Independent News & People Network Desk of News

Tens of thousands more students join legal action over Covid-hit studies

Source: The Guardian - World · Published: 2026-02-18T20:46:48+00:00

Sign-ups to Student Group Claim in England and Wales escalate amid reports of £21m payout by University College LondonTens of thousands more students who were at university during the pandemic have joined a group claim for compensation, amid reports of a £21m payout by one of the UK’s leading institutions.Lawyers acting for student claimants said a further 30,000 from different universities had signed up to the Student Group Claim this week, taking the total to almost 200,000. Continue reading...

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Trump tells Starmer handing Chagos Islands to Mauritius is a ‘big mistake’

Source: The Guardian - World · Published: 2026-02-18T20:44:20+00:00

US president had recently said that the plan was the best deal Starmer could makeDonald Trump has urged Keir Starmer not to hand the Chagos Islands over to Mauritius, warning he was “making a big mistake”.Under the deal agreed last year, Britain would cede control over the British Indian Ocean Territory but lease the largest island, Diego Garcia, for 99 years to continue operating a joint US-UK military base there. Continue reading...

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Trump’s immigration siege is rattling hospitality industry, workers say

Source: The Guardian - World · Published: 2026-02-18T20:29:18+00:00

Unite Here, the US’s largest hospitality workers’ union, says ICE crackdown is harming tourism and costing jobsDonald Trump’s immigration policies are having a chilling effect on the hospitality industry, where nearly a third of workers are immigrants, according to the largest hospitality union in the US.The number of employed hospitality workers dropped by 98,000 from December 2024 to December 2025, according to a report from Unite Here, which represents 300,000 workers across the hospitality, food and tourism industries in the US and Canada. Continue reading...

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Billionaire Les Wexner testifies before Congress about ties to Epstein

Source: The Guardian - World · Published: 2026-02-18T20:29:16+00:00

Wexner, who has denied misconduct related to Epstein, is one of several subpoenaed by House oversight panelThe former boss of the Victoria’s Secret lingerie brand, Les Wexner, said he has “done nothing wrong” and has “nothing to hide”, as he testifies on Wednesday before a congressional committee in relation to his past ties to Jeffrey Epstein.Wexner is one of several Epstein associates subpoenaed to testify before the House oversight committee in their continued investigation of the late financier’s crimes. Continue reading...

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An Antarctic Expedition Ends in New Zealand

Source: New York Times - World · Published: 2026-02-18T20:23:13+00:00

But stay tuned: We’ve still got more to share about this Antarctic expedition, and the next ones scientists are already planning.

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Illinois governor proposes cancelling tax breaks for data centers

Source: The Guardian - World · Published: 2026-02-18T20:16:39+00:00

Pritzker’s move reflects increasing public pushback against resource-hungry facilities used to power the AI boomThe Illinois governor JB Pritzker proposed a two-year break from offering tax incentives for datacenters, a reflection of increasing public pushback against the massive, resource-hungry facilities used to power the modern AI boom.Pritzker made the proposal, which will need the backing of state lawmakers, during his annual state of the state address, which covers Illinois budget and policy plans. The plan was first reported by NBC News. Continue reading...

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Illinois governor proposes cancelling tax breaks for datacenters

Source: The Guardian - World · Published: 2026-02-18T20:16:39+00:00

Pritzker’s move reflects increasing public pushback against resource-hungry facilities used to power the AI boomThe Illinois governor JB Pritzker proposed a two-year break from offering tax incentives for datacenters, a reflection of increasing public pushback against the massive, resource-hungry facilities used to power the modern AI boom.Pritzker made the proposal, which will need the backing of state lawmakers, during his annual state of the state address, which covers Illinois budget and policy plans. The plan was first reported by NBC News. Continue reading...

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NHS to spend more to settle lawsuits over negligence during childbirth after court ruling

Source: The Guardian - World · Published: 2026-02-18T20:14:40+00:00

Supreme court rules children in England who suffer serious injuries at birth can claim for future lost earningsThe NHS will have to spend more money settling lawsuits involving negligence during childbirth after a supreme court ruling that lawyers said puts right a “historic injustice”.The court ruled on Wednesday that children in England who suffer catastrophic injuries while they are being born can claim damages for future earnings they would otherwise have had. Continue reading...

