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• Eight skiers found dead after California avalanche, with one still missing, sheriff confirms - BBC18 February 2026, 8:03 pm
  Eight skiers found dead after California avalanche, with one still missing, sheriff confirms  BBCEight skiers found dead after avalanche in California  Sky NewsLake Tahoe Avalanche Live Updates: 8 Skiers Found Dead, Authorities Say  The New York TimesSearch continues for nine skiers missing after US avalanche near Lake Tahoe  The GuardianRescuers save 6 skiers trapped in California avalanche, at least 9 more missing  CNN
  
• Ketamine addiction making teenagers wet the bed, says UK’s first specialist clinic - The Guardian18 February 2026, 7:43 pm
  Ketamine addiction making teenagers wet the bed, says UK’s first specialist clinic  The Guardian'Education is needed on ketamine': Former users speak out in a bid to help others  Dorset EchoKetamine is 'wiping out young people' in Lancashire, vicar says  ITVXHealth leaders highlight dangers of ketamine  Around Wellington'I believed I would be on drugs for the rest of my life and would die that way'  Bournemouth Echo
  
• Game of Thrones: Prequel play The Mad King to open in Stratford-Upon-Avon this summer - BBC18 February 2026, 6:00 pm
  Game of Thrones: Prequel play The Mad King to open in Stratford-Upon-Avon this summer  BBC‘Summer is coming!’: Royal Shakespeare Company to stage epic Game of Thrones prequel  The GuardianGame of Thrones: The Mad King stage show to have world premiere in the UK  WhatsOnStage‘Game of Thrones’ Prequel Play Sets World Premiere From Royal Shakespeare Company  VarietyGeorge R. R. Martin's Game Of Thrones: The Mad King  Royal Shakespeare Company | RSC
  
• Campaign urges NHS to improve diagnosis of potentially life-threatening childbirth condition - The Guardian18 February 2026, 5:55 pm
  Campaign urges NHS to improve diagnosis of potentially life-threatening childbirth condition  The GuardianPlacenta complications and how the NHS manages them | Letter  The GuardianAmisha Adhia to launch campaign after rare childbirth condition went undiagnosed  EasternEyeThe Silent Killer: Campaign Exposes NHS Failures on Placenta Accreta  streamlinefeed.co.keUK MOTHERS AT RISK FROM LIFE-THREATENING MATERNITY CONDITION DUE TO DANGEROUS GAPS IN NHS CARE  London TV
  
• Vinicius: Eight years at Real Madrid, 20 cases of alleged racist abuse - BBC18 February 2026, 5:40 pm
  Vinicius: Eight years at Real Madrid, 20 cases of alleged racist abuse  BBCUefa's racism protocol: What is it and is it working?  BBCMourinho accused of gaslighting for response to Vinícius’ allegation of racism  The GuardianTrent Alexander-Arnold calls for 'justice' after Vinícius Jr. racism accusation  ESPNJose Mourinho sounded like he was victim blaming - but Vinicius Junior needs empathy over alleged racist abuse  Sky News
  
• Bono lambasts ICE, Putin, Netanyahu and more as U2 release first collection of new songs since 2017 - The Guardian18 February 2026, 5:06 pm
  Bono lambasts ICE, Putin, Netanyahu and more as U2 release first collection of new songs since 2017  The Guardian'U2 - Days of Ash' New EP Out Now  U2 > HomeU2 Are Recording a ‘Defiantly Joyfu’ Album with Larry Mullen Jr. Back on Drums  Rolling StoneU2 are back on the barricades with their most political work in years  The TelegraphLegendary rock band releases new politically charged EP  The Independent
  
• Up'Ards earn 3-0 win in Shrovetide Football game - BBC18 February 2026, 3:01 pm
  Up'Ards earn 3-0 win in Shrovetide Football game  BBCAlnwick Shrovetide football match watched on by crowds  BBCHundreds play in ancient Royal Shrovetide Football event – in pictures  The Guardian‘World’s maddest footie match’ has hundreds of players and goals 3 miles apart  Daily StarCompetitors get bloodied in brutal 16-hour ball game in Ashbourne  Metro.co.uk
  
