Yoon Suk Yeol sentenced to life in prison for leading insurrection in South Korea 19. February 2026 (08:07) Former South Korean president found guilty over failed martial law declaration in 2024A South Korean court on Thursday sentenced the former president Yoon Suk Yeol to life imprisonment with labour over his failed martial law declaration in December 2024, finding him guilty of leading an insurrection and making him the first elected head of state in the country’s democratic era to receive the maximum custodial sentence.Under South Korean law, the charge of leading an insurrection carries three possible sentences: death, life imprisonment with labour, or life imprisonment without labour. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
‘The system is broken’: tragedies involving escaped patients expose NSW’s mental health crisis, hospital workers say 19. February 2026 (08:01) Professionals say a lack of resources and an ‘almost insatiable’ demand for services is limiting the ability to pursue long-term care and therapyGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastThe separate escapes of two mental health patients from the hospital responsible for the most complex psychiatric cases in western Sydney points to an inability to provide longer-term care when “demand is almost insatiable”, medical sources say.A man charged with murder after a stabbing attack in Merrylands on Tuesday had allegedly absconded from Cumberland hospital. In an unrelated matter, it has been alleged that another of the hospital’s patients caused a car crash that killed two people on Saturday. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Tim Wilson walks back suggestion Liberals would rethink RBA full employment mandate 19. February 2026 (07:25) New shadow treasurer accused of ‘extreme ideology’ that would result in higher interest rates and unemployment after saying RBA’s ‘core purpose’ should be to lower inflationGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastThe new shadow treasurer, Tim Wilson, says he does support the Reserve Bank’s twin objectives after his call for a more targeted focus on taming inflation was decried as a strategy to drive up interest rates and unemployment.Just two days into the new role, Wilson signalled to the Nine papers that the opposition would review the legislated mandate that requires the bank to maintain equal focus on two goals: keeping inflation within its 2% to 3% target band and achieving full employment. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Bernie Sanders rails against billionaire ‘greed’ amid California tax battle 19. February 2026 (07:17) In a fiery speech in Los Angeles, the Vermont senator criticizes ‘grotesque’ levels of economic inequalityBillionaires are “treading on very, very thin ice,” Bernie Sanders warned on Wednesday during a fiery speech in Los Angeles, imploring California voters to fight “grotesque” levels of economic inequality by approving a proposed tax on the state’s richest residents.The Vermont senator railed against the “greed”, “arrogance” and “moral turpitude” of the nation’s “ruling class”, calling it “fairly disgusting” that some ultra-wealthy tech leaders have fled California – or are threatening to do so, if the proposed wealth tax becomes law. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Sydney businessman falsely claimed security advice given to Chinese spies came from Kevin Rudd, court hears 19. February 2026 (07:06) The former PM is expected to testify in the foreign interference trial of businessman Alexander CsergoFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastSecurity and defence advice falsely claimed to have come from the former prime minister Kevin Rudd was supplied to Chinese intelligence agents by an Australian businessman, a jury has heard.Rudd is expected to testify in the foreign interference trial of businessman Alexander Csergo, which began on Thursday. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Ministers must end ‘barking mad’ restraints on civil service pay, union leader warns 19. February 2026 (07:00) Exclusive: Prospect boss Mike Clancy cites problems retaining technical and digital expertsMinisters must end “barking mad” restraints on civil service pay or risk being unable to recruit the technical and digital specialists it needs to keep pace, a union leader has warned.Mike Clancy, the Prospect general secretary, said the government should end the “rightwing trope” that restrained the pay of highly skilled civil servants and left government unable to compete with the private sector. He said it should be realistic for senior specialists in competitive fields to be paid more than the prime minister. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
TV set is most popular way to watch YouTube in UK, study finds 19. February 2026 (07:00) Television outranks laptops, tablets and smartphones across all age groups, according to audience reviewThe television has replaced laptops, tablets and smartphones as the most common device for UK viewers to watch YouTube at home, according to data confirming the platform’s place as a living room mainstay.More than half of all YouTube viewing through a domestic wifi connection is now done through the traditional TV, making it the top-ranking YouTube device across all age groups. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Magistrate rules it’s ‘not proportionate’ to ban Isaac Herzog protester from inner Sydney while on bail 19. February 2026 (06:34) Lawyer tells court there is ‘real doubt’ whether police gave lawful move-on direction during rally against Israeli president that ended in violent clashesFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastA Palestinian Australian man charged with failing to follow police directions during an Isaac Herzog rally in Sydney has had his bail conditions varied, after a court ruled it was “not proportionate” to ban him from inner Sydney.Eyad Shadid was one of 12 protesters charged after New South Wales police dispersed last week’s protest against the Israeli president’s visit to Australia. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Councils in England call for ‘radical’ means testing of Send school transport 19. February 2026 (06:00) Demand is rising at unsustainable rate and could cost £3.4bn by 2030-31, local authorities warnFamilies who have children with special educational needs and disabilities (Send) should be means tested for school transport, according to councils in England, who say demand is rising “at an unsustainable rate”.Local authorities are urging the government to be “radical” in its Send reforms, which are expected imminently, warning that annual costs on home-to-school transport for children with Send could rise to £3.4bn by 2030-31, up from £2bn last year. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Retailers in UK plan to cut staff hours and jobs amid rising employment costs 19. February 2026 (06:00) BRC survey finds finance bosses expect technology to improve productivity, with 69% pessimistic about the economyUK retailers are planning to cut staff hours and jobs amid rising employment costs and pessimism about the economy.Almost two-thirds (61%) of finance bosses at retail companies said they planned to reduce working hours or cut overtime, according to the latest survey from the British Retail Consortium (BRC), the trade body that represents most big retailers. More than half (55%) said they would cut head office jobs and 42% said they would reduce jobs in stores. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
