The Guardian·2026-02-09
Jon Kudelka, much-loved Australian political cartoonist, dies aged 53Jon Kudelka, the Australian political cartoonist, has died at the age of 53. His wife, Margaret Kudelka, announced the news in a statement on Monday: “We are sad to tell you that our beloved, brilliant Jon Kudelka died peacefully in South Hobart on Sunday afternoon, surrounded by his family and friends.” “Jon was deeply loved and admired by many, including fellow Tasmanians, the legions of fans of his inimitable art, countless newspaper readers over 30 years, and even by the politicians he relentlessly skewered in his award-winning cartoons (many of whom have his work on their walls). “He loved his family, friends, making art in many forms, and firmly calling out political and anti-science bullshit with his typically dry wit and compassion.” The Tasmanian artist’s work appeared regularly i
The Guardian·2026-02-09
ABC to air Four Corners episode on Bondi terror attack despite preemptive criticism by AsioA Four Corners investigation into the secret lives of the alleged Bondi shooters in the lead-up to the nation’s worst terrorist attack will go to air on Monday night despite a preemptive claim by Asio that the episode contains “significant errors of fact”. Path to Terror examines whether there were failures in intelligence and counter-terrorism leading up to the antisemitic massacre on Bondi beach on 14 December, and tracks the paths to radicalisation of father and son Sajid and Naveed Akram. Asio took the unusual step on Sunday of releasing the statement it provided to the ABC in response to multiple questions the investigative program put to the intelligence agency ahead of broadcast. The ABC confirmed the agency had not seen the program but has made a series of assumptions based on the
The Guardian·2026-02-09
‘Blame me’: what the UK papers say as Morgan McSweeney quits over Mandelson-Epstein scandalThe fate of prime minister Keir Starmer dominates the UK front pages on Monday after his embattled chief of staff, Morgan McSweeney, resigned over the appointment of Peter Mandelson as ambassador to Washington. In standing down, McSweeney admitted the decision to advise sending Mandelson to the US despite his links to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein “was wrong”. “I advised the prime minister to make that appointment and I take full responsibility for that advice,” he said, after a Sunday phone call with Starmer. “Starmer fights to regain control over party after McSweeney exit” is how the Guardian framed Starmer’s predicament. Senior Labour sources said McSweeney’s departure left the prime minister dangerously exposed as he headed towards a series of policy and electoral challenges
The Guardian·2026-02-09
Ofcom under fire after refusing to investigate ‘misleading’ GB News Trump interviewThe UK’s media regulator Ofcom has been accused of abandoning “any pretence” of guarding against misleading and biased television coverage, after it refused to investigate a series of complaints about a GB News interview with Donald Trump. During the interview with the rightwing network, broadcast last November, the US president falsely claimed human-induced climate change was “a hoax” and that London had no-go areas for police. He said parts of the capital had “sharia law”. He also made other claims about law and order and immigration that critics said were either left unchallenged or endorsed by interviewer Bev Turner, the host of GB News’s US-based nightly show. However, Ofcom said it had decided not to investigate 32 complaints that claimed the interview was either misleading or partia
