‘I could see myself stepping into that void’: Gavin Newsom on fighting Trump and running in 2028 – podcast 28. February 2026 (06:00) The governor of California, Gavin Newsom, is widely regarded as one of the Democratic party’s leading contenders for the 2028 presidential election. He has also published a new book, Young Man in a Hurry, reflecting on his childhood and his path to the governor’s mansion.This week, Jonathan Freedland speaks to Newsom about why he believes the Democrats suffered such heavy losses in 2024, why the party needs to be less judgmental, and whether he intends to run for president in 2028 Continue reading...(The Guardian)
‘You can’t hide from the invisible’: why Bangkok police make arrests in disguise 28. February 2026 (06:00) Critics claim the operations are geared at social media, but police say they have enabled real arrestsPolice officers from Bangkok’s metropolitan bureau had less than 24 hours to prepare for their latest undercover operation. They would be starring as performers of a lion dance at a temple fair held for the lunar new year. Their mission: track down and arrest a suspected thief who had a history of evading officers.“The dance was spontaneous. We just did what we did,” said the police captain Lertvarit Lertvorapreecha, adding that nobody had time to practise. In his haste, he accidentally picked up his colleague’s male mask, which he wore with a red silk dress, trousers and tactical shoes. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
US backs Pakistan’s ‘right to defend itself’ against Taliban after strikes on Afghanistan 28. February 2026 (05:13) Taliban offer to resolve dispute via dialogue after Pakistan bombed cities in Afghanistan in latest escalation with its neighbourWashington endorsed Pakistan’s “right to defend itself” after it bombed major cities across Afghanistan amid heightened tensions between the two hostile neighbours.The Taliban government in Kabul stressed it was ready to negotiate on Friday as violence intensified between the two countries. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
At least 15 killed as cash-laden military cargo plane crashes in Bolivia 28. February 2026 (04:05) Riot police use teargas to disperse people gathering around wreckage of plane loaded with money from central bankAt least 15 people have died after a military cargo plane carrying banknotes crashed on Friday near Bolivia’s capital, damaging about a dozen vehicles on a highway and scattering bills on the ground, an official has said.Fire chief Pavel Tovar did not specify if those killed were in the plane or on the highway near the airport in La Paz. He said people had been injured. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Trump administration warns tariff refund process ‘will take time’ 28. February 2026 (03:56) DoJ says it will not ask US supreme court to rehear tariffs case despite president’s complaint on Truth SocialThe Trump administration said businesses seeking refunds of tariffs struck down by the US supreme court “will take time,” according to court documents filed by the justice department on Friday.The justice department did not say it plans to ask the supreme court to rehear the case, despite Donald Trump’s comments earlier on Friday. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
New Orleans police obtain new Shia LaBeouf arrest warrant in battery case 28. February 2026 (03:49) Actor, originally charged on two counts, accused of battery against third person in bar incident, sources sayNew Orleans police on Friday obtained a new warrant to arrest actor Shia LaBeouf in connection with a case that had already left him facing two counts of battery.The new warrant brings the number of people whom LaBeouf is accused of battering to three, multiple sources told Guardian reporting partner WWL Louisiana. The Guardian independently verified the information with a criminal justice source with direct knowledge of the warrant. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Renee Good’s family says Trump hasn’t contacted them after her death 28. February 2026 (02:16) Neither president nor anyone in administration has reached out after Good was killed by immigration officer, says familyThe family of Renee Good, an unarmed US citizen and mother who was killed by a federal immigration officer in Minneapolis last month, said in an interview with NBC News that neither Donald Trump nor anyone in his administration has contacted them since her death.“There’s a reason that we hired our own investigators – to make sure that the truth is transparent and available, to make sure that this is really taken seriously, and to make sure that we know what occurred,” Brent Ganger, Good’s brother, told NBC News. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
LA superintendent placed on leave after FBI raid on home and district office 28. February 2026 (01:34) Trustees unanimously voted to place Alberto Carvalho on leave and appointed Andres Chait in the interimTwo days after the FBI searched the headquarters of the Los Angeles unified school district and the home of its superintendent, the district board of education placed Alberto Carvalho on administrative leave.The board met in closed session meetings for several hours on Thursday and Friday to discuss Carvalho’s employment with the nation’s second largest school district. The trustees unanimously voted Friday to place Carvalho on paid leave, and appointed another high ranking district official, Andres Chait, to serve as interim superintendent. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Last of the summer rain puts southern states on flood watch and Sydney on alert for bull sharks 28. February 2026 (01:33) SA premier Peter Malinauskas warns residents to prepare for heavy falls and possible flash floodsGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastLate summer rain is causing havoc across Australia, with South Australia on flood watch, Victoria cleaning up after a downpour, and Sydney issuing a shark warning after heavy falls.Almost all of South Australia, much of western Victoria and parts of western NSW were on flood watch as a slow-moving pressure system from central Australia moved east. Queensland had also seen severe rainfall. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Neil Sedaka, Breaking Up Is Hard To Do singer and pop song hitmaker, dies aged 86 28. February 2026 (00:04) Musician died after being rushed to hospital in Los Angeles on Friday, with his family remembering him as a ‘true rock and roll legend’ and ‘inspiration to millions’Neil Sedaka, the singer-songwriter behind Breaking Up Is Hard to Do, Oh! Carol, Calendar Girl and Bad Blood as well as many hits performed by other artists included Stupid Cupid and Love Will Keep Us Together, has died aged 86.A representative confirmed his death to Variety on Friday, hours after he was reportedly rushed to hospital in Los Angeles. No cause of death was given. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
