Independent News & People Network Desk of News

Police raid property on outskirts of Sydney linked to kidnapping of 85-year-old Chris Baghsarian

Source: The Guardian - World · Published: 2026-02-19T20:21:35+00:00

Police search ‘makeshift stronghold’ in Dural after Baghsarian abducted from North Ryde home last Friday in case of mistaken identityFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastPolice have executed a warrant at a semi-rural property believed to be linked to the mistaken kidnapping of grandfather Chris Baghsarian.The 85-year-old man has been held captive since three men bundled him into a dark-coloured SUV outside his Sydney home just before dawn last Friday. Continue reading...

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A Lonely Baby Monkey Wins Hearts, and Even a Few Friends

Source: New York Times - World · Published: 2026-02-19T20:16:39+00:00

Legions of fans from around the world have been cheering on Punch, a 7-month-old macaque who had been struggling to socialize at a zoo outside Tokyo.

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Veteran dissident who refused exile released

Source: BBC News - World · Published: 2026-02-19T20:15:42+00:00

Mikola Statkevich, who spent more than five years in prison in his native Belarus, is now recovering from a stroke at home, his wife says.

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Australia news live: Dural ‘stronghold’ linked to Chris Baghsarian kidnapping, NSW police say; Angus Taylor pushes to abandon ‘net zero ideology’

Source: The Guardian - World · Published: 2026-02-19T20:04:31+00:00

Opposition leader signals his Liberals will abandon net zero commitment entirely. Follow updates liveGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastGood morning! Nick Visser here to take over. Let’s see what Friday has in store.NSW police said in a statement early this morning that robbery and serious crime squad detectives had “located a crime scene in Dural believed to be linked to the kidnapping of Chris Baghsarian”. Continue reading...

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Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor released under investigation after arrest – live

Source: The Guardian - World · Published: 2026-02-19T20:02:53+00:00

The police raided Andrew’s Norfolk home on ThursdayFull report: Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor arrestedWhy has former prince Andrew been arrested – and what happens now?Before the arrest was announced, the prime minister told BBC Breakfast “nobody is above the law” when asked about Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor.Keir Starmer added:Anybody who has any information should testify.So whether it’s Andrew or anybody else, anybody who has got relevant information should come forward to whatever the relevant body is, in this particular case we’re talking about Epstein, but there are plenty of other cases. Con

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Trump warns Iran ‘bad things’ will happen if they fail to make a ‘meaningful’ nuclear deal – US politics live

Source: The Guardian - World · Published: 2026-02-19T20:00:16+00:00

US president appears to set 10-day deadline for Iran in address to first Board of Peace meetingAuthoritarians, strongmen and dictators: who is on Trump’s Board of Peace?Donald Trump will start his day in Washington for the Board of Peace meeting at the White House.He’ll then travel to Rome, Georgia, as part of his tour of the country to tout the administration’s affordability message. He’ll meet with local businesses there, and deliver remarks at 4pm ET. Continue reading...

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New Zealand bug of the year: moth named Avatar after mining threat crowned winner

Source: The Guardian - World · Published: 2026-02-19T20:00:12+00:00

Arctesthes avatar moth, which won nearly half of the votes, was discovered in 2012 and is critically endangeredA tiny critically endangered moth, named after the Avatar films because of the proposed mining activity threatening its primary habitat, has been crowned New Zealand’s bug of the year.The Avatar moth won by a wide margin, earning 5,192 of the more than 11,000 total votes cast. It won 2,269 more votes than the runner-up, the mahoenui giant wētā, one of the world’s largest insects. Other contenders included the wonderfully spiky hellraiser mite, the country’s heaviest spider – the black

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Soudan : une mission d’enquête de l’ONU dénonce des actes de « génocide » à El-Fasher ; Washington annonce des sanctions

Source: Le Monde - International · Published: 2026-02-19T19:53:58+00:00

La mission onusienne a établi, dans un rapport publié jeudi, que « l’intention génocidaire était la seule conclusion raisonnable que l’on puisse tirer des agissements systématiques » des paramilitaires des Forces de soutien rapide lors de la prise de la ville du Darfour, fin octobre 2025.

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What to Know About Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor’s Arrest

Source: New York Times - World · Published: 2026-02-19T19:50:08+00:00

King Charles III’s brother, who had already been stripped of his royal titles over ties to Jeffrey Epstein, was detained for several hours on Thursday on suspicions of misconduct in public office.

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What to Know About Former Prince Andrew’s Arrest and His Ties to Epstein

Source: New York Times - World · Published: 2026-02-19T19:50:08+00:00

King Charles III’s brother, who had already been stripped of his royal titles over ties to Jeffrey Epstein, was detained for several hours on Thursday on suspicions of misconduct in public office.

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Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor leaves police station after arrest – live

Source: The Guardian - World · Published: 2026-02-19T19:39:16+00:00

The police raided Andrew’s Norfolk home on ThursdayFull report: Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor arrestedWhy has former prince Andrew been arrested – and what happens now?Before the arrest was announced, the prime minister told BBC Breakfast “nobody is above the law” when asked about Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor.Keir Starmer added:Anybody who has any information should testify.So whether it’s Andrew or anybody else, anybody who has got relevant information should come forward to whatever the relevant body is, in this particular case we’re talking about Epstein, but there are plenty of other cases. Con

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What’s next for Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor’s ex-wife, Sarah Ferguson?

