Ten Sydney harbours’ worth of threatened species habitat cleared under Albanese government in 2025, report finds 13. January 2026 (15:00) Australian Conservation Foundation’s analysis finds the amount of habitat approved for land clearing hit a 15-year high last yearSign up for climate and environment editor Adam Morton’s free Clear Air newsletter hereMore than 57,000 hectares of threatened species habitat was approved for destruction by the Australian government in 2025 – the most in 15 years, according to analysis by the Australian Conservation Foundation.The ACF’s latest annual “extinction wrapped” report has revealed that the threatened species habitat greenlit for land clearing was about 10 times the size of Sydney Harbour – more than double the 2024 figure, and over five times the 10,426 hectares approved for razing in 2023.Sign up to get climate and environment editor Adam Morton’s Clear Air column as a free newsletter Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Australian politicians are condemning X and Grok, so why won’t they leave the platform? 13. January 2026 (15:00) Anthony Albanese has said the AI chatbot generating sexualised images of women and children is ‘abhorrent’ but has an account posting on the siteFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesAnthony Albanese condemned X’s AI chatbot Grok generation of sexualised images of women and children as “abhorrent”, but don’t expect the prime minister – or seemingly any politician in Australia – to stop using the site any time soon.Albanese condemned the use of generative AI to exploit or sexualise people without their consent, saying on Saturday that Australians deserved better. He added that the online safety regulator would look into it. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Wes Streeting criticises Labour colleagues who blame Whitehall for blocking reform – UK politics live 13. January 2026 (12:04) Health secretary says: ‘If we tell the public that we can’t make anything work, then why on earth would they vote to keep us in charge’Q: Why are the Liberal Democrats still using X?Davey says he is not afraid to pick a fight with Elon Musk. He says Musk has interfered in British democracy “in the most outrageous way”. Musk has also incited violence, he says. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Iran crisis live: Iranian regime is in its ‘final days and weeks’, says German chancellor 13. January 2026 (12:04) Friedrich Merz says government is ‘effectively at the end’ after nearly 650 protesters reportedly killed in the ongoing crackdownTrump says countries doing business with Iran face 25% tariff on US tradePeople in Iran: share your views on the current situationCommenting on the protests, the UN high commissioner for human rights Volker Türk said:This cycle of horrific violence cannot continue. The Iranian people and their demands for fairness, equality and justice must be heard. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
US supreme court to hear trans athletes cases that could erode key protections 13. January 2026 (12:00) A ruling against two athletes in West Virginia and Idaho could have far-reaching implications for civil rightsThe US supreme court is considering the rights of transgender youth athletes on Tuesday in a major hearing on state laws banning trans girls from girls sports teams.Oral arguments center on two cases of trans students who sued over the Republican-backed laws in Idaho and West Virginia prohibiting them from participating in girls athletic programs. The cases could have far-reaching implications for civil rights, with a ruling against the athletes potentially eroding a range of protections for trans youth and LGBTQ+ people more broadly. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Denmark says US vice-president JD Vance to join talks on Greenland – Europe live 13. January 2026 (11:50) Vance will join tomorrow’s meeting between Danish and Greenlandic foreign ministers and US state secretary Marco RubioUS vice-president JD Vance will join tomorrow’s meeting between Danish and Greenlandic foreign ministers and US state secretary Marco Rubio, Danish foreign minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen told reporters.Speaking after a meeting of the Danish parliament’s foreign affairs committee, he said that JD Vance wanted to participate in the talks and will host them at the White House. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Global central banks offer ‘full solidarity’ to US Fed’s Powell amid Trump threats 13. January 2026 (11:37) Nine governors including Bank of England’s Andrew Bailey and ECB’s Christine Lagarde say independence is criticalBusiness live – latest updatesGlobal central banks have issued an extraordinary joint statement offering “full solidarity” to US Federal Reserve chair Jerome Powell, in the face of the latest threat to his independence from Donald Trump’s White House.“The independence of central banks is a cornerstone of price, financial and economic stability in the interest of the citizens that we serve. It is therefore critical to preserve that independence, with full respect for the rule of law and democratic accountability,” the statement said. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Music executive LA Reid settles sexual assault lawsuit on day civil trial was due to begin 13. January 2026 (11:26) The former Arista Records chief executive had faced allegations that he derailed the career of former employee Drew Dixon after she rejected his advancesThe Grammy-winning music executive LA Reid settled a lawsuit by a former employee who accused him of sexual assault and harassment, on the day the civil trial was due to begin.In 2023, Drew Dixon alleged that the former Arista Records chief executive born Antonio Reid – who helped develop Mariah Carey, TLC, Pink and Usher – derailed her career after she rejected his advances in 2021. Dixon said that he groped, kissed and digitally penetrated her without consent on two occasions. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Wes Streeting attacks centre-left for ‘excuses culture’ of blaming civil service 13. January 2026 (11:00) In remarks that will be seen as criticism of Starmer allies, health secretary says own side are helping right ‘roll the pitch’UK politics live – latest updatesWes Streeting has criticised the centre-left of politics for an “excuses culture” which blames Whitehall and stakeholders for the slow pace of change, saying politicians “are not simply at the mercy of forces outside of our control”.The health secretary’s comments will be seen as an attack on complaints by allies of Keir Starmer that change has been constantly delayed by the number of regulations and arm’s-length bodies. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Lloyds questioned by watchdog over use of staff banking data in pay talks 13. January 2026 (11:00) ICO says it is making inquiries with banking group over data privacy after it accessed 30,000 staff accountsThe information watchdog is questioning Lloyds Banking Group over a potential breach of privacy rules after it accessed data from 30,000 staff bank accounts during union pay talks last year.Lloyds – which owns the Halifax and Bank of Scotland brands – used aggregated salary, spending and savings data as part of a presentation to staff union representatives, which suggested that its lowest-paid staff had been in a better financial position than the wider population in recent years. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
