Winter storm brings ‘very heavy’ snow and more rain to California 17. February 2026 (23:19) Avalanche warning for Sierra Nevadas while southern California experiences heavy rain and floodingCalifornia is being blanketed by a winter storm that has brought the coldest air mass in three years to the state – along with heavy snowfall, road closures and power outages.The University of California Berkeley’s Central Sierra Snow Lab, near Donner Pass, reported 28in of snow on Tuesday, with another 3ft expected in the next two days. I-80 is closed from Colfax to the Nevada state line due to snow. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Boost to British Steel as Turkey places high-speed rail order 17. February 2026 (23:00) ‘Eight-figure agreement’ made to supply new line between Ankara and İzmir – but questions over plant’s future remainBritish Steel has secured an order worth tens of millions of pounds to supply rail for a high-speed electric railway in Turkey, amid continuing uncertainty over the long-term future of the government-controlled steelworks in Scunthorpe.The site will supply 36,000 tonnes of rail to ERG International Group, the company announced, in what it called an “eight-figure agreement”. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Police assessing records of private flights at Stansted after publication of Epstein files 17. February 2026 (22:56) Move comes after Gordon Brown’s claim that files show sex offender used airport in Essex to ‘fly in girls’Police are assessing information about private flights to and from Stansted airport following the publication of files relating to the convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.It comes after former prime minister Gordon Brown claimed the documents showed in “graphic detail” how Epstein was able to use the Essex-based hub to “fly in girls from Latvia, Lithuania and Russia”. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
US says 11 people killed in latest strikes on alleged drug boats 17. February 2026 (22:54) Three boats targeted in eastern Pacific and Caribbean as Trump continues pursuit of alleged ‘narco-terrorists’US military officials have said American forces launched assaults on three alleged drug-smuggling boats, killing 11 in one of the deadliest days of the Trump administration’s months-long campaign against alleged traffickers.The military action on Monday brought the number of fatalities caused by US strikes to 145 since September, when Donald Trump called on American armed forces to attack people deemed “narco-terrorists” on small vessels. There have been 42 known strikes in notorious drug-trafficking routes such as the Caribbean Sea and eastern Pacific Ocean, according to the Associated Press reported. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Peru’s president ousted in ‘express impeachment’ after just four months 17. February 2026 (21:56) Interim president José Jerí voted out by country’s congress amid scandal concerning secretive meetings Peru’s interim president has been forced out of office in an “express impeachment” after a political scandal over his secretive meetings with Chinese businessmen.Lawmakers voted by 75 votes to 24 to proceed with the removal of José Jerí, who had been at the helm for just four months. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Palantir moves headquarters to Miami amid tech’s growing retreat to Florida 17. February 2026 (21:20) Data analytics firm moves from Denver after about six years and joins host of businesses relocating to south Florida Palantir announced on Tuesday that it has moved its headquarters to Miami from Denver. The data analytics company, criticized for its role in the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown, joins a host of other businesses and billionaires that recently moved to Florida in search of a more business-friendly climate.Palantir’s move across state lines comes after its chair, Peter Thiel, announced on 31 December that he opened a Miami office for his private investment firm. Thiel already has a mansion in Miami Beach. The company, previously headquartered in Palo Alto, announced the move on X but did not provide further details or respond to a request for comment. Palantir’s stay in Colorado lasted about six years; the company exited California in August 2020 – with its CEO, Alex Karp, citing disagreements with the state’s values. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Mexican president challenges UK asylum given to woman accused of corruption 17. February 2026 (20:59) Karime Macías, ex-wife of a state governor, is wanted for allegedly pilfering nearly £5m of public money and now lives in LondonThe Mexican president, Claudia Sheinbaum, has said her government will send a formal letter of complaint to officials in the United Kingdom after the wife of a former governor wanted for allegedly pilfering £4.8 million of public money was granted asylum in Britain.Karime Macías, ex-wife of jailed former Veracruz governor Javier Duarte, is wanted for extradition to Mexico for allegedly siphoning millions from the state welfare office, but has reportedly spent the last few years in London. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Australia news live: record renewable capacity added in last quarter of 2025; wage growth expected to remain on hold 17. February 2026 (20:56) A total of 2.1GW of wind and solar power came on to the grid in the three months to December. Follow today’s news liveGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastIndonesian men convicted of illegally fishing in Australian waters acted out of ‘desperation’, lawyer saysAn Indonesian boat crew caught illegally fishing in Australian waters have been handed suspended jail sentences after a trial in which lawyer argued they acted out of desperation to support their families, Australian Associated Press reports. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Marco Rubio’s warm words to Viktor Orbán reinforce EU fears that US seeks disunity in Europe 17. February 2026 (20:49) Secretary of state spoke of ‘golden age’ of US-Hungary relations at time of tense transatlantic relations with traditional alliesEven before he in effect endorsed Hungary’s Viktor Orbán before of a crucial parliamentary election, Marco Rubio’s itinerary for Europe promised to be provocative. After meeting with US allies at the Munich Security Conference during a particularly tense moment in transatlantic relations, the US secretary of state departed for Slovakia and Hungary – the two EU states most dependent on Russian energy and sceptical of the bloc’s support for Ukraine.In what bordered on an explicit political endorsement, Rubio told Orbán that relations between Hungary and the US had entered a “golden age” – and would stay like that for as long as Orban remains in power. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Council leader claims local authority ‘bullied’ to delay polls for extra funding and powers 17. February 2026 (20:40) Norfolk county council leader calls local government secretary, Steve Reed, a ‘two-faced bully’ over allegationsA Norfolk council leader has accused the government of “bullying” her local authority into postponing elections in return for extra funding and powers, as she pulled out of long-awaited devolution deal for the county.Kay Mason Billig, the Conservative leader of Norfolk county council, said she would no longer take part in local government reorganisation (LGR) or devolution plans in the area, saying the council could not participate in that and simultaneously hold elections. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
