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Monday, February 23, 2026

Police in Britain arrest former ambassador Mandelson in probe into Epstein ties

February 23, 2026
Police in Britain arrest former ambassador Mandelson in probe into Epstein ties

LONDON (AP) — British police on Monday arrested Peter Mandelson, a former U.K. ambassador to the United States, in a misconduct probe stemming from his ties to the lateJeffrey Epstein. It came days after a friendship with Epstein landed the former Prince Andrew in police custody.

Associated Press

Both men are suspected of improperly passing U.K. government information to the disgraced U.S. financier, and the high-profile British arrests are some of the most dramatic fallout from thetrove of more than 3 million pagesof Epstein-related documents released last month by the U.S. Justice Department.

London's Metropolitan Police force said "officers have arrested a 72-year-old man on suspicion of misconduct in public office" at an address in north London. He was taken to a police station for questioning.

The man was not named, in keeping with British police practice, but the suspect in the case previously was identified as the former diplomat, who is 72. Mandelson was filmed being led from his London home to a car by plainclothes officers on Monday afternoon.

Under U.K. law, police can hold a suspect without charge for up to 24 hours. This can be extended to a maximum of 96 hours. Mandelson could be charged, released unconditionally or released while investigations continue.

Claims of leaked government information

Police are investigating Mandelson over claims he passed sensitive government information to Epstein a decade and a half ago. He does not face allegations of sexual misconduct.

His arrest came four days afterAndrew Mountbatten-Windsor, the former Prince Andrew, was arrested in a separate case on suspicion of a similar offense related to his friendship with Epstein. Andrew was released after 11 hours in custody while the police investigation continues.

Mandelson served in senior government roles under previous Labour governments and was U.K. ambassador to Washington until Prime Minister Keir Starmerfired him in Septemberafter emails were published showing that he maintained a friendship with Epstein after the financier's 2008 conviction for sex offenses involving a minor.

The files released in January contained more explosive revelations about Mandelson's ties to Epstein, whom he once called "my best pal."

Messages suggest that Mandelson passed on sensitive — and potentially market-moving — government information to Epstein in 2009, when Mandelson was a senior minister in the British government. That includes an internal government report discussing ways the U.K. could raise money after the 2008 global financial crisis, including by selling off government assets. Mandelson also appears to have told Epstein he would lobby other members of the government to reduce a tax on bankers' bonuses.

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British police launched a criminal probe earlier this month andsearched Mandelson's two housesin London and western England.

Thedecision to appoint Mandelson nearly cost Starmer his jobearlier this month, as questions swirled around his judgment about someone who has flirted with controversy during a decades-long political career.

Though he acknowledged he made a mistake and apologized to victims of Epstein,Starmer's position remains precarious. His future may rest on the release of files connected to Mandelson's appointment. The government has pledged to begin releasing those documents in early March, though the timeline may be complicated by his arrest.

Mandelson a contentious figure

Mandelson has been a major, if contentious, figure in the center-left Labour Party for decades. He is a skilled — critics say ruthless — political operator whose mastery of political intrigue earned him the nickname "Prince of Darkness."

The grandson of former Labour Cabinet minister Herbert Morrison, he was an architect of the party's return to power in 1997 as centrist, modernizing "New Labour" under Prime Minister Tony Blair.

Mandelson served in senior government posts under Blair between 1997 and 2001, and under Prime Minister Gordon Brown from 2008 to 2010. In between, he was the European Union's trade commissioner. Brown has been particularly angered by the revelations and has been helping police with their inquiries.

Mandelson twice had to resign from government during the Blair administration over allegations of financial or ethical impropriety, acknowledging mistakes but denying wrongdoing.

He later returned to government and was back on the political front line when Starmer named him ambassador to Washington at the start of U.S. President Donald Trump's second term. Mandelson's trade expertise and comfort around the ultra-rich were considered major assets. He helped secure a trade deal in May that spared Britain some of the tariffs Trump has imposed on countries around the world.

The status of the deal is now up in the air after Trump announced a new set of global tariffs in the wake of a U.S. Supreme Court decision quashing his previous import tax order.

Earlier this month Mandelson resigned from the House of Lords, Parliament's upper chamber, to which he was appointed for life in 2008. But he still has the title — Lord Mandelson — that went with it.

