Australia news live: parliament opens with minute of silence for Bondi terror attack victims; PM tells Jewish community ‘you are not alone’ 18. January 2026 (23:47) Follow today’s news liveGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastMarles ‘confident about the future of Nato’ despite Trump pressureContinuing his media rounds, the deputy PM, Richard Marles, is pressed on the government’s response to Donald Trump’s tariffs on some European nations, in a bid to take over Greenland.Nato has played a very important role and continues to be very strong. I’ve been to the last two Nato meetings representing Australia, and there is a definite sense of unity when you’re at Nato meetings. So I feel confident about the future of Nato. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
High-speed train crash in southern Spain leaves at least 21 dead 18. January 2026 (23:37) Two trains derail near Adamuz, Cordóba province, leaving scores injured, state-owned broadcaster reportsAt least 21 people have been killed and several injured after two trains collided in southern Spain on Sunday night, authorities said.A train travelling from Málaga to Madrid derailed near Adamuz, crossing on to the other track where it hit an oncoming train, which also derailed, Spain’s Adif rail body posted on X. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Romford MP Andrew Rosindell becomes latest Tory to defect to Reform 18. January 2026 (23:02) Veteran MP says ‘time to put country before party’ citing Conservative position on Chagos IslandsAndrew Rosindell, the Conservative MP for Romford since 2001, has announced his defection to Reform UK, the second such departure to Nigel Farage’s party in four days.Rosindell, who was a shadow Foreign Office minister under Kemi Badenoch, announced in a statement on X that he was joining Reform, giving as the main reason his opposition to the UK’s handover of sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
US reportedly considers granting asylum to Jewish people from UK 18. January 2026 (22:28) Trump lawyer Robert Garson told the Telegraph he discussed refuge for those leaving UK over antisemitismDiscussions are reportedly under way within Donald Trump’s administration about the US possibly granting asylum to Jewish people from the UK, according to the Telegraph, citing the US president’s personal lawyer.Trump lawyer Robert Garson told the newspaper that he has held conversations with the US state department about offering refuge to British Jews who are leaving the UK citing rising antisemitism. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Ohio man, 83, convicted of killing Uber driver faces sentencing 18. January 2026 (22:11) William Brock fatally shot Lo-Letha Toland-Hall in 2024 after wrongly assuming she was involved in plot to rob himAn 83-year-old Ohio man faces sentencing on Tuesday after being convicted of murder in the shooting of an Uber driver who he wrongly thought was trying to rob him.William J Brock fatally shot the driver after wrongly assuming she was in on a plot involving scam phone calls that deceived them both to get $12,000 in supposed bond money for a relative, authorities said.Associated Press contributed Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Chilean president declares state of catastrophe as wildfires kill at least 18 18. January 2026 (21:16) Fires blaze through 8,500 hectares, forcing 50,000 people to evacuate as firefighters struggle to extinguish flamesWildfires raging across central and southern Chile have killed at least 18 people, scorched thousands of hectares of forest and destroyed scores of homes, authorities said, as the South American country swelters under a heatwave.Chile’s president, Gabriel Boric, declared a state of catastrophe in the country’s central Biobío region and the neighbouring Ñuble region, about 500km (300 miles) south of Santiago, the capital. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Tariffs on Nato allies are wrong, Starmer tells Trump in Greenland crisis call 18. January 2026 (20:12) UK prime minister holds phone call with US president as European leaders scramble to protect Danish territoryKeir Starmer has told Donald Trump he is wrong to threaten tariffs against Nato allies to try to secure Greenland, as part of a flurry of diplomatic calls intended to tackle the crisis.The UK prime minister spoke to the US president on Sunday, as well as to Mette Frederiksen, the Danish PM, whose country’s territory includes Greenland, Ursula von der Leyen, the president of the European Commission, and Mark Rutte, the Nato secretary general. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Western alliance hangs in balance as Europe stiffens itself against Trump’s threats 18. January 2026 (19:55) US demand to own Greenland leaves little scope for compromise, and forcing the issue would entail end of NatoGreenland, with a population of fewer than 57,000, might not seem to be the territory on which the future of the relationship between Europe and the US, the viability of Nato as the world’s most successful defence alliance, or even the fractured relations between the UK and Europe would be determined.But battlefields are sometimes the product of chance, rather than choice. It now feels as if Donald Trump’s threat to impose 10% tariffs on eight fellow Nato states for sending troops last week to support Greenland’s sovereignty may be one of those clarifying moments in which Europe had no option. Successive European leaders condemned Trump’s blackmail and intimidation on Sunday and they sounded as if they meant it. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Trump exacts revenge on Bill Cassidy by backing possible Republican challenger 18. January 2026 (19:47) Trump’s support of Letlow comes after Louisiana senator voted to convict president in second impeachment trialDonald Trump has sought to deliver a staggering blow to the re-election chances of Senator Bill Cassidy – the president’s fellow Republican with whom he has politically feuded – by giving his “complete and total endorsement” to a potential primary opponent.Trump’s endorsement of US House member Julia Letlow as well as his encouragement for her to run for Cassidy’s Senate seat in Louisiana comes after the senator voted to convict Trump in his second impeachment trial during Trump’s first presidency. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Government pulls amendment to Hillsborough law after backlash 18. January 2026 (19:40) Proposed change relating to spies was criticised by campaigners and MPs as allowing an opt-out for senior officialsThe government has pulled an amendment to its proposed Hillsborough law amid concerns from campaigners and MPs that the legislation was being watered down and had become a “car crash” for the government.The public office (accountability) bill aims to force public officials and contractors to tell the truth after disasters. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
