Wednesday February 18 2026
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Reform vows to keep OBR and Bank of England independence

Robert Jenrick will back the institutions as ‘shadow chancellor’ to reassure business


Labour may drop minimum wage pledge over youth jobless fears

With almost one in six 18 to 24-year-olds now out of work, businesses say youngsters are being priced out of the workplace by steep hiring costs




Cynthia Erivo on stage in "Dracula," performing in front of a blue projected backdrop showing images of herself in character.
Dracula — Cynthia Erivo sinks her teeth into 23 characters

The Wicked star puts on a commanding display in a Kip Williams adaptation of Bram Stoker that is part theatre, part cinema — and, yes, she sings too

Theatre & Dance



Asylum appeal court costs reach nearly £4,000 per case

Taxpayers face £80m annual bill for tribunal hearings as number of failed claimants challenging Home Office decisions doubles in a year


Jeffrey Epstein in a yellow jacket and blue shirt, smiling in front of a black private jet.
Jeffrey Epstein in a yellow jacket and blue shirt, smiling in front of a black private jet.
Police look into Stansted private flights over Epstein trafficking claims

Three protestors with British and English flags outside the Bell Hotel.
Three protestors with British and English flags outside the Bell Hotel.
Asylum appeal court costs reach nearly £4,000 per case





An avalanche descending a snow-covered mountain towards a ski resort full of skiers.
An avalanche descending a snow-covered mountain towards a ski resort full of skiers.
Third British skier dies in France as avalanches rock Alps



Collage of a headshot of Vladimir Putin, a headshot of Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, and an illustration of a historical scene with a religious figure and kneeling soldiers.
Russia dirty tricks ‘pave the way for attack on Baltics’

The Belarusian opposition leader claims Russia and Belarus are promoting a fringe historical theory that could be used to justify a future invasion






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Four men on ladders working on an ornate wall mural.
Revamp of world’s oldest indoor circus gets off to flying start

Cirque d’Hiver was the home of Jules Léotard, the trapeze artist whose daring stunts inspired a music hall classic


Aerial view of a red car on a two-lane road, with a large amount of fly-tipped waste covering the grassy land below the road.
Aerial view of a red car on a two-lane road, with a large amount of fly-tipped waste covering the grassy land below the road.



Illustration of a brain made of interconnected lines with an AI chip inside, next to a Sudoku puzzle with a pencil.

David Miliband, CEO of International Rescue Committee Inc. (IRC), smiles at the camera following an interview.
David Miliband, CEO of International Rescue Committee Inc. (IRC), smiles at the camera following an interview.
David Miliband’s brave trip to the front line



Editor's picks



Collage of an aerial view of Wroclaw, Poland with two tall spired cathedrals and a smiling woman holding a glass of red wine.
How I had a European city break for £150 — luxury hotel included

A large glass of wine for less than £4, a free walking tour and flights for £36 return… Wroclaw is a Venice dupe at half the cost


Collage of Rupert Grint holding his baby and Tom Whipple holding his two children.
Rupert Grint has found fatherhood traumatic. Is he being a snowflake?



Collage of a woman smiling and a man with a woman on a raft.
Andrew on a raft with a young woman: no, the life jacket didn’t save him


Collage of a smiling woman and a couple in conflict.


Young girl studying at a desk with her white dog on a sofa nearby.
How to boost exam performance: the art — and science — of revision


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View of El Helicoide detention center in Caracas, Venezuela, surrounded by hillside communities.
View of El Helicoide detention center in Caracas, Venezuela, surrounded by hillside communities.
Notorious torture prison is transforming — into a leisure centre


The Lib Dems have lost all sense of direction

Ed Davey appears to have no view on where his party should stand in relation to Labour, Tories, Greens or Reform



Illustration of the Shadow Cabinet with four politicians and their large shadows behind them, some of which are raising their fists and holding glasses of beer.

Cartoon by Morten Morland



a woman with blonde hair and blue eyes is wearing a blue jacket
It’s time to treat fly-tipping as a serious crime






a woman with blonde hair and blue eyes is wearing a blue jacket
It’s time to treat fly-tipping as a serious crime






A young woman in a leopard print top with arms crossed, in front of a blurred residential background with a "To Let" sign.

Our columnist advises a tenant on how to broach the ‘keep it down’ conversation without making things awkward


Collage of a woman reacting with shock to an Octopus Energy bill, with other envelopes in the background.
Holly Thomas‘Our smart meter broke, then Octopus hit us with an £11k bill’


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Gisele Pelicot arrives at court for the trial of her former partner.
Gisèle Pelicot: how I faced my 51 abusers in court




Exterior view of PM House law firm building.
At least £1m of clients’ cash missing after collapse of PM Law


David Solomon, CEO of Goldman Sachs, smiling on the NYSE floor with "Goldman Sachs" and stock tickers visible on screens behind him.
Goldman Sachs to eliminate race and gender from board criteria

Headshot of David Smith.
David SmithWill Rachel Reeves be forced to raise taxes over falling immigration?



Fears for a generation as youth unemployment hits 11-year high





1/5|Play stopped for ten minutes after Vinícius alerted the referee

Play stopped for ten minutes after Vinícius alerted the referee

Benfica 0 Real Madrid 1: Match halted as players walk off after winger reports alleged comments by Gianluca Prestianni following his winning goal

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William Bracewell as Albrecht and Marianela Nuñez as Giselle in Peter Wright's production of Giselle.
This Giselle shows that the Royal Ballet’s stars get better with age



Professor Tom Cannon of Stirling University.
Professor Tom Cannon, Times Good University Guide writer

Academic who ruffled feathers when he produced the first guide in 1992 and included graduate employment prospects, dies aged 80

Professor Tom Cannon of Stirling University.
Professor Tom Cannon, Times Good University Guide writer


Rev Jesse Jackson, civil rights campaigner, dies aged 84


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