ABC News in the hot seat after US DOJ fund story and Trump remarks; a U.S. media powerhouse with ABC News US and ABC News Australia.
In early February 2026, the FBI issued a confidential alert warning that Iran allegedly aspired to conduct a surprise drone attack from an unidentified vessel off the California coast if the US struck Iran. Officials, including the White House and California Governor Gavin Newsom, emphasize no credible or imminent threat exists, but security measures remain heightened amid ongoing US-Iran conflict.
TGI Fridays in the UK is undergoing a turnaround after being rescued from underfunding and decline. New owner Blanchette is investing over £2.5m to refurbish restaurants, update menus, and improve staff training, aiming to restore the brand’s reputation and expand globally.
Secret Service agents have shot a 45-year-old man, identified as Michael Marx of Texas, after he has opened fire near the Washington Monument on Monday afternoon. A 15-year-old bystander has been grazed and treated for non-life-threatening injuries. The suspect has been hospitalized and is facing federal charges.
The diphtheria outbreak in Australia has reached multiple states and territories, with the Northern Territory reporting hundreds of cases and at least one death. Health authorities warn vaccination rates are driving transmission, while Indigenous communities are disproportionately affected. Officials say cases are now decreasing after peaking earlier in 2026.
A Nippon Dynawave Packaging tank ruptured at its Longview, Washington facility, causing multiple injuries and fatalities. Responders have declared a mass casualty scene; several patients have been transported to local hospitals as investigators assess the incident.
Donald Trump has walked out of a Meet the Press interview after pressing unverified claims that California elections were updated with cheating. He has insisted that the 2020 election was rigged and has argued that media outlets and Meet the Press are crooked. The exchange has prompted sharp commentary from late-night hosts and political critics. A follow-up interview has been agreed.
The US has launched strikes in response to an Iranian attack, with Iran retaliating by firing missiles at targets in Jordan and Bahrain. The situation deepens a regional crisis as the two sides exchange threats amid a fragile ceasefire and ongoing talks on ending the war.