Dame Marie Bashir, former NSW governor and distinguished psychiatrist, dies age 95 20. January 2026 (12:48) The first female governor of New South Wales, Dame Marie was widely respected and will be honoured with a state funeral Dame Marie Bashir, the first female governor of New South Wales, has died. She was 95.The NSW premier, Chris Minns, confirmed her death on Tuesday on behalf of her family, writing in a statement that he was saddened to share the news of her passing. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Kim Jong-un fires vice-premier and likens him to ‘a goat yoked to an ox cart’ 20. January 2026 (12:46) North Korean leader reportedly blames Yang Sung-ho for ‘confusion’ at factory project as major congress loomsThe North Korean leader, Kim Jong-un, has dismissed a vice-premier over troubles in a factory modernisation project, in an apparent move to tighten discipline among officials and push them to deliver greater results before a major political conference.The upcoming ruling Workers’ party congress, the first of its kind in five years, is one of North Korea’s biggest propaganda spectacles and is intended to review past projects, establish new political and economic priorities and reshuffle officials. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Men charged with contract killing of Indigenous leader to go on trial in Peru 20. January 2026 (11:00) Prosecution over death of Quinto Inuma Alvarado seen as test of ability to curb attacks on environmental defendersFive men are due to go on trial on Tuesday over the killing of an Amazonian Indigenous leader, in a legal case that could test whether Peru can hold perpetrators accountable for violence linked to illegal logging and drug trafficking in one of the world’s most dangerous regions for environmental defenders.The Kichwa tribal leader Quinto Inuma Alvarado was killed on 29 November 2023, after repeatedly denouncing illegal activity within his community’s territory. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
‘Meat tax’ could have significant impact on environmental footprint, study finds 20. January 2026 (11:00) Full VAT on meat products could cost EU households as little as €26 a year but cut impact by 3-6%, says paperThe environmental impacts of meat consumption could be rapidly and cheaply reduced if governments applied full VAT on products such as beef, pork, lamb and chicken, a study has shown.Depending on how the additional tax revenues were redistributed, such a change could cost households as little as €26 (£23) a year, while cutting ecological destruction by between 3% and 6%, the paper found. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Bessent urges Europe not to retaliate against Trump’s Greenland tariffs 20. January 2026 (10:54) US treasury secretary says at WEF in Davos that countries and companies should pause and ‘let things play out’Business live – latest updatesThe US treasury secretary, Scott Bessent, has urged European countries not to retaliate against the US’s trade tariffs announced over the Greenland crisis.Speaking in Davos during the World Economic Forum, Bessent said countries and companies should pause and “let things play out” after Donald Trump threatened a 25% tariff on a slew of European countries in his pursuit of the autonomous Danish territory. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Trump says UK’s Chagos deal is an ‘act of great stupidity’ and another reason to take over Greenland – live 20. January 2026 (08:55) US president says the UK’s decision to hand over sovereignity of the islands is among a ‘long line’ of reasons why Greenland ‘has to be acquired’Donald Trump links Greenland threats to Nobel snub as EU trade war loomsReform UK, led by Nigel Farage, has vowed to overturn the Chagos Islands agreement, saying the costly agreement was fuelled by a misplaced feeling of “postcolonial guilt” in a government “run by human rights lawyers”.In a post to X this morning, Farage, who has a close relationship with Donald Trump, said: “Thank goodness Trump has vetoed the surrender of the Chagos islands.” Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Trump cites UK’s ‘stupidity’ over Chagos Islands as reason to take over Greenland 20. January 2026 (08:51) US president says on social media that Britain’s decision to cede islands to Mauritius is ‘act of total weakness’ Donald Trump has suggested Britain’s decision to cede the Chagos Islands to Mauritius is among the reasons he wants to take over Greenland.The US president, who is travelling to Davos in Switzerland for the World Economic Forum, made the claim as he ramped up his rhetoric on acquiring the Arctic territory. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Davos: Von der Leyen, He, Macron and Carney to speak as Greenland crisis looms over WEF – business live 20. January 2026 (08:47) Rolling coverage of the World Economic Forum in DavosScott Bessent then denies that European Union countries, and the UK, could exercise the “nuclear option” over the Greenland crisis, and dump their holdings of US Treasuries.Asked how the Treasury Department, and the White House, would prepare for this, Bessent insists it is a “completely false narrative”, and claims the media are “hysterical” over the issue.I would say this is the same kind of hysteria that we heard on April 2nd. There was a panic.What I am urging everyone here to do is sit back, take a deep breath, and let things play out.What president Trump is threatening on Greenland is very different than the other trade deals. So I would urge all countries to stick with their trade deals. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Parents of police killed in Wieambilla urge gun buyback as Queensland set to reject federal scheme 20. January 2026 (08:30) Families call for end to political ‘bickering’ amid concerns the state LNP will not back proposed programGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastThe parents of police murdered in a 2022 ambush in western Queensland have thrown their support behind the federal government’s proposed gun buyback scheme in the wake of the Bondi beach terror attack.The Guardian understands that the state LNP government decided not to support the buyback program at a marathon cabinet meeting on Monday. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Number of employed people in UK falls again as wage growth slows 20. January 2026 (08:26) Shops, restaurants and hotels particularly hit by slowdown in hiring, as unemployment remains at 5.1%Business live – latest updatesThe number of employed people in the UK has fallen again, particularly in shops, restaurants and hotels, reflecting weak hiring, while private sector wages grew at the slowest rate in five years, official figures show.Figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) showed the number of employees on payrolls fell by 184,000 in December compared with a year earlier, to 30.2 million. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
