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Tony Blair has told a Channel 4 documentary he should not be defined by the 2003 Iraq intervention and asked to be judged by his government’s wider record; the three-part series, including an episode on Iraq, is due to air on Channel 4 this week.

Shane Pitter, a 26-year-old fisherman who makes fishing videos, is competing as Jamaica's bobsled pilot at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Cortina and is part of a young, developing team. The team remains short on funding and was 23rd of 26 after the first two heats in the two-man event, which concludes on Tuesday.

Planning approval on 16 February clears the way for Eden Project Morecambe to begin construction in 2026, with community gardens due to open in early 2027.

A 34-person randomized trial reported in Nature Medicine found that one intravenous dose of DMT given with psychotherapy led to rapid reductions in depressive symptoms compared with placebo, with antidepressant effects lasting three to six months for some participants.

Cardiff Council has approved plans to convert Unit 5 at St Mellons Business Park into an Islamic Educational and Welfare Centre offering community, educational and welfare services; the exterior will remain unchanged and opening hours are listed as 7am–12am.

Almost three-quarters of Inverclyde respondents rejected both options in a Scottish Fire and Rescue Service consultation, and the SFRS has delayed a final decision until June.

Jonny Kearney from Hexham was handpicked by Matty Healy to perform his song "The Ticketman" at the Sunday for Sammy benefit at the Utilita Arena, and the event featured appearances from Matty Healy, Tim Healy and a surprise set from Lewis Capaldi.

A charity silent disco will be held at The Winchester Club in Highfield Lodge on Saturday 28 February; 110 tickets are available at £15 plus booking fee and proceeds will support the fundraiser.

Keir Starmer said the government will move quickly to change rules on young people’s social media access and that a ban for under-16s is being considered but has not been decided; amendments to two bills would give ministers powers to act and any secondary legislation will need parliamentary approval.

Sunderland-born Dr Paul Holland and his wife Jenny have funded a new safety and rescue boat for Derwent Hill and pledged a further £20,000 to help subsidise course fees for young people.

A measles outbreak in London is affecting unvaccinated children under 10, and the UK was recently among six countries to lose WHO measles-free status amid a global rise in cases.

Abdul Hye received the British Citizen Award Medal of Honour on 22 January at the Palace of Westminster for services to volunteering and charitable giving, recognising around 30 years of work on education, healthcare and poverty relief.

Linsey and Andrew Warner have launched a GoFundMe seeking £4,000 to open a second-hand shop at the Viking Centre in Jarrow that would offer low-cost goods and a welcoming community space.

A Longthorpe Christmas lights display run by 63-year-old David raised more than £6,000 for Sue Ryder Thorpe Hall Hospice and featured 46 trees, a golden tunnel and new inflatables.

Matt Weston and Tabby Stoecker won the mixed team skeleton gold at the Milan–Cortina Winter Games, with Weston overturning a 0.3s deficit to win by 0.17s; Weston is the first British athlete to win two medals at the same Winter Olympics.

Underbool’s small outback pool, used heavily by the town’s 220 residents, will be restored after state and council funding commitments; works are due to begin after winter and will take two years.

Police said a woman and her pre-teen daughter were found dead in a Las Vegas hotel room and authorities are treating the incident as a murder-suicide while investigating.

A cash bingo at Knighton Community Centre is scheduled for Friday, February 20 (doors 6.30pm, eyes down 7pm) with profits supporting the centre; a St David's Day celebration is planned for Sunday, March 1.

Comedian Fatiha El-Ghorri says she had a hysterectomy in May after a diagnosis of stage 1 endometrial (womb) cancer, and that the surgery led to medical menopause which she found difficult to manage.

The Royal Horticultural Society says about 6% of UK daffodils show pink and is asking gardeners to report or, with permission, donate possible Mrs R.O. Blackhouse (also reported as Mrs R O Backhouse) bulbs so they can be trialled and preserved.

TrumpRx launched with coupons for 43 drugs, including four used in IVF, but experts say those discounts cover only a small portion of overall IVF costs.

Former Ireland hooker Keith Wood reflects on his rugby family and Ireland's form, and says players who toured with the Lions are physically and mentally "wrecked" after a series.

Madagascar's disaster agency reported at least 59 deaths and more than 16,000 people displaced by Cyclone Gezani; forecasts show the storm looping back toward southwestern Madagascar with a possible second landfall on Monday.

President Lai thanked Taiwan's armed forces and pledged to bolster the island's defences in a Lunar New Year address, while his proposal for an extra $40bn in defence spending has not been reviewed by the opposition-controlled legislature.

Team GB skeleton gold medallist Tabitha Stoecker says she found the sport after seeing an Instagram advert for the Discover Your Gold Talent ID process; she and Matt Weston won mixed team skeleton gold in Milan-Cortina, beating Germany by 0.17 seconds.

Thirty-four Australian citizens from 11 families departed the Roj camp in northeast Syria on Monday to travel to Damascus and then fly to Australia, camp officials and relatives said. The Roj camp holds about 2,200 people and is under the control of the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces.

Microsoft and Ericsson announced the Trusted Tech Alliance at the Munich Security Conference, bringing together 15 companies to promote a 'trusted technology stack' and five core principles amid rising data sovereignty concerns.

A 30-foot dragon boat will be at Serpentine Green on 28 February between 9am and 5pm for shoppers to try, and the 26th Peterborough Dragon Boat Festival is scheduled for 20 June to raise funds for Sue Ryder Thorpe Hall Hospice.

Christmas Tails, a compilation by South Cheshire musicians, raised £411.29 for RSPCA Stapeley Grange through album sales and a live event.

Ingleton Theatre Group will perform a retelling of Jack and the Beanstalk at Ingleborough Community Centre from 25 to 28 February, directed by Liz Cartmell and Shelagh Fagan and produced by Carl Lis. The production involves about 100 volunteers and features dances, musical numbers and an ultra‑violet scene.