Civil rights groups sue to protect voter data FBI seized from Georgia office 16. February 2026 (19:27) Fulton county office was raided in January amid Donald Trump’s claims that 2020 election was fraudulentRights groups have sued to protect voter information that was seized by the FBI in a controversial raid in Georgia at the behest of Donald Trump in his renewed push to invalidate the 2020 election.The NAACP and other civil rights organizations filed a motion on 15 February to “prohibit the Trump administration from misusing the voter information” taken from an elections warehouse in Fulton county, Georgia, late last month. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Robert Duvall, Apocalypse Now and Godfather star, dies aged 95 16. February 2026 (19:19) From the classic To Kill a Mockingbird to blockbuster Gone in 60 Seconds, the Oscar-winning actor’s films spanned a remarkable rangeRobert Duvall was a vigorous and subtle actor who always performed with passion and convictionRobert Duvall, the veteran actor who had a string of roles in classic American films including Apocalypse Now, The Godfather, MASH and To Kill a Mockingbird, has died aged 95.“Bob passed away peacefully at home, surrounded by love and comfort,” wrote his wife, Luciana Duvall, in a message on Facebook. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
French police launch murder inquiry after far-right activist’s death in Lyon 16. February 2026 (19:02) Quentin Deranque, 23, who was on sidelines of a protest, died from a brain injury after attack that has fuelled political tensionsFrench police have launched a murder inquiry after a far-right activist died in hospital having been beaten up in an attack that has fuelled political tensions in France.Quentin Deranque, a 23-year-old mathematics student, died from a severe brain injury at the weekend. The Lyon prosecutor, Thierry Dran, said Deranque was assaulted by at least six masked individuals. Police were working to identify suspects and no arrests had been made, Dran said. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Far-right character’s monologue prompts violent scenes at German theatre 16. February 2026 (18:42) Actor shouted down and pelted with fruit during Catarina, or the Beauty of Killing FascistsAn actor at a theatre in Germany was at the weekend shouted down, pelted with fruit and subjected to an attempted stage invasion as he delivered a final monologue in character as a far-right activist.The violent scenes came on Saturday during the German premiere of the Portuguese playwright Tiago Rodrigues’s work Catarina, or the Beauty of Killing Fascists in Bochum, North Rhine-Westphalia. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Was Navalny poisoning by frog toxin meant to send a message? 16. February 2026 (18:06) Yvette Cooper may think so, and use of epibatidine may seem exotic, but experts say situation is more ambiguousIt was a very particular choice of weapon, but experts say it remains unclear whether the dart frog toxin used to kill the Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny was intended to convey a message.Known as epibatidine, the poison is produced by wild dart frogs native to parts of South America – meaning Navalny could not have accidentally taken the poison. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Epstein ranch in New Mexico bought by family of ‘Trump Republican’ candidate 16. February 2026 (17:55) Property where abuse took place purchased for $13.4m in 2023 by Texas businessman Donald Huffines’ familyThe family of a self-identified “Trump Republican” running for office in Texas bought Jeffrey Epstein’s New Mexico ranch where the sex trafficker abused teenage girls and young women, according to new documents.A spokesperson for Donald Huffines, a Texas businessman and former GOP state senator now running for comptroller, confirmed the purchase to the Santa Fe New Mexican, a local media outlet. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Government cancels plan to delay local council elections in England 16. February 2026 (17:26) Polls in 30 areas had been due to be postponed as part of the government’s shake-up of English councilsUK politics live – latest updatesMinisters have dropped plans to delay 30 local elections this May after receiving legal advice that doing so might be unlawful.The government had planned to delay elections in England while local authorities are reorganised, which is likely to lead to some authorities merging or being subsumed into others. Ministers argued against holding elections for councils that could cease to exist in a year or two. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Savannah Guthrie makes new appeal for missing mother: ‘It’s never too late to do the right thing’ 16. February 2026 (17:06) Instagram post by TV host whose mother disappeared 15 days ago in Arizona says ‘you’re not lost or alone’The TV news anchor Savannah Guthrie issued a fresh appeal to anyone who knows the whereabouts of her missing mother, saying that “you’re not lost or alone” and “it is never too late to do the right thing”.The Today anchor, who is stepping away from NBC’s morning broadcast, urged “whoever has her or knows where she is” to come forward, but did not make reference to any ransom demands or communication with any abductor. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Single dose of potent psychedelic drug could help treat depression, trial shows 16. February 2026 (17:00) Researchers find DMT – used in shamanic rituals – in tandem with psychotherapy has significant effect People with major depressive disorder can see a rapid and lasting improvement after a single dose of the psychedelic drug dimethyltryptamine (DMT) when it is combined with psychotherapy, doctors have said.A small clinical trial involving 34 people found that psychedelic-assisted therapy prompted a swift reduction in depressive symptoms that endured long after the drug had worn off, with some still feeling the benefits six months later. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
National Gallery to make major cuts in effort to stem ballooning deficit 16. February 2026 (16:31) Move could mean fewer free exhibitions and paid-for shows and more expensive ticketsThe National Gallery is to make significant cuts in the face of an £8.2m deficit in the coming year, which could mean fewer free exhibitions and ticketed shows, less international borrowing of artworks and more expensive tickets.As a result of considerably increased running costs and stagnant income, the gallery has said it will be looking to cut spending in areas “such as public programmes, and activities where, for a number of reasons beyond our control, we can no longer justify their costs”. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
