Stunned Albanese says Coalition ‘playing politics’ as Ley calls hate speech reforms ‘pretty unsalvageable’ 15. January 2026 (02:32) Opposition leader says government took ‘a month to deliver this bad bill’ as Labor criticises Liberal ‘hypocrisy’ on proposed hate lawsFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastThe opposition leader, Sussan Ley, has said the Albanese government’s proposed hate speech and anti-vilification legislation appears “pretty unsalvageable” and rejected suggestions of hypocrisy by the Coalition after weeks of calls for new laws to tackle antisemitism.After demanding parliament be immediately recalled in the wake of the Bondi beach terror attacks on 14 December, Ley on Thursday morning flagged the Coalition would oppose new laws introduced to parliament next week, including provisions for a new national gun buyback scheme. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Portland man shot by Border Patrol pleads not guilty to assaulting agent 15. January 2026 (02:31) Luis David Nino-Moncada, shot the day after Renee Good was killed, denies using vehicle as weapon against officerA man shot and wounded by a Border Patrol agent during an immigration stop in Portland last week has plead not guilty to charges of aggravated assault against a federal officer and damaging federal property.Luis David Nino-Moncada, who was taken into custody after sustaining an injury in the arm from the shooting, was indicted on Tuesday and entered his plea on Wednesday. The Department of Homeland Security alleges that Nino-Moncada, who is of Venezuelan descent, entered the US illegally and used his vehicle as a weapon when agents attempted to apprehend him. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Adelaide festival apologises to Randa Abdel-Fattah and invites her to participate in 2027 writers’ week 15. January 2026 (02:31) Apology comes as former Adelaide festival board member accuses Louise Adler of hypocrisy after she resigned citing free speech concernsFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastThe new Adelaide Festival board has issued a public apology to Palestinian-Australian academic Randa Abdel-Fattah, and has promised she will be invited to Adelaide Writers’ Week in 2027.“On 8 January 2026 the Adelaide Festival Corporation published a statement announcing that it had decided to exclude Dr Randa Abdel-Fattah from participating as a speaker at Adelaide Writers’ Week this year,” the statement from the Adelaide Festival Corporation said. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
US Senate kills resolution that would have limited Trump action in Venezuela 15. January 2026 (02:30) Republicans Josh Hawley and Todd Young flipped after receiving ‘assurances’ from Trump administrationUS politics live – latest updatesThe US Senate has voted against a war powers resolution that would have prevented Donald Trump from taking further military action against Venezuela without giving Congress advance notice.Senators Josh Hawley of Missouri and Todd Young of Indiana, who had joined three other Republicans to advance the resolution alongside Democrats last week, flipped after they said they received assurances from the Trump administration. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Churchill’s desk and rare artwork among items donated to UK cultural institutions 15. January 2026 (01:01) Items worth £59.7m allocated to museums, galleries, libraries and archives as part of Arts Council England schemeWinston Churchill and Benjamin Disraeli’s desk, a painting by Vanessa Bell and a rare artwork by Edgar Degas are among the items of cultural importance saved for the nation this year.The items, worth a total of £59.7m, will be allocated to museums, galleries, libraries and archives around the UK as part of Art Council England’s cultural gifts and acceptance in lieu schemes. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Trump is making China – not America – great again, global survey suggests 15. January 2026 (01:01) Exclusive: US is less feared by its traditional adversaries, while its allies feel ever more distant, results showA year after Donald Trump’s return to the White House, a global survey suggests much of the world believes his nation-first, “Make America Great Again” approach is instead helping to make China great again.The 21-country survey for the influential European Council on Foreign Relations (ECFR) thinktank also found that under Trump, the US is less feared by its traditional adversaries, while its allies – particularly in Europe – feel ever more distant. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Traces of cancer-linked pesticide found in tests at UK playgrounds 15. January 2026 (01:01) Pressure mounting for use of glyphosate, listed by WHO since 2015 as probable carcinogen, to be heavily restrictedChildren are potentially being exposed to the controversial weedkiller glyphosate at playgrounds across the UK, campaigners have said after testing playgrounds in London and the home counties.The World Health Organization has listed glyphosate as a probable human carcinogen since 2015. However, campaigners say local authorities in the UK are still using thousands of litres of glyphosate-based herbicides in public green spaces. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
NHS corridor care is ‘torture’ leading to patient deaths and staff nightmares 15. January 2026 (01:01) Royal College of Nursing publishes dossier of evidence including case of elderly patient who choked to death in corridorCorridor care is “a type of torture” that is leading to patients dying and causing NHS staff to have nightmares, the UK’s nurses union has warned.In one case, an elderly patient choked to death in a corridor, unseen by staff, according to a new dossier of evidence highlighting the problem published by the Royal College of Nursing (RCN). Continue reading...(The Guardian)
White House post nods to racist, far-right subculture, extremism expert says 15. January 2026 (00:39) Image with question ‘Which way, Greenland man?’ is a ‘key concept in neo-Nazi and white supremacist subculture’The Trump administration has been called out, yet again, for using explicitly white supremacist verbiage in its increasingly aggressive social media strategy.The White House posted a cartoon to X on Wednesday of two Greenlandic mush teams with three huskies each, pointing towards the choice of the white pillars and the South Lawn or a tempestuous scene by the Great Wall of China and Red Square in Russia. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Australia news live: PM ‘stunned’ at Coalition calls for delay on hate speech laws; Joyce compares inherited guns to a ‘lounge suite’ 15. January 2026 (00:07) Shadow minister says Coalition has not yet decided on approach to new laws but says they are ‘rushed’. Follow updates liveGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastIranian Australians left distraught with no confirmation their family is safeAlmost a week into Iran’s communication blackout, Iranian Australian activist Mohammad Hashemi received a call from his home country.When I heard the stories, what happened to people, I was crying about the situation and what’s going on in our country.We continue to advise do not travel to Iran. If you choose to remain in Iran, you’re responsible for your own safety. Be prepared to shelter in place for an extended period. Make sure you have supplies of water, food and medication. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
