Politics

Kemi Badenoch said the Conservatives would abolish real interest rates on plan 2 student loans; Labour’s education secretary Bridget Phillipson acknowledged problems with the plan but prioritised maintenance grants for poorer students.

The AP reports Milan's Al-Wahid mosque is hosting weekly iftars and evening prayers during Ramadan, while Cortina and nearby mountain towns have fewer permanent prayer facilities so some Muslims travel to Brunico or use improvised spaces.

Denmark's Joint Arctic Command says it evacuated a U.S. submarine crew member off Nuuk and transferred the person to a hospital in the city. The report notes the move came as U.S.-Denmark tensions over Greenland have been prominent; no further procedural steps were announced.

Lawyers say a 21-year-old Moroccan woman who sought asylum in the U.S. was removed despite an immigration judge's protection order and is now back in Morocco and living in hiding.

Pakistan launched overnight air strikes near the Afghanistan border and the Taliban says the attacks killed and wounded dozens, while Pakistan says it targeted militant sites.

The government plans to halve the attainment gap between disadvantaged pupils and their peers by the time children born in this Parliament finish secondary school, with measures set out in a Schools White Paper due Monday morning.

Bridget Phillipson unveiled proposals to redirect pupil premium funding based on household income, introduce retention payments for new headteachers and raise maternity pay for school staff. The White Paper, titled 'Every Child Achieving and Thriving', aims to halve the gap between poorer pupils and their peers.

Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine has passed four years and fighting continues along a long, active front; U.S.-mediated talks have so far failed to produce an agreement and U.S. officials have cited a June deadline for a settlement.

National Assembly President Jorge Rodríguez said 1,557 political prisoners have applied for amnesty and that hundreds have already been released; authorities say the law could ultimately extend to about 11,000 prisoners.

Ministers plan to set a target to halve the disadvantage gap by the time children born under this government finish secondary school and will change how targeted disadvantage funding is distributed, the Schools White Paper says.

The government will publish a schools white paper proposing changes to how disadvantage funding is allocated, aimed at halving the attainment gap between poorer and wealthier pupils.

Boris Johnson called for the UK and its allies to deploy non-combat British ground forces to parts of Ukraine immediately, saying waiting for a ceasefire hands initiative to Vladimir Putin. He also expressed regret about not doing more earlier.

The Scottish Greens pledged universal free bus travel and a major expansion of funded childcare, including 570 hours for children aged six months to two years by the end of the next Parliament.

Reverend Jesse Jackson's National Rainbow Coalition and presidential campaigns helped build a multiracial, cross-class coalition and boosted Black voter registration, influencing later Democratic politics.

Several senior Reform UK figures have publicly advocated traditional family norms and commented on abortion and fertility, and the party has proposed scrapping the Equality Act while reversing a pledge on the two‑child benefit cap.

Hong Kong officials proposed buying back ownership rights for about 1,700 Wang Fuk Court units and said they will contact homeowners in March, with payments expected in the third quarter and apartment exchanges available from September.

After the departure of his chief of staff and a series of internal rows, No 10 insiders say Keir Starmer has signalled a firmer public stance and will test that approach at the Gorton and Denton byelection.

The Palestinian Authority is facing severe financial strain after large unpaid tax transfers and the loss of permits for many Palestinian workers, while Israeli land-registration and settlement measures are expanding control across parts of the West Bank.

State media reports at least 10 people were killed in Israeli air strikes in eastern Lebanon; Israel said it targeted sites it described as belonging to Hezbollah in the Bekaa Valley.

John Swinney said Scottish independence is 'within reach' after a More in Common poll projected the SNP on 64 seats, and he linked growing momentum to a series of Westminster scandals.

The Lebanese health ministry said at least 10 people were killed and 24 wounded in Israeli strikes in the eastern Bekaa valley; security sources reported that Hezbollah leader Hussein Yaghi was killed and his funeral is set for Saturday.

The Palestinian health ministry and witnesses say Israeli settlers shot and killed 19-year-old Nasrallah Abu Siyam near the village of Mukhmas; his death is confirmed and the next procedural steps are undetermined.

Cubans are installing solar panels on homes, businesses and vehicles as the country endures extended blackouts that reporting and officials attribute in part to US measures to block oil shipments; the government and private buyers have expanded solar capacity while a reported Russian crude shipment has no set date.

U.S. President Donald Trump will preside over the inaugural Board of Peace meeting with delegations from about 47 countries, and officials say roughly $5 billion has been pledged for Gaza reconstruction while key issues such as Hamas disarmament and aid distribution remain unresolved.

A drone strike struck an aid convoy in Sudan’s Kordofan region, killing three people and wounding four aid workers, the Sudan Doctors Network reported. The convoy was carrying food and humanitarian supplies to Kadugli and Dilling when it was hit.

Mikola Statkevich was released from prison after suffering a stroke, and Belarusian authorities said President Alexander Lukashenko ordered the release because of his condition.

Reports say President Trump is considering a limited strike to press Iran into talks, and he told Iran it has "10 to 15 days" to reach a deal; the US has continued a military buildup in the region.

From February 25, dual British nationals must present a valid UK passport or obtain a certificate of entitlement to enter the UK; the Home Office has said carriers may accept an expired British passport at their discretion if the traveller also holds a valid foreign passport.

Virginia Giuffre's family thanked King Charles after Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor was arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office; he was questioned, spent around 11 hours in custody and was released under investigation without charges. The King said the law must take its course and pledged cooperation while the police inquiry continues; next steps are undetermined at this time.

Campaigners in Queensbury have called a public meeting after 991 objections were lodged against a proposal to build 295 homes on green belt land that could be reclassified under 2024 planning changes.