‘Made in Europe’ EU industrial strategy could hit supply chains, UK minister warns
Posted on Thursday February 19, 2026

Nick Thomas-Symonds says move could also create unnecessary UK-EU trade barriers and increase costsBusiness live – latest updatesA British minister has warned that the EU’s “Made in Europe” industrial strategy could hit supply chains, increase costs and create unnecessary trade barriers between the UK and some members of the bloc.Nick Thomas-Symonds, the UK minister for EU relations, made the comments as the EU is preparing to publish legislation that would require European-made products to be prioritised in public procurement and consumer schemes. Continue reading...

Read more...

UK manufacturing still beset by low orders and price pressure, says CBI
Posted on Thursday February 19, 2026

Industrial trends survey shows firms are expecting to raise prices, with order books well below averageBritish manufacturing orders remain well below average and price pressure continues to persist, according to a closely watched survey.The CBI industrial trends survey found that manufacturers’ orders for the month were below average in February, while most firms expected to raise their prices and for output to decline over the next three months. Continue reading...

Read more...

Global Counsel calls in administrators, blaming Peter Mandelson ‘maelstrom’
Posted on Thursday February 19, 2026

Advisory firm has lost string of clients despite efforts to cut ties with co-founder after Epstein revelationsGlobal Counsel, the advisory firm co-founded by Peter Mandelson, is to collapse into administration, blaming the “maelstrom” caused by revelations about the former peer’s relationship with the convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.Companies including Barclays, Tesco and the Premier League have all deserted Global Counsel, despite the company’s efforts to sever ties with Mandelson and the company’s co-founder Benjamin Wegg-Prosser. Continue reading...

Read more...

Digital blackface flourishes under Trump and AI: ‘The state is bending reality’
Posted on Thursday February 19, 2026

From TikTok deepfakes to smears put out by the White House, fake videos modeled on Black archetypes are running rampant - putting Black users at riskLate last year, as a US government shutdown cut off the Snap benefits that low-income families rely on for groceries, videos on social media cast the fallout in frantic scenes. “Imma keep it real with you,” a Black woman said in a viral TikTok post, “I get over $2,500 a month in stamps. I sell ’em, $2,000 worth, for about $1,200-$1,500 cash.” Another Black woman ranted about taxpayers’ responsibility to her seven children with seven men, and yet another melted down after her food stamps were rejected at a corn-dog counter.Visible watermarks stamped some videos as AI-generated – apparently, too faintly for the racist commentators and hustlers more than happy to believe the frenzy was real. “You got people treating it like a side hustle, selling the stamps, abusing the system,” the conservative commentator Amir Odom whinged. Fox News reported on the Snap deepfakes as if they were authentic, before issuing a correction. Newsmax anchor Rob Schmitt claimed people were using Snap “to get their nails done, to get their weaves and hair”. (Lost in the outrage was a basic fact: white Americans make up 37% of Snap’s 42 million beneficiaries.) Continue reading...

Read more...

Tech firms must remove ‘revenge porn’ in 48 hours or risk being blocked, says Starmer
Posted on Wednesday February 18, 2026

PM says measure, also applied to deepfake nudes, is needed owing to a ‘national emergency’ of online misogynyDeepfake nudes and “revenge porn” must be removed from the internet within 48 hours or technology firms risk being blocked in the UK, Keir Starmer has said, calling it a “national emergency” that the government must confront.Companies could be fined millions or even blocked altogether if they allow the images to spread or be reposted after victims give notice. Continue reading...

Read more...

Winter Olympics 2026: GB men in curling semi-final, figure skating and more – live
Posted on Thursday February 19, 2026

Medal table | Live scores and schedule | Results | BriefingFollow us over on Bluesky | And you can email DanielThe cross-country bit gets going at 1pm, and I’m looking forward to that. It’s a scientific fact that here’s no kind of race a human can devise that is uncompelling.In the Nordic, teams of two both have a go at ski jumping, and Germany have just leapt into the lead; they’ll start the cross-country portion with no time penalty, because Austria have just completed this part of things, and only landed far enough for fifth. Norway are second, Japan third and Finland fourth. Continue reading...

Read more...

Manchester United v Atlético Madrid: Women’s Champions League playoff – live
Posted on Thursday February 19, 2026

⚽ Champions League updates from the 8pm GMT kick-off⚽ Live scores | Follow us on Bluesky | You can email SarahA great piece to read before this game begins:Here is how Arsenal booked their spot in the quarter-finals, where they will play Chelsea: Continue reading...

Read more...