‘Innovating weather science’: Met Office launches new two-week forecast 30. January 2026 (17:19) Weather service research finds less accurate probability-based predictions are still considered helpfulThe Met Office is to lean into one of Britain’s favourite pastimes – talking about the weather – by launching a new two-week forecast.At present, the publicly funded weather and climate service offers a seven-day forecast on its website and app with an hourly breakdown for the first five days and then a three-hourly breakdown for the final two days. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Judge rules Luigi Mangione will not face death penalty in healthcare CEO case 30. January 2026 (17:06) Capital punishment taken off table but Mangione will still face federal charges over killing of Brian ThompsonThe death penalty is off the table for Luigi Mangione after a New York federal judge dismissed the charges that were eligible for capital punishment in the case accusing him of killing the UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson in New York in December 2024.In a written court order on Friday, US district judge Margaret Garnett dismissed counts three and four against Mangione, including murder through use of a firearm, which carried a potential death sentence, and a weapons charge. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Chinese car firm Chery to open European base in Liverpool 30. January 2026 (16:58) Launch of R&D centre could pave way for deal for UK’s Jaguar Land Rover to build cars for Omoda and Jaecoo ownerChinese carmaker Chery is to open a research and development headquarters in Liverpool, in a move that could pave the way for a deal for the British manufacturer Jaguar Land Rover to build its cars.State-owned Chery’s commercial vehicle arm will base the headquarters for its European operations on Merseyside, including research, engineering, and commercial functions. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Islamic State claims attack on international airport and airbase in Niger 30. January 2026 (16:57) Motorcycle-riding militants launch strikes using heavy weaponry and drones, damaging planes belonging to Ivorian carrier and Togolese airlineIslamic State in the Sahel has claimed responsibility for an audacious assault at the international airport and adjacent air force base in Niamey, the capital of Niger, according to the SITE Intelligence Group, which tracks jihadist activity and communications worldwide.The attack, which began shortly after midnight on Thursday, reportedly involved motorcycle-riding militants who launched a “surprise and coordinated” strike using heavy weaponry and drones, according to statements released via IS in the Sahel’s propaganda arm, Amaq news agency. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
‘Deeply ideological’: the rationale behind Iran’s insistence on uranium enrichment 30. January 2026 (16:31) Tehran’s nuclear ambitions date back to the shah and the 1970s and remains undimmed despite the damage caused by sanctionsA desperate effort to avert war between the US and Iran is once again under way, but trying to locate common ground between the two countries over Tehran’s nuclear programme has been made more difficult by escalating US demands, and by Iran’s ideological, deeply nationalist attachment to the right to enrich uranium.Iran’s ambitions to run its own nuclear programme pre-date the arrival of the theocratic state in 1979, and can be traced back to the mid-1970s when the shah announced plans to build 20 civil nuclear power stations. This prompted an undignified scramble among western nations to be part of the action, with the UK energy secretary at the time, Tony Benn, having more than a walk-on part. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Syrian government and Kurdish forces reach deal on permanent truce 30. January 2026 (15:56) Milestone appears to resolve escalating tensions over the question of Kurdish autonomy in north-east SyriaThe Syrian government and Kurdish-led forces have reached an agreement to extend a fragile ceasefire into a permanent truce, laying a framework for integrating Kurdish forces into the state and ending nearly a month of fighting.The agreement on Friday appeared to resolve escalating tensions between the two sides over the question of Kurdish autonomy in north-east Syria and paved a way for the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) to join Syria’s new army through negotiations, rather than battle. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
South Africa expels top Israeli diplomat over ‘insulting attacks’ on president 30. January 2026 (15:11) Ariel Seidman declared persona non grata and given 72 hours to leave country after remarks on social mediaSouth Africa and Israel have engaged in a tit-for-tat expulsion of senior diplomats, after South Africa ordered Israel’s chargé d’affaires to leave within 72 hours, citing “insulting attacks” on South Africa’s president, Cyril Ramaphosa, on social media.Ariel Seidman, the chargé d’affaires at Israel’s embassy in Pretoria, was declared persona non grata by South Africa’s department for international relations and cooperation (DIRCO) in a statement on its website on Friday afternoon. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Queensland police scrap specialist unit providing support for domestic and family violence cases 30. January 2026 (15:00) Change comes after 100-day review that found domestic violence case management was not ‘core’ police businessGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastThe Queensland police service plans to disband a specialist unit that provided statewide support for domestic and family violence cases, prompting concern from frontline workers that the loss of an “important resource” would place women at greater risk.The QPS confirmed to Guardian Australia on Friday it would scrap the DFV and vulnerable persons command “operational support unit” and redeploy its officers to local districts. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Australia’s grid now relies on renewable energy as much as coal. Those who doubted it look foolish 30. January 2026 (15:00) Solar met the majority of electricity demand between 9am and 6pm in the past week as much of the country cranked air conditionersGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastAustralia’s power grid is changing rapidly – so rapidly that it can feel difficult to keep up.This week, as an oppressive heatwave in the country’s south-east rewrote temperature records, there was also plenty of evidence demonstrating just how fast long-held assumptions about the electricity system are being overturned. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Day and night, there’s no relief: five ways this heatwave is one of Australia’s worst on record 30. January 2026 (15:00) Soaring temperatures, heat at altitude and hot summer nights combine to create one of south-eastern Australia’s ‘most significant’ heatwaves Get our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastHeatwaves and hot days during an Australian summer may seem unremarkable. Days spent at the beach, sunburn and mosquitoes are part of the national psyche, along with outback pubs serving crisp lager as relief from searing afternoon heat.But when the opal mining town of Andamooka (population 262) in the far north of South Australia reached 50 degrees on Thursday, it was only the eighth time in recorded history anywhere in Australia. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
