Independent News & People Network Desk of News

Will Tony Abbott return to frontline politics? The Liberal party’s most polarising figure can imagine a way

Source: The Guardian - World · Published: 2026-02-17T14:00:13+00:00

The former PM is open to resurrecting his parliamentary career, if Angus Taylor does what Peter Dutton wouldn’t and actively drafts him inGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastIn June last year, the Liberal party’s federal executive met to discuss the next phase of an intervention into the troubled New South Wales division.The meeting will be a short footnote in the modern history of the Liberal party. Continue reading...

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Building 1.2m homes will barely put a dent in Australia’s housing affordability, one expert says. Here’s why

Source: The Guardian - World · Published: 2026-02-17T14:00:13+00:00

Thinking ‘supply is the answer’ lets politicians dodge a much more difficult conversation about tax – for investors and ownersGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastIs building more homes the answer to Australia’s housing crisis?No, it’s not. Not even close. Continue reading...

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Algorithm-based tool for home support funding is ‘cruel’ and ‘inhumane’, Australian aged care workers warn

Source: The Guardian - World · Published: 2026-02-17T14:00:12+00:00

Mark Aitken, who worked in the sector for 16 years, said eight times out of 10 he disagreed with the integrated assessment toolGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastAged care clinicians and carers say an algorithm-based assessment tool that determines federal home support funding packages is “cruel” and “inhumane”, stripping away clinical expertise and leaving elderly people with inadequate support.The integrated assessment tool (IAT), introduced in November, is used across aged care to determine eligibility and classification for services, including residential care. Cont

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Algorithm-based tool for home support funding is cruel and inhumane, Australian aged care workers warn

Source: The Guardian - World · Published: 2026-02-17T14:00:12+00:00

Mark Aitken, who worked in the sector for 16 years, said eight times out of 10 he disagreed with the integrated assessment toolFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastAged care clinicians and carers say an algorithm-based assessment tool that determines federal home support funding packages is “cruel” and “inhumane”, stripping away clinical expertise and leaving elderly people with inadequate support.The integrated assessment tool (IAT), introduced in November, is used across aged care to determine eligibility and classif

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Role of far-right ‘manosphere’ in homophobic attacks on men to be investigated in Victoria

Source: The Guardian - World · Published: 2026-02-17T14:00:11+00:00

Exclusive: Greens move to call parliamentary inquiry after series of ‘disturbing’ attacks targeting gay and bisexual men lured via dating appsGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastThe role of “far-right manosphere influencers” in fuelling homophobic attacks where victims were lured through fake dating app profiles before being assaulted is set to be investigated by a Victorian parliamentary inquiry.Aiv Puglielli, the Greens’ equality spokesperson, will on Wednesday move a motion calling on the upper house’s legal and social issues committee to investigate the scale of such

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Dans le nord de la Syrie, le barrage de Tichrine, la forteresse qui a résisté aux remous de la guerre civile

Source: Le Monde - International · Published: 2026-02-17T14:00:09+00:00

L’infrastructure énergétique située sur l’Euphrate, point de passage stratégique vers le nord-est du pays, a été reprise par les forces gouvernementales syriennes à la mi-janvier. Théâtre de violents combats, passé sous le contrôle des rebelles anti-Al-Assad, des djihadistes de l’organisation Etat islamique, puis des forces kurdes, l’ouvrage d’art n’a jamais cessé d’être en service.

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« En appelant à la démission de Francesca Albanese, les autorités françaises fragilisent les mécanismes onusiens »

Source: Le Monde - International · Published: 2026-02-17T14:00:03+00:00

Devant les critiques visant la rapporteuse spéciale des Nations unies sur les territoires palestiniens occupés, basées sur des propos sortis de leur contexte, la France doit donner le bon exemple et défendre l’indépendance des rapporteurs spéciaux, estime un collectif d’universitaires dans une tribune au « Monde ».

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U.S. and Iran conclude nuclear talks amid heavy military buildup

Source: Washington Post - World · Published: 2026-02-17T13:53:12+00:00

Envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner head the U.S. team and are responsible for Russia-Ukraine talks nearby, meaning they may be shuttling quickly between venues.

