Australia news live: police announce new search for evidence at Gus Lamont’s home; court battle begins over Coles’ ‘discounts’ 16. February 2026 (00:04) Retailers face penalties if they profited from promotions that breached consumer law. Follow today’s news liveIn case you missed it, NSW is getting an extra holiday this yearPeople in Australia’s most populous state have been granted an Anzac Day long weekend for the next two years, and could be in line for more public holidays. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Searchers find missing ship in Lake Michigan, over 150 years after it sunk 15. February 2026 (23:49) Shipwreck hunter found Lac La Belle steamer, one of ‘most sought-after missing ships’, after nearly 60-year searchSearchers recently discovered the wreck of one of the “most sought-after missing ships” in Lake Michigan, that had sunk to the bottom of the lake over 150 years ago.A shipwreck hunter and scuba diver named Paul Ehorn made the discovery after having searched for the Lac La Belle passenger steamer for nearly 60 years. Shipwreck World, a group that works to locate shipwrecks around the globe, announced on Friday that the team led by Ehorn found the wreck about 20 miles (32km) offshore between Racine and Kenosha, Wisconsin. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Makers of AI chatbots that put children at risk face big fines or UK ban 15. February 2026 (23:30) Starmer to announce ‘crackdown on vile illegal content created by AI’ after scandal involving Elon Musk’s Grok toolMakers of AI chatbots that put children at risk will face massive fines or even see their services blocked in the UK under law changes to be announced by Keir Starmer on Monday.Emboldened by Elon Musk’s X stopping its Grok AI tool from creating sexualised images of real people in the UK after public outrage last month, ministers are planning a “crackdown on vile illegal content created by AI”. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Katie’s story: her abusive ex-partner said ‘kill yourself’. When she did, police dropped domestic violence inquiry 15. February 2026 (22:00) After her death, police dropped a case examining Katie Madden’s former partner, despite evidence he had repeatedly told her to kill herselfRevealed: The true toll of female suicides in UK with domestic abuse at their coreHours before Katie Madden took her own life, she had a tense phone call with her former partner Jonathon Russell. Russell was on bail after allegedly assaulting Madden – he was banned from contacting her – but the conversation took place nevertheless.There was a witness to the call who gave evidence to the inquest into Madden’s death. Mason Jones, a friend of Madden’s, said Russell was “vile” and “abusive”. Although Jones said he could not remember the exact words Russell used, he said: “I recall Jon saying at least once that he was in control of the town and would end her life if she didn’t do it herself.” Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Revealed: The true toll of female suicides in UK with domestic abuse at their core 15. February 2026 (22:00) Exclusive: Research suggests official statistics could track as few as 6.5% of the true number of casesKatie’s story: her abusive ex-partner said ‘kill yourself’. When she did, police dropped domestic violence inquiryThe number of women who are driven to suicide by domestic abusers is being under-reported, and their cases overlooked by police, in what has been described by experts as a “national scandal”.Domestic violence suicides are already growing at such a rate that a woman in an abusive relationship is now more likely to take her own life than be killed by a partner. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Fast-spreading measles outbreak takes hold among under-10s in north London 15. February 2026 (20:37) UK Health Security Agency urges parents in Enfield to get their children vaccinated as Easter holiday travels approachA big measles outbreak in north-east London is affecting unvaccinated children under the age of 10, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has confirmed.UKHSA previously reported 34 laboratory-confirmed measles cases among children who attend schools and nurseries in Enfield from 1 January to 9 February, with some requiring hospital treatment. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
UK’s top prosecutor says ‘nobody above law’ amid claims against former prince Andrew 15. February 2026 (20:24) Director of public prosecutions says he is confident police would examine any evidence of potential misconduct The UK’s top prosecutor has said “nobody is above the law” amid growing pressure on police to fully investigate Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor’s links with Jeffrey Epstein.Thames Valley police said earlier this week they were in discussion with the Crown Prosecution Service over allegations of misconduct in public office against the former prince. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
‘Right about everything’: Liz Truss tweets photo of meeting with Trump 15. February 2026 (20:09) Unclear how encounter between Britain’s shortest-serving PM and US president was initiated and how long it lastedAfter spending time and resources crisscrossing the Atlantic to cultivate the support of the Maga faithful, Liz Truss has finally got the prize she apparently craved: a photo with Donald Trump.Britain’s shortest-serving prime minister tweeted a photo on Sunday showing her in the company of the US president at his Mar-a-Lago club in Florida. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
US teen who pushed for her father’s release from ICE custody dies of cancer 15. February 2026 (19:24) Ofelia Torres, 16, spotlighted her dad Ruben’s illegal detention last fall during Trump’s crackdown in ChicagoA Chicago teenager, whose father was detained by immigration authorities while she navigated cancer, died on Friday, a family spokesperson said.Ofelia Torres, a 16-year-old in Chicago, had been undergoing treatment for an aggressive and rare form of cancer since late 2024. As she and her family struggled with the medical procedures, her father, Ruben Torres Maldonado, was detained by immigration authorities while at a Home Depot in October, leading to a contentious and public case that highlighted the human effects of the Trump administration’s aggressive immigration crackdown. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Top British and German military chiefs press ‘moral’ case for rearmament 15. February 2026 (19:02) Defence leaders write joint appeal urging public on need to be prepared for war with Russia and resulting costsAs defence chiefs, we must warn you about Russia and say this: rearmament is not warmongering | Richard Knighton and Carsten BreuerBritain and Germany’s highest ranking military leaders have made an unprecedented joint appeal to the public to accept the “moral” case for rearmament and prepare for the threat of war with Russia.The pair said they were making the plea not just as the military leaders of two of Europe’s largest military spenders, but “as voices for a Europe that must now confront uncomfortable truths about its security”. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