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Former Rams WR Robert Woods joins Sean McVay's coaching staff; Kliff Kingsbury named assistant head coach

February 23, 2026
Former Rams WR Robert Woods joins Sean McVay's coaching staff; Kliff Kingsbury named assistant head coach

A familiar face is joining the Los Angeles Rams coaching staff.

Yahoo Sports

Former Rams wide receiver Robert Woods is joining Sean McVay's staff as an assistant wide receivers coach. The Rams announced the hiring on Monday via an announcement of the team's full coaching staff for the 2026 season.

They also announced that Kliff Kingsbury will work as McVay's assistant head coach. Reports previously indicated thatKingsbury was joining McVay's staff, but his role wasn't clear.

The former head coach of Texas Tech and the Arizona Cardinals, Kingsbury spent the previous two seasons as the offensive coordinator for the Washington Commanders.The Commanders parted with Kingsburyin the offseason, and he'll now work as McVay's top assistant.

Brian Johnson, the former Eagles offensive coordinator who worked as the Commanders' passing game coordinator with Kingsbury, is also joining the staff as a senior offensive assistant.

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Woods back with Rams days after retirement announcement

Woods, meanwhile, will embark on a coaching career with a Rams team for which he played five of his 12 NFL seasons. Woods played for the Rams from 2017-21, all under McVay. He finished his final season in Los Angeles on injured reserve with a torn ACL, but was a member of that 2021 Super Bowl-winning team.

Woods joins the Rams' staff less than a week afterretiring as a player.Woods played his final two active seasons with the Houston Texans from 2023-24. He joined the Pittsburgh Steelers in the 2025 offseason, but didn't play in 2025 after the Steelers released him in August.

Woods played for four NFL teams, but announced his retirement via a Rams blue-and-gold Instagram statement alongside prominent graphics of him wearing a Rams uniform.The Rams later announcedthat he was officially retiring as a member of the team.

Less than a week later, Woods has officially rejoined the team as a member of its coaching staff.

He rejoins a Rams team that lost to the Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks in the NFC championship game and projects as one of the top contenders to compete for the Super Bowl next season. He'll work directly with two of the top receivers in football, Puka Nacua and Davante Adams.

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2026 NBA playoff picture: Who would be in bracket if season ended today?

February 23, 2026
2026 NBA playoff picture: Who would be in bracket if season ended today?

The NBA's postseason isn't far away, and perhaps getting close enough to take attention away fromthe various league issues that took attention away from the courtin the lead-up and throughout All-Star weekend festivities.

USA TODAY Sports

Less than two months and 30 regular-season games remain for most NBA teams, and the 2026 playoff picture is clear enough at this point to see it will be defined by a few key races in theEastern and Western Conference standings.

TheDetroit Pistonsstill have a comfortable lead over a trio of more established contenders for the No. 1 seed in the East, but how theBoston Celtics,New York KnicksandCleveland Cavaliersshake out among the top six will be a subplot in the weeks ahead. TheOklahoma City Thundermust hold off theSan Antonio Spursfor the top seed in the West, while theDenver Nuggets,Houston Rockets,Los Angeles LakersandMinnesota Timberwolvesjockey for position beneath them.

There's also a fascinating chase for theNBA's play-in tournament, now entering its seventh season as an addition to the league's postseason schedule and sixth year in this current four-team format. Given how many franchises are in tank mode already this season, there aren't many teams outside the top 10 at the moment actively trying to make the playoffs.

Here's a breakdown of the current NBA playoff picture, including what teams would make the postseason if the regular season ended today:

Oct. 26: The Dallas Mavericks' Cooper Flagg dunks the ball past the Toronto Raptors' Sandro Mamukelashvili at the American Airlines Center. Oct. 26: The Washington Wizards' Cam Whitmore dunks the ball against the Charlotte Hornets at Capital One Arena. <p style=Oct. 26: The Brooklyn Nets' Michael Porter Jr. dunks in front of the San Antonio Spurs' Victor Wembanyama at Frost Bank Center.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Oct. 25: The Denver Nuggets' Christian Braun dunks the ball against the Phoenix Suns' Grayson Allen at Ball Arena. Oct. 24: The Memphis Grizzlies' Jaren Jackson Jr. dunks against the Miami Heat at FedExForum. Oct. 24: The Miami Heat's Bam Adebayo dunks over the Memphis Grizzlies' Jaren Jackson Jr. at FedExForum. Oct. 22: The New York Knicks' OG Anunoby goes up for a reverse dunk against the Cleveland Cavaliers at Madison Square Garden. Oct. 22: The Utah Jazz's Lauri Markkanen dunks against the Los Angeles Clippers at Delta Center.

