Trump to discuss Venezuela’s future with Machado after Maduro’s capture 15. January 2026 (12:07) Venezuelan opposition leader and Nobel prize winner had been sidelined by White House after US seized MaduroDonald Trump will host María Corina Machado, the Venezuelan opposition leader and 2025 Nobel peace prize winner, at the White House on Thursday for a high-stakes talks on the oil-rich nation’s future following the US capture of Nicolás Maduro.Many in Venezuela and abroad had expected Machado to take charge after an elite US military team seized Maduro in a pre-dawn raid on 3 January and transported him to a New York City jail. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Why big oil giants may not rush to buy into Donald Trump’s Venezuelan vision 15. January 2026 (12:00) It may well be safer, easier and cheaper for US companies to procure whatever oil the US economy needs at homeThere are a few reasons that Donald Trump – now self-anointed acting President of Venezuela, as well as the United States – might be so excited about appropriating Venezuela’s oil.Trump may be counting on some boost from cheap oil to the US economy: he is obsessed with the price of gas. As the midterm elections approach, he has become concerned about unemployment. Deeply imprinted memories of scarcity during the oil crises of the 1970s may prime his belief that cheap oil cures it all. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
How ‘day zero’ water shortages in Iran are fuelling protests 15. January 2026 (12:00) Supply failures are dramatic example of way climate crisis threatens basic human needs – and with it political stabilityIran protests – live updatesGripped by a terrible drought now entering its sixth year, Iran’s cities are on the brink of what its meteorological organisation calls “water day zero”: the boundary beyond which supply systems no longer function. This was crossed by Chennai in India in summer 2019 and is now threatening Mashhad, Tabriz and Tehran, where taps in the city’s southern districts had already run dry by early December.Nightly “pressure cuts”, in which the water supply is halted to whole districts in the capital, have become the norm. Protesters demanding “Water, electricity, life – our basic right” over the summer were already risking a clampdown. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Growth figures give boost to Reeves – but it’s too early to get carried away 15. January 2026 (11:33) While better-than-expected data for November offers hope for UK economy, clouds remain on the horizon• UK economy grew by better-than-expected despite budget uncertainty• Business live – latest updates• UK politics live – latest updatesAt the end of last year, Rachel Reeves was under fire for the impact of budget speculation on Britain’s economy. All of the noise about fiscal holes, tax increases and spending cuts before her late November budget was having a real-world effect on the spending decisions of households and businesses.The latest official figures will therefore come as a boost for the chancellor. Britain’s economy grew more strongly than expected in November, up 0.3%, despite the fog of uncertainty in the lead up to her critical tax and spending speech at the end of the month. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Streeting ‘horrified’ if police chief behind Maccabi Tel Aviv ban not gone by end of day 15. January 2026 (11:27) Minister says he is shocked West Midlands chief who misled MPs and public is still in postUK politics live – latest updatesWes Streeting has said he would be “horrified” if the chief constable of West Midlands police remains in his post “by the end of the day”, describing his behaviour as a “stain on his character”.There are mounting calls for Craig Guildford, who leads West Midlands police, to resign after a damning report by the chief inspectorate criticised the force’s handling of intelligence used to justify the ban on Maccabi Tel Aviv fans from attending a Europa League match in November. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Minister says elections to ‘zombie councils’ pointless as dozens of authorities request delays – UK politics live 15. January 2026 (11:10) Alison McGovern, local government minister, said request to postpone local elections are likely to be approvedWes Streeting, the health secretary, has said he would be “horrified” if the chief constable of West Midlands police remains in his post “by the end of the day”, describing his behaviour as a “stain on his character”. Neha Gohil has the story.Liz Kendall, the technology secretary, has welcomed the news that Elon Musk’s X announced it had stopped its Grok AI tool from letting users, including for premium subscribers, digitally undress images of women and children.I welcome this move from X, though I will expect the facts to be fully and robustly established by Ofcom’s ongoing investigation.Our Online Safety Act is and always has been about keeping people safe on social media - especially children - and it has given us the tools to hold X to account in recent days. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
ISS astronauts return to Earth in Nasa’s first ever medical evacuation 15. January 2026 (11:08) Four astronauts emerge from capsule after Pacific landing, including crew member in ‘stable’ conditionFour astronauts have returned to Earth from the the International Space Station (ISS) in Nasa’s first medical evacuation after an undisclosed medical issue prompted their mission to be suddenly cut short.The US space agency has declined to disclose which crew member had the health problem or give details about the issue, but has said the astronaut was “stable”. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
More than 20 England council elections likely to be delayed until 2027 15. January 2026 (10:45) Third of councils affected by overhaul from two-tier to unitary authorities ask for postponementUK politics live – latest updatesAbout a third of eligible councils in England have asked to postpone their elections in May, saying they are unable to deliver them effectively during an overhaul of local government.The requested postponements have sparked unrest and fierce criticism in some councils, with police being called to a council meeting in Redditch this week after insults were traded and members of the public decried a delay as “arrogant”. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
British diplomat expelled from Russia after being accused of being a spy 15. January 2026 (09:47) Moscow alleges unnamed diplomat is affiliated ‘with the British secret service’ as it gives them two weeks to leave A British diplomat has been expelled from Russia after being accused of being a spy.The diplomat, who was not named, had two weeks to leave the country, the Russian foreign ministry said after it received information “regarding the affiliation of a diplomatic employee at the embassy with the British secret service”. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Person taken to hospital after ingesting hand sanitiser supplied by Australia’s largest privately owned hotel chain 15. January 2026 (09:10) The ACCC recalls Dr Schwartz Hand Sanitiser after it was identified as containing a high concentration of methanolGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastA person was hospitalised with acute methanol poisoning after ingesting a now-recalled hand sanitiser while staying at Australia’s largest privately owned hotel chain, Queensland health authorities say.The Dr Schwartz Hand Sanitiser was recalled on Wednesday by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) after it was identified to contain a high concentration of methanol. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
