World War air-raid bunker in central Berlin, exhibiting remnants of the invasion and materials gathered with help from Ukrainian institutions and frontline units.

Georgetown University researchers are documenting hundreds of unmarked graves at the former House of Reformation and Instruction for Colored Children in Cheltenham, Maryland, and the Forgotten Children Initiative aims to identify the buried children and locate descendants; Maryland's juvenile services agency has received funding and a bill has been introduced to create a commission of inquiry.

High-stakes talks between the US and Iran ended without a deal, and Iran's foreign minister said there had been 'good progress' with further contacts expected within a week.

Ministry of Justice figures show dozens of Crown Court trials are scheduled four years ahead, with more than 2,600 trials listed for 2028 and proposed legislation introduced to limit some jury trials.

The Ministry of Justice reports about 80,000 outstanding cases and roughly 2,600 crown court trials are not scheduled to start until 2028 or later.

At least three explosions were reported in Kabul after cross-border fighting between Pakistani forces and the Afghan Taliban; both sides have made conflicting claims about losses and control of border posts.

Senior Democrats expressed concern after a classified briefing involving Marco Rubio about possible US military action in Iran, and House Democrats said they will force a vote next week to summon the president to explain his plans.

Governor Tim Walz announced legislation to strengthen fraud detection and enforcement after federal officials said they would temporarily withhold $259.5 million in Minnesota Medicaid payments; Walz and Attorney General Keith Ellison are scheduled to appear before the U.S. House Oversight Committee next Wednesday.

Syrian government forces and Druze-run local authorities conducted a mediated prisoner exchange in Sweida, with the government releasing 61 people and Druze authorities releasing 25, facilitated by the ICRC and described by officials as the result of international and local efforts. Undetermined at this time.

The Vatican released a stamp honouring Ukraine's Catholics that depicts Kyiv's Cathedral of the Resurrection of Christ in a blackout, and Archbishop Sviatoslav Shevchuk called the release "a great moment of consolation."

A DHS deputy assistant secretary told state election officials that ICE would not be stationed at polling locations for the November midterms, according to state secretaries of state; the department did not respond to a request for comment.

UN human rights chief Volker Turk told the Human Rights Council that a Taliban decree signed last month defines crimes and punishments that contravene international obligations and is expected to take effect soon; he said it provides for corporal punishment and expands offences carrying the death penalty, while detailed text has not been published.

Disagreements over how and when Hamas should disarm have stalled the US‑brokered Gaza peace plan, and Israeli officials have said a U.S. 60‑day deadline for disarmament may be imminent.

A draft treaty published by the UK, Gibraltar and the EU proposes a 'fluid border' at the Spain‑Gibraltar land crossing with no routine passport or burdensome customs checks for daily crossers, while stating it does not affect sovereignty; the draft still needs to be signed and ratified.

The Duchess of Edinburgh began a two-day visit to Kenya to highlight women's roles in peacebuilding and conflict resolution, meeting President William Ruto and visiting the Kazuri Beads workshop in Nairobi where she was filmed dancing with women.

US and Ukrainian negotiators met in Geneva for talks about ending the invasion as Ukraine reported overnight strikes that injured at least 23 people. Hungary's prime minister has publicly alleged Ukraine could be behind energy disruptions, which Kyiv denies and attributes to Russian damage.

Cross-country memorial services for the Rev. Jesse Jackson Sr. begin in Chicago, where he will lie in repose for two days at the Rainbow PUSH Coalition headquarters, and will include events in Washington and South Carolina.

President Trump has backed leader-level talks between Ukraine and Russia, with President Zelensky saying a meeting with President Putin is expected; Ukraine's defence minister said Kyiv will accelerate installation of anti-drone nets on frontline roads, aiming for 4,000 km by year-end and about 20 km per day in March.

Australia's prime minister apologised after describing Grace Tame as "difficult" during a rapid-response game; Tame and other politicians criticised the label as dismissive of a woman who has spoken out about abuse and campaigned for law change.

Canada's finance minister François-Philippe Champagne said the United States appears unlikely to lift recent tariffs and described a baseline tariff as a 'price' for market access, following President Trump's State of the Union and a new 10% global tariff imposed under Section 122.

The government announced £50 million in funding split across two programmes to support councils and organisations working on homelessness and rough sleeping. The package includes a £37 million fund for community organisations and a £15 million innovation programme targeting 28 high-pressure areas, including London.

Business secretary Peter Kyle said the British public favour pragmatic steps to deepen trade and economic ties with the EU as he signed a cooperation deal on competition in Brussels, and EU officials described the agreement as reinforcing good cooperation.

A Courts and Tribunals Bill was introduced in Parliament to speed up criminal cases for victims, and officials report about 80,000 cases are currently waiting, with nearly 20,000 over a year.

President Trump used the State of the Union to urge Congress to ban schools and states from allowing transgender and nonbinary students to socially transition without parental consent, citing a Virginia teenager's case; the family lawsuit against the Appomattox County School Board is ongoing.