Dribble into this collection of dunk photos as NBA stars posterize opponents

OPINION:Cade Cunningham has MVP moment at Madison Square Garden in domination of Knicks

NBA playoff bracket

Records and standings through games played on Sunday, Feb. 22:

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Eastern Conference

  1. Detroit Pistons (42-13)

  2. Boston Celtics (37-19)

  3. Miami Heat (31-27)

  4. Atlanta Hawks (28-31)

Western Conference

  1. Phoenix Suns (33-25)

  2. Golden State Warriors (30-27)

  3. Portland Trail Blazers (28-30)

  4. Los Angeles Clippers (27-30)

When does NBA regular season end?

The final day of the regular season is Sunday, April 12.

When is NBA play-in tournament?

The NBA play-in tournament will begin Tuesday, April 14 and conclude Friday, April 17.

How does NBA play-in tournament work?

The tournament is divided into two rounds for each conference:

  • Game 1: No. 7 seed vs. No. 8 seed

  • Game 2: No. 9 seed vs. No. 10 seed

The No. 7 and No. 9 seeds play at home in the first round. The winner of Game 1 secures the No. 7 seed in their respective conference playoff bracket. The loser of Game 1 continues to the second round and hosts the winner of Game 2. The loser of Game 2 is eliminated from playoff contention.

  • Game 1 loser vs. Game 2 winner

The winner of this game secures the No. 8 and final seed in the playoffs. The loser is eliminated from playoff contention.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:2026 NBA playoffs bracket if the season ended today

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Cowboys 'lean toward' tagging WR George Pickens to prioritize defense

February 23, 2026
Cowboys 'lean toward' tagging WR George Pickens to prioritize defense

Tagging George Pickens is the most likely solution for the Dallas Cowboys to maintain long-term cap flexibility, keep the wide receiver and save some cash to address improving personnel on defense.

Field Level Media

Cowboys vice president Stephen Jones laid out the scenario on Monday as the NFL Scouting Combine becomes the backdrop for league business for the next week.

"We want Pickens here. We think the world of him," Jones said. "Want him here. Love him, and I think he wants to be here. So all that's a plus."

Dallas would be charged a one-year salary of around $28 million to use the franchise tag on Pickens unless the two sides reach a long-term agreement before July 15.

Pickens caught 93 passes for 1,429 yards with nine touchdowns in 2025. He turns 25 on March 4.

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Dallas signed running back Javonte Williams to a three-year, $24 million contract to keep one of their difference-makers from hitting the open market.

The Cowboys fired defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus at the end of the 2025 season and hired Christian Parker to repair that side of the ball. Jones said part of that equation involves upgrading the level of talent.

"We want to fix this defense," Jones said of the budget priorities. "We feel really good about the offensive side of the ball now that we got Javonte done and we know that we'll have George back. So, we feel really good about that side of the ball. Obviously we spent a lot of time on it already in the offseason, revamping the defensive coaching staff, and now we'll take the next steps, which are to improve the personnel on that side of the ball."

The Steelers selected Pickens in the second round of the 2022 draft and he played his first three seasons in Pittsburgh. Pickens has produced 267 receptions, 21 touchdowns and 4,270 receiving yards in 65 games (55 starts).

--Field Level Media

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Nick Reiner pleads not guilty. See timeline of Rob Reiner case so far

February 23, 2026
Nick Reiner pleads not guilty. See timeline of Rob Reiner case so far

Nick Reinerentered aplea of not guiltyon murder charges over the deaths of his parents, acclaimed director Rob Reiner and wife Michele Singer Reiner, on Monday, Feb. 23. It's the latest update in a case thatleft Hollywood reelingfrom the unexpected loss of a couple whose impact extended beyond the realm of entertainment.

