NSW government denies ‘covering up’ deadly fungal outbreak at major hospital 27. February 2026 (05:34) Health minister says cluster of infections at Sydney’s Royal Prince Alfred hospital was not publicised to avoid ‘unnecessarily scaring people’Get our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastThe New South Wales health minister has denied “covering up” a deadly fungal outbreak at one of Australia’s largest hospitals, saying it was not publicised to avoid “unnecessarily scaring people”.The cluster of infections caused by aspergillus, a common mould, killed two patients and left four others unwell in the Royal Prince Alfred (RPA) hospital’s transplant unit in late 2025. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Green party wins Gorton and Denton byelection, pushing Labour to third place in blow to Keir Starmer 27. February 2026 (05:32) Hannah Spencer elected as party’s first MP in northern England, as Labour sees a 25.3% drop in vote compared to 2024Follow our UK politics live blogThe Green party has pulled off a landmark victory in the Gorton and Denton byelection in a significant blow to Keir Starmer.Hannah Spencer, a local plumber and Green party councillor, was elected as the party’s first MP in northern England after overturning Labour’s 13,000-vote majority. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Negative gearing changes on the table before May budget, Jim Chalmers confirms 27. February 2026 (04:43) Treasurer says ‘not unusual’ for his department to examine options but stresses that no decision has been madeFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastThe Albanese government has again opened the door to reforms to negative gearing as it weighs up potentially sweeping tax changes to raise revenue and help address the housing crisis.The treasurer, Jim Chalmers, confirmed that changes were being examined in the lead-up to the May federal budget after reports his department was modelling rules that would limit negative gearing to two investment properties. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Texas airspace closed after military reportedly downs US drone on accident 27. February 2026 (02:49) Federal Aviation Administration bars flights around Fort Hancock after reported use of anti-drone military laserThe Federal Aviation Administration barred flights on Thursday in an area around Fort Hancock, Texas, after congressional aides told Reuters a military laser-based anti-drone system was believed to have accidentally shot down a US government drone.The FAA and Pentagon did not immediately comment but the FAA cited “special security reasons” in its notice about the restrictions on the airspace near the Mexican border posted on its Notam alert system, shorthand for “Notice to Air Missions”. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Woman at heart of US trial says she was addicted to social media at age six 27. February 2026 (02:14) Lead plaintiff, now 20, says use of social media made her relationships with friends and family anxious and strained The young woman at the heart of the landmark trial about the addictive nature of social media testified for the first time on Thursday, saying she got hooked on YouTube starting at age six and Instagram at nine. By the time she was 10, she said, she had become depressed and was engaging in self-harm.The woman, who is now 20 and known by her initials KGM, is the lead plaintiff in an expansive lawsuit against YouTube and Meta, which owns Instagram and Facebook. The crux of the case alleges social media companies intentionally create addictive products, leading to mental health issues in young people. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Burgertory founder’s chant about Zionists at pro-Palestine rally incited hatred against Jews, tribunal rules 27. February 2026 (02:11) Hash Tayeh flags appeal to Victorian civil and administrative tribunal finding over phrase used at Melbourne rally last yearFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastA prominent pro-Palestine protester racially and religiously vilified Jewish people when he chanted “All Zionists are terrorists” at a Melbourne rally, a Victorian tribunal has ruled.Hash Tayeh, who has flagged an appeal to Thursday’s ruling, was found to have breached the state’s Racial and Religious Tolerance Act with his comments in March last year. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Vegetarians have ‘substantially lower risk’ of five types of cancer 27. February 2026 (02:00) Study shows lower risk for multiple myeloma as well as pancreatic, prostate, breast and kidney cancersVegetarians have a substantially lower risk of five types of cancer, a landmark study on the role of diet has revealed.The research, using data from more than 1.8 million people who were tracked over many years, found that vegetarians had a 21% lower risk of pancreatic cancer, a 12% lower risk of prostate cancer and a 9% lower risk of breast cancer compared with meat eaters. Combined, these cancers account for around a fifth of cancer deaths in the UK. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Boss of theatre hosting Chinese dance group Shen Yun in Sydney won’t be intimidated by ‘outrageous’ threats 27. February 2026 (02:00) Graeme Kearns, chief executive of Foundation Theatres, says: ‘Our job in theatre is to absolutely defend the right to tell stories about culture’Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastThe head of the theatre hosting the Shen Yun dance troupe in Sydney says the company would not be intimidated to pull the shows by any “outrageous” anonymous threats and that the publicity had increased interest in the show.On Monday, the Gold Coast venue for the Shen Yun performances was forced to evacuate after a bomb threat, with a similar threat forcing the evacuation of Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s official residence, The Lodge, in Canberra the next day. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Pakistan strikes Kabul hours after Afghanistan attack on border troops 27. February 2026 (01:41) Escalation of violence between the volatile neighbours makes a Qatar-mediated ceasefire appear increasingly shakyPakistan carried out airstrikes in Kabul and two other Afghan provinces early Friday, Afghanistan’s government spokesperson said, hours after Afghanistan launched a cross-border attack on Pakistan in the latest escalation of violence between the volatile neighbours that made a Qatar-mediated ceasefire appear increasingly shaky.At least three explosions were heard in Kabul, but there was no immediate information on the exact location of the strikes in the Afghan capital, or of any potential casualties. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Burger King cooks up AI chatbot to spot if employees say ‘please’ and ‘thank you’ 27. February 2026 (01:23) OpenAI-powered assistant will help to ‘understand overall service patterns’, company says, as move sparks backlashFrom hospitality workers to retail employees, the exaggerated “customer service voice”, often mocked in internet memes as wildly different from someone’s real voice, has long been a cultural trope. Fast-food giant Burger King is now taking that voice one step further, saying it will detect whether employees are using words like “please” and “thank you” through the assistance of artificial intelligence.On Thursday, Burger King announced it is rolling out a new AI chatbot connected to employee headsets at hundreds of locations in the US as part of a platform called BK Assistant, powered by OpenAI, the maker of ChatGPT. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
