UniSuper accused of greenwashing after quietly reducing environmental element of investment option 20. February 2026 (02:38) UniSuper says change was made ‘to expand the investible universe’ but complaint to Asic claims members were not properly informedFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastA major Australian super fund has been accused of greenwashing after it continued to badge an investment option as “sustainable” despite quietly halving its environmental criteria.UniSuper, which invests $158bn on behalf of 670,000 members, promotes its Global Environmental Opportunities option as a portfolio “selected on the basis of environmental considerations”. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Climber convicted of manslaughter after leaving girlfriend on Austria’s highest peak to get help 20. February 2026 (02:30) The court in Innsbruck handed Thomas P a five-month suspended prison sentence and a €9,400 fine over death of woman named as Kerstin GAn Austrian court has found a 37-year-old amateur mountaineer guilty of manslaughter over his girlfriend’s death near Austria’s highest summit, after he left her to fetch help when she could not go on.The case is unusual because while climbing accidents are common, prosecutions over them are rare. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Roblox sued by Los Angeles over claims platform ‘makes children easy prey for pedophiles’ 20. February 2026 (01:31) LA County says the gaming company does not carry out adequate moderation and its age-verification systems are not fit for purpose, which Roblox deniesOfficials in Los Angeles have said they are suing Roblox, alleging the popular online platform exposes children to sexual content, exploitation and online predators.In a lawsuit, Los Angeles County said the company does not carry out adequate moderation and its age-verification systems are not fit for purpose. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Bard hires top law firm to investigate links between college president and Epstein 20. February 2026 (00:52) WilmerHale to conduct review following new revelations about Leon Botstein’s dealings with convicted sex offenderBard College’s board of trustees has retained the outside law firm of WilmerHale to conduct an independent investigation into communications between Jeffrey Epstein and the college’s longtime president Leon Botstein.WilmerHale will conduct an “independent review” of the “full scope of these communications”, financial contributions connected to Epstein, and any related matters, the board said in an announcement on Thursday evening. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Abigail Spanberger to give Democratic response to Trump’s State of the Union address 20. February 2026 (00:36) Virginia governor is seen as a model for the party to win back power in midterm electionsVirginia’s governor Abigail Spanberger will deliver the Democratic response to Donald Trump’s State of the Union address next week, elevating a pragmatic voice whose affordability-focused gubernatorial campaign is seen as a model for the party to win back power in the November midterm elections.The Democratic rebuttal will immediately follow Trump’s address to Congress on 24 February. Spanberger, a former undercover CIA officer who served three terms in Congress, became Virginia’s first female governor earlier this year, resoundingly winning an office previously held by a Republican. She won the race by a double-digit margin, campaigning on affordability and lowering costs for families.Shrai Popat contributed reporting Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Army veteran sues federal government after ICE detains him for three days 20. February 2026 (00:03) US citizen George Retes was held without access to family, an attorney, or information about the charges against himAn army veteran detained by federal immigration agents in southern California during his work commute in July has filed a lawsuit against the federal government.According to the lawsuit, filed on Wednesday with the help of the nonprofit law firm Institute for Justice, George Retes was held in a detention center for three days without access to his family, an attorney, or any information about the charges against him, in what the suit argues was an unconstitutional detention. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Man allegedly assaulted by Shia LaBeouf in New Orleans wants to see hate crime charges 19. February 2026 (23:54) Jeffrey Damnit says actor punched him and second man on Tuesday, calling both ‘faggot’ repeatedlyOne of the men whom Shia LaBeouf allegedly battered and insulted with a homophobic slur on Mardi Gras morning in New Orleans on Tuesday, leading to his arrest, would like to see the actor face hate crime charges.Jeffrey Damnit, who dresses in drag and was in makeup at the time of the encounter with LaBeouf, said on Thursday that the behavior attributed to the Transformers film franchise star was “a complete slap in the face to any alternative-culture person”. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Revealed: Epstein cultivated relationship with CBP officer, causing US investigation 19. February 2026 (23:47) Guardian review of US justice department files reveals Epstein interacted with six CBP officers. The officer investigated denied any knowledge of trafficking underage girlsFederal investigators examined Jeffrey Epstein’s relationship with a Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officer who worked at the St Thomas airport to which Epstein regularly flew on his private planes before traveling by boat or helicopter to his private island, newly released documents reveal.As part of that investigation, which did not result in any charges, investigators also issued subpoenas related to three additional CBP officers working at the Cyril E King Airport (STT) on St Thomas, documents show. The Guardian also identified two other CBP officers on St Thomas and in Florida who were in contact with Epstein, based on emails and text messages between Epstein, his staff and the officers. It does not appear the FBI ever investigated those two officers. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Deer shooting to be facilitated in England to protect woodlands 19. February 2026 (23:30) Government plans legislation giving landowners and tenants rights to cull deer to protect crops and propertyIt will be much easier to shoot deer in England under government plans that aim to curb the damage the animals are doing to the country’s woodlands.Emma Reynolds, the environment secretary, plans to bring forward new legislation to give landowners and tenants legal rights to shoot deer to protect crops and property. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Large Trump banner hung at justice department headquarters 19. February 2026 (23:01) ‘Make America Safe Again’ banner put up in striking symbol of president’s control over top US law-enforcement agencyA large banner featuring Donald Trump’s face was hung on the exterior of justice department headquarters on Thursday in a physical display of the president’s efforts to exert power over the law enforcement agency that once investigated him.While Trump banners have been hung outside other agencies across Washington, the decision to place one on the storied justice department building amounted to a striking symbol of the erosion of the department’s tradition of independence from White House control. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