USA TODAY

The arraignment on Feb. 23, which had previously been postponed, came two months after the filmmaker and his wife, a photographer and producer, were found dead in their Los Angeles home in December. One day after their bodies were discovered, authorities said that their investigation revealed that Reiner, a 32-year-old screenwriter, was responsible for their deaths.

Here's a timeline of the case so far, including when Reiner will appear in court next.

Dec. 14: Rob Reiner and wife Michele Singer Reiner are found dead

Rob Reiner and Michele Singer Reiner attend the Human Rights Campaign dinner on March 30, 2019, in Los Angeles.

Los Angeles Police Department said they responded to a "death investigation" at a Brentwood home and discovered two bodies. In an update later the same day, LAPD shared that the residence has been identified as Rob Reiner's home. Later details would reveal that son Nick Reiner is accused of fatally stabbing his parents in the "early morning hours" of Dec. 14.

Dec. 14: Nick Reiner is arrested

Nick Reiner was arrested at approximately 9:15 p.m. on Dec. 14, according to the LAPD on Dec. 15. A day later, the Los Angeles County district attorney's office said Reiner "fled" before he was later arrested in Exposition Park in Los Angeles.

Dec. 15: Authorities claim Nick Reiner is responsible for parents' death

Los Angeles Police Department claimed Nick Reiner is "responsible" for his parents' deaths, citing their investigation, one day after authorities announced they'd found the husband and wife dead.

<p style=Rob Reiner speaks onstage at Collider's Directors On Directing Panel during 2025 Comic-Con International: San Diego at San Diego Convention Center on July 24, 2025.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> <p style=Rob Reiner attends SiriusXM Presents Conan O'Brien Needs A Friend Live With The Cast Of "Spinal Tap 2" at SiriusXM Studios on Sept. 4, 2025.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> <p style=Rob Reiner attends the premiere of "Spinal Tap II: The End Continues" at The Egyptian Theatre Hollywood on Sept. 9, 2025, in Los Angeles, California.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> <p style=From left: C. J. Vanston, Harry Shearer, Valerie Franco, Christopher Guest, Michael McKean, Fran Drescher and Rob Reiner attend the premiere of "Spinal Tap II: The End Continues" at The Egyptian Theatre Hollywood on Sept. 9, 2025, in Los Angeles, California.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> <p style=Rob Reiner attends the premiere of "Spinal Tap II: The End Continues" at The Egyptian Theatre Hollywood on Sept. 9, 2025, in Los Angeles, California.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> <p style=Rob Reiner and wife Michele Singer Reiner attend the Human Rights Campaign's 2025 LA Dinner at the Fairmont Century Plaza in Los Angeles on March 22, 2025.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> <p style=Rob Reiner attends the Human Rights Campaign's 2025 dinner in Los Angeles on March 22, 2025.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> <p style=Rob Reiner and wife Michele Singer Reiner attend the Human Rights Campaign's 2025 LA Dinner at the Fairmont Century Plaza in Los Angeles on March 22, 2025.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> <p style=Rob Reiner speaks onstage at the screening of "The American President" during the 2025 TCM Classic Film Festival at TCL Chinese Theatre on April 25, 2025.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> <p style=Rob Reiner attends the screening of "Misery" during the 2025 TCM Classic Film Festival at TCL Chinese Theatre on April 25, 2025.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> <p style=Rob Reiner and Kathy Bates attend the screening of "Misery" during the 2025 TCM Classic Film Festival at TCL Chinese Theatre on April 25, 2025.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> <p style=Aaron Sorkin, Rob Reiner and TCM Host Ben Mankiewicz attend the screening of "The American President" during the 2025 TCM Classic Film Festival at TCL Chinese Theatre on April 25, 2025.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> <p style=Jake Reiner, Romy Reiner, Rob Reiner, and Michele Reiner attend the 75th Primetime Emmy Awards at Peacock Theater on January 15, 2024, in Los Angeles, California.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> <p style=Rob Reiner and Sally Struthers speak onstage during the 75th Emmy Awards at the Peacock Theatre at L.A. Live in Los Angeles on Jan. 15, 2024.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> <p style=Rob Reiner and his wife Michele Reiner attend the 46th Kennedy Center Honors gala at the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, DC, on Dec. 3, 2023.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> <p style=Director Rob Reiner attends the photocall of "This Is Spinal Tap" during the 75th annual Cannes film festival at Majestic Beach on May 18, 2022, in Cannes, France.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> <p style=Director Rob Reiner attends the photocall of "This Is Spinal Tap" during the 75th annual Cannes film festival at Majestic Beach on May 18, 2022, in Cannes, France.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> <p style=Director Rob Reiner attends the photocall of "This Is Spinal Tap" during the 75th annual Cannes film festival at Majestic Beach on May 18, 2022, in Cannes, France.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> <p style=Rob Reiner attends The Paley Honors: A Special Tribute To Television's Comedy Legends at the Beverly Wilshire Four Seasons Hotel on Nov. 21, 2019, in Beverly Hills, California.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> <p style=Rob Reiner and Larry David attend the Los Angeles premiere of Neon's "The Biggest Little Farm" at the Landmark Theater on May 7, 2019, in Los Angeles, California.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> <p style=Rob Reiner and Larry David attend the Los Angeles premiere of Neon's "The Biggest Little Farm" at the Landmark Theater on May 7, 2019, in Los Angeles, California.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> <p style=Rob Reiner attends the "This Is Spinal Tap" 35th anniversary during the 2019 Tribeca Film Festival at the Beacon Theatre.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> <p style=From left: Christopher Guest, Harry Shearer, Michael McKean, and Rob Reiner attend the "This Is Spinal Tap" 35th anniversary during the 2019 Tribeca Film Festival at the Beacon Theatre on April 27, 2019, in New York City.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> <p style=Special Guests Billy Crystal and Rob Reiner attend the Hand and Footprint Ceremony: Billy Crystal at the 2019 10th Annual TCM Classic Film Festival on April 12, 2019, in Hollywood, California.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> <p style=Special guests Billy Crystal and Rob Reiner attend the Hand and Footprint Ceremony at TCL Chinese Theatre IMAX on April 12, 2019, in Hollywood, California.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> <p style=Special guests Billy Crystal and Rob Reiner attend the Hand and Footprint Ceremony at TCL Chinese Theatre IMAX on April 12, 2019, in Hollywood, California.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" />

