Austrian mountaineer ‘endlessly sorry’ for girlfriend’s death but denies criminal wrongdoing 19. February 2026 (16:10) Thomas P gives evidence on first day of trial in case that could shape standards for mountain sportsAn Austrian mountaineer has said he is “endlessly sorry” his girlfriend froze to death on a joint climb to the country’s highest peak, but denied criminal wrongdoing as his trial began in Innsbruck.The 37-year-old defendant, identified only as Thomas P, gave evidence on the first day of the high-profile proceedings over the tragedy on Großglockner, in a case that could shape international standards for liability in mountain sports. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
White House grants ICE power to detain refugees for aggressive ‘rescreening’ 19. February 2026 (16:01) A new DHS memo details plan to allow federal immigration officers to detain legal refugees in the US indefinitely The Trump administration is moving to arrest thousands of people already legally admitted to the US as refugees and detain them indefinitely for aggressive “rescreening”, a report published on Thursday said.Under the new policy, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) said that federal immigration officers can and should arrest anyone who has not yet obtained the right to permanent residence, a so-called green card, and subject them to interviews to assess their refugee claims while they are in custody, as first reported by the Washington Post. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Dozens of Palestinian journalists beaten, starved or raped, report alleges 19. February 2026 (16:00) Israeli prison service and IDF reject allegations after research by Committee to Protect JournalistsAlmost 60 Palestinian journalists detained in Israeli prisons since the 7 October 2023 Hamas attack have been beaten, starved and subjected to sexual violence, including rape, a report alleges.The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) reviewed dozens of testimonies, photographs and medical records documenting what it describes as serious abuses by Israeli soldiers and prison guards against Palestinian reporters. The report draws on in-depth interviews from 59 Palestinian journalists. Of those interviewed, 58 reported being subjected to what they described as torture while in Israeli custody. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Climate-driven snow drought set stage for deadly California avalanche, experts say 19. February 2026 (15:30) Eight skiers were found dead, six were rescued and one is still missing after avalanche in Sierra Nevada mountains The many weeks of a worrying snow drought in the western US is driven by the climate crisis and helped set the stage for the deadly avalanche this week in the Sierra Nevada mountains of northern California, according to experts.Perilous avalanches are not uncommon in the region, according to the National Avalanche Center, which maintains a map of locations where avalanche danger is highest, and the risk is now particularly high in the Lake Tahoe area. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Italian broadcaster’s sports chief resigns after gaffe-strewn Olympic commentary 19. February 2026 (15:28) Paolo Petrecca, director of Rai Sport, prompted widespread criticism and protests from journalists at networkThe head of the sports division of the Italian public broadcaster Rai has resigned after his gaffe-strewn commentary of the Winter Olympics opening ceremony provoked protests among its journalists.Paolo Petrecca, appointed director of Rai Sport last year, handed in his notice on Thursday after a board meeting, a source within Rai confirmed. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Forget the Board of Peace, Trump may be closer than thought to attacking Iran 19. February 2026 (15:03) Tehran may claim it will not negotiate under duress, but that is precisely what it is being required to doAlthough much attention will be given to the inaugural meeting of the Board of Peace in Washington, it is the “arsenal of war” that Donald Trump has assembled in the Middle East, and what it implies for the stately pace of Washington’s negotiations with Iran, that deserves more.The well-connected Axios reporter Barak Ravid is hated in Iran – one news site on Thursday described him as a one-man psychological war operation against Tehran – but he is widely read, as was his report that the US viewed the talks in Geneva on Tuesday as a “nothing burger”, and that a full-scale attack on Iran is more imminent than most Americans realise. The story led to a spike in oil prices and front-page pieces in US newspapers saying Trump’s military preparations would be be complete by the weekend. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Is Tim Wilson an ‘inflation nutter’? Why the new shadow treasurer’s RBA comments are making waves 19. February 2026 (15:00) Liberal MP claims the Reserve Bank has been soft on inflation. Labor says questioning the RBA’s dual mandate amounts to a ‘plan for higher unemployment’Get our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastThere was good news on Thursday.Another solid month of jobs growth left the unemployment rate steady at 4.1% in January. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Experts warn NIH director now leading CDC will push ‘RFK Jr’s agenda’ 19. February 2026 (15:00) RFK Jr ally Jay Bhattacharya was named acting director of the CDC and will be fourth leader in a year to head agencyJay Bhattacharya, the director of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), was named the acting director of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on Wednesday, making him the fourth leader in a year at the embattled agency in an unprecedented move that further consolidates power among a small group of men at the helm of US health agencies.He’s been an ineffectual health leader whose attention will be further fractured, and as a close ally to Robert F Kennedy Jr, secretary of the US Department of Health and Human Services and a longtime vaccine critic. Bhattacharya may sign off on further changes to the vaccine schedule, observers said. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Nearly 20% fewer lower socio-economic students studying law as Pocock calls to scrap Morrison-era job ready scheme 19. February 2026 (15:00) Experts say the Morrison-era Jobs Ready Graduates scheme has instead had a ‘devastating impact’ on the very people higher education needs to serveNew university enrolments from students with low socioeconomic backgrounds dropped by 10% between 2020 and 2024, as independent senator David Pocock warns the Morrison-era Job Ready Graduates (JRG) scheme is creating a “segregated” higher education system.The JRG scheme was introduced under former Liberal prime minister Scott Morrison in 2021 and led to arts degrees costing students more than $50,000, while other degrees including in science and mathematics saw fees slashed by up to 59%. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
‘Made in Europe’ EU industrial strategy could hit supply chains, UK minister warns 19. February 2026 (14:56) Nick Thomas-Symonds says move could also create unnecessary UK-EU trade barriers and increase costsBusiness live – latest updatesA British minister has warned that the EU’s “Made in Europe” industrial strategy could hit supply chains, drive up costs and create unnecessary trade barriers between the UK and some members of the bloc.Nick Thomas-Symonds, the UK minister for EU relations, made the comments as the European Union is preparing to publish new legislation which would require European-made products to be prioritised in public procurement and consumer schemes. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