Source: The Guardian - World · Published: 2026-02-19T19:39:00+00:00

Former duchess has stood by the former prince through waves of allegations and has yet to comment on his arrestWhile the spotlight has been on Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, his arrest has prompted questions about what is next for his ex-wife, Sarah Ferguson.Ferguson, known by the tabloids as Fergie, married the then prince Andrew in 1986 and was divorced from him 10 years later after an alleged affair with an American financial adviser. It was one of multiple scandals in the 1990s and 2000s involving the former duchess, who was widely considered an embarrassment to the royal family. Continue rea

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Iran deal prospects will be clear within 10 days, Trump says as military buildup grows

Source: The Guardian - World · Published: 2026-02-19T19:37:10+00:00

Second carrier strike group heads for region as US waits for Iran to respond after talks in GenevaDonald Trump has said it will be clear within “probably 10 days” whether he can reach a nuclear deal with Iran, as the US military buildup in the Middle East intensifies with the impending arrival of a second carrier strike group.The US president, speaking at the inaugural meeting of his Board of Peace in Washington DC, insisted Iran could not have a nuclear weapon and emphasised that “bad things will happen” if the country continued “to threaten regional stability”. Continue reading...

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Decades of international failure on Palestine

Source: Al Jazeera - World · Published: 2026-02-19T19:28:18+00:00

"Board of Peace" convenes after decades of inaction on Palestinian demands to end the Israeli occupation.

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Australia news live: Dural crime scene believed to be linked to Chris Baghsarian kidnapping, NSW police say; Angus Taylor vows to ‘rid system’ of net zero

Source: The Guardian - World · Published: 2026-02-19T19:22:33+00:00

Opposition leader signals his Liberals will abandon net zero commitment entirely. Follow updates liveGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastGood morning and welcome to our live news blog. I’m Martin Farrer with the best breaking news stories before Nick Visser takes over.The biggest story overnight was the arrest of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor at Sandringham estate, on suspicion of misconduct in public office – you can find our live coverage here and we’ll bring you more developments and reactions throughout the day. Continue reading...

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Trump appears ready to attack Iran as U.S. strike force takes shape

Source: Washington Post - World · Published: 2026-02-19T19:21:22+00:00

Although the United States and ally Israel have a decisive military advantage over Iranian forces, there are ways for Tehran to make any attack painful, officials said.

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US builds website that will allow Europeans to view blocked content

Source: The Guardian - World · Published: 2026-02-19T19:15:27+00:00

Freedom.gov appears to be administered by a branch of the Department of Homeland SecurityThe US has built a portal that will allow Europeans to view blocked content including alleged hate speech and terrorism, according to Reuters.The portal, “freedom.gov”, will allow worldwide users to circumvent government controls on their content. The site features a graphic of a ghostly horse galloping above the Earth, and the motto: “Information is power. Reclaim your human right to free expression. Get ready.” Continue reading...

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US military buildup in Middle East intensifies but to what end?

Source: The Guardian - World · Published: 2026-02-19T19:09:28+00:00

US has enough assets in region to begin airstrikes on Iran but it is unclear what the goal of campaign would be Donald Trump has said it will be clear within “probably 10 days” whether he can reach a nuclear deal with Iran, as the US military buildup in the Middle East intensifies with the impending arrival of a second carrier strike group.The US president, speaking at the inaugural meeting of his Board of Peace in Washington DC, insisted Iran could not have a nuclear weapon and emphasised that “bad things will happen” if the country continued “to threaten regional stability”. Continue reading

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Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor on US law enforcement radar 15 years before UK arrest

Source: The Guardian - World · Published: 2026-02-19T19:01:05+00:00

Recently disclosed documents show name of former prince came up during 2011 inquiry into Jeffrey EpsteinAndrew Mountbatten-Windsor arrested – live updatesWhile Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor’s arrest by British police on Thursday came after years of uproar over his association to Jeffrey Epstein, documents show that he had been on the radar of US law enforcement for nearly 15 years.Mountbatten-Windsor’s name came up during a 2011 FBI inquiry into Epstein, investigative documents recently disclosed by the justice department reveal. Mountbatten-Windsor has denied all allegations of misconduct relate

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Trump changed mind on Chagos deal ‘after UK blocked use of Diego Garcia for Iran strikes’

Source: The Guardian - World · Published: 2026-02-19T18:53:13+00:00

US president links deal with military strikes against Iran in connection with Tehran’s nuclear ambitionsDonald Trump changed his mind on supporting the Chagos Islands deal because the UK will not permit its airbases to be used for a pre-emptive US strike on Iran, the Guardian has been told.In his latest change of heart on the deal, the US president said on social media that Keir Starmer was “making a big mistake” by handing sovereignty of the islands to Mauritius in exchange for continued use by the UK and US of their airbase on one of the islands, Diego Garcia. Continue reading...

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Schools in England to get budget for children with special needs as part of Send overhaul

Source: The Guardian - World · Published: 2026-02-19T18:50:34+00:00

Children to get individual support directly from school instead of via council in attempt to curb spiralling costsChildren in England with special needs will receive individual support and therapy directly from their schools as part of the government’s overhaul of England’s special education provision.Under the plans, mainstream schools will be given commissioning budgets to spend on therapists or additional support, instead of the money being controlled by highly indebted local authorities. Continue reading...

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