Charity watchdog opens inquiry into City & Guilds’ sale of business arm 09. January 2026 (16:14) Bosses at body that trