Carrick’s early wins over title contenders Manchester City and Arsenal were unexpected. Although we anticipated the fixtures against Fulham and Tottenham, they were not without challenges that required resolution.
Combined with the failures of Chelsea and Liverpool, the end result is United in fourth place, an easier, but by no means significant, advantage in the quest for a Champions League return than some might have imagined in the wake of Ruben Amorim’s dismissal after the draw at Leeds on January 4.
“We know how difficult it is to string together plays in this league,” said Carrick, whose team is now unbeaten in nine league games under three managers, including interim Darren Fletcher.
“Sometimes it comes naturally; it flows and everything clicks. You look really dangerous and there’s a spark. Sometimes it’s a little stilted.”
Carrick’s team’s ability to deliver winning performances against expected opponents remains a question.
Many believed West Ham were in that category, even though Nuno Espirito Santo’s side were aiming for their fourth win in five league games and had led Chelsea 2–0 in the match they lost.
Carrick could not manage a victory.
He took a calculated risk to salvage a seemingly lost game.
When Manchester United drew a match against West Ham at Old Trafford in December, Amorim’s only replacement with an attacking player was Mason Mount in place of Joshua Zirkzee 12 minutes from time.
His final change was to replace one defender, Lisandro Martínez, for another, Luke Shaw. Midfielder Kobi Manu and young forward Shea Lacey remained on the bench.
Carrick gambled at the London Stadium. This is not the case with Cesco, who replaced Matheus Cunha, who was ineffective, a charge that could be levelled against all of United’s attacking players on this occasion.
The element of risk and reward came through the introduction of Zirkzee for full-back Diogo Dalot eight minutes from time.
He knew there was a chance to give even a second. It didn’t happen, thanks to two brilliant saving tackles by another substitute, Lenny Yarrow, and a save by Sené Lammens.
The result meant that as soon as five of the seven added minutes of injury time were up, Carrick’s team still had a chance. Czechia’s stellar performance ensured that they did not go home empty-handed.
“It’s always worthwhile trying to get something out of the game,” Carrick said of his replacement.
“Sometimes it doesn’t happen, but that doesn’t mean you give up.
“Obviously, we adopted an aggressive strategy with three defenders at the back while the rest of the team focused on attacking to secure that goal.” That’s the way we should do it.”
This strategy is directly inspired by the tactics of Sir Alex Ferguson. He was always willing to gamble to get the desired results and he felt this was the reason why he achieved so many successes late in his illustrious career.
The 87th-minute winner against Arsenal, the 90th-minute winner against Fulham and now the 95th-minute equaliser against West Ham.
Carrick is happy with 13 of 15 points in his first block of games.
As he regroups ahead of the next three-match run, he will be equally pleased with the spirit and never-say-die attitude that helped him achieve that.
Jeffrey Epstein had power and influence because he had money.
This attracted both wealth and individuals seeking it. His fortune enabled the crimes he committed. Its role cannot be underestimated.
The frenzy following his death has left questions about how he came to have the money.
Epstein files: see the latest revelations
Epstein’s empire once included the largest residential estate in Manhattan, two sun-drenched islands, and three planes.
But were they the result of pure financial acumen or were there more sinister elements to them: free rein for blackmail and entrapment of people interested in security services in the guise of financial expertise?
Here’s what we know.
How much was Epstein worth?
A document signed by the convicted paedophile just two days before his suicide in 2019 shows that the value of his assets was in the region of $580m (£475m at the time) before any taxes and liabilities were paid.
The 1953 Trust—possibly named in reference to his birth year— was a trust fund that allowed the identities of its beneficiaries to be concealed, unlike a simple will.
The final version was released by the US Department of Justice (DOJ) for the first time last week with some amendments and showed that more than 40 people were set to inherit millions of dollars, including Ghislaine Maxwell ($10 million).
image: Undated photo of Ghislaine Maxwell with Jeffrey Epstein released by the US Department of Justice: Photo: DoJ
Where did it all begin
To understand the end, we have to find the beginning.
Born in New York, Epstein was considered a mathematics genius, but despite attending university, he never graduated.
He left studies for education – to teach teenage boys and girls without qualifications at a private school attended by many of New York’s elite.
After being fired – apparently due to his lack of teaching skills – Epstein was given a job at investment banking giant Bear Stearns by its soon-to-be chief executive, Alan “Ace” Greenberg, who had children at the school.
This was his first big break – one that would strengthen his financial position for years to come.
Epstein worked for five years but left Bear Stearns in 1981 due to a trading violation, for which the company fined him $2,500 – worth about $9,000 (£6,597) today.
He told regulators at the time that he was earning more than $200,000 a year – now about $710,000 (£520,501) – in total compensation from Bear Stearns for his work as a consultant and limited partner.
He left the bank, but his relationship with the company that became the first Domino’s to go bankrupt 27 years later continued.
image: Alan Greenberg, seen here in 1998, was credited with giving Epstein his big break in his career. He died in 2014. Photo: AP
big bucks
This point is where Epstein’s obsession with secrecy begins to eclipse his earnings.
There was a lack of transparency into their business interests since 1981 because they were not listed entities, although lawsuits and some filings have revealed limited data on performance.
He started his own firm, which specialised in recovering funds for individuals and, reportedly, several foreign governments, and in 1987 he was also hired as a “consultant” at the then-Tall Towers Financial Corporation.
He departed from Towers Financial Corporation in 1989, four years prior to its exposure as a Ponzi scheme. He earned $25,000 per month for his role in the towers and was never charged with the $450 million fraud.
Jay Epstein & Co., founded in 1988, is where the big money started appearing.
This entity became a financial trust company after Epstein based his financial operations in a tax haven – the US Virgin Islands.
He also started Southern Trust Company in 2011, which later became his main source of income.
image: Little St James Island, one of the properties of financier Jeffrey Epstein
How much did he rake in and how did he do it?
One of the big questions hanging over Epstein’s activities is the legitimacy of the revenue he earned from his clients and investments – largely tax-free.
He certainly avoided the regulations governing financial advisers, lawyers, and accountants globally by portraying himself as an advisor.
Two individuals accounted for the majority of the fees charged to Epstein’s vehicles, according to a Forbes review.
At first, Jay Epstein & Co. managed the financial affairs of American billionaire Les Wexner – the long-time boss of Victoria’s Secret.
She was found to have paid Epstein $200 million by the time they separated in 2007.
Leon Black, co-founder of private equity firm Apollo Global Management, is believed to have handed over $170 million to the institutions from 2012 to 2017. In a letter to Apollo investors in 2020, he said, “I deeply regret any involvement with them,” adding that their relationship was limited to “estate planning, taxation, and philanthropic efforts.”
Mr Wexner previously said he broke with Epstein in 2007 and denied any knowledge of his sexual abuse.
In all, Forbes said Epstein took at least $360m in dividends from his companies between 1999 and 2018 and saved himself $300m in taxes due to the US Virgin Islands jurisdiction.
However, the situation was not without complications.
According to the Financial Times, US prosecutors have suggested that Mr Wexner received a $100 million payment from Epstein in 2008.
It relates to the lingerie tycoon’s claims that Epstein had power of attorney over his personal financial affairs while millions of dollars were stolen from him. This included allegations of improper property purchases; FT said Epstein bought real estate from Mr Wexner’s portfolio at a discount, according to US Justice Department documents.
The repayment amount was said to have been disclosed to authorities as Mr Wexner’s legal team sought to assist their investigation of Epstein before his death in 2019.
How did King handle the Epstein scandal?
financial crisis
Epstein suffered major losses following the financial meltdown in 2008.
The financial trust was an investor in the Bear Stearns fund, which collapsed along with the bank in March of that year – the first major casualty of the crisis.
The company recorded a net loss of $166 million between 2008 and 2010 – losses that gave rise to their new venture, Southern Trust.
Widespread reports also revealed Epstein’s financial losses from investments in mortgage-backed securities at a Bermuda-based company, where he previously held the position of chairman.
What do the Epstein files reveal about the reasons for all the redactions?
What about other income sources?
Epstein oversaw Liquid Funding Ltd. for eight years until 2007.
A few months before his death, a report by the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ) highlighted evidence that Epstein’s assets were being “secreted” through a series of offshore shell companies based in tax havens.
ICIJ, citing papers seen by its partner McClatchy and the Miami Herald, reported that Bear Stearns was one of the owners of Liquid Funding and had interests in the financial products that became synonymous with the 2008 crash.
‘Market-sensitive information’ given to Epstein
Were his interests legitimate?
Epstein apparently made money through various vehicles, investments, and tax avoidance. These actions may be legal, but they could also be superficial.
The files released by the Justice Department only increase suspicions that Epstein’s pockets were lined with blackmail from wealthy individuals, possibly through the secret filming of sexual activities at his properties.
The “victims” may save some taxes in exchange for more business. It’s a theory that has gained popularity as journalists continue to dig into the massive document dump.
The highlighted business relationships do not imply any wrongdoing by those named.
The new Epstein files include the ‘Devil’ video and details about bank payments related to sex-trafficking operations.
And sex-trafficking operations?
JPMorgan – the US investment bank that retained Epstein as a client between 1998 and 2013 and paid for that relationship through a series of subsequent settlements – flagged more than $1 billion in suspicious transactions involving Epstein shortly after his death.
The bank told the New York Times that thousands of identified transactions could encourage sex trafficking.
his real wealth
Financial journalists have spent years trying to uncover the truth behind Epstein’s fortune.
You can see from his story that he was a master of manipulation from the beginning.
However, it wouldn’t be unexpected if additional funds emerged from legal fees, compensation, and victim settlements after his estate depletes.
The night sky appears to be completely dark with a scattering of bright stars. Many people assume that the universe must be dark because of this common perspective. However, astronomers have posed a different query: what would the universe’s colour be if all of the light from every star and galaxy were merged into a single shadow? This precise computation was performed in 2002 by a group of astronomers, who arrived at a startling conclusion. They have lovingly dubbed this shade “Cosmic Latte” because the average colour of light from the universe is very light beige rather than black. The findings came from analysing observations of hundreds of thousands of galaxies. The researchers measured all the visible light emitted by these galaxies and combined it into a “cosmic spectrum”. When that spectrum was converted into a single visible colour using standard colour science methods, the result was a creamy off-white tone. It represents the true average of all visible light from the universe, not how one would see the sky from Earth. The name “Cosmic Latte” may sound silly, but it’s based on actual scientific research. This average colour can help astronomers learn about larger features of the universe and how the brightness of all the stars has changed over time. It also shows how the light we see from distant galaxies changes depending on the age and type of star.
Astronomers calculate the average colour of the universe by analysing data from various galaxies.
In the early 2000s, astronomers Carl Glazebrook and Ivan Baldry led a project using data from the 2dF Galaxy Redshift Survey, one of the largest all-sky surveys of visible galaxies conducted up to that time. The survey mapped light from more than 200,000 galaxies in the sky, measuring the brightness of light at different wavelengths. Scientists did not look at each galaxy in isolation. Instead, they put all this information together to create a spectrum of light that can be seen across the universe. This is the cosmic spectrum, and it reflects all the light emitted from stars, gas, and other things in the universe. After scientists put together the cosmic spectrum, they used computer programs and colour-matching methods to convert it into a colour that people can see. The final colour is light beige with code #FFF8E7. This number comes from standard digital colour systems and allows Cosmic Latte to be used in graphics and educational materials.
Why is the universe not black even though space looks dark?
It may seem strange to say that the universe has one colour when space appears dark. This is because of how we define colour and how our eyes see light. Most of the sky has no visible light sources, so space appears black. Photons from distant stars and galaxies are too faint to see without a telescope. But scientists don’t find darkness when they add up all the light that can be seen from every luminous object in the universe. There are different types of light in the electromagnetic spectrum, but visible light is the only light that people can see. By combining the visible wavelengths of stars of all ages and types, scientists were able to create a composite colour. Cosmic Latte is beige-white, meaning it contains light from both young blue stars and older red or yellow stars. This average colour has changed over cosmic time. Early in the history of the universe, massive, short-lived blue stars dominated the light emission. As those stars aged and faded and longer-lived red and yellow stars became common, the average light shifted slightly toward longer wavelengths, making today’s average colour warmer.
The science behind the name “Cosmic Latte”
After calculating the average colour, the research team conducted an informal survey to choose a name. Options included delectable suggestions like Cappuccino Cosmico, Big Bang Beige and Skyvorrie. The name Cosmic Latte won out because it closely represented the creamy, light colour generated by the calculations. According to reports, the term caught people’s attention and has since been used by NASA’s Astronomy Picture of the Day project, science outlets, and textbooks to describe the average colour of the universe. Adopting a familiar coffee context makes it easier for readers and students to visualise this otherwise abstract scientific result.
What does it tell us about the universe
It’s not just interesting that the colour of the universe is average. This helps scientists trace how light from stars spreads across the universe over time. The cosmic spectrum tells us about the age, number and evolution of stars. As massive stars die out and are replaced by cooler stars, the overall light signature of the universe changes. The Cosmic Latte doesn’t change how the universe looks to someone on Earth, but it does show how stars have formed and how the mix of light has changed over billions of years. It shows how astronomical data can give us new information about the entire universe by looking at a familiar question in a new way.
The 2026 Winter Olympics will begin after the opening ceremony, and with a busy schedule of competitions ahead, American viewers will need to pay attention to the time difference between the US and Italy, where the Milano Cortina Games are taking place.
The competition began on February 4 with some preliminary matches, and events will continue until the closing ceremony on February 22. The Paralympics will be held from March 6 to March 15 next month.
Locations in Italy are six hours ahead of Eastern Standard Time and nine hours ahead of Pacific Standard Time.
Here’s what you need to know about these winter sports schedules.
What is today’s schedule for the 2026 Winter Olympics?
Medal events will take place on the snow and slopes on Wednesday, February 11, including men’s super-G alpine skiing, 10 km cross-country Nordic combined, women’s 15 km individual biathlon, women’s moguls final in freestyle skiing, men’s 1,000 m speed skating, ice dance – free dance in figure skating, and both men’s and women’s doubles luge.
Curling round-robin matches will continue, including a match between the United States and the Czech Republic.
There will also be qualifications for both men’s and women’s snowboard halfpipe and women’s moguls in freestyle skiing.
What is the schedule for the 2026 Winter Olympics tomorrow?
On Thursday, February 12, Team USA will return to the ice for both men’s and women’s curling round robin sessions. The US men’s ice hockey team also faces Latvia in a Group C match.
Medal events will be in women’s super-G alpine skiing, men’s mogul freestyle skiing, women’s 10-kilometer cross-country skiing, men’s snowboard cross, women’s 5,000-meter speed skating, team relay in luge, women’s snowboard halfpipe, and short track speed skating for both men and women.
Also on the schedule are skeleton heats, qualification rounds for freestyle skiing, snowboard seeding runs and training runs for both bobsleigh and ski jumping.
When are the opening and closing ceremonies of the 2026 Olympics?
The opening ceremony of the 2026 Milano Cortina Winter Games on Friday, February 6, included performances by Mariah Carey, Laura Pausini and Andrea Bocelli, as well as traditional performances. The ceremony featured a parade of nations and the lighting of the Olympic cauldron.
The ceremony, produced by Balich Wonder Studios, took place primarily at the Milan San Siro Olympic Stadium, with additional events around Milan and athlete parades in Predazzo, Livigno, and Cortina d’Ampezzo. Look at all the main attractions here.
The Verona Arena will host the closing ceremony of this year’s Winter Olympics on February 22.
What is the figure skating schedule for the 2026 Winter Olympics?
The figure skating competitions began on 6 February. The competition will continue daily until 11th February. There will be a break on February 12, but additional figure skating competitions will take place on Feb. 13, 15, 16, 17, and 19.
The website for the Olympics provides details about the schedule for Team, Pair, and Singles events in figure skating.
What is the snowboarding program for the 2026 Winter Olympics?
Snowboarding events at the Winter Olympics began on 5 February, then continued through 7–9, 11–13, and 15–18 February.
Website for Olympic details At the qualifying event and final run, there are events for both men and women.
Overview of the 2026 Olympic program
While the Olympic opening ceremony was on Friday, February 6, Winter Games events actually began two days earlier, on February 4. The closing ceremony, along with several medal events, will take place on February 22.
The full schedule is available online, but Milano Cortina Games organisers say it is subject to change.
Wednesday, February 4
Thursday, February 5
Friday, February 6
Saturday, February 7
Sunday, February 8
Monday, February 9
Tuesday, February 10
Wednesday, February 11
Thursday, February 12
Friday, February 13
Saturday, February 14
Sunday, February 15
Monday, February 16
Tuesday, February 17
Wednesday, February 18
Thursday, February 19
Friday, February 20
Saturday, February 21
Sunday, February 22
Will the Olympics TV programme be live or delayed?
There will be both live and tape-delayed coverage of the Olympics on TV. Viewers in the US can watch on NBC and Peacock. According to the NBC Olympics website, NBC will have at least five hours of live event coverage beginning each morning and continuing through the afternoon. Viewers can check NBC Local listings here.
North Carolina’s five-game winning streak in the Atlantic Coast Conference has officially ended. After an emotional win over a rival Duke on Saturday night, it was a quick turnaround for the Tar Heels.
They went to Coral Gables to face off against a good Miami team and in the end, UNC never led in the game and fell to the Hurricanes, 75-66. The loss drops UNC to 19-5 overall and 7-4 in ACC play. With a tough schedule still ahead for the Tar Heels, the contest was another big Quad 1 opportunity for them.
February 10, 2026; Coral Gables, Florida, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels center Henry Visser (13) grabs a rebound against the Miami Hurricanes in the first half at Watsko Center. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images
The story of this game is the colour game between two teams. Miami dominated the paint, outscoring North Carolina 46-28. The Hurricanes also outgained UNC 41-35, leading to extra possessions on offence and limiting the Tar Heels to their own possessions.
North Carolina didn’t get much out of the post tonight with Caleb Wilson limited by that left wrist. But Henry Visser fought back against the bigs of the Hurricanes who feasted all night
This is a problem.
Let’s hope Caleb Wilson’s hand injury isn’t serious
On February 10, 2026, in Coral Gables, Florida, USA, North Carolina Tar Heels forward Caleb Wilson (8) looks up while playing against the Miami Hurricanes during the first half at the Watsco Center. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images
After an exciting game against Duke on Saturday, freshman Caleb Wilson didn’t look outstanding against Miami. Part of that was due to a left wrist injury he likely suffered in the game.
Wilson scored 12 points and played just 26 minutes, missing some crucial minutes early in the second half. He went to the bench with the trainers, then the locker room, before returning. But when he checked in again, he did so with some tape on his left wrist.
February 10, 2026; Coral Gables, Florida, USA; Miami Hurricanes forward Shelton Henderson (7) defends the basketball against North Carolina Tar Heels guard Jayden Young (4) during the first half at the Watsco Center. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images
It was a tough game. North Carolina went on the road against a good Miami team that surprised many people in the ACC. It wasn’t a classic trap game where the Tar Heels faced a team that was clearly better than they were and beat Duke.
We have to give Miami the credit it deserves so far this season. Also, playing on the road is not an easy task and for the past few years, Coral Gables has not been a good place to play for the Tar Heels.
The Prince of Wales has been asked to raise the case of a Manchester man detained in Saudi Arabia during his first official visit to the country.
In a letter shared exclusively with Sky News, Amnesty International has written to Prince William, sharing the plight of Ahmed al-Daush.
The father of four and senior banking analyst at Bank of America was returning from a holiday in Saudi Arabia with his wife and children in 2024 when he was arrested for past social media posts and in exile for his alleged affair with a Saudi critic, which he denies.
He was initially sentenced to ten years in prison, which has now been reduced to eight years.
Sky News contacted the Saudi Embassy for comment but did not receive a response.
Felix Jakens, Amnesty’s head of campaigns, told us, “It was surprising that the UK government and our economy and society are moving so close to Saudi Arabia, so we would expect to see a royal visit at some point.
“Obviously, what we want to do as a human rights organization is to make sure that human rights are part of that conversation…
“Obviously, we wouldn’t expect him (Prince William) to make big public statements about human rights in Saudi Arabia, but we know some of these issues are close to his and his wife’s hearts, so we would just ask him if he would like to raise Ahmed’s case personally.”
Epstein’s shadow on Prince William’s visit?
Speaking about the impact on the al-Daoush family, Mr al-Daoush’s legal representative, Heidi Dijkstal, said: “His wife has spoken about the key role Ahmed played in their family, not only as a provider, as the main provider for the family, but also as a loving father.
“And his absence is deeply missed by his wife and children and has had a serious impact on them.
“And this in addition to the fact that the most recent concerns about Ahmed’s health and well-being, and his mental health, and recent fears about his mental well-being, have led his wife to appeal directly to the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia.”
We understand that his case has been raised by the UK with Saudi authorities.
“We are supporting a British man who has been detained in Saudi Arabia, and we are in contact with his family and local authorities,” the Foreign Office told Sky News.
This journey will always have its own political sensitivities.
Kensington Palace would not comment on Amnesty’s letter, but speaking more broadly about Prince William’s three-day visit, a royal source said, “Prince William didn’t blink an eye [when asked to go].
“He knows this is an important part of his global role for UK plc.”
Prince William spent his first night in the kingdom with his royal counterpart Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud, Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia; the man is credited with having a more open and more modern approach to Saudi Arabia, although some believe he is not broad enough across the political spectrum.
But William’s first full day of engagements will be a showcase of how the country has liberalised and broadened its focus, meeting women’s soccer teams, talking about their energy transition away from oil dependence and taking part in an e-gaming competition, another part of how the kingdom is diversifying its economy and trying to attract global tourism visitors.
William has also been tasked with trying to maintain focus on the importance of the visit, after statements were released yesterday from him and Buckingham Palace about the Epstein files and Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor’s relationship with the convicted paedophile.
Andrew has denied any wrongdoing in relation to Epstein.
Ukrainian skeleton racer Vladislav Heraskevich claims the International Olympic Committee has banned his helmets bearing images of war dead in his home country, a decision that “breaks my heart”.
The 26-year-old wore the helmet during a Winter Olympics training session in Cortina and promised to use the event as a platform to draw attention to the conflict ahead of the Games.
The IOC has not yet publicly confirmed whether it has banned the helmet.
“The IOC has banned the use of my helmet in official training sessions and competitions,” said Herashkevich, who was Ukraine’s flag bearer at Friday’s opening ceremony. on Instagram, external.
“A decision that breaks my heart. To feel that the IOC is betraying athletes who were part of the Olympic movement by not allowing them to be honoured on a playing field where these athletes will never step foot again.”
“Despite precedents in modern times and in the past when the IOC allowed such tributes, this time they decided to set special rules just for Ukraine.”
Heraskevich told Reuters that many of the people depicted on his helmet were athletes, including teenage weightlifter Alina Peregudova, boxer Pavlo Ishchenko and ice hockey player Oleksiy Loginov, and said some of them were his friends.
Heraskevich said Toshio Tsurunaga, the IOC representative in charge of communications between athletes, national Olympic committees and the IOC, had gone to the athletes’ village to tell them.
“They said it’s because of Rule 50,” Heraskevich told Reuters.
Rule 50.2 of the Olympic Charter states that “No demonstrations or political, religious or racial propaganda of any kind are permitted in any Olympic venues or other areas.”
He said earlier on Monday that the IOC had contacted Ukraine’s Olympic Committee about the helmets.
The IOC said it had not received any official requests to use the helmets in the competition, which starts on February 12.
Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy thanked Hrayskevich “for reminding the world of the price of our struggle” in a post on X, external.
The post continued: “This truth cannot be inconvenient, inappropriate, or described as a ‘political spectacle at a sporting event’. It reminds the entire world what modern Russia is.”
Ukraine’s first skeleton athlete, Herashkevich, has signalled ‘no war in Ukraine’ at the 2022 Beijing Olympics, days ahead of Russia’s 2022 invasion of the country.
Rule 50.2 of the Olympic Charter states: “No demonstration or political, religious or racial propaganda of any kind is permitted in any Olympic venues or other areas.”
Heraskevich had said that his intention was to respect Olympic rules that prohibit political demonstrations at venues while raising awareness of the war in Ukraine at the Games.
Athletes from Russia and Belarus were largely banned from international sport following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022 but have since slowly returned to competition.
The IOC gave clarification that 13 athletes from Russia, external to compete as an individual neutral athlete (AIN) at Milan–Cortina.
BP has reported a 16% drop in annual profits after the collapse of wholesale oil prices through the end of 2025.
The company, which is awaiting the arrival of a new chief executive in April amid a renewed campaign for oil and gas earnings, reported a net profit of $7.5bn (£5.5bn).
BP said it had made progress on its four main objectives, which include increasing cash flow and reducing costs, but was further along.
It suspended share buybacks to help unlock more cash for oil and gas opportunities.
Money Latest: Illegal Supplements for Sale
Interim chief executive Carol Hawley told investors, “With capital discipline and a continued emphasis on returns, we are reducing capital expenditure to the lower end of the guidance range for 2026, while continuing to reduce our cost base.
“We are also taking decisive actions to upgrade our portfolio and strengthen our company, including the execution of our $20 billion disposal programme and the decision to suspend share buybacks and fully allocate excess cash to our balance sheet.
“These decisions position us to make progress in long-term value growth through the unique opportunity set we are creating in our upstream business, including the Boomerang discovery in Brazil, where our early estimates indicate approximately 8 billion barrels of liquids.”
Shares of BP – up 10% so far this year – were down more than 3.5% before markets opened on Tuesday.
The company is focusing on maximising more attractive oil and gas opportunities at the expense of investments in renewable energy.
BP pursued options under the leadership of Bernard Looney, but he left under a cloud in 2023 over revelations of relations with BP colleagues.
image: Murray Auchincloss was removed as CEO in December. Photo: AP
The company changed its stance under pressure from major investors as BP’s share price lagged far behind the growth seen by all its major rivals, including Shell.
Murray Auchincloss, the architect of the return to fossil fuels, was shown the door in December – the first major move by BP’s new chairman, Albert Manifold, amid continuing shareholder frustration over the progress of BP’s turnaround.
Meg O’Neill The head of Australia’s Woodside Energy from 2021 is to succeed him in April as the board looks to build on recent progress in reclaiming investor value.
image: Meg O’Neill. Photo: BP
However, at the same time there continues to be a debate among BP’s shareholders for a more balanced approach to investing in the energy future on both climate and demand grounds.
Environment-focused shareholder lobby group Follow This argued that BP’s earnings figures show it is on the wrong track.
Its chief executive, Mark Van Baal, said, “BP is in serious trouble as the company continues to drift without strategic direction.
“After a half-hearted energy transition, the company is now doubling down on fossil fuels in a market that will soon begin to shrink.
if BP can make a profit.
and restore its dividend, how will the company create shareholder value in a falling market?”
Amanda was told the next flight wouldn’t be for two days
Neil Shaw, Assistant Editor (Money & Lifestyle)
09:43, 10 February 2026
Amanda was visiting South America (Jam Press)
A woman was stripped of a £600 flight, and a simple administrative error ruined her journey home and left her stranded. Amanda Vicente’s backpacking trip of a lifetime ended in chaos when she was kicked off the plane and missed her seat.
