Where will Victoria’s new homes be built? Competing Liberal and Labor visions are as much about politics as planning 25. February 2026 (15:00) Jess Wilson’s housing plan offers little that is truly new – but Jacinta Allan claims it draws a line through Melbourne and locks millennials outGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastA genuine policy contest has finally broken out over housing in Victoria – but it is as much about politics as it is about planning.The opposition leader, Jess Wilson, on Wednesday announced a plan to expand Melbourne’s capital city zone – effectively expanding the CBD to take in Collingwood, Fitzroy, Fishermans Bend, North Melbourne, Parkville and parts of Southbank not already included. This will mean height limits can be lifted, density increased and development encouraged to “restore vibrancy” to the city. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Three-quarters of Australia’s new cars use more fuel than advertised lab rating, testing shows 25. February 2026 (15:00) Cars with higher real-world consumption may add to Australia’s difficulties in reducing transport emissionsGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastAnother 10 cars have failed to live up to fuel efficiency promises when tested in the real world, adding to Australia’s difficulties in reducing emissions from transport.The Australian Automobile Association’s latest test confirmed 76% of new petrol, diesel and hybrid vehicles are still using more fuel on roads than in mandatory lab testing. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
US tariffs could rise to 15% or more after supreme court blow, trade representative says 25. February 2026 (14:46) Jamieson Greer warns tariffs may climb from 10% after Trump imposed global levy amid US supreme court setbackThe US tariff rate for some countries will go up to 15% or higher from the newly-imposed 10%, Jamieson Greer, the US trade representative, said on Wednesday, without naming any specific trading partners or other details.“Right now, we have the 10% tariff. It’ll go up to 15 [%] for some and then it may go higher for others, and I think it will be in line with the types of tariffs we’ve been seeing,” Greer said in an interview on Fox Business Network’s Mornings with Maria program. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Investigation urged into immigration practices of company owned by Maga donors 25. February 2026 (14:45) Milwaukee city council member calls for inquiry into Uline’s previous ‘shuttle program’ to bring in Mexican workersA Milwaukee city council member has called for an investigation into the immigration policies at Uline, the office supply company owned by Liz and Richard Uihlein, two of the biggest donors to Maga Republicans in the 2024 election.The statement by JoCasta Zamarripa, who is running for the Democratic nomination for Wisconsin secretary of state ahead of November’s election, follows an investigation by the Guardian into Uline’s previous use of a so-called “shuttle program”. It involved the company bringing workers from its facilities in Mexico to staff warehouses at its headquarters in Wisconsin, Florida and Pennsylvania, for weeks and even months at a time, using visas that are meant for workers who are being trained – not working regular full-time jobs. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Devon defence lawyer who abused vulnerable clients jailed for 13 years 25. February 2026 (14:45) Alan Harris, 72, assaulted children and adults in police and court cells over 27-year periodA criminal defence lawyer who sexually abused vulnerable clients as young as 14 over almost three decades has been jailed for 13 years.Alan Harris, 72, from Plymouth, Devon, assaulted children and adults during consultations in police and court cells, targeting victims he judged would not be believed if they revealed what he had done. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Commons speaker says he passed information to Met that Mandelson planned to flee UK 25. February 2026 (14:39) Lindsay Hoyle tells MPs that passing on the information to police was his ‘duty and responsibility’UK politics live – latest updatesThe House of Commons speaker has said he passed information to the Metropolitan police that Peter Mandelson planned to flee the country, after receiving information “in good faith”.Mandelson was arrested on Monday on suspicion of misconduct in a public office, relating to his friendship with the convicted child sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Mandelson has denied he planned to flee to the British Virgin Islands. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Facial recognition error prompts police to arrest Asian man for burglary 100 miles away 25. February 2026 (14:36) Exclusive: Alvi Choudhury claiming damages against Thames Valley police after biased technology confused him with man looking ‘10 years younger’Police arrested a man for a burglary in a city he had never visited after face scanning software deployed across the UK confused him with another person of south Asian heritage.Alvi Choudhury, 26, a software engineer, was working at the home he shares with his parents in Southampton in January when police knocked on his door, handcuffed him and held him in custody for nearly 10 hours before releasing him at 2am. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Ayahuasca psychedelic DMT shows promise as depression therapy 25. February 2026 (14:00) Study finds participants saw reduction in depressive symptoms as researchers welcome ‘promising’ resultsA phase II clinical trial has found dimethyltryptamine (DMT), one of the psychoactive components traditionally used in the Amazonian psychedelic ritual ayahuasca, might be a promising therapy for depression.The psychedelic pharmaceutical company Small Pharma (now Cybin UK) sponsored and designed the trial, which was led by Dr David Erritzoe, a psychiatrist and neuroscientist at Imperial College London. The results were published in Nature this month. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
US accused of ‘shameless exploitation’ over proposed Zambian health aid deal 25. February 2026 (14:00) Leaked draft of $1bn memorandum of understanding reveals mandatory targets, sharing of data, and reported access to mining concessionsThe US has been accused of “shameless exploitation” over a health financing agreement with Zambia worth more than $1bn (£740m), amid warnings that the country is getting a raw deal from the Trump administration.A leaked draft of a five-year memorandum of understanding (MOU) between the two countries, seen by the Guardian, reveals that Zambia may accept terms worse than health financing agreements the US has reached with 16 other African countries. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
US man deported from Bali after 11 years in prison for ‘suitcase murder’ of then girlfriend’s mother 25. February 2026 (13:19) Tommy Schaefer released early from 18-year sentence for 2014 murder of Sheila von Wiese-Mack during luxury holidayIndonesia has freed and deported a US man after he spent 11 years in prison for the premeditated murder of his then girlfriend’s mother on the tourist island of Bali.Tommy Schaefer was sentenced to 18 years in prison for the 2014 murder of Sheila von Wiese-Mack, the mother of Heather Mack, during a luxury holiday in a case that became known as the Bali suitcase murder. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
