UK economy grew by better-than-expected 0.3% in November despite budget uncertainty 15. January 2026 (08:16) ONS says GDP expanded in news that is unlikely to deter Bank of England from making more interest rate cutsBusiness live – latest updatesThe UK economy grew by a stronger than expected 0.3% in November despite uncertainty around the chancellor Rachel Reeves’s budget, official figures show.Figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) on Thursday showed the improvement, up from a 0.1% fall in October. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Iran protest killings have halted, Trump claims, as Tehran says executions are ‘out of the question’ 15. January 2026 (07:44) US president adopts more measured tone and suggests a pause in decision on threatened US military action in IranIran protests – live updatesIran crisis explained: what we know so farAnalysis: why western diplomats are wary of predicting regime’s end daysDonald Trump has said he has been assured the killing of protesters in Iran has been halted, adding that he would “watch it and see” about threatened US military action, as tensions appeared to ease on Wednesday night.Trump had repeatedly talked in recent days about coming to the aid of the Iranian people over the crackdown on protests that Iran Human Rights, a group based in Norway, said had now killed at least 3,428 people and led to the arrest of more than 10,000. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Jewish American columnist Thomas Friedman says he was uninvited from 2024 Adelaide writers’ week over ‘timing’ 15. January 2026 (07:36) Claim comes after former festival board member Tony Berg accused Louise Adler and Randa Abdel-Fattah of ‘hypocrisy’ in their accusations of repressing freedom of speech Get our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastA New York Times columnist at the centre of a second controversy engulfing Adelaide writers’ week has said he was uninvited from the event in 2024.Thomas Friedman, who is Jewish, confirmed to Nine newspapers on Thursday that after he agreed to appear in a video link session, he was subsequently notified “that the timing would not work out”. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
‘We’ve lost everything, you can see caravans floating away’: flash flooding hits Victoria’s Great Ocean Road 15. January 2026 (07:19) Woman camping at flooded Wye River with her daughters says ‘it’s just heartbreaking, strangers are hugging strangers’Get our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastHundreds of people have evacuated a major camping ground after a severe thunderstorm caused flash flooding at Wye River, closed a major scenic tourism road and washed cars out to sea.An emergency warning was in place for the Wye, Kennett and Cumberland rivers in the Lorne area in Victoria’s south-west coast after thunderstorms dumped more than 170mm of rain on the area on Thursday afternoon. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
The U-turns keep coming – but Starmer’s allies insist they’re his best hope of revival 15. January 2026 (07:00) Prime minister wants cabinet ministers to move on from policies that have tanked with votersBefore the 2015 UK election, the Australian political expert Lynton Crosby devised a strategy for the Tories that became known as “scraping the barnacles off the boat” – shedding unpopular policies that hindered the party’s electoral appeal.Instead, the party focused on core issues it believed would help win over floating voters: the economy, welfare, the strength of David Cameron (and weakness of Ed Miliband) and immigration. Everything else was deprioritised and the Conservatives stuck to their messages rigidly. It worked. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Ugandans to vote in election expected to extend Museveni’s four-decade rule 15. January 2026 (06:00) Campaign beset by violence with supporters of rival candidate Bobi Wine teargassed and detainedUgandans are preparing to vote in an election that is expected to result in Yoweri Museveni extending his nearly four-decade grip on power in the east African country, after a campaign beset by violence.Security forces have frequently clamped down on supporters of Museveni’s main opponent, Bobi Wine, by teargassing and shooting bullets at events and detaining people. Authorities have also arrested civil society members and suspended rights groups. On Tuesday, they shut down internet access and limited mobile phone services countrywide. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Trump says he’s been assured Tehran has stopped killing protesters as Iran reopens its airspace – live 15. January 2026 (05:54) US president says ‘important sources’ also told him executions not going ahead as Iranian airspace reopens to flights after near-five-hour closureFull report: US and UK military to withdraw some personnel from Middle East amid Iranian threatsIran crisis explained: what we know so farAnalysis: why western diplomats are wary of predicting regime’s end daysPodcast: Massacres and executions: what are we hearing from inside Iran?A little more now on Iran’s reopening of its airspace to flights after a near-five-hour closure that forced airlines to cancel, reroute or delay some flights.Iran closed its airspace to all flights except international ones to and from Iran with official permission at 10.15pm GMT on Wednesday, according to a notice on the US Federal Aviation Administration website. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Federal agent shoots man in Minneapolis as tensions in city run high 15. January 2026 (05:40) Minnesota city says it’s aware of a shooting as residents continue to reel in aftermath of Renee Nicole Good’s killingA federal officer has shot a man in the leg during an enforcement operation in north Minneapolis, sparking protests in a city still on edge after the killing of Renee Nicole Good by a federal agent last week.The shooting occurred about 7pm local time, according to witnesses. Several hundred protesters gathered at the scene on Wednesday night faced off with agents who blocked off the area and deployed smoke and other crowd control weapons. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
‘Dangerous’ pipe bombs found detonated on Canberra footpaths, police say 15. January 2026 (03:44) Police believe no one hurt but urge public not to pick up explosive devices and say more may be foundFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastNearly a dozen pipe bombs, some of them already detonated, have been found on footpaths and in parks in the nation’s capital, sparking a major police investigation and warnings not to touch the potentially explosive items.ACT police Det Acting Insp Anna Wronski could not say where the pipe bombs came from or who was behind them, but said the matter was being taken extremely seriously. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Musk’s X to block Grok AI tool from creating sexualized images of real people 15. January 2026 (02:56) Amid global backlash, billionaire had only hours earlier said he was not aware of any ‘naked underage images’Elon Musk’s xAI has announced it will block the ability of its Grok AI tool to alter images of real people to put them in “revealing clothing such as bikinis”, amid a global backlash over the tool being used to generate explicit imagery.The move came just hours after the billionaire said he was was not aware of any “naked underage images” made by Grok. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
