21 February 2026, in sixty words

Former UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson has told the BBC that the United Kingdom and its allies should immediately send non-combat troops to Ukraine to demonstrate firm support against Russian aggression, rather than waiting for a ceasefire.

A café customer in Nottingham, England, was stunned when a gift card balance appeared on her receipt showing £63 quadrillion — roughly 100,000 times more than Elon Musk’s net worth and about 670 times the value of the global economy.

A Detective Constable with British Transport Police (BTP), who was among the first officers to respond to the 2017 London Bridge terror attack, has been sacked for gross misconduct after posting derogatory messages about the Gypsy, Roma and Traveller communities in a WhatsApp group with colleagues.

The future of the long-running BBC drama Call the Midwife is expected to be clarified in the upcoming series finale, with creator Heidi Thomas teasing “huge” news on what lies ahead for the beloved show.

Aston Villa saw their Premier League title hopes dented after being held to a 1–1 draw by Leeds United at Villa Park, with Tammy Abraham netting a late equaliser.

Catherine, the Princess of Wales, has made her first public appearance since the arrest of her uncle-in-law, ex-Prince Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, on suspicion of misconduct in public office.

An 18-year-old man has died after being stabbed outside the Jamia Masjid mosque on Oldbury Road in Smethwick, England, prompting a murder investigation by West Midlands Police.

Ireland defeated England 42-21 at Allianz Stadium on February 21 in the Six Nations.

After the US Supreme Court ruled 6-3 that most of his sweeping global tariffs were illegal, President Donald Trump has doubled down, saying he’ll impose new import levies and raising some global tariffs to about 15 per cent.

The MG S6 flagship electric SUV combines a roomy interior, strong WLTP range of up to 329 miles and a competitive price under £40,000, positioning it as a compelling choice for family buyers.

Two bodies have been recovered in the Eryri (Snowdonia) mountain range after an extensive multi-agency search for two missing men, aged 19 and 20, whose welfare was reported to police.

A Japanese macaque named Punch has successfully integrated with his troop at Ichikawa City Zoo after previously relying on a plush orangutan for comfort.

Children's retailer Smiggle is having a closing down sale at its Redditch, Worcestershire store, offering 70% off some items.

Organisers reported participation rose by over ten per cent, featuring forty-one runway shows and twenty presentations.

The Palestinian Authority is failing to provide services in the West Bank amid economic crisis and settlement growth.

Bilal Fawaz, the current English light-middleweight titleholder, is set to compete for the British crown this Saturday.

Governments are increasingly shutting down the internet, leading to a splinternet.

Cheeky Auctions in Tain, Ross, Scotland, is selling neck shackles dated to 1780, which has drawn condemnation.

A social media user known as RadialB is using artificial intelligence to produce viral clips showing invented urban decay in south London.

Defence Minister Luke Pollard confirmed that officials are collaborating with the Palace on legislation to stop Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor from ever ruling.

President Trump announced a fresh 10% global levy on Friday immediately after the Supreme Court ruled his previous trade policy illegal.

The UK government saw a £30.4 billion budget surplus in January.

Sir Jim Ratcliffe, co-owner of Manchester United, will not face disciplinary charges from the Football Association (FA) over comments suggesting the UK had been “colonised by immigrants.” The FA instead issued him a reminder of his responsibilities in football media appearances after widespread criticism from politicians, fan groups and anti-discrimination charities.

The Right Reverend Stephen Conway, the Bishop of Lincoln, has been arrested on suspicion of sexual assault as part of a police inquiry into alleged offences dating from 2018 to 2025.

A major clinical trial investigating the use of puberty blockers in children and young people has been paused after the UK’s Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) raised “new concerns” about safety and wellbeing, particularly over long-term biological risks.

Shadow Foreign Secretary Dame Priti Patel is travelling to Washington to meet senior figures in Donald Trump’s administration in a bid to derail Keir Starmer’s agreement to cede sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius.

Researchers in Southampton have launched the VIOLET trial to test whether a specialist medical tampon can help detect early signs of ovarian cancer by analysing tiny biological signals (microRNA biomarkers) in vaginal fluid.

A man in his 60s has appeared at Manchester Minshull Street Crown Court charged with 48 offences, as part of a case involving 87 total counts, including raping and drugging his wife over a 20-year period and allegedly inviting 12 other men to sexually assault her while she was unconscious.

Veteran Xbox boss Phil Spencer is retiring after nearly four decades at Microsoft, marking the end of an era for the gaming giant.

Israeli airstrikes in Lebanon’s Bekaa Valley and near the Ein el-Hilweh Palestinian refugee camp killed at least 12 people and wounded dozens, according to Lebanese authorities.

Formula 1’s latest pre-season trials in Bahrain revealed a host of technical advancements as teams fine-tune their 2026 cars.