Top World News
Colombian president accepts rebel's proposal to have a commission investigate its possible drug ties
Feb 15, 2026 - World 
President Gustavo Petro said he will accept a proposal by Colombia’s largest remaining rebel group to allow an independent commission to investigate its alleged links to the drug trade
The star rating on food is now mandatory – but some experts think we should scrap it altogether
Feb 15, 2026 - World 
Our food environment has been built to put profit over health – even after a regulatory victory, lobbies still have too much powerFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastAlmost 13 years ago – and after a decade-long battle between health experts and the food industry – state and federal ministers voted to introduce a health star rating system to help consumers make healthier food choices.It was voluntary, thanks to the food industry being at the bargaining table and the decision-makers being largely food, trade and agriculture ministers (rather than health). Continue reading...
Treasury considering changes to Australia’s contentious tobacco excise, as calls grow for a freeze
Feb 15, 2026 - World 
The tax has climbed by 60% since 2020 and accounts for three-quarters of the legal cost of a packet of cigarettesFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastExperts say a freeze on the federal government’s contentious tobacco excise should be considered, after the Treasury revealed it was modelling the impacts of cigarette prices on demand amid a booming black market.Lachlan Vass, a research manager at the e61 Institute, said the Treasury’s examination of “price elasticity” and demand for tobacco would be a necessary step to costing potential reforms to the excise. Continue reading...
Barack Obama Says Aliens Are "Real", But Denies Cover-Up At Area 51
Feb 15, 2026 - World 
Obama's comments come amid growing interest in Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena (UAPs).
Zelensky Calls Putin "Slave to War," Says All Ukrainian Power Plants Damaged
Feb 15, 2026 - World 
Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky denounced Russia's Vladimir Putin as a "slave to war" in a speech to the Munich Security Conference Saturday, adding that Russia's attacks had damaged every power plant in the country.