‘An attempt to break people’: Bucha holds out amid Russia’s weaponisation of winter 16. January 2026 (13:30) Russian attacks on Ukraine’s power plants as severe frost set in have been described as ‘crimes against humanity’Outside the main pumping station for Bucha, three engineers, bundled up in parkas, are working on the emergency generator keeping the Ukrainian city supplied with water.One holds a heat gun to the generator’s filter in an effort to unfreeze it, his face reddened by blowing snow and a daytime temperature of -12C (10.4F). Watching attentively is the city’s mayor, Anatolii Fedoruk. The generator in his office is also frozen when the Guardian visits and he apologises for the lack of coffee. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Top two executives at City & Guilds placed on leave 16. January 2026 (11:46) Pair will be absent ‘for short period’ from vocational trainer, whose charity is under investigation by Charity CommissionThe top two executives at City & Guilds have been put on leave shortly after a scandal over millions of pounds of bonuses triggered a Charity Commission investigation into the vocational trainer.City & Guilds has told staff that its chief executive, Kirstie Donnelly, and the chief financial officer, Abid Ismail, will be “absent from work for a short period”. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Jenrick’s replacement admits Tories ‘let down’ the country but says public are sick of ‘backstabbing’ – UK politics live 16. January 2026 (11:44) The new shadow justice secretary Nick Timothy said he was ‘sorry’ for how the Conservatives ‘handled certain things in those last few years’ in powerNick Timothy said Robert Jenrick’s defection to Reform UK had left the Conservatives with a feeling of “resolve” and the party in Westminster is now “more united under Kemi’s leadership than I’ve known it for many years”.Asked about the prospect of further defections, the new shadow justice secretary told BBC Breakfast: “Well I can speak for myself, and I can tell you that I joined the Conservative party as a 17-year-old and I will die a member of the Conservative party. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Early results show Museveni leading Uganda election amid reports of violence 16. January 2026 (11:41) Veteran president holding off main challenger Bobi Wine after campaign marred by violence at opposition ralliesThe veteran Ugandan president, Yoweri Museveni, held a commanding lead in early presidential election results announced on Friday, as conflicting accounts emerged of violence after the vote.Museveni, who is 81 and has ruled Uganda since seizing power in 1986, is seeking a decisive victory after a campaign marred by violence at opposition rallies. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Extreme rainfall inundates South Africa and Mozambique 16. January 2026 (11:16) Flood warning raised to highest level with roads washed away and rain forcing evacuation of Kruger national parkLarge areas of north-eastern South Africa and neighbouring Mozambique have been inundated for several days with exceptionally heavy rainfall. Some locations in South Africa recorded hundreds of millimetres of rain over the weekend, such as Graskop in Mpumalanga, where 113mm fell in 24 hours, and Phalaborwa, which recorded about 85mm of rainfall. Rain has continued to fall across the region since the weekend.The deluge has been driven by a slow-moving cut-off low pressure system that has remained anchored over the region, repeatedly drawing in moisture and triggering intense downpours. Further heavy rainfall is expected on Friday and over the weekend. Maputo, Mozambique’s capital, could expect daily rainfall totals to exceed 200mm by the end of Friday, while western parts of South Africa and north-western Eswatini may record more than 100mm. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Water restored to most Kent and Sussex homes after six days’ disruption 16. January 2026 (11:10) Up to 30,000 customers of South East Water had no supply or low pressure at height of incidentWater has been restored to most homes across Kent and Sussex after almost a week of disruption.South East Water (SEW) said the outage, which began on Saturday, was the result of Storm Goretti causing burst pipes and power cuts. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
‘Enough already’: Jenrick’s defection gets mixed reception from Reform members 16. January 2026 (11:00) Some supporters are concerned about the number of Conservatives being welcomed by their party, and fear it could alienate votersIf Reform UK was officially celebrating Robert Jenrick’s defection to Nigel Farage’s party, the reaction of the rank-and-file was an altogether more complicated one – ranging from jubilation to despair that yet another Tory was coming onboard.“Enough already! Reform uk please take note, you are going to lose members and voters if you don’t cap this craziness … We don’t want a Tory party Pt II,” was the early response from James Scott, one of a number of members expressing their unhappiness on one of the largest private Reform Facebook groups. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
South Korea sentences ex-president to five years in first martial law verdict 16. January 2026 (10:51) Yoon Suk Yeol’s conviction for obstructing own arrest separate from main trial that could lead to death penaltyA South Korean court has sentenced former president Yoon Suk Yeol to five years in prison for mobilising presidential security forces to block his own arrest and abusing his powers. It is the first judicial ruling linked to the events surrounding his failed martial law declaration in December 2024.The ruling is separate from Yoon’s main insurrection trial, where prosecutors earlier this week sought the death penalty and a verdict is due next month. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Canada PM hails strategic partnership with China to adapt to ‘new global realities’ 16. January 2026 (10:37) Mark Carney holds talks with Xi Jinping on rare Beijing trip as Canada seeks to diversify trade links away from USBusiness live – latest updatesCanada’s prime minister, Mark Carney, has hailed a “new strategic partnership” with China as he held talks in Beijing with President Xi Jinping, the first visit by a Canadian leader in eight years.Addressing Xi in the Great Hall of the People, Carney said: “Together we can build on the best of what this relationship has been in the past to create a new one adapted to new global realities.” Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Sydney awaits ‘soggiest weekend of summer’ as Victorian authorities defend flash flood warnings 16. January 2026 (09:50) Floods predicted for NSW south coast after severe storms dumped 180mm in six hours on Victoria’s Lorne and Wye River, washing cars into the sea on the Great Ocean RoadFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastAuthorities have defended the timing of warnings for holidaymakers along Victoria’s surf coast who were hit by an “unprecedented” downpour on Thursday, as Sydney awaited its “soggiest weekend of summer” to date.Weatherzone forecasters predicted 20mm of rainfall was possible in Sydney on both Saturday and Sunday, which would be a record for the time of year. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
