Not delivering any Aukus nuclear submarines to Australia explored as option in US congressional report 04. February 2026 (15:00) Report offers alternative of the US navy retaining boats and operating them out of Australian basesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastA new United States congressional report openly contemplates not selling any nuclear submarines to Australia – as promised under the Aukus agreement – because America wants to retain control of the submarines for a potential conflict with China over Taiwan.The report by the US Congressional Research Service, Congress’s policy research arm, posits an alternative “military division of labour” under which the submarines earmarked for sale to Australia are instead retained under US command to be sailed out of Australian bases. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Condemnation of Elon Musk’s AI chatbot reached ‘tipping point’ after French raid, Australia’s eSafety chief says 04. February 2026 (15:00) A number of countries including Australia are investigating X over Grok-produced sexualised deepfakesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastThe eSafety commissioner, Julie Inman Grant, says global regulatory focus on Elon Musk’s X has reached a “tipping point” after a raid of the company’s offices in France this week.The raid on Tuesday was part of an investigation that included alleged offences of complicity in the possession and organised distribution of child abuse images, violation of image rights through sexualised deepfakes, and denial of crimes against humanity. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Australian universities to be graded on how well they deal with protests under antisemitism report card 04. February 2026 (15:00) Exclusive: Leaked documents show how universities will be assessed under new system, which was fast-tracked after Bondi terror attackFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastUniversities will be graded on how well they “deal with” protests, encampments and the display of flags as part of a controversial antisemitism report card system adopted by the Albanese government after the Bondi terror attack, according to documents seen by Guardian Australia.The antisemitism envoy, Jillian Segal, devised the report card system as part of a wide-ranging plan handed down to the federal government last July to combat antisemitism, which also proposed withholding government funding from universities that “facilitate, enable or fail to act against antisemitism”. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
More than 80% of flying fox colony wiped out as January heatwaves kill thousands of bats 04. February 2026 (15:00) Only 180 bats survived intense heat in South Australian town, including 34 babies that carers say face months of recoveryFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastA colony of about 1,000 flying foxes in a South Australian town has been shattered by the intense heat that gripped south-eastern Australia last week, with more than 80% of the camp at Naracoorte wiped out.“It’s a devastating loss of numbers,” said Judith Bemmer, a carer at Bat Rescue SA. Among the surviving 180 animals, about 34 underweight and dehydrated babies were rescued, and would face months of recovery.Sign up to get climate and environment editor Adam Morton’s Clear Air column as a free newsletter Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Palestine Action activists cleared of aggravated burglary at Israeli defence firm site 04. February 2026 (14:54) None of the six activists were convicted of any offence over break-in at Elbit Systems factory near Bristol in 2024Six Palestine Action activists have been cleared of committing aggravated burglary over a break-in at an Israeli defence firm’s UK site.Charlotte Head, Samuel Corner, Leona Kamio, Fatema Rajwani, Zoe Rogers and Jordan Devlin were accused of threatening unlawful violence and using sledgehammers as weapons after a prison van was driven into Elbit Systems’ factory in Filton, near Bristol, on 6 August 2024. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Specialist UK insurer Beazley agrees to £8bn takeover by Zurich 04. February 2026 (14:36) Deal values cyber-attack specialist at a 60% premium but marks another loss for the London stock marketA British company specialising in insuring against cyber-attacks which also covers fine art and luxury yachts has agreed to be taken over in a £8bn deal, as it became the latest loss to the London stock market.Beazley said on Wednesday it had agreed the deal with its larger rival Zurich, after the Swiss company raised its bid for the Lloyd’s of London insurer Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Trump calls for Americans to ‘move on’ from Epstein files – US politics live 04. February 2026 (14:33) President’s commerce secretary Howard Lutnick and on-off ally Elon Musk have both featured in the Epstein filesTom Homan, the president’s so-called “border czar” is set to speak to reporters in Minneapolis shortly.A reminder that Homan took over the immigration enforcement operation in Minnesota from senior border official Gregory Bovino, just days after the fatal shooting of Alex Pretti and the mounting backlash in the Twin Cities. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
PM says he knew when giving Mandelson US job he had kept ties with Epstein after conviction 04. February 2026 (14:22) Starmer defends ambassador appointment, saying he was lied to ‘repeatedly’ about extent of contact between pairUK politics live – latest updatesKeir Starmer has confirmed for the first time he knew about Peter Mandelson’s longer-term relationship with Jeffrey Epstein before appointing him US ambassador, saying the peer had “lied repeatedly” about the extent of his contact with the child sex offender.Questioned repeatedly at prime minister’s questions, Starmer said Mandelson had “betrayed our country” in his dealings with Epstein. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Coroner opens inquest into five babies murdered by Lucy Letby 04. February 2026 (14:15) Cheshire coroner says there is ‘reason to suspect unnatural deaths’, with proceedings to begin in SeptemberA coroner has formally opened inquests into the deaths of five newborn babies Lucy Letby was convicted of murdering.In a 20-minute hearing at Cheshire coroner’s court, the senior coroner Jacqueline Devonish heard brief details of the deaths before adjourning proceedings until September. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
US prosecutors seek life sentence for man who tried to assassinate Trump in Florida 04. February 2026 (14:06) Ryan Routh, convicted of attempting to kill the president at a West Palm Beach golf club in 2024, set to face sentencingFederal prosecutors will ask that a man convicted of trying to assassinate Donald Trump on a Florida golf course in 2024 be sentenced to life in prison at a hearing on Wednesday.Ryan Routh is scheduled to appear before US district judge Aileen Cannon in Fort Pierce. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
