Skiers stranded by California avalanche used iPhone SOS feature to seek help 19. February 2026 (22:31) Apple’s feature, which connects phone to satellite, helped first responders find survivors as they waited under tarpCalifornia’s deadliest avalanche killed at least eight people in a ski group near Lake Tahoe on Tuesday. The six survivors used the iPhone’s emergency SOS feature to help first responders find them as they waited under a tarp and discovered some of the bodies, according to the Nevada county sheriff. Apple’s feature, introduced in 2022, allows users to text law enforcement, even if there’s no cell service or wifi by connecting the phone to a satellite.First responders reached the skiers’ location and learned of the six survivors based on conversations held through the feature, Sheriff Shannan Moon said at a press conference on Wednesday. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
New York governor pulls robotaxi expansion proposal for cities outside Big Apple 19. February 2026 (22:24) Kathy Hochul backed away from allowing robotaxi services in smaller cities, though Waymo still plans to move ahead in New York CityNew York’s governor, Kathy Hochul, has pulled her proposal to allow commercial robotaxi services in smaller cities outside New York City, a spokesperson for the governor said on Thursday.“Based on conversations with stakeholders, including in the legislature, it was clear that the support was not there to advance this proposal,” the spokesperson said. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Police raid property on outskirts of Sydney linked to kidnapping of 85-year-old Chris Baghsarian 19. February 2026 (21:21) Police search ‘makeshift stronghold’ in Dural after Baghsarian abducted from North Ryde home last Friday in case of mistaken identityFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastPolice have executed a warrant at a semi-rural property believed to be linked to the mistaken kidnapping of grandfather Chris Baghsarian.The 85-year-old man has been held captive since three men bundled him into a dark-coloured SUV outside his Sydney home just before dawn last Friday. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Australia news live: Dural ‘stronghold’ linked to Chris Baghsarian kidnapping, NSW police say; Angus Taylor pushes to abandon ‘net zero ideology’ 19. February 2026 (21:04) Opposition leader signals his Liberals will abandon net zero commitment entirely. Follow updates liveGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastGood morning! Nick Visser here to take over. Let’s see what Friday has in store.NSW police said in a statement early this morning that robbery and serious crime squad detectives had “located a crime scene in Dural believed to be linked to the kidnapping of Chris Baghsarian”. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
New Zealand bug of the year: moth named Avatar after mining threat crowned winner 19. February 2026 (21:00) Arctesthes avatar moth, which won nearly half of the votes, was discovered in 2012 and is critically endangeredA tiny critically endangered moth, named after the Avatar films because of the proposed mining activity threatening its primary habitat, has been crowned New Zealand’s bug of the year.The Avatar moth won by a wide margin, earning 5,192 of the more than 11,000 total votes cast. It won 2,269 more votes than the runner-up, the mahoenui giant wētā, one of the world’s largest insects. Other contenders included the wonderfully spiky hellraiser mite, the country’s heaviest spider – the black tunnelweb – and a giant earthworm that glows in the dark. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
What’s next for Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor’s ex-wife, Sarah Ferguson? 19. February 2026 (20:39) Former duchess has stood by the former prince through waves of allegations and has yet to comment on his arrestWhile the spotlight has been on Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, his arrest has prompted questions about what is next for his ex-wife, Sarah Ferguson.Ferguson, known by the tabloids as Fergie, married the then prince Andrew in 1986 and was divorced from him 10 years later after an alleged affair with an American financial adviser. It was one of multiple scandals in the 1990s and 2000s involving the former duchess, who was widely considered an embarrassment to the royal family. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Iran deal prospects will be clear within 10 days, Trump says as military buildup grows 19. February 2026 (20:37) Second carrier strike group heads for region as US waits for Iran to respond after talks in GenevaDonald Trump has said it will be clear within “probably 10 days” whether he can reach a nuclear deal with Iran, as the US military buildup in the Middle East intensifies with the impending arrival of a second carrier strike group.The US president, speaking at the inaugural meeting of his Board of Peace in Washington DC, insisted Iran could not have a nuclear weapon and emphasised that “bad things will happen” if the country continued “to threaten regional stability”. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
US builds website that will allow Europeans to view blocked content 19. February 2026 (20:15) Freedom.gov appears to be administered by a branch of the Department of Homeland SecurityThe US has built a portal that will allow Europeans to view blocked content including alleged hate speech and terrorism, according to Reuters.The portal, “freedom.gov”, will allow worldwide users to circumvent government controls on their content. The site features a graphic of a ghostly horse galloping above the Earth, and the motto: “Information is power. Reclaim your human right to free expression. Get ready.” Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor on US law enforcement radar 15 years before UK arrest 19. February 2026 (20:01) Recently disclosed documents show name of former prince came up during 2011 inquiry into Jeffrey EpsteinAndrew Mountbatten-Windsor arrested – live updatesWhile Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor’s arrest by British police on Thursday came after years of uproar over his association with Jeffrey Epstein, documents show he had been on the radar of US law enforcement for nearly 15 years.Mountbatten-Windsor’s name came up during a 2011 FBI inquiry into Epstein, investigative documents recently disclosed by the justice department reveal. Mountbatten-Windsor has denied all allegations of misconduct related to Epstein. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Trump changed mind on Chagos deal ‘after UK blocked use of Diego Garcia for Iran strikes’ 19. February 2026 (19:53) US president links deal with military strikes against Iran in connection with Tehran’s nuclear ambitionsDonald Trump changed his mind on supporting the Chagos Islands deal because the UK will not permit its airbases to be used for a pre-emptive US strike on Iran, the Guardian has been told.In his latest change of heart on the deal, the US president said on social media that Keir Starmer was “making a big mistake” by handing sovereignty of the islands to Mauritius in exchange for continued use by the UK and US of their airbase on one of the islands, Diego Garcia. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