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AM/NS targets 75% revenue from value-added steel

Source: The Hindu Business Line – Markets · Published: 2026-02-17T13:49:02+00:00

Launches two new products for OEMs in appliance and industrial manufacturing ecosystems

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TAKE Solutions to build unified AI platform for healthcare ecosystem

Source: The Hindu Business Line – Markets · Published: 2026-02-17T13:47:59+00:00

The platform will act as a digital infrastructure layer enabling hospitals, diagnostic labs, clinics and clinical trial organisations to seamlessly adopt artificial intelligence solutions

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Platform models gaining ground in pharma R&D: Report

Source: The Hindu Business Line – Markets · Published: 2026-02-17T13:44:57+00:00

Instead of building each medicine separately, leading players are creating reusable discovery engines that apply shared data, workflows and development pathways across multiple programmes. This approach would carry the learning forward, reduce duplication and bring greater predictability to execution, the report said 

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Tarique Rahman sworn in as Bangladeshi prime minister

Source: The Guardian - World · Published: 2026-02-17T13:42:28+00:00

Many are hopeful moment will be a turning point away from repression and unrest and a chance to revive economyBangladesh’s new prime minister has been sworn in, sealing a dramatic political comeback for the Bangladesh Nationalist party (BNP) and formally closing the turbulent chapter that toppled Sheikh Hasina in 2024.The swearing-in of Tarique Rahman restored an elected government after 18 months of caretaker rule led by Nobel peace prize laureate Muhammad Yunus. Continue reading...

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Intellect, Adrenalin unveil AI-powered HR TeamSpace platform

Source: The Hindu Business Line – Markets · Published: 2026-02-17T13:42:19+00:00

Built on Intellect’s Purple Fabric Open Business Impact AI platform, the solution enables deployment of pre-built, domain-trained AI agents across the employee lifecycle

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Coastal Karnataka row: Ministers spar over investment climate remarks

Source: The Hindu Business Line – Markets · Published: 2026-02-17T13:36:57+00:00

Remarks by Karnataka IT Minister Priyank Kharge on communal tensions in coastal Karnataka triggered a political and industry backlash, even as Home Minister G Parameshwara called the region peaceful and investment-ready and business leaders defended its growth story.

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Freemasons’ legal challenge attempt against Met fails

Source: The Guardian - World · Published: 2026-02-17T13:33:37+00:00

High court judge rules in favour of police force’s decision to compel staff to declare membership of organisationFreemasons have failed in their attempt to bring a legal challenge against Britain’s biggest police force over its decision to compel staff to declare whether they are or have been members.Mr Justice Chamberlain said on Tuesday that the Metropolitan police’s decision “serves a legitimate aim, maintaining and enhancing public trust in policing, and is proportionate”. Continue reading...

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Rupee stabilises as dollar lacks momentum

Source: The Hindu Business Line – Markets · Published: 2026-02-17T13:31:52+00:00

Trade deficit widens, but FPI inflows and steady dollar cap volatility

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В НАБУ відмовилися розкривати інформацію про кримінальні справи, в яких фігурує директор Бюро Кривонос, – ЗМІ

Source: UNIAN (General) · Published: 2026-02-17T13:27:00+00:00

У Національному антикорупційному бюро відмовились розкривати інформацію стосовно кримінальної справи директора бюро Семена Кривоноса про підкуп виборців та його перебування у розшуку. У Бюро назвали це...

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The injustice in Chagos continues

Source: Al Jazeera - World · Published: 2026-02-17T13:22:33+00:00

Expressions of regret have not translated into enabling return or providing reparations.

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India Deep Tech Alliance to mobilise $1 billion for AI start-ups

Source: The Hindu Business Line – Markets · Published: 2026-02-17T13:21:19+00:00

The funds, which will be deployed over the next three years, will help Indian AI companies scale faster, commercialise breakthrough IP and compete globally at every layer of the stack

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