Congressional Democrats vow justice for US citizens harmed by immigration agents: ‘You deserve peace’ 04. February 2026 (03:34) No Republicans attended hearing with brothers of Renee Good and three US citizens shot and detained by federal agentsDemocrats on Capitol Hill offered apologies and promises of accountability on Tuesday amid often harrowing testimony from people who had experienced violent encounters with federal agents engaged in Donald Trump’s immigration crackdown.With Republicans conspicuously absent, the forum of senators and representatives heard from Luke and Brent Ganger, the brothers of Renee Good, a 37-year-old mother of three, who was shot dead by an Immigration, Customs and Enforcement (ICE) officer in Minneapolis on 7 January as she tried to drive away from agents. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Mother says asking 13-year-old son to swim four hours to save family ‘one of the hardest decisions’ ever made 04. February 2026 (03:17) ‘What have I done?’ thought Joanne Appelbee as she waited for rescue with her two other children in rough seas off Western AustraliaFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastJoanne Appelbee says asking her 13-year-old son Austin to swim four hours through dangerous waters to get help after her family was swept out to sea was “one of the hardest decisions” she has ever made.“I knew he was the strongest and he could do it,” she told the ABC. “I would have never went because I wouldn’t have left the kids at sea, so I had to send somebody.” Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Trump adviser Stephen Miran quits White House role to stay on at Fed 04. February 2026 (03:09) Miran, set to continue as Federal Reserve governor until Jerome Powell successor is confirmed, to leave CEA post Federal Reserve governor Stephen Miran has resigned from his position as chair of the White House’s council of economic advisers, fulfilling a pledge he made to the Senate as his assignment at the central bank becomes longer-lasting.Miran had been on unpaid leave from his CEA post since Donald Trump appointed him last year to fill an unexpected vacancy on the Fed’s board of governors to a term that expired on 31 January. The arrangement drew the ire of Democratic senators, who said it would make a presidential puppet of the Fed’s newest policymaker. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Mitch McConnell admitted to hospital with ‘flu-like symptoms’ 04. February 2026 (02:54) Statement says Republican senator, 83, checked himself into local hospital and that prognosis is ‘positive’The Republican senator Mitch McConnell was admitted to a hospital on Monday night due to “flu-like symptoms”, his office said in a statement.“In an abundance of caution, after experiencing flu-like symptoms over the weekend, Senator McConnell checked himself into a local hospital for evaluation last night,” the statement reads. “His prognosis is positive and he is grateful for the excellent care he is receiving.” Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Albanese government to sell off $3bn worth of historic defence sites amid push to free up space for new homes 04. February 2026 (02:26) Richard Marles has decided to sell more than 60 properties, including Victoria Barracks in Sydney, Melbourne and BrisbaneFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastThe federal government will sell off $3bn in defence properties around the country, after a major audit of land holdings found they served no useful strategic value.Defence sites – including Victoria Barracks in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane – will be sold after the multi-year audit, tasked with identifying surplus and costly property holdings, often costing millions to maintain. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Elon Musk calls Spanish PM a ‘tyrant’ over plan to ban under-16s from social media and curb hateful content 04. February 2026 (02:05) Pedro Sánchez says urgent action needed to protect children from ‘digital wild west’, drawing anger from owner of XSpain has proposed a ban on social media use by teenagers as attitudes hardened in Europe against the technology, drawing personal insults against the prime minister from Elon Musk.The government is preparing a series of measures including a social media ban for under-16s, the prime minister, Pedro Sánchez, said, promising to protect children from the “digital wild west” and hold tech companies responsible for hateful and harmful content. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Trump-led abuses amid ‘democratic recession’ put human rights in peril, HRW report says 04. February 2026 (01:01) Rights group says growing authoritarianism and abuses in US, Russia and China threaten global rules-based orderThe world is in a “democratic recession” with almost three-quarters of the global population now living under autocratic rulers – levels not seen since the 1980s, according to a new report.The system underpinning human rights was “in peril”, said Philippe Bolopion, executive director of Human Rights Watch (HRW), with a growing authoritarian wave becoming “the challenge of a generation”, he said. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
One in six autistic pupils in UK have not attended school at all since September 04. February 2026 (01:01) Data comes as government prepares to publish plans to overhaul Send system in EnglandOne in six autistic pupils have not been to school at all since the start of this academic year, according to a new survey which found that mental health issues were often behind high levels of school absence.Nearly half (45%) of the parents and children who responded to the UK-wide survey by the Ambitious About Autism charity said they felt “blamed” by the government for the absences. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Review calls for more remote hearings to save courts system from ‘collapse’ 04. February 2026 (01:01) Report to tackle courts’ backlog also recommends new criminal justice adviser to oversee courts, prisons and policingA new post of prime minister’s criminal justice adviser and the widespread use of remote hearings are among the recommendations of a government-commissioned independent review on tackling the courts’ backlog in England and Wales.The second part of Sir Brian Leveson’s review – unlike the first part, which recommended slashing jury trials – focuses on efficiencies that can be achieved without legislation. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Women in tech and finance at higher risk from AI job losses, report says 04. February 2026 (01:01) ‘Mid-career’ females also being sidelined by rigid hiring processes, says City of London CorporationWomen working in tech and financial services are at greater risk of losing their jobs to increased use of AI and automation than their male peers, according to a report that found experienced females were also being sidelined as a result of “rigid hiring processes”.“Mid-career” women – with at least five years’ experience – are being overlooked for digital roles in the tech and financial and professional services sectors, where they are traditionally underrepresented, according to the report by the City of London Corporation. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