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Donald Trump presse le Royaume-Uni de ne pas « céder » la base militaire de Diego Garcia dans l’océan Indien et menace l’Iran

Source: Le Monde - International · Published: 2026-02-18T20:10:02+00:00

« Si l’Iran décide de ne pas conclure d’accord, les États-Unis pourraient être amenés à utiliser Diego Garcia », prévient le président américain, en référence à la base située dans l’archipel des Chago, territoire que Londre doit restituer à l’île Maurice.

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Donald Trump presse le Royaume-Uni de ne pas « céder » la base militaire de Diego Garcia, dans l’océan Indien, et menace l’Iran

Source: Le Monde - International · Published: 2026-02-18T20:10:02+00:00

« Si l’Iran décide de ne pas conclure d’accord, les Etats-Unis pourraient être amenés à utiliser Diego Garcia », prévient le président américain, en référence à la base située dans l’archipel des Chagos, territoire que Londres doit restituer à l’île Maurice.

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Tesla avoids California sales ban by removing ‘autopilot’ from marketing

Source: The Guardian - World · Published: 2026-02-18T20:05:59+00:00

State regulators walk back suspension threat and say Tesla has stopped misleading drivers about the safety of its carsTesla will avoid a 30-day suspension of its dealer and manufacturer licenses in California, its biggest market, after the US electric vehicle maker stopped using the term “autopilot” in marketing of its vehicles in the state.Tesla now uses the term “supervised” in references to its full self-driving technology and has stopped using “autopilot” entirely in its marketing in the state. Continue reading...

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Trump’s Board of Peace to meet as Gaza stability plan languishes

Source: Washington Post - World · Published: 2026-02-18T20:01:00+00:00

President Donald Trump will gather officials from dozens of countries in Washington to hear a status report on his peace plan for Gaza, though serious stumbling blocks remain.

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Zuckerberg grilled in landmark social media trial over teen mental health

Source: The Guardian - World · Published: 2026-02-18T19:37:17+00:00

Meta chief says it improved identifying underage users but adds ‘I always wish we could have gotten there sooner’The Meta CEO, Mark Zuckerberg, testified at a landmark trial of social media companies on Wednesday. Plaintiffs’ lawyers grilled Zuckerberg about internal complaints that not enough was being done to verify whether children under 13 were using the platform.Zuckerberg claimed Meta had improved in identifying underage users but also said: “I always wish that we could have gotten there sooner.” Continue reading...

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FCC chair Brendan Carr says media were ‘lied to’ over Stephen Colbert controversy

Source: The Guardian - World · Published: 2026-02-18T19:36:42+00:00

Carr says the Federal Communications Commission has also opened an enforcement action into ABC’s the ViewThe chair of the US’s top media regulator claimed on Wednesday that journalists had been tricked into covering claims by late-night host Stephen Colbert that he had been blocked by his network from interviewing a Texas Senate candidate.Brendan Carr, the avowedly pro-Trump chairman of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), made his comments after Colbert accused the Trump administration and CBS of censorship. Continue reading...

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Trump administration releases funds for New York-New Jersey tunnel project

Source: The Guardian - World · Published: 2026-02-18T19:34:12+00:00

Money clears path for work on Gateway project increasing number of tunnels linking New York City and New JerseyThe Trump administration transferred the balance of federal funds it owed to the Gateway rail tunnel initiative on Wednesday, along with additional money beyond the original amount, clearing the path for work on the project to restart as early as next week.Once finished, the project will increase the number of rail tunnels linking New York City and New Jersey, as well as repair a century-old tunnel that was heavily damaged by Hurricane Sandy in 2012 used by more than 200,000 travelers

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Eight skiers dead after California avalanche, authorities say

Source: The Guardian - World · Published: 2026-02-18T19:33:05+00:00

One skier still missing and six others rescued after group swept up in Sierra Nevada mountains during severe stormEight skiers who went missing after an avalanche swept the Castle Peak area of the Sierra Nevada mountains in California have been confirmed dead, authorities said during a Wednesday press conference.One skier is still unaccounted for, while six others, who had been stranded, have since been rescued. Continue reading...

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Do not give away Diego Garcia, Trump tells UK

Source: BBC News - World · Published: 2026-02-18T19:32:24+00:00

The US president says "it will be a blight on our great ally" if the islands are handed over to Mauritius.