Rob Reiner found dead at 78. See photos from his Hollywood career.

Rob Reiner speaks onstage at Collider's Directors On Directing Panel during 2025 Comic-Con International: San Diego at San Diego Convention Center on July 24, 2025.

Dec. 16: Nick Reiner faces murder charges

Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan J. Hochman said Nick Reiner faces two counts of first-degree murder in the deaths of his parents. Prosecutors added a "special circumstance of multiple murders" and a "special allegation" that Reiner used a deadly weapon — a knife. The charges carry a maximum sentence of life without parole or the death penalty. No decision "has been made with respect to the death penalty," Hochman said during a press conference on Dec. 16.

Dec. 16: Nick Reiner not medically cleared for court appearance

Nick Reiner's then-attorney Alan Jackson said that Reiner "has not been medically cleared" to appear in court, according to a video shared by TMZ.

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Dec. 17: Nick Reiner appears in court, siblings speak out

Nick Reinerbriefly appeared in courtin Los Angeles. The same day, his siblings Romy and Jake Reinershared a statementabout the deaths of their parents, calling for speculation "to be tempered with compassion and humanity, and for our parents to be remembered for the incredible lives they lived and the love they gave."

Dec. 17: Preliminary cause of death revealed for Rob Reiner, Michele Singer Reiner

Reiner his wife died from"multiple sharp force injuries,"according to online records from the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner reviewed by USA TODAY. The manner of death was ruled a homicide. The county medical examiner announced later December that due to a court order, information about the cause and manner of death for the Reiners would no longer be available.

Jan 7: Nick Reiner's attorney drops out

Nick Reiner was to be arraigned on Jan. 7, but his then-attorney Alan Jackson said he'dno longer be representingthe 32-year-old.

Feb. 23: Nick Reiner pleads not guilty

Nick Reiner entered a plea of not guilty during his arraignment.

April 29: Next court appearance

Reiner's next court appearance is set for the end of April.

USA TODAY reporters Anna Kaufman, Bryan Alexander and Edward Segarra contributed to this story.

Paris Barraza is a reporter covering Los Angeles and Southern California for the USA TODAY Network. Reach her atpbarraza@usatodayco.com.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Timeline of Nick Reiner case, from arrest, plea and what's next

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