Wednesday, February 4, 2026

Updated 3m ago

Police investigate Mandelson; he resigns

The Metropolitan Police launched a criminal investigation into former minister Peter Mandelson over alleged sharing of confidential government emails with Jeffrey Epstein, and he resigned from the House of Lords.

Police investigate Mandelson; he resigns
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Russia cripples Ukraine energy grid

Russia launched a large-scale missile-and-drone assault on Ukraine's energy infrastructure overnight, cutting power and heat for hundreds of thousands amid severe winter cold, Ukrainian officials said.

Russia cripples Ukraine energy grid
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France raids X, summons Musk

French prosecutors raided X’s Paris offices and summoned Elon Musk for questioning in a criminal probe into alleged sexualized deepfakes, algorithm manipulation and distribution of illegal content.

France raids X, summons Musk
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Documents Reveal Epstein Tech Ties

Department of Justice files showed Jeffrey Epstein attended dinners with leading Silicon Valley figures as late as 2018 and invested about $3 million alongside major investors in Coinbase.

Documents Reveal Epstein Tech Ties
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Trump pushes nationalization of midterms

President Trump doubled down on calls to "nationalize" U.S. elections ahead of midterms and urged Republicans to take over vote counting in about 15 states to prevent alleged noncitizen voting.

Trump pushes nationalization of midterms
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EU

Spain bans underage social media

Spanish prime minister Pedro Sánchez announced in Dubai that his government would ban social media for under-16s to protect children, though enforcement remained unclear.

Spain bans underage social media
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Spain approves Valencia reconstruction commission

The Spanish government on Tuesday approved a joint commission to plan and coordinate reconstruction in Valencia after the Oct. 29 flash flood that killed 230 people.

Spain approves Valencia reconstruction commission
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Trump scolds reporter Kaitlan Collins

Donald Trump scolded CNN reporter Kaitlan Collins during a public appearance after she asked him about the Jeffrey Epstein files, telling her to "move on" and criticizing her smile.

Trump scolds reporter Kaitlan Collins
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Clintons Avoid Contempt, Will Testify

Bill and Hillary Clinton agreed to testify in late February before a Republican-led House panel investigating Jeffrey Epstein, averting a threatened contempt-of-Congress vote.

Clintons Avoid Contempt, Will Testify
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Rocket firm merges with AI

Elon Musk merged SpaceX with xAI, creating a company valued at $1.25 trillion and unveiling plans to build AI data centers in orbit, a move critics called impractical.

Rocket firm merges with AI
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Anthropic AI roils European stocks

US startup Anthropic unveiled a legal AI tool that automated contract review and compliance, prompting sharp sell-offs in European legal, publishing and data companies' shares.

Anthropic AI roils European stocks
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Millions could avoid cancer annually

The World Health Organization and IARC said in a Geneva study published Wednesday that about four in ten new cancers worldwide—roughly seven million cases annually—were preventable.

Millions could avoid cancer annually
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Hydrogen leak forces Artemis delay

NASA delayed the Artemis II crewed lunar launch from Kennedy Space Center until at least March after engineers detected hydrogen leaks and other problems during a wet dress rehearsal.

Hydrogen leak forces Artemis delay
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Battery boom reshapes global grids

U.S. automakers, Australian households and Saudi Arabia expanded large-scale and distributed battery storage installations, accelerating renewable integration and reshaping electricity grids worldwide.

Battery boom reshapes global grids
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Matanzas records first zero Celsius

Cuban meteorologists said a weather station in western Matanzas province recorded 0°C for the first time, which they blamed on a polar air mass from North America.

Matanzas records first zero Celsius
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Restored fresco sparks Meloni probe

Restored angel fresco in a Rome church drew comparisons to premier Giorgia Meloni, prompting Italy’s Culture Ministry to condemn and open an investigation, while the artist said it was accidental.

Restored fresco sparks Meloni probe
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Critics praise Disney Muppet revival

Disney revived The Muppet Show in a one‑off anniversary special starring Seth Rogen and Sabrina Carpenter, which critics praised for recapturing the original's spirit despite comments about Kermit's voice.

Critics praise Disney Muppet revival
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Arsenal reach final, Havertz scores

Arsenal beat Chelsea to reach the League Cup final after Kai Havertz scored a stoppage-time winner against his former club.

Arsenal reach final, Havertz scores
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Leverkusen reach German cup semifinals

Bayer Leverkusen beat FC St. Pauli 3-0 to reach the DFB-Pokal semifinals, with goals from Martin Terrier, Patrik Schick and Jonas Hofmann.

Leverkusen reach German cup semifinals
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William Stevenson charged with murder

William Stevenson, Jill Biden’s ex-husband, was charged with first-degree murder in Delaware after his wife, Linda Stevenson, was found unresponsive on Dec. 28, officials said.

William Stevenson charged with murder
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Chios collision kills fourteen migrants

A collision between a migrant speedboat and a Greek coastguard patrol off the island of Chios killed at least 14 people, and rescuers searched for survivors.

Chios collision kills fourteen migrants
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Melinda Gates demands Epstein answers

Melinda French Gates said Bill Gates must answer questions raised by his presence in the Epstein files, saying the disclosures revived painful memories from their marriage.

Melinda Gates demands Epstein answers
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