Sussan Ley may fast-track permanent Liberal-only frontbench as Coalition reunion hopes fade 04. February 2026 (08:03) Opposition leader may announce promotion of six MPs to shadow cabinet early amid deadlock in talks to reunite with NationalsGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastSussan Ley could bring forward the announcement of a permanent Liberal-only frontbench that cements the Coalition split, as hopes of a reunion with the Nationals fade.The opposition leader and the Nationals leader, David Littleproud, held another round of peace talks before question time on Wednesday, but neither party was prepared to budge on their core demands. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Parents of Piper James visit K’gari to farewell daughter and ‘walk where she last walked’ as dingo cull continues 04. February 2026 (07:13) Grieving family of the backpacker will attend a smoking ceremony conducted by the island’s traditional ownersFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastThe distraught parents of a backpacker believed to have drowned on a world heritage-listed sand island off the Queensland coast are visiting K’gari as part of their journey to return the remains of Piper James to Canada.Todd and Angela James touched down in Brisbane from Vancouver on Tuesday morning – the first stage of their emotional pilgrimage to K’gari (formerly known as Fraser Island). Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Doctor previously banned from complex surgery in NSW given senior clinical safety role with Queensland Health 04. February 2026 (07:02) A spokesperson says Dr Michael Byrom no longer has any conditions placed on his practising and cited a ‘rigorous recruitment process’Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastThe Queensland premier has asked for an investigation into how a cardiothoracic surgeon – previously restricted from performing major heart and lung surgery by the New South Wales medical regulator – was appointed to a senior government clinical safety position.The deputy director general of Clinical Excellence Queensland, Dr Helen Brown, announced Dr Michael Byrom as the inaugural surgical medical lead for the organisation, which focuses on healthcare quality, safety and efficiency. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Indian government urges Australia to ‘hold the culprits accountable’ over theft of Gandhi statue in Melbourne 04. February 2026 (06:52) Spokesperson for India’s ministry of external affairs calls for ‘immediate action to recover the missing statue’Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastThe Indian government has condemned the theft of a bronze statue of Mahatma Gandhi from a community centre in Melbourne’s south-east last month, calling for the culprits to be held accountable.Victoria police are investigating the theft from the Australian Indian Community Centre in Rowville and have warned scrap metal dealers to be wary of people trying to sell the statue of the Indian independence leader. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Zero net migration would shrink UK economy by 3.6%, says thinktank 04. February 2026 (06:00) Jump of £37bn in budget deficit by 2040 would force government to increase taxes, NIESR predictsThe UK economy would be 3.6% smaller by 2040 if net migration fell to zero, forcing the government to raise taxes to combat a much bigger budget deficit, a thinktank has predicted.The National Institute of Economic and Social Research (NIESR) said falling birthrates in the UK and a sharp decrease in net migration last year had led it to consider what would happen if this trend continued to the end of the decade. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
‘I don’t think this was a good decision’: Labor’s Ed Husic holds ‘deep concerns’ over Israeli president Isaac Herzog’s visit 04. February 2026 (05:29) MP also tells Guardian Australia’s Full Story podcast he backs peaceful protests against country’s actions in GazaFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastLabor MP Ed Husic has “deep concerns” about the impending visit of Israel’s president, Isaac Herzog, saying it is hard to reconcile concepts of social cohesion with the 2023 image of the leader signing an artillery shell about to be dropped on Gaza.Husic said he did not believe it was a good decision for his Labor government to issue an invitation for Herzog to visit Australia, which was done in the wake of the Bondi terror attack. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Australian man dies skiing in Japan days after Queensland snowboarder killed in ski lift accident 04. February 2026 (05:14) The 27-year-old died after reportedly collapsing while skiing with friends near a Niseko ski resortGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastA 27-year-old Melbourne man has died at a ski resort in Japan, days after the death of Queensland snowboarder Brooke Day.The man collapsed and suffered a heart attack while skiing with six others in Niseko, Hokkaido, on Monday, according to a spokesperson for a local ski lodge who asked not to be identified. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
NSW Labor backbenchers to protest Israel president Isaac Herzog’s visit in defiance of premier 04. February 2026 (04:22) Cameron Murphy, one of three MLCs to rally next week, says ‘we should not be welcoming to Australia the head of a state engaged in an ongoing genocide’Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastNSW Labor backbenchers have vowed to attend a Sydney protest against a visit by Israel’s president, Isaac Herzog, with one stating he will be attending because Australia should not be welcoming the head of a state engaged in an “ongoing genocide”.Another member of the government said he was attending – despite the premier opposing rallies – to show that “Bondi was not caused by such protests”. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
The people betting on catastrophic world events – podcast 04. February 2026 (04:00) Prediction markets allow you to put money on everything from the US attacking Iran to Jesus returning. Saahil Desai explains their dizzying riseIn the early hours of 3 January, Donald Trump ordered a surprise attack on the Venezuelan capital, Caracas, to kidnap the country’s leader, Nicolás Maduro. Millions of Venezuelans’ lives were thrown into uncertainty. Politicians at home and abroad scrambled to respond. It seemed this was something no one had seen coming. Except one person did actually predict it.In the hours before the attack, someone - and we have no way of knowing who - placed a series of bets that Donald Trump would oust Maduro on a prediction market platform, netting them nearly $500,000 when it happened. These platforms allow their users not just to bet on whoever’s going to win the Super Bowl, but also on world events. Heavily regulated under the Biden administration, these apps have enjoyed a huge boom in popularity since Trump came to power. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Charlie Kirk killing: key Utah prosecutor denies conflict of interest 04. February 2026 (03:49) Lawyers for accused Tyler Robinson urge removal because prosecutor’s daughter attended rally where Kirk was killedA Utah prosecutor involved in the case against Tyler Robinson, the alleged killer of the rightwing activist Charlie Kirk, denied allegations of a conflict of interest in the case during a hearing on Tuesday.Robinson’s attorneys have argued that a judge should disqualify local prosecutors because the adult daughter of Chad Grunander, a deputy county attorney, was in attendance at the rally on a Utah college campus where Kirk was shot dead. The defense alleges that the office’s move to seek the death penalty just days after Kirk’s killing indicated a “strong emotional reaction” from Grunander, and suggested a conflict of interest. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
