Families bid to take over their children’s care home that amassed huge tax debts 16. February 2026 (07:00) Parents wish to ‘take matters into our own hands’ as William Blake House faces potential winding up orderA group of families have launched an audacious bid to take over their disabled children’s residential care home after it emerged the charity running it faces closure after amassing huge tax debts and paying £1m in fees to one of its trustees.William Blake House faces a potential winding up order in seven weeks and is under investigation by regulators over serious financial governance concerns. The families said they no longer trust that the charity’s board has their children’s best interests at heart. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
EU’s deportations plan risks ICE-style enforcement, rights groups warn 16. February 2026 (06:00) Crackdown on undocumented people could lead to home raids, surveillance and racial profiling, 75 organisations say More than 70 rights organisations have called on the EU to reject a proposal aimed at increasing the deportation of undocumented people, warning that it risks turning everyday spaces, public services and community interactions into tools of ICE-style immigration enforcement.Last March, the European Commission laid out its proposal to increase deportations of people with no legal right to stay in the EU, including potentially sending them to offshore centres in non-EU countries. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
No evidence aliens have made contact, says Obama after podcast comments cause frenzy 16. February 2026 (05:50) Former US president clarifies ‘they’re real’ answer that he gave during quick-fire interview roundHours after Barack Obama caused a frenzy by saying aliens were real on a podcast, the former US president has posted a statement clarifying that he has not seen any evidence of them.In a conversation with the American podcast host Brian Tyler Cohen over the weekend, Obama appeared to confirm the apparent existence of aliens during a speed round of questioning where the host asks guests quick questions and the guests respond with brief answers. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Kim Jong-un unveils housing for families of North Koreans killed in Ukraine war 16. February 2026 (04:49) Leader vows to repay the ‘young martyrs’ who died as North Korea intensifies propaganda glorifying troops deployed to fight for RussiaNorth Korea has said it completed a new housing district in Pyongyang for families of North Korean soldiers killed while fighting alongside Russian forces in Ukraine, the latest effort by leader Kim Jong-un to honour the war dead.State media photos showed Kim walking through the new street – called Saeppyol Street – and visiting the homes of some of the families with his increasingly prominent daughter, believed to be named Kim Ju-ae, as he pledged to repay the “young martyrs” who “sacrificed all to their motherland”. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Migrants from Gaza and Somalia among those to be banned from Australia under unreleased Liberal plan 16. February 2026 (04:18) The hardline immigration policy was designed before Sussan Ley was ousted as party leader on FridayGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastMigrants from specific regions of 13 countries – including from Gaza, Afghanistan and Somalia – would be banned from entering Australia under a leaked hardline Liberal immigration plan.Guardian Australia understands the banned regions, outlined in the policy designed before Sussan Ley was ousted as party leader on Friday, were based on areas where listed terrorist organisations have territorial control. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
How an undercover cop foiled an IS plot to massacre Britain’s Jews – podcast 16. February 2026 (04:00) The Guardian’s community affairs correspondent, Chris Osuh, reports on the plot by two IS terrorists to massacre Jews in Manchester, and how it was thwarted by an undercover stingWalid Saadaoui had once worked as a holiday entertainer, organising dance shows and quizzes at a resort in his native Tunisia. After moving to the UK and marrying a British woman, he became a restaurateur and an avid keeper of birds.All the while, however – as the Guardian’s community affairs correspondent, Chris Osuh, explains – he was hiding a secret: he had pledged allegiance to Islamic State. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Coles offered ‘utterly misleading’ discounts ACCC argues in federal court case 16. February 2026 (03:55) ACCC alleges the supermarket breached the law by offering ‘illusory’ discounts on many products with ‘Down Down’ promotionFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastColes disguised price increases on at least 245 products by offering discounts that were “literally true” but also “utterly misleading”, the competition regulator has argued at the beginning of a high-profile court case.A federal court battle between the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) and Coles began on Monday, testing allegations the supermarket breached the law by offering “illusory” discounts on many everyday products. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Queensland police refused to discipline officer accused of domestic violence against pregnant partner 16. February 2026 (03:15) Police decided there was ‘no tangible benefit’ to conducting disciplinary action against the officer and opted not to investigateFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastThe Queensland police service refused to pursue disciplinary action against an officer accused of multiple acts of serious domestic violence against his heavily pregnant partner and “interfering with the course of justice” to weaken the terms of her protection order.The circumstances of the case, revealed in a Queensland tribunal judgment this month, prompted a legal challenge by state’s Crime and Corruption Commission. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Kidnappers should return man, 85, abducted by mistake to ‘a shopping centre’, NSW premier says 16. February 2026 (02:55) Chris Baghsarian was alone in his North Ryde home on Friday when he was taken and bundled into an SUV allegedly by underworld figuresFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastPolice have called on Sydneysiders to report any “not normal activity” as they search for 85-year-old Chris Baghsarian, who investigators say was abducted by mistake in a botched underworld kidnapping.Baghsarian was alone in his North Ryde home when he was taken and bundled into a dark-coloured SUV on Friday morning. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
China hopes for a bumper lunar new year as world’s biggest migration begins 16. February 2026 (02:10) Year of the horse signals optimism and opportunity, with authorities keen that the extra day of holiday this year provides an economic boostChinese officials are hoping that this year’s extra long lunar new year holiday will provide a boost to the country’s economy, where increasing domestic spending has been identified as a key priority for the year ahead.The government expects a record 9.5 billion passenger trips to be made across China during the 40-day spring festival period, up from 9 billion trips last year. Hundreds of millions of people will be crisscrossing the country to make what is often their only trip home to see their families for the Chinese new year celebrations. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
