Trump’s ‘pay-to-play’ politics fuel a ‘new gilded age’, experts say 23. January 2026 (14:00) Major donors reap influence and material benefits, ethics experts argue, as money and governance intertwineDonald Trump’s “pay-to-play” governing and fundraising style is helping forge a new gilded age where many super rich donors to Trump’s Maga Inc Pac and other top Trump causes are reaping big political and financial gains, including lax regulations, federal contracts and other benefits, say scholars and analysts.The transactional style of the US president has been a financial boon to cryptocurrency, AI and fossil fuel interests, among others, which have showered seven- and eight-figure donations on Trump’s Super Pac, inaugural committee and pet projects such as his oft-touted mammoth White House ballroom. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
New filtration technology could be game-changer in removal of Pfas ‘forever chemicals’ 23. January 2026 (14:00) Researchers found a new way to filter and destroy Pfas chemicals at 100 times the rate of current systemsNew filtration technology developed by Rice University may absorb some Pfas “forever chemicals” at 100 times the rate than previously possible, which could dramatically improve pollution control and speed remediations.Researchers also say they have also found a way to destroy Pfas, though both technologies face a steep challenge in being deployed on an industrial scale. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Privatisation not the problem for England’s water, says author of review 23. January 2026 (14:00) Architect of government’s water plan says nationalisation might not fix everything and the current system can workThe privatisation of water in England is not the reason for its failings, the architect of the government’s water plan has said, as he warned there was no one “simple solution” such as nationalisation.Sir Jon Cunliffe, a former Bank of England deputy governor who was involved in reforming banking regulation after the 2008 financial crisis, was enlisted by the Labour government to write a report on the water industry. He was tasked with addressing problems such as the sewage scandal, frequent tap water outages and lack of preparedness for drought. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Disaster averted at Davos but world ever vulnerable to capricious Trump’s whims 23. January 2026 (14:00) President backed away from threats over Greenland but allies dare not regard avoidance of catastrophe as anything more than a respiteSo deeply embedded in the realm of reality television is Donald Trump’s presidency that trying to apply any orthodox diplomatic measures of win or loss to his rumbustious appearance in Davos this week seems superfluous.With his compulsive addiction to high-octane political drama, Trump had already achieved the improbable even before his arrival on Wednesday; transforming the normally somnolent Swiss Alpine resort into a unlikely setting for a high-noon confrontation with the US’s supposed European allies over Greenland. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Nine bedrooms, seven untimely deaths: can ‘cursed’ Venice palace finally attract a buyer? 23. January 2026 (13:55) Palazzo Ca’ Dario, empty for years, has failed to find a new owner, with local legends suggesting it is jinxedIt ought to be an estate agent’s dream. Primely positioned on the banks of the Grand Canal in Venice, just steps away from the Peggy Guggenheim Collection, the storied Palazzo Ca’ Dario has shimmered on the water since the late 15th century, its elegant early Venetian Renaissance facade among the city’s most distinctive.Named after its first owner, Giovanni Dario, a diplomat hailed a hero after securing a peace treaty with the Ottoman empire, over the centuries the palazzo has been home to nobles, merchants and even British rock music royalty. In 1908, it was painted by Claude Monet during his trip to Venice and one year later was cited by Henry James in his travelogue Italian Hours. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Leaked video shows Venezuela regime’s desperate struggle to control message 23. January 2026 (13:00) Interim leader Delcy Rodríguez told influencers of US threat to kill leaders if they did not cooperate after capture of MaduroThe communications minister holds a phone up to a microphone before a gathering of regime-friendly influencers.On speakerphone is Venezuela’s acting president, Delcy Rodríguez, who claims that when US forces captured the dictator Nicolás Maduro, she and other members of his cabinet were given 15 minutes to decide whether to comply with Washington’s demands – “or they would kill us.” Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Russia deploys new high-speed drones amid claims they contain western parts 23. January 2026 (12:53) Experts say Geran-5 long-range attack UAVs could pose serious threat to Ukraine’s struggling air defences Europe live – latest updatesRussia has begun using a new model of high-speed drone against Ukraine amid claims by Kyiv’s military intelligence directorate that key parts are sourced from western and Chinese companies.Wreckage recovered from a so-called Geran-5 long-range attack drone that was fired at Ukraine in early January points to a series of new capabilities that experts believe could pose a serious threat to Ukraine’s already struggling air defence if deployed widely. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
‘It’s the sovereignty of the country’: Guinea-Bissau says US vaccine study suspended 23. January 2026 (12:00) Despite US pushback, officials in west Africa say controversial hepatitis B study on pause amid ethics concernsUS health officials insisted it was still on. African health leaders said it was cancelled. At the heart of the controversy is the west African nation of Guinea-Bissau – one of the poorest countries in the world and the proposed site of a hotly debated US-funded study on vaccines.The study on hepatitis B vaccination, to be led by Danish researchers, became a flashpoint after major changes to the US vaccination schedule and prompted questions about how research is conducted ethically in other countries. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Weather tracker: Record snowfall in eastern Russia leaves people stranded 23. January 2026 (11:46) Town of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky gets 6 feet of snow in places, burying cars and cutting off roads and buildingsA record-breaking snowfall event unfolded in far eastern Russia last week when the town of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, located on the Kamchatka peninsula’s east coast, received more than 6 feet (1.8 metres) of lying snow in places.Strong winds accompanying the snowfall caused extreme drifting of more than 10 feet against buildings and cars. Two key ingredients combined to cause such an extreme snowfall event. Strong Pacific low pressures dragged moist air from the tropics northwards, which clashed with cold Arctic air already over the region. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Piper James autopsy finds ‘evidence consistent with drowning and injuries consistent with dingo bites’ 23. January 2026 (11:45) Canadian backpacker, 19, was found dead on K’gari island earlier this week surrounded by pack of wild dingoesThe autopsy of Piper James, whose body was found on K’gari surrounded by a pack of dingoes, has found “physical evidence consistent with drowning and injuries consistent with dingo bites”.The Canadian backpacker’s trip to Australia ended in tragedy when the 19-year-old was found dead on a beach on Monday on the world heritage-listed island and tourist destination formerly known as Fraser Island off the Queensland coast. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
