Jesse Jackson, civil rights leader, dies aged 84 17. February 2026 (11:01) A fixture in civil rights and Democratic politics since the 1960s, Jackson was once close to Martin Luther King JrJesse Jackson dies – latest updatesThe Rev Jesse Jackson, the civil rights campaigner who was prominent for more than 50 years and who ran strongly for the Democratic presidential nomination in 1988, has died. He was 84.“Our father was a servant leader – not only to our family, but to the oppressed, the voiceless, and the overlooked around the world,” the Jackson family said in a statement. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Family of 85-year-old Sydney man kidnapped by mistake say they are ‘living through a nightmare’ 17. February 2026 (10:55) Chris Baghsarian’s relatives say ‘kidnapping feels surreal and we are struggling to make sense of the fact he has been taken’Get our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastThe family of Chris Baghsarian, who was kidnapped by mistake from his Sydney home last week, say they are “living through a nightmare” and the 85-year-old’s abduction “feels surreal”.Baghsarian was alone in his North Ryde home when he was taken and bundled into a dark-coloured SUV on Friday morning, allegedly by underworld figures. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Russia threatens to deploy navy to protect vessels from ‘western piracy’ 17. February 2026 (10:46) Official says blockade on ‘shadow fleet’ would be illegal, and raises prospect of retaliation against European vesselsEurope live – latest updatesA senior Russian official has said Moscow could deploy its navy to protect Russian-linked vessels from potential European seizures, raising the prospect of retaliatory action against European shipping as pressure on the Kremlin’s so-called shadow fleet intensifies.Nikolai Patrushev, a former FSB director who heads Russia’s maritime board, said on Tuesday that the country’s navy should be ready to counter what he described as “western piracy”. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
YouTuber Look Mum No Computer chosen as UK entry for Eurovision 2026 17. February 2026 (10:24) Singer-songwriter Sam Battle has built online fanbase through building and playing unusual instrumentsThe YouTuber and experimental singer-songwriter Look Mum No Computer will represent the UK at the Eurovision song contest in Vienna in May, the BBC has announced.The performer and self-professed Eurovision fan, whose real name is Sam Battle, launched his YouTube channel in 2016. He has amassed more than 85m views and 1.4 million subscribers and followers across his various social accounts. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Gloom for UK workers as incomes flatline and jobs market falters 17. February 2026 (10:06) Falls in inflation and interest rates could leave Britain better off this year, but at the cost of high unemploymentUK unemployment rate hits five-year highPrivate sector pay increased on average by just 3.4% in December, according to the latest official labour market data released on Tuesday, the same as the rise in inflation at the end of last year.No wonder the vast majority of workers are feeling the winter blues. Their incomes, adjusted for rising shop prices, have flatlined, leaving them no better off than they were a year earlier. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Angus Taylor says his new frontbench will take the fight to Labor, but his biggest battle is to save the Liberal party 17. February 2026 (09:29) Opposition leader picks Tim Wilson as shadow treasurer while rewarding his supporters and elevating some strong performersGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastIt is almost impossible to overstate the challenge facing Angus Taylor just days into the job as opposition leader.Announcing a new frontbench to fight Labor on Tuesday afternoon, his remade shadow ministry lineup is really about fighting for the life of the Liberal party. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
UK unemployment rate hits five-year high of 5.2% as wage growth cools 17. February 2026 (09:01) ONS figures will hopes of further interest rate cut by Bank of England in the springBusiness live – latest updatesUnemployment in the UK has risen to 5.2%, the highest level in nearly five years, while wage growth continues to slow, raising the prospect of another cut to interest rates in the spring.The Office for National Statistics (ONS) said the rate of unemployment was 5.2% in the three months to the end of December, the highest rate since the quarter to January 2021. This was in line with what economists had been expecting and was up from 5.1% in the three months to November. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Bothwell: the affluent Glasgow town that has become UK’s ‘firebomb capital’ 17. February 2026 (09:00) A high street is punctuated by burned-out buildings like rotten teeth in an otherwise perfect smile – what’s going on?On the banks of the River Clyde, half an hour to the south-east of Glasgow, Bothwell is one of the city’s prettiest and most prosperous commuter towns, famous for its medieval castle and annual scarecrow festival. Bothwell’s Victorian villas and secluded enclaves of luxury modern mansions sell into the millions to the TV personalities, professional footballers and entrepreneurs who favour its environs.Bothwell Main Street, a designated conservation area, showcases glorious floral displays in summertime and year round an array of independent boutiques, jewellers and beauticians buck the trend for high street degeneration. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Gentoo penguins the first birds on Australian territory to contract H5N1 as bird flu spreads 17. February 2026 (08:24) Australian Antarctic Program scientists say virus on Heard Island has spread to new speciesFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesSign up for climate and environment editor Adam Morton’s free Clear Air newsletter hereThe gentoo penguin has become the first bird to test positive for the H5N1 bird flu on an Australian territory, with samples confirming the virus has spread on a sub-Antarctic island.The deadly and contagious strain of bird flu, which has already killed millions of seabirds, wild birds and poultry overseas, was confirmed in southern elephant seals on Heard Island in November 2025. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Bangladesh’s incoming PM Tarique Rahman sworn into parliament 17. February 2026 (07:22) Tarique Rahman set to take oath and become prime minister after landslide victory prompted by ousting of Sheikh HasinaBangladesh’s incoming prime minister Tarique Rahman and other politicians were sworn into parliament on Tuesday, becoming the first elected representatives since a deadly 2024 uprising.Rahman is set to take over from an interim government that has led the country of 170 million people for 18 months since the autocratic government of Sheikh Hasina was overthrown. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
