Bunnings given green light to use facial recognition tech on customers to combat crime 05. February 2026 (00:36) Tribunal heard Bunnings store managers’ evidence of regular threatening or abusive behaviour from some customersFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastHardware giant Bunnings has been given the green light to use facial recognition technology on customers in order to prevent crime.The administrative review tribunal this week reversed a 2024 ruling by the Australian privacy commissioner that had found Bunnings breached the privacy of store visitors by scanning and checking their faces. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Autistic girls much less likely to be diagnosed, study says 05. February 2026 (00:30) By age 20 diagnosis rates for men and women almost equal, research finds, challenging assumptions of gender discrepancyFemales may be just as likely to be autistic as males but boys are up to four times more likely to be diagnosed in childhood, according to a large-scale study.Research led by the Karolinska Institutet in Sweden scrutinised the diagnosis rates of autism for people born in Sweden between 1985 and 2020. Of the 2.7 million people tracked, 2.8% were diagnosed with autism between the ages of two and 37. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
LaMonte McLemore, Grammy-winning singer with 5th Dimension, dies aged 90 05. February 2026 (00:14) Singer was member of vocal group that scored 1960s hits with Up, Up and Away and Aquarius/Let the Sunshine InSinger LaMonte McLemore has died. He was a founding member of the 5th Dimension, a vocal group whose smooth pop and soul sounds with a touch of psychedelia brought them big hits in the 1960s and 70s.McLemore died on Tuesday aged 90 at his home in Las Vegas, surrounded by his family, his representative Jeremy Westby said in a statement. He died of natural causes after having a stroke. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Illinois joins WHO network after Trump pulls US out of global health body 05. February 2026 (00:11) Governor JB Pritzker pledges to put ‘science, preparedness and people’ first by participating in global response networkThe Illinois governor, JB Pritzker, has announced that his state will join the World Health Organization’s Global Outbreak Alert and Response Network (GOARN), following Donald Trump’s decision to withdraw the US from the global body in 2025.Pritzker, a Democrat, made the announcement on Tuesday, confirming that Illinois will become part of the coordinated international network dedicated to monitoring and responding to global disease outbreaks. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Wes Streeting to offer resident doctors bigger pay rise to end dispute 04. February 2026 (23:45) Health secretary to increase pay offer and guarantee working conditions for resident doctors only Wes Streeting is to offer resident doctors a bigger pay rise than other NHS staff as part of a new package of measures to try to end their long-running dispute.The health secretary also plans to guarantee resident doctors in England that hospitals will be fined if they do not give them good working conditions, such as rest areas and access to hot food. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Google parent earnings beat projections amid plans to invest deeply in AI 04. February 2026 (23:43) Alphabet reports $34.5bn profit and revenue soars 48% in recent quarter as it plans a sharp increase in AI spendingGoogle’s parent company, Alphabet, beat Wall Street expectations on Wednesday, and is planning a sharp increase in capital spending in 2026 as it continues to invest deeply in AI infrastructure.Alphabet on Wednesday reported profit of $34.5bn in the recently ended quarter, as revenue from cloud computing soared 48%. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Michelle Obama documentary rises 13,000% in views as Melania film opens 04. February 2026 (22:52) Becoming garners 47.5m minutes viewed on same weekend as current first lady’s documentary released in cinemasMichelle Obama’s 2020 documentary Becoming saw a major rise in views over the same weekend that Melania was released in cinemas.The film, which followed the former first lady in the wake of her hit book, saw a rise in views of more than 13,000% over the past weekend, with 47.5m minutes viewed, according to the Hollywood Reporter. The weekend before saw only 354,000 minutes watched, according to Luminate. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
US agency investigates Nike for alleged discrimination against white workers 04. February 2026 (22:44) EEOC demands firm turn over ‘DEI-related objectives’ amid Trump administration’s crackdown on diversity initiativesThe US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) has launched an investigation into Nike over allegations that the sports giant discriminated against white employees and job applicants.The federal agency is demanding that Nike turn over information related to the allegations, including the company’s “Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion-related 2025 Targets and other DEI-related objectives”, it announced on Wednesday. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
California can use new congressional maps in November, supreme court rules 04. February 2026 (22:33) Approved by voters, the new maps give Democrats as many as five seats, neutralizing five GOP seats added by TexasCalifornia can use a new congressional map that was approved by voters in November, the supreme court has ruled, handing Democrats a major victory in their effort to neutralize Donald Trump’s push to protect Republicans’ fragile House majority in this year’s midterm elections.In December, the court said Texas could use its redrawn congressional map in 2026, designed to carve out as many as five Republican-friendly congressional districts, rejecting a lower-court ruling that found it had been racially gerrymandered. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Mediterranean diet can reduce risk of stroke by up to 25%, long-term study suggests 04. February 2026 (22:00) Two-decade study indicates a diet rich in foods such as olive oil, nuts and vegetables can cut risk of every type of strokeA Mediterranean diet can reduce the risk of every type of stroke, in some cases by as much as 25%, a large study conducted over two decades suggests.A diet rich in olive oil, nuts, seafood, whole grains and vegetables has previously been linked to a number of health benefits. However, until now there has been limited evidence of how it might affect the risk of all forms of stroke. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
