Top World News

Feb 8, 2026 - World

McSweeney, who masterminded landslide 2024 election win, resigns as PM’s chief of staff after Mandelson revelationsMorgan McSweeney resigns as Keir Starmer’s chief of staffProfile: Morgan McSweeneySpeaking to Sky News this morning, Conservative shadow minister Alex Burghart said:This administration under Keir Starmer has failed. It has U-turned, I think, what, 14 or 15 times now. It has had two resets in the past five months, and it is now caught up in the worst political scandal of my lifetime.He was lied to by someone who was known to be a serial liar. There’s no excuse for the fact that he made the wrong judgment.He was in possession of enough facts to have not made that appointment and he did anyway and I am afraid, Laura, he now has to take responsibility for that … Continue reading...

Feb 8, 2026 - World

Arrests follow discovery on Friday of magistrate and her mother in a garage in south-east of countryFrench authorities have arrested six suspects, including a child, after a magistrate and her mother were held captive last week for about 30 hours in a cryptocurrency ransom plot.Four men and one woman were detained, three overnight and two on Sunday morning, the Lyon prosecutor Thierry Dran told Agence France-Presse. He later confirmed a child had been arrested on Sunday afternoon. Continue reading...

Feb 8, 2026 - World

Environmental groups said dicamba drift has damaged vegetable farms, trees and other critical plantsThe Environmental Protection Agency on Friday reapproved the weedkiller dicamba for use on genetically modified soybeans and cotton, a pesticide that has raised widespread concern over its tendency to drift and destroy nearby crops.The agency said dicamba was critical for farmers who would otherwise have their crops threatened by fast growing weeds. To ensure the pesticide is used safely, the agency said it imposed strong protections and limits on its use. Continue reading...

Feb 8, 2026 - World

Longtime aide has said he takes ‘full responsibility’ for advising PM to appoint Peter Mandelson as US ambassador‘Only honourable course’: resignation statement in fullProfile: Labour election guru undone by poor judgmentUK politics live – latest updatesMorgan McSweeney, Keir Starmer’s chief of staff, has quit his role as the prime minister’s closest aide and longtime ally amid anger over the appointment of Peter Mandelson as US ambassador.The senior No 10 adviser’s position had grown increasingly untenable as pressure on the prime minister mounted over the scandal, which followed the release of emails underlining the extent of Mandelson’s ongoing relationship with the convicted child sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Continue reading...

Feb 8, 2026 - World

Keir Starmer’s chief of staff leaves job over role in Peter Mandelson’s appointment as US ambassadorFull report: McSweeney resigns as PM’s chief of staffProfile: Labour election guru undone by poor judgmentUK politics live – latest updatesMorgan McSweeney has quit as Keir Starmer’s chief of staff amid anger over his role in the appointment of Peter Mandelson as US ambassador.Here is his resignation statement in full: Continue reading...