Kim Keon Hee, wife of South Korea’s ousted president, jailed for corruption 28. January 2026 (15:15) Ex-first lady sentenced to 20 months for receiving gifts for political favours, as Yoon Suk Yeol awaits rebellion verdictThe wife of South Korea’s ousted president Yoon Suk Yeol has been sentenced to 20 months in prison for corruption, as her husband awaits a verdict on a high-stakes rebellion charge that could result in the death penalty or life imprisonment.Kim Keon Hee was sentenced for receiving luxury gifts including a Graff diamond necklace and a Chanel bag from the Unification Church in return for promises of political favours. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Trump continues to rail against Ilhan Omar after town hall attack – live 28. January 2026 (15:00) Trump calls Minnesota congresswoman a ‘fraud’ who ‘probably had herself sprayed’; Omar says ‘I don’t let bullies win’ in remarks after town hall attackOmar sprayed with unknown substance at Minneapolis town hallWhen Donald Trump was asked in an interview with ABC on whether he saw the video of the spray attack on Ilhan Omar, he said “No, I don’t think about her.”“I think she’s a fraud. I really don’t think about that,” he continued. “She probably had herself sprayed, knowing her.” Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Labor offers to delay NDIS autism changes if states agree to hospital and disability funding deal 28. January 2026 (15:00) Exclusive: The $2bn Thriving Kids scheme, due to start on 1 July, would instead start in October, after states said they were not ready yetFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastThe Albanese government has offered to delay the start of a new program for early intervention autism services and provide budget top-ups for smaller states, part of efforts to secure an overdue deal on hospitals and disability funding.Premiers and chief ministers look likely to agree to the deal at Friday’s meeting of national cabinet in Sydney, after Anthony Albanese and the health minister, Mark Butler, offered to push back the start of the new $2bn Thriving Kids scheme to October. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Designating the Domain a protest site? The changes Minns is considering to avoid ‘unnecessary burden’ from demonstrations 28. January 2026 (15:00) NSW premier also said to be considering altering the form 1 system which protects protesters as polling shows increased support for strengthening police powersGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastThe NSW premier, Chris Minns, is understood to be considering changes to the form 1 system and land use policies to curtail protests in the Sydney CBD.A poll of 1,022 Australians conducted between Tuesday and Friday last week revealed 62% of respondents nationally and the same proportion in NSW, supported strengthening police powers to curb protests, with just 17% opposing; 38% said they “strongly support”. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Albanese to push states on gun buyback scheme despite opposition from Queensland and NT 28. January 2026 (15:00) Under the laws, which came in the wake of the Bondi terror attack, the states will be responsible for the collection and processing of surrendered gunsGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastAnthony Albanese will push national cabinet to thrash out details of the federal government’s looming gun buyback program, set to cost hundreds of millions of dollars, even as Queensland and the Northern Territory refuse to sign up.Friday’s meeting of national cabinet is focused on settling health and disability funding between premiers and the prime minister. But details to roll out the guns buyback – established in laws rushed through parliament last week in response to the Bondi beach terror attack – require swift agreement with state governments. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
YouTube criticised after pulling out of UK TV audience ratings 28. January 2026 (14:59) Owner Google moves to block Barb data access months after allowing 200 channels to be monitoredYouTube has been criticised by the TV and advertising industry after suspending its participation in a key measurement system that compares viewership on the social media site with other streamers such as Netflix and TV broadcasters.YouTube owner Google has sent “cease and desist” letters to Barb, which publishes audience figures that are used as the UK industry standard, and Kantar Media, its research partner in the service. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Families in Maine scramble to halt ICE’s transfer of detainees out of state 28. January 2026 (14:55) Officials are quickly moving people they’ve apprehended out of state, making it difficult for loved ones to reach themFamily members have been scrambling to learn the whereabouts of more than 200 people arrested during a federal immigration crackdown that has swept across Maine this week, immigration attorneys said, as federal authorities quickly ferried detainees out of the state.“We were buried in phone calls,” said Jenny Beverly, an immigration attorney with Haven Immigration Law. She said her team worked long hours to locate detainees and stop their transfer out of Maine. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Centrist ideas no longer wanted in Conservative party, says Kemi Badenoch 28. January 2026 (14:53) Party leader tells MPs that one-nation Tories doubting her rightward direction ‘need to get out of the way’UK politics live – latest updatesCentrist ideas are no longer wanted in the Conservative party, Kemi Badenoch has said, arguing that one nation-type Tories or others who have qualms about her rightward direction for the party “need to get out of the way”.Making a speech in Westminster intended to set out her vision for the party after a spate of recent defections to Reform UK, the Conservative leader hit out at what she called the “tantrum” of Robert Jenrick and others. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Threat of US-Iran war escalates as Trump warns time running out for deal 28. January 2026 (14:52) US president says armada heading towards Iran is ‘prepared to fulfil its missions with violence if necessary’The threat of a US-Iranian war may be looming closer after Donald Trump warned time was running out for Tehran and said a massive US armada was moving quickly towards the country “with great power, enthusiasm and purpose”.Writing on social media, the US president said the fleet headed by the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln was larger than the one sent to Venezuela before the removal of President Nicolás Maduro earlier this month and was “prepared to rapidly fulfill its missions with speed and violence if necessary”. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Ofsted finds no political bias at Bristol school criticised for cancelling MP’s visit 28. January 2026 (14:50) Snap inspection of Brunel academy took place after it withdrew invitation to pro-Israel Labour MP Damien EganA snap inspection of a Bristol secondary school criticised for postponing a visit by an MP who is a member of a group that advocates for Israel has found “no evidence of partisan political views”.Ofsted inspectors arrived at Bristol Brunel academy earlier this month after reports that its leaders had called off a visit by Damien Egan, the Labour MP for Bristol North East, after opposition from a pro-Palestine group and members of staff belonging to the National Education Union. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
