Government on track to lower train driver minimum age to 18 in Great Britain 08. February 2026 (17:53) Labour will introduce legislation this week for reduction from current age of 20 in effort to prevent big shortageLabour will introduce legislation to lower the minimum age for train drivers to 18 in the House of Commons this week, as figures show fewer than 3% of drivers on Great Britain’s railways are under 30.The government is pressing ahead with its proposals for teenage recruits, lowering the minimum age from the current 20 years old, in a move that ministers hope will stave off a potential shortage of thousands of drivers. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Trump’s EPA reapproves contentious weedkiller dicamba for some GM crops 08. February 2026 (17:42) Environmental groups said dicamba drift has damaged vegetable farms, trees and other critical plantsThe Environmental Protection Agency on Friday reapproved the weedkiller dicamba for use on genetically modified soybeans and cotton, a pesticide that has raised widespread concern over its tendency to drift and destroy nearby crops.The agency said dicamba was critical for farmers who would otherwise have their crops threatened by fast growing weeds. To ensure the pesticide is used safely, the agency said it imposed strong protections and limits on its use. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
‘The only honourable course’: Morgan McSweeney’s resignation statement in full 08. February 2026 (17:41) Keir Starmer’s chief of staff leaves job over role in Peter Mandelson’s appointment as US ambassadorMorgan McSweeney: brains behind Labour’s comeback undone by poor judgmentUK politics live – latest updatesMorgan McSweeney has quit as Keir Starmer’s chief of staff amid anger over his role in the appointment of Peter Mandelson as US ambassador.Here is his resignation statement in full: Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Morgan McSweeney resigns as Keir Starmer’s chief of staff 08. February 2026 (17:41) Longtime aide has said he takes ‘full responsibility’ for advising PM to appoint Peter Mandelson as US ambassador‘The only honourable course’: resignation statement in fullUK politics live – latest updatesMorgan McSweeney, Keir Starmer’s chief of staff, has quit his role as the prime minister’s closest aide and longtime ally amid anger over the appointment of Peter Mandelson as US ambassador.The senior No 10 adviser’s position had grown increasingly untenable as pressure on the prime minister mounted over the scandal, which followed the release of emails underlining the extent of Mandelson’s ongoing relationship with the convicted child sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Noam Chomsky’s wife apologizes for their ‘grave mistake’ in Epstein ties 08. February 2026 (17:04) Valeria Chomsky says Epstein had deceived them and they were ‘careless’ not to thoroughly research his backgroundNoam Chomsky and his wife, Valeria, made a “grave mistake” and were “careless” not to thoroughly research the background of Jeffrey Epstein, Valeria Chomsky said in a lengthy statement on Saturday, adding also that Epstein had deceived them.The relationship between Noam Chomsky, the 97-year-old linguist and philosopher, and Epstein has been under scrutiny after documents released by the justice department shed light on their friendship. As Epstein came under scrutiny for sex trafficking allegations in 2019, he asked Chomsky for advice on how to respond. “I’ve watched the horrible way you are being treated in the press and public. It’s painful to say, but I think the best way to proceed is to ignore it,” Chomsky wrote in a message signed “Noam” that Epstein shared in email with an associate. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Social media companies are being sued for harming their users’ mental health – but are the platforms addictive? 08. February 2026 (16:00) Experts say the term ‘addiction’ is be overused and, for social media use, could be difficult to proveForthcoming legal proceedings against Meta and YouTube are frequently referred to as the “social media addiction trials”, but whether these platforms are truly addictive is still the subject of scientific debate.The lawsuits were brought against Meta, YouTube (Google), Snap Inc and TikTok by plaintiffs alleging these platforms severely damaged their mental health when they were children. Snap and TikTok settled the first case to go to trial, brought by a woman known as KGM, now about 20. The remaining defendants, Meta and YouTube, were set to go to court this week, but the trial was delayed because Meta’s senior attorney became ill. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Bank chairs backtracking on climate commitments could face shareholder revolts 08. February 2026 (15:00) Exclusive: Campaign group calls on institutional shareholders to vote against re-election of bosses overseeing net zero row-backBank chairs who water down their lenders’ climate commitments this year could face embarrassing shareholder revolts as campaigners try to hold bosses to account for environmental backtracking.ShareAction, a campaign group for responsible investment, will be issuing detailed reports to pension funds and asset managers in the coming weeks, outlining whether 34 of the world’s largest lenders are sticking to their climate goals. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Liberals say Ley’s concessions to reunite Coalition may have tipped MPs into Taylor’s camp ahead of expected spill 08. February 2026 (15:00) One MP who now considers a spill inevitable says accepting shorter suspensions for rogue Nationals senators was a significant backdownGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastSussan Ley’s deal to reunite with the Nationals has damaged her credibility and potentially shifted some MPs into her leadership rival Angus Taylor’s corner, according to colleagues who are bracing for a spill as soon as this week.As Ley told a press conference the majority of colleagues believed the was “stronger together”, one Liberal MP privately feared the reunion would ultimately lead to the “destruction of the Liberal party”. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Australian defence force expands space workforce as new specialist training centre unveiled 08. February 2026 (15:00) Expansion of space operations comes as ADF entering ‘most challenging strategic environment since second world war’, minister saysGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastAustralian defence force recruits are being asked to aim for the stars, with two new positions advertised in defence’s space command.Applicants were invited to apply directly for the two space specialist roles – an operations officer to plan and support missions, and an operations specialist with knowledge of equipment. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Australia in danger of becoming an ‘artless country’ as enrolments in creative courses collapse 08. February 2026 (15:00) Research suggests surging costs under Morrison government’s job-ready graduate scheme and axing of dozens of subjects largely to blameGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastAustralia risks becoming an “artless country” if it does not address the long-term decline in enrolments in creative courses, with more than 40 courses and degrees axed in less than a decade.New research published in the Australian Journal of Education this week found fewer students in high school and university were choosing to study the creative arts. At the same time, it found, dozens of tertiary courses were being slashed. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
