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Sri Lanka signed a letter of intent on 17 February 2026 to join the Global Charter for Children's Care Reform, with Minister Saroja Paulraj signing during a visit by UK Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy; the UK also provided £1 million in humanitarian assistance for communities affected by Cyclone Ditwah.

The European Commission has launched a formal investigation into Shein over suspected breaches of EU law, citing the sale of childlike sex dolls and weapons and other possibly non-compliant products. The inquiry will also examine the platform’s design features, including rewards and recommender systems, for possible risks to users and DSA transparency rules.

Lindsey Vonn has returned to the United States after four operations for a broken leg sustained in a crash at the Winter Olympics; she has not stood nine days after the accident and further surgery will take place at home.

Weston-super-Mare Pride will take place on Saturday 27 June 2026 at Grove Park, returning after a pause since 2023. A new volunteer team has launched a Crowdfunder to raise £2,500 to help cover accessibility, stewarding and other essential costs.

Young people from Telford organised a charity catwalk of customised second‑hand clothes at Randlay Community Centre, supported by CALM, a free weekly programme run by Co‑op and Barnardo's.

Eli Lilly says it plans to use India as part of its global supply chain and to export locally made drugs, following a rapid rise in Mounjaro sales that doubled and became its top-selling medicine by value in India.

The study reports Shrimycocin-A, extracted from coconut shells, shows antifungal activity across a range of plant and human pathogenic fungi and demonstrated systemic absorption with no reported phytotoxicity in tests.

Romanian researchers recovered bacteria from a 5,000-year-old Scărișoara Cave ice core that showed resistance to several modern antibiotics; chemicals from the samples also inhibited multiple disease-causing bacteria.

Beijing's PM2.5 levels have fallen about 69.8% since 2013 and nationwide particulate pollution fell 41% in the decade from 2014, yet many Chinese cities still exceed World Health Organization limits.

At Rio's 2026 Carnival, Imperio Serrano and Unidos da Tijuca honored authors Conceição Evaristo and Carolina Maria de Jesus in their parades; organizers called the presentations an act of historical reparation.

A researcher has turned microscope images of treated breast cancer cells into large-scale artworks now on display at the Firepit Art Gallery in Greenwich as part of a Pink Ribbon Foundation exhibition.

Researchers report a previously unknown strain of bacteria was found frozen in a 5,000-year-old Romanian ice cave, and they say it could play an essential role in tackling antibiotic-resistant infections.

Cadaver dogs searched a water tank and a recently cemented outhouse at a family-owned property, and detectives have returned to the area to continue searches; police say a resident of the remote station has been declared a suspect and that Gus is likely dead, and no evidence was found in the latest searches.

Community scientists and specialists in California are documenting lichens and other fungi to fill knowledge gaps, while many species face threats from habitat loss, pollution and climate change.

Alder Hey surgeons used a surface-mounted magnetic lengthening nail to add 3cm to nine-year-old Alfie Phillips's thigh bone, reported as the first UK use of this method; the hospital has since treated three more children and other centres have shown interest.

A specialist emergency mental health unit at St Charles Hospital in Ladbroke Grove offers a calmer alternative to A&E and reports that patients are seen within 15 minutes.

Middlesbrough Erimus and Stokesley Rotary presented a £550 donation to Maggie's while announcing the charity is now fully operational at James Cook University Hospital and serving the wider Teesside area.

Customers at Telford Centre helped raise more than £50,000 and the centre provided over £30,000 of free mall space in 2025 to support fundraising for more than 25 local charities.

Donald Trump said he would be "indirectly" involved in US–Iran talks due to start in Geneva, and Tehran's foreign ministry said the US position on the nuclear issue appeared "more realistic."

Free weekly arts sessions for people with Parkinson's, their relatives and carers run on Tuesdays at Stow Park Community Centre in Newport from February to March, 11:00–12:30, as part of the 16-week Creative Roots project.

A national Australian Human Rights Commission study found racism is systemic at universities, reporting high rates of indirect and direct incidents and shortcomings in complaints processes; the report includes 47 recommendations and the federal government says it will review them and introduce legislation to strengthen the regulator.

Work to add lanes and upgrade signals at the M23 Junction 10 Pease Pottage Interchange in Crawley will start on Monday, February 23 and is due to last 12 months.

Kendal Town Mayor Councillor Richard Sutton has named three volunteers as his February picks, including Sarah Gaskarth of Memory Wheelchairs and volunteers Eddie Harrison and Ann Robinson of With Singing in Mind.

A quiz night organised by the Wimborne Christian Aid Group raised £620 at Wimborne Methodist Church. The group also announced a series of Lent Lunches on Tuesdays from February 24 to March 31, with visitors welcome between 12.30pm and 12.45pm.

A BCP line dance club has won two national awards, and instructor Karl Harry Winson was named UK instructor and choreographer of the year at January's Crystal Boot Awards; the club now attracts about 300 weekly participants aged from seven to 80.

The Tendaba Project will host a curry night at the Taj Mahal in Westbourne on Feb 23, 2026, with £10 from each £30 ticket directed to clean-water projects that have helped more than 2,000 people in Gambian villages.

A record £70,000 was collected for five charities after more than 30 tonnes of Christmas trees were recycled by Eco Sustainable Solutions into about 60 cubic metres of compost.

Opera Bingo in Carlisle raised £1,700 for the Great North Air Ambulance Service after a charity bingo night in October 2025, and the cheque was handed over at the Langwathby base on February 12.

Nine students from the University of Chester took part in a litter pick in the Garden Quarter, collecting several bags of rubbish; the event was organised by the university's Volunteering Team through its 'Give it a Go' programme.

Rob Parsons OBE will share his life story at talks in late April, including a personal account of sheltering a homeless man who later became part of his family for more than 45 years.