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Australia news live: Tony Burke accuses Coalition of ‘silly hypocrisy’ on Syria camp group

Source: The Guardian - World · Published: 2026-02-18T19:31:06+00:00

Home affairs minister says opposition had repatriated Australians from Syria when in government. Follow today’s news liveGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastGood morning and welcome to our live news blog. I’m Martin Farrer with the top overnight stories and then it will be Nick Visser with the main action.The home affairs minister, Tony Burke, told the ABC’s 7.30 program last night that the Coalition pressure to prevent all the 34 Australian wives and children of IS fighters killed or captured in Syria from returning to Australia was “silly hypocrisy”. More coming up. Co

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En Suède, les expulsions d’adolescents font polémique : « Ça a été un choc quand j’ai appris que mon permis de séjour ne serait pas renouvelé »

Source: Le Monde - International · Published: 2026-02-18T19:30:02+00:00

Ces dernières semaines, des dizaines de jeunes, arrivés en Suède il y a plusieurs années avec leur famille, et priés de faire leur valise à leur majorité en raison d’un durcissement de la législation sur les permis de séjour, ont témoigné dans la presse. Ces récits provoquent la colère d’une partie de l’opinion publique.

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EN DIRECT, guerre en Ukraine : plus de 100 combats depuis le début de journée, une personne tuée après des attaques russes dans l’oblast de Dnipropetrovsk

Source: Le Monde - International · Published: 2026-02-18T19:28:12+00:00

C’est dans la région de Houliaïpole, dans l’oblast de Zaporijia, dans le sud du pays, que les combats sont les plus nombreux. Par ailleurs, un homme de 61 ans a été retrouvé mort sous les débris d’une maison, après une attaque russe contre les villages et Pokrosvke et de Mezhova, dans l’oblast de Dnipropetrovsk, ont annoncé les services de secours ukrainiens.

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EN DIRECT, guerre en Ukraine : plus de 100 combats depuis le début de journée, une personne tuée après des attaques russes dans l’oblast de Dnipropetrovsk

Source: Le Monde - International · Published: 2026-02-18T19:28:11+00:00

C’est dans la région de Houliaïpole, dans l’oblast de Zaporijia, dans le sud du pays, que les combats sont les plus nombreux. Par ailleurs, un homme de 61 ans a été retrouvé mort sous les débris d’une maison, après une attaque russe contre les villages et Pokrovske et de Mejova, dans l’oblast de Dnipropetrovsk, ont annoncé les services de secours ukrainiens.

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‘Grace period’ needed for dual nationals returning to UK on second passport, say Lib Dems

Source: The Guardian - World · Published: 2026-02-18T19:18:26+00:00

Will Forster MP says ‘lack of planning and haphazard communication’ on new border rules has caused chaosA “grace period” should be introduced for British dual nationals living, working or holidaying abroad who face being blocked from returning to the UK if they do not have an up-to-date British passport, the Liberal Democrats have said.Entry requirements change on 25 February as part of a wider initiative to streamline immigration which requires British dual nationals to present either a valid UK passport or a “certificate of entitlement” on their foreign passport to the airline, ferry or trai

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‘Board of Peace’: Reality vs Rhetoric

Source: Al Jazeera - World · Published: 2026-02-18T19:12:18+00:00

Trump's "Board of Peace" is pledging five billion dollars to rebuild Gaza and thousands of foreign troops.

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Итоги торгов на Мосбирже 18 февраля

Source: Vedomosti – All Articles · Published: 2026-02-18T19:12:00+00:00

Главный бенчмарк российского фондового рынка по итогам основной сессии в среду, 18 февраля, увеличился на 0,5% до 2779,08 пункта. Его долларовый аналог индекс РТС прибавил 1,27% и составил 1149,63 пункта.

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White House says diplomacy is ‘always’ Trump’s top option for Iran – US politics live

Source: The Guardian - World · Published: 2026-02-18T19:10:09+00:00

‘Iran would be very wise to make a deal,’ says Karoline Leavitt when asked about possibility of US strikes against Iran during press conferenceOn a recent morning Eric Taylor, city manager for a small Georgia town of about 5,000 residents called Social Circle, was contacted by a staffer from Immigration and Customs Enforcement.“They asked me to turn on the water,” he said of a 1m sq ft warehouse nearby that the federal government recently purchased for $128m, with plans to use it for locking up as many as 10,000 detainees as part of the Trump administration’s mass deportation plan. Continue re

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