The 24-year-old travelled around Latin America for six months, visiting 10 different countries. Her final two weeks were spent in Mexico, where she had to fly from Mexico City to Monterrey, then to Miami before flying back to London.
The first leg of her journey went smoothly, but as soon as she boarded her Viva flight to Miami, trouble began. After taking their seats and waiting for take-off, Amanda suddenly hears her name on the tannoy.
Shortly afterwards, an airport employee wearing a high-vis jacket approached him and asked to check his passport. Then the staff realised that he did not have an exit ticket.
Amanda got stuck in Mexico, then stuck in Texas (Jam Press)
“When I heard my name come through the announcer, I was confused; I’ve never had that happen before,” Amanda said. “When getting off the plane, I was more concerned about what this meant for my next flight. After travelling for six months and using the last of my funds to pay for the flight, I really couldn’t miss it.”
The embarrassed Briton was removed from the plane and escorted back through the boarding gate. Although Amanda managed to recover the missing stamp within 15 minutes, it was too late. Her original £300 flight had already gone, with the next flight to Miami not leaving for another two days.
Airline staff helped her book a £300 flight to Texas but then left her to travel the rest of her journey alone. With no flights to the UK for the next two days, Amanda was stuck at the airport for 24 hours.
His mother stepped in to help him find a place to stay, booking a cheap hostel for the night, but it turned out to be dirty, full of broken bedding. Thankfully, an accidental social media post changed everything.
Amanda Vicente (Jam Press)
After sharing her ordeal online, a friend she met in Colombia months earlier, Amanda, who now lives in Texas, came to her defence. Amanda said, “My mum called and then helped me find a place to stay for the night. It was a cheap hostel I found on Airbnb, but it was full of men, dirty and had broken beds.
“I posted a story on social media saying I was in Texas, and a friend I met in Colombia a few months ago told me she lived there. I went back to the airport; she picked me up and showed me the city.
“We went to a baseball game; he let me stay at his house and then drove me to the airport the next day. When I got to Texas I was initially angry, but after seeing my friend Jess, it became a lot better.
Here is the schedule for the 2026 Milano Cortina Winter Olympics as of Tuesday, February 10. The games are being broadcast exclusively across NBC’s suite of networks, and its streaming service, Peacock, has many contests that you can catch.
USA TODAY Sports has a team of more than a dozen reporters on the ground in Italy to bring you behind the scenes with Team USA and keep you up to date with every medal win, big moment and triumphant finish.
February 10 Winter Olympic event
Eastern and correct on Monday, February 9, 2026, at 2:02 p.m.
2 am – Luge: Women’s Doubles Official Training Runs 5 and 6, Cortina Sliding Center (Cortina d’Ampezzo)
2:53 am – Luge: Men’s Doubles Official Training Runs 5 and 6, Cortina Sliding Center (Cortina d’Ampezzo)
3 a.m. – Nordic Combined: Normal Hill Official Training 2, Predazzo Ski Jumping Stadium (Val di Fiemme)
3:15 am – Cross-Country Skiing: Women’s Sprint Classic Qualification, Quarter-Finals, Semi-Finals, Final (Medal Event), Tesero Cross-Country Skiing Stadium (Val de Fiume)
3:55 am – Cross-Country Skiing: Men’s Sprint Classic Qualifying, Quarterfinals, Semifinals, Final (Medal Event), Tesero Cross-Country Skiing Stadium (Val de Fiume)
4:30 am – Short Track: Women’s 500m (heats), Men’s 1000m (heats), Mixed Team Relay (medal event), Milano Speed Skating Stadium (Row, Milan)
4:30 am – Alpine Skiing: Women’s Team Combined Downhill, Tofane Alpine Skiing Center (Cortina d’Ampezzo)
5am - Skeleton: Women’s Official Training Heats 3 and 4, Cortina Sliding Center (Cortina d’Ampezzo)
