Chris Baghsarian: evidence linked to Sydney kidnap victim, 85, discovered in burnt-out car as search continues 23. February 2026 (05:27) NSW police say they found links between the car and abandoned Dural property 11 days after man abducted in case of mistaken identityFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastForensic evidence linked to Sydney grandfather Chris Baghsarian has been found in a burnt-out car, with police searching bushland for any further clues 11 days after he was kidnapped in a suspected case of mistaken identity.Acting Det Supt Andrew Marks on Monday urged the public to share any footage they may have of the grey Toyota Corolla, which was found burnt out in Westmead last Tuesday. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Grindr tests AI match-making in Australia amid dating app fatigue and safety concerns 23. February 2026 (04:55) New subscription features on app for gay and bisexual men come with a price tag – from $109.99 a month in Australia to $349 in the USFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastAmid dating app fatigue and concerns over the safety of its users, Grindr is testing out highly priced subscriptions that will incorporate AI into finding people matches.The app for gay and bisexual men shows users’ profiles in a grid for those in the immediate vicinity, with photos, stats and bios aimed at letting users find people to meet who are a match, ranging from hook-ups to dating. Grindr says it has 15 million monthly active users worldwide. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Who was El Mencho, the former police officer who co-founded an ultraviolent cartel in Mexico? 23. February 2026 (03:52) Drug lord who was killed by Mexican special forces on Sunday led a cartel known for aggression and military-style arsenalViolence erupts after Mexican security forces kill drug cartel boss ‘El Mencho’ The drug lord “El Mencho”, who was killed on Sunday by Mexican special forces, was the co-founder and leader of a gang that in recent years had become the country’s most powerful criminal organisation: the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG).While less internationally famous than the Sinaloa cartel of the now imprisoned Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán, the CJNG is a household name in Mexico, where it is known for its displays of ultraviolence and its big, military-style arsenal. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Sydney Water ordered to clean Malabar treatment plant where fatberg is birthing poo balls 23. February 2026 (03:04) Environment watchdog says water corporation is ‘responsible for ensuring it doesn’t pollute our beautiful beaches’Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastThe New South Wales environment watchdog has ordered Sydney Water to remove fats from its Malabar wastewater treatment plant, a month after Guardian Australia revealed a huge fatberg was responsible for the poo balls that closed beaches last summer.Sydney Water isn’t sure exactly how big the fatberg is because it cannot easily access the area where it has accumulated. It could be the size of four Sydney buses. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Duterte refuses to attend ICC pre-trial hearing, as former Philippine leader’s ‘drug war’ case begins 23. February 2026 (02:32) Duterte, 80, is accused of crimes against humanity over an anti-drugs crackdowns in which thousands of people were killed in the South-east Asian nationThe pre-trial hearing for former Philippine leader Rodrigo Duterte for his alleged role in a deadly “drug war” is set to begin at the international criminal court on Monday, despite his refusal to attend the proceedings.Duterte, 80, who was arrested in Manila and flown to The Hague last year, is accused of crimes against humanity over an anti-drugs crackdown in which thousands of people were killed. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
UK job vacancies ‘fall to lowest level since pandemic’ 23. February 2026 (01:01) Advertised roles dropped 3% last month to 695,000 – first dip below 700,000 since January 2021, job site Adzuna saysThe number of job vacancies in the UK has tumbled to the lowest level in five years, research suggests, falling to levels not seen since the pandemic.The number of jobs being advertised slid by 3% in January to 695,000, according to the job search site Adzuna, marking the first time advertised vacancies have dropped below 700,000 since January 2021. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
‘Trump’s reign of terror must end’: California Democrats plot national return to power 23. February 2026 (00:24) Emboldened by recent wins, elected officials gathered in San Francisco to share strategy for a midterm ‘reckoning’Fury at Donald Trump was the coin of the realm, as thousands of California delegates, activists and elected officials gathered in San Francisco this weekend, emboldened by a string of victories and confident the Golden State would help deliver a power check on the president in the upcoming midterm elections.On Saturday, Democrats streamed through the Moscone Center convention complex, sporting lanyards emblazoned with Gavin Newsom’s name and tote bags adorned with one of Nancy Pelosi’s favorite aphorisms: “We don’t Agonize, we organize” – symbols of a party in transition as the former speaker approaches retirement and the term-limited governor eyes a presidential campaign. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Send support for schoolchildren in England to be given £4bn overhaul 22. February 2026 (23:30) ‘Generational’ reforms are a key moment for Bridget Phillipson, the education secretary, and for Keir StarmerMinisters will unveil a “generational” overhaul of special educational needs and disabilities (Send) support, pledging £4bn to transform provision in schools in England and warning councils they could lose control of Send services if they fail to meet their legal duties.The reforms are expected to be a key policy moment for Keir Starmer and for the education secretary, Bridget Phillipson – who delayed the changes last autumn after a ferocious backlash from MPs and parents. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Reform would create ICE-style agency and end leave to remain, Zia Yusuf to say 22. February 2026 (23:01) Nigel Farage’s party plans to deport up to 288,000 people a year on five flights a day and expand stop and searchReform UK would create an ICE-style agency dedicated to deporting hundreds of thousands of people, as well as terminating the status of those with indefinite leave to remain (ILR), the party will say.It would also ban the conversion of churches into mosques and fund a radical expansion of stop and search, the party’s new home affairs spokesperson, Zia Yusuf, will also say in a speech on Monday. The deradicalisation programme Prevent would also have its mandate redrawn to focus on Islamist extremism. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
One Battle After Another defeats Hamnet and Sinners at Baftas, as I Swear’s Robert Aramayo takes best actor 22. February 2026 (21:29) Paul Thomas Anderson drama scores six awards, as Jessie Buckley becomes first Irish woman to win leading actress prizeFull list of winnersPeter Bradshaw’s verdictHow the ceremony unfolded – the action as it happenedOne Battle After Another, Paul Thomas Anderson’s counterculture comedy about a washed-up revolutionary trying to protect his daughter from a ruthless military officer, has dominated the Baftas, taking home six awards including best film, best director, best cinematography, best editing, best supporting actor and best adapted screenplay.The film, inspired by Thomas Pynchon’s Vineland, was nominated for 14 awards going into Sunday’s ceremony, the most of any contender – including nods for stars Leonardo DiCaprio, Sean Penn, Benicio del Toro, Chase Infiniti and Teyana Taylor. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
