‘Take them away, crush them’: Australia faces an ebike surge that some say poses a health emergency 07. February 2026 (01:26) They offer independence, reduce emissions and congestion. But they are also endangering livesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastAfter the Sydney Harbour Bridge was swarmed by 40 or so ebikes and e-motorcycles on Wednesday, the Australian government said the country faced a “real emergency”.“[Illegal ebikes] are a total menace on the road,” the health minister, Mark Butler, said on Friday. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Rapper Lil Jon confirms son is dead after police find body in pond near Atlanta 07. February 2026 (00:53) Nathan Smith, 27, known professionally as DJ Young Slade, was music producer, artist, engineer and NYU graduateAmerican rapper Lil Jon said on Friday that his son, Nathan Smith, has died, the record producer confirmed in a joint statement with Smith’s mother after police found a body in a pond north of Atlanta, Georgia.“I am extremely heartbroken for the tragic loss of our son, Nathan Smith. His mother [Nicole Smith] and I are devastated,” the statement said. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Trump signs proclamation to increase US imports of beef from Argentina 07. February 2026 (00:27) Initial announcement sparked fury from US cattle ranchers as economists say change will have little impact on pricesDonald Trump on Friday signed a proclamation to hike the US’s low-tariff imports of Argentinian beef, though economists have said the attempt to lower costs for US consumers will likely have little impact on prices.A White House official said in October that Trump would make such a move, evoking fury from the nation’s cattle ranchers. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Bob Woodward says he is ‘crushed’ by Washington Post layoffs 06. February 2026 (23:48) Watergate reporter says colleagues and readers ‘deserve more’ after newspaper lays off hundreds of workersThe veteran Washington Post journalist Bob Woodward has said he is “crushed” by the mass layoffs of hundreds of colleagues at the paper and said the impact would be felt by readers – noting both “deserve more”.“I am crushed that so many of my beloved colleagues have lost their jobs and our readers have been given less news and sound analysis,” Woodward said in his first public remarks on the cuts, which were shared on X. “They deserve more.” Continue reading...(The Guardian)
New York officer who hit suspect with cooler found guilty of manslaughter 06. February 2026 (23:43) Sgt Erik Duran convicted by judge for causing Eric Duprey to fatally crash his motorized scooter in 2023A New York City police officer was convicted on Friday of second-degree manslaughter after he tossed a picnic cooler filled with drinks at a fleeing suspect, causing the man to fatally crash his motorized scooter in 2023.Judge Guy Mitchell handed down the guilty verdict in Bronx criminal court in the case against Sgt Erik Duran in the death of Eric Duprey. The 38-year-old Duran was the first New York police department (NYPD) officer in years to be tried for killing someone while on duty. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Man, 18, charged with murder of De Montfort University student Khaleed Oladipo 06. February 2026 (23:39) Harper Dennis also charged with possession of offensive weapon after fatal stabbing in Leicester city centreA man has been charged with the murder of 20-year-old student Khaleed Oladipo in Leicester.Harper Dennis, 18, of North Road, West Drayton, London, has been charged with murder and possession of an offensive weapon in a public place, police said. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
‘I’m British, English and British Asian’, says Rishi Sunak in riposte to racially charged debate over identity 06. February 2026 (23:30) Podcaster claimed former prime minister not English because he is ‘brown-skinned Hindu’Rishi Sunak has described himself as being “British, English and British Asian” in a riposte to increasing racially charged language used by figures on the right.The UK’s first British Asian prime minister was speaking after his identity was questioned in recent debate sparked by a claim by the podcaster Konstantin Kisin that Sunak was not English because he was a “brown-skinned Hindu”. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Three dead after light plane crashes into ocean off South Australian beach 06. February 2026 (23:22) Single-engine Cessna crashed into water at Long Bay near Goolwa South on Friday afternoonGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastThree people have died after a light plane crashed into the ocean near Goolwa South in South Australia on Friday.Police responded to reports of the small plane crashing into the water at Long Bay about 4.20pm, with emergency services responding to the area immediately. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Taylor Swift casts ‘insanely charismatic and lovable’ Graham Norton in music video 06. February 2026 (23:15) Opalite video reunites host and guests including Domhnall Gleeson and Lewis Capaldi from Swift’s October chatshow appearanceGraham Norton’s chatshow has long been an object of fascination for American stars, wowed by its combined star wattage, glasses of wine and Norton’s own quick-witted, lightly saucy repartee – and Taylor Swift has now taken that fandom to another level.Norton has been cast in the music video for Opalite, the second single from her album The Life of a Showgirl to receive music video treatment after The Fate of Ophelia. Not only Norton, in fact, but the stars from the guest lineup who sat alongside Swift when she appeared in October 2025: actors Domhnall Gleeson, Greta Lee and Jodie Turner-Smith, and fellow chart-topping musician Lewis Capaldi. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Far-right influencer and US Senate candidate arrested for damaging anti-ICE sculpture 06. February 2026 (23:10) Jake Lang, a pardoned January 6 rioter, posted a video of himself kicking down the sculpture at Minnesota’s capitolThe far-right influencer and US Senate candidate Jake Lang has been arrested after recording himself damaging an anti-ICE sculpture at Minnesota’s capitol amid the Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency’s crackdown there.On 5 February, Lang, who received a presidential pardon from Donald Trump over his role in the 6 January 2021 attack on the US Capitol, posted a video on X of himself kicking down the sculpture, which was made from ice – as in, frozen water. His efforts changed it from reading “Prosecute ICE” to “Pro ICE”, referring to the federal agency. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
