Bad Bunny goes to the Super Bowl – podcast 06. February 2026 (04:00) The journalist Jen Ortiz charts the rise of Bad Bunny – the Puerto Rican superstar musician and ICE critic – before his performance at the Super Bowl on SundayThe halftime show at the Super Bowl is an American cultural institution and this year it will be performed by perhaps its most controversial star yet.Bad Bunny has been labelled by those on the American right as “un-American” and “shameful” – criticised for everything from his outspoken stance against ICE to his insistence on singing in Spanish. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
That’s a wrasse! Rare fish spotted for first time since 2009 in kelp forest in Western Australia 06. February 2026 (03:50) When marine biologist Océane Attlan saw the tiny Braun’s wrasse, it was like ‘recognising a familiar face, but you can’t put a name on it’ Get our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastThe chances of encountering the rare reef fish were so far-fetched, it took marine biologist Océane Attlan a few seconds to clock what she was seeing.“All of a sudden I saw this fish. You know when you recognise a familiar face, but you can’t put a name on it. That’s the feeling I had,” she said. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
‘Sana-mania’ grips Japan as ultra-conservative Takaichi expected to secure election landslide 06. February 2026 (03:19) The country’s first female PM is the object of a personality cult revolving around everything from her outfits and snacks to her favourite pink pen Just eight months ago, Japan’s ruling party appeared to have reached the edge of the electoral abyss. It had lost a parliamentary majority for the second time in 15 months; its MPs were implicated in a long-running slush fund scandal; the then prime minister, Shigeru Ishiba, was the target of factional plotting.But as voters prepare to brave freezing temperatures in this Sunday’s lower house elections, the Liberal Democratic party (LDP) is expected to pull off a momentous victory. And the party’s recovery from the disappointment of last year is largely down to one woman. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Man shot dead by NSW police after reportedly breaking into house with knife and chainsaw and stabbing woman 06. February 2026 (03:18) Officers attended Tuncurry property on Friday morning following reports of a home invasion, police sayFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastA man has been shot dead by police after reportedly breaking into a home on the New South Wales mid-north coast armed with a chainsaw and a knife and stabbing a woman.NSW police said officers from the Manning Great Lakes police district were called to a property in Tuncurry just before 6.40am on Friday following reports of a home invasion. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
NSW chief justice says Tony Abbott’s criticism of Harbour Bridge march judge ‘misconceived and ignorant’ 06. February 2026 (02:46) Andrew Bell says it’s ‘regrettable’ that former PM suggested judge had made a ‘political judgment’ regarding pro-Palestine protest in AugustThe chief justice of New South Wales has criticised former prime minister Tony Abbott for what he says was a regrettable, misconceived and ignorant attack on a judge’s decision regarding last year’s pro-Palestine Sydney Harbour Bridge march.Andrew Bell said in a speech on Thursday evening that Abbott’s post on X in August last year threatened social cohesion. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Australian banks passed interest rate hikes on to mortgage holders – so why haven’t they done so for savings accounts? 06. February 2026 (02:28) There’s an obvious reason for the delay. But the banks still need to compete on savings rates to finance their operationsFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastShortly after the Reserve Bank lifted the official cash rate by a quarter of a percentage point, major lenders announced interest rates on mortgages would rise by the same amount.Yet the interest rates that can grow their customer’s savings accounts are still “under review” – or the increases are being applied selectively – days after Tuesday’s announcement. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Andrew vouched for Epstein on state visit to UAE with queen in 2010 06. February 2026 (01:03) Emails appear to show Mountbatten-Windsor attempting to introduce Epstein to UAE crown prince via foreign affairs ministerAndrew Mountbatten-Windsor vouched for Jeffrey Epstein during a UK state visit to the United Arab Emirates with Queen Elizabeth II in 2010, according to newly released emails.The email was sent from “The Duke” to Epstein on 24 November of that year, with the subject listed as “Abdullah” – an apparent reference to the UAE foreign affairs minister, Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Australian drug kingpin Tony Mokbel walks free after police informant scandal 06. February 2026 (00:57) One of the key figures in Melbourne’s years-long gangland war, Mokbel was jailed for 30 years in 2012 after pleading guilty to masterminding an elaborate drug syndicateFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastOne of Australia’s most famous gangsters will walk free after prosecutors on Friday said they would drop a planned retrial on drug trafficking charges.Tony Mokbel – one of the key figures in Melbourne’s years-long gangland war – was jailed for 30 years in 2012 after pleading guilty to masterminding an elaborate drug syndicate. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Three dead and six hurt after driver hits cyclist and crashes car into LA grocery store 06. February 2026 (00:52) Authorities respond to reports of crash at 99 Ranch Market after victims, some trapped under vehicle, die at sceneThree people were killed and six others were hurt after a car driver collided with a cyclist and then slammed into a grocery store on Thursday afternoon in Los Angeles, authorities said.The crash was reported shortly after noon at a 99 Ranch Market in the city’s Westwood neighborhood, according Los Angeles fire department spokesperson Lyndsey Lantz. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Scaling back the capital gains tax discount might not help housing affordability – but there are still good reasons to do it 06. February 2026 (00:41) There is a profound inequity when it comes to tax breaks for investors. Reform could boost the budget bottom line and help renters trying to buy propertyGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastSlashing tax breaks for property investors might not put much of a dent in house prices, but that’s not to say it can’t make a meaningful difference to home ownership rates over the coming years.Reading through the submissions to the Greens-led Senate committee on the capital gains tax discount and talking to economists delivers a series of convincing arguments for why the government might be on a winner if it finally finds the courage to prosecute this reform. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
