MPs back plan to release Mandelson files after Labour anger forces climbdown
MPs have approved the release of documents about Lord Mandelson's appointment as UK ambassador to the US, after angry Labour backbenchers forced a government climbdown over plans to withhold some material, BBC reported.
Sir Keir Starmer told a dramatic Commons session he wanted to release the files - which could show what the government knew about Lord Mandelson's relationship with disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein - but insisted he would not publish anything that could damage national security or diplomatic relations.
That position unravelled after senior Labour figures, including former deputy leader Angela Rayner, urged ministers to change course, forcing the government to agree to involve a cross-party parliamentary committee in the process, according to BBC.
Russian attacks on Ukraine energy sites 'particularly depraved', UK PM Starmer says
Russia's attacks on Ukraine's energy sector on Monday night - as temperatures dropped to -20C (-4F) - were "barbaric" and "particularly depraved", UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has said, BBC reported.
He made the comments after speaking to US President Donald Trump hours after Russia hit power plants and critical infrastructure in the capital, Kyiv, and elsewhere.
The attacks came at the end of a week-long pause that Trump had asked Russia's President Vladimir Putin to observe as a fierce cold swept Ukraine, according to BBC.
China to ban hidden door handles
China will ban hidden and electronic car door handles starting next year, AP reported. The rule applies to most vehicles, including many electric cars. All doors must have a mechanical release, except tailgates.
Officials said to AP that the move follows safety concerns after fatal accidents. In some cases, electronic door handles failed to open and trapped passengers. The new rule will take effect on 1 Jan, 2027, while older approved models have until 2029 to comply.
Popular EVs like Tesla’s Model 3 and Model Y use retractable handles and may need redesigns. Experts say the rule could influence other countries to adopt similar standards. Carmakers may face higher costs to update vehicle designs.
Italy makes art accessible for visually impaired people
Italy is expanding efforts to make its cultural sites more accessible to people with disabilities. In Rome, blind visitors are now offered sensory-based tours of landmarks like the Colosseum according to AP. These tours use touch, sound and storytelling instead of sight.
AP reported, the push gained speed in 2021, when Italy linked EU recovery funds to accessibility reforms. Sites like Pompeii added braille signs, tactile models and audio guides. Museums in Florence also published detailed accessibility routes for visitors with special needs.
Experts sais to AP that inclusive tourism improves experiences for everyone and makes economic sense. Guides now encourage slower tours and creative interaction with art. Italy hopes the changes will help more people connect with its history in new ways.