• Gunshots fired at car in Birmingham road sending driver crashing into van - Birmingham Live18 February 2026, 2:32 pm
  Gunshots fired at car in Birmingham road sending driver crashing into van  Birmingham LiveGunman on loose after shots fired on UK street as police launch 'extra patrols'  Daily StarPanic in Birmingham as 'shots fired at car' and people 'fleeting the area'  Express.co.ukBirmingham shooting as gunshots unleashed at car before crash – gunman on loose  The Mirror
  
• 'Wolf in sheep's clothing' at Bolton Council stole nearly £900K off vulnerable people - The Bolton News18 February 2026, 2:13 pm
  'Wolf in sheep's clothing' at Bolton Council stole nearly £900K off vulnerable people  The Bolton NewsBolton Council worker stole £900k from benefits claimants  BBCRichard Shaw: Council worker stole £900,000 from vulnerable benefit claimants to fund luxury lifestyle  The IndependentFormer council employee jailed for stealing £900,000 from benefits claimants  ITVXEx-council worker who stole £900k from vulnerable claimants to fund luxury lifestyle is jailed  Sky News
  
• UCL students win £21mn over Covid disruption in watershed settlement - Financial Times18 February 2026, 2:03 pm
  UCL students win £21mn over Covid disruption in watershed settlement  Financial TimesStudents begin Covid compensation claim against 36 more universities  BBCThe student group claim settles out of court  WonkheCovid compensation claims leave universities ‘very exposed’  Times Higher EducationStudents in England and Wales launch legal action over Covid-hit studies  The Guardian
  
• Is it smarter to have a dumb home? ‘We’ve seen clients unable to flush toilets’ - The Guardian18 February 2026, 2:01 pm
  Is it smarter to have a dumb home? ‘We’ve seen clients unable to flush toilets’  The Guardian
  
• Nigella will be 'wonderful' on Bake Off, says Prue Leith - BBC18 February 2026, 1:59 pm
  Nigella will be 'wonderful' on Bake Off, says Prue Leith  BBCNigella Lawson: The new Bake Off judge who breaks the mould  BBCNigella Lawson says Bake Off shuns TV "bullying" - as Paul Hollywood delivers verdict on his new judge  Radio TimesI’ve seen Bake Off’s Paul Hollywood with Nigella Lawson – their chemistry is electric  Metro.co.ukPaul Hollywood gives his verdict on Nigella Lawson joining Bake Off  Times & Star
  
• Starmer blames councils for scrapping elections - The Telegraph18 February 2026, 12:58 pm
  Starmer blames councils for scrapping elections  The TelegraphLabour insiders fear ‘annihilation’ in Lancashire local elections after U-turn  The Guardian‘Starmer faces a referendum’: The town ready to turn its back on Labour  The Telegraph'Farage forces elections U-turn' and 'Tributes to Godfather Star'  BBCFarage claims 'victory' as councils face 'race against time' to reinstate plans after elections U-turn  Sky News
  
• Call of Duty advert banned for trivialising sexual violence - BBC18 February 2026, 11:58 am
  Call of Duty advert banned for trivialising sexual violence  BBCCall of Duty: Black Ops 7 Commercial Featuring Nikki Glazer Receives UK Ban for Trivializing Sexual Violence  IGNCall of Duty ad banned in the UK for trivializing sexual violence  Game DeveloperCall of Duty ad banned by UK regulator after investigation determined it "trivialised sexual violence"  EurogamerVideo game advert banned for glorifying sexual violence  The Independent
  
• Palestine Action activists to face retrial over Elbit break-in - BBC18 February 2026, 11:26 am
  Palestine Action activists to face retrial over Elbit break-in  BBCAggravated burglary charges against 18 Palestine Action activists dropped  The GuardianSix Palestine Action activists face a retrial over a break-in at an Israel-linked defence firm's UK site.  Sky NewsPalestine Action activists to face retrial over UK Elbit factory raid following backlash  The Times of IsraelAll of the Filton 24 not guilty of aggravated burglary  CAGE International