Australia politics live: police under fire for handling of Sydney protests; chief says speakers ‘incited’ crowd to march 09. February 2026 (21:03) Fallout begins after violent scenes in Sydney. Follow the latest news liveGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastGood morning, Krishani Dhanji here with you, thanks to Martin Farrer for getting us started.There will be significant reaction to protest scenes out of Sydney and Melbourne last night.A lawful and peaceful public assembly was set upon with state violence because arbitrary and excessive special powers were granted to the police, via a rushed regulation made on a Saturday, with no good cause and in defiance our implied constitutional rights to engage in political expression.I saw with my own eyes something I had hoped to never see, but the video footage that is spreading across social media is all the evidence that any of us need to see the descent of NSW into a Police State. We saw people of the Muslim faith who were praying set upon, dragged, assaulted and thrown to the ground. We saw dozens of armed police charging at peaceful members of our community. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
‘Rayner for leader’ site proves race to succeed Starmer is well under way 09. February 2026 (21:00) Allies of leading candidates keen to tout credentials but others despair at options at top of Labour party• Revealed: ‘Rayner for leader’ site briefly went live in January• Explainer: political leadership campaigns that launched too soon• UK politics live – latest updatesAs Keir Starmer fights for his political life, the contest to replace him has already begun.The prime minister was already under pressure when the Scottish Labour leader, Anas Sarwar, called for on Monday a change of prime minister. Sarwar’s comments followed the resignations from Downing Street of Morgan McSweeney, Starmer’s chief of staff, and Tim Allan, his communications director. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Beloved LA taco shop makes surprise cameo in Bad Bunny’s half-time show 09. February 2026 (20:57) Owner of Villa’s Tacos said the rapper loved their restaurant and asked the business to join his Super Bowl performanceA beloved Los Angeles taqueria made its primetime debut during Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl LX half-time show, delighting and surprising its legion of faithful patrons.Bad Bunny’s 13-minute performance was a love letter to the culture, history and legacy of Puerto Rico, with sets depicting sugarcane fields, a house party and even a wedding ceremony, complete with Lady Gaga performing a salsa rendition of her hit “Die With a Smile.” Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Reform-led Worcestershire set to issue England’s largest council tax rise 09. February 2026 (20:49) Cap-busting tax hike will be embarrassing for the party, which has made low council tax a priorityReform-led Worcestershire county council is likely to issue England’s largest council tax rise this April after it was given special permission by the government to increase it by up to 9%.Worcestershire is one of a handful of authorities whose requests to be allowed to increase local rates above the standard 5% cap from April have been accepted by ministers. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Top civil servant could become third key No 10 departure in days 09. February 2026 (20:30) Exclusive: Cabinet secretary Chris Wormald is expected to follow Morgan McSweeney and Tim Allan out the doorThe most senior civil servant in Downing Street is negotiating his exit as part of a wider shake-up of Keir Starmer’s operation after one of the most dramatic 48 hours of the prime minister’s time in office, sources have told the Guardian.Chris Wormald, the cabinet secretary, is understood to be negotiating the terms of his departure from No 10, which would make him the third senior member of staff to leave in recent days. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Troubles-rooted play Sapling wins Women’s prize for playwriting 09. February 2026 (20:30) Judges, including Guardian editor-in-chief Katharine Viner, praise Georgina Duncan’s play as the kind ‘producers dream of and audiences yearn to watch’A work that explores what happens when trauma is left to fester, set in Troubles-era Belfast, has been named the winner of the Women’s prize for playwriting 2025.Judges praised what they described as unflinching and moving writing in Sapling by Georgina Duncan, a working-class playwright from Lancashire. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Italian reporters to protest over boss’s gaffe-filled Olympic commentary 09. February 2026 (19:21) Director of state broadcaster Rai Sport welcomed viewers to wrong stadium and mistook Italian actor for Mariah CareySports journalists at the Italian state broadcaster are staging protests in response to blunders made by the sports director throughout his commentary on the opening ceremony of the Milano Cortina Winter Olympics.Paolo Petrecca, who was appointed to the role at Rai Sport in 2025, first welcomed viewers to Rome’s Stadio Olimpico instead of Milan’s San Siro, where Friday’s ceremony was held, before mistaking the Italian actor Matilda De Angelis for Mariah Carey and Kirsty Coventry, president of the International Olympic Committee, for Laura Mattarella, daughter of the Italian president. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Two senior Norwegian diplomats being investigated over Epstein links 09. February 2026 (19:20) Financial crimes squad investigate husband and wife in connection to alleged relationship with late sex offenderTwo high-profile diplomats are under investigation by Norwegian authorities in connection with their relationship to the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.Norway’s financial crimes squad, Økokrim, is investigating Mona Juul, who resigned as ambassador to Jordan and Iraq on Sunday, on suspicion of gross corruption while working at the ministry of foreign affairs, it said on Monday. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Jimmy Lai: will Hong Kong media tycoon die in jail? – The Latest 09. February 2026 (18:27) The media mogul and prominent pro-democracy activist Jimmy Lai has been sentenced to 20 years in prison in Hong Kong for national security offences. His family has described the sentence as ‘heartbreakingly cruel’, given the 78-year-old’s declining health. Lai was convicted in December on charges of sedition and conspiracy to collude with foreign forces, after pleading not guilty to all charges. Lucy Hough speaks to the Guardian’s senior China correspondent, Amy Hawkins – watch on YouTube Continue reading...(The Guardian)
RFK Jr misled Senate during confirmation, Congress members and Hawaii governor say 09. February 2026 (18:23) Newly revealed emails undermine Kennedy’s testimony about 2019 Samoa trip ahead of deadly measles outbreakThree members of Congress say the US health secretary, Robert F Kennedy Jr, lied during his Senate confirmation hearings in response to newly revealed emails that undermine his testimony that a trip he took to Samoa ahead of a deadly measles outbreak had “nothing to do with vaccines”.The governor of Hawaii, a medical doctor who responded to the crisis, also spoke out – saying that the disclosure of the emails by the Guardian and the Associated Press show Kennedy misled the Senate and that he should step down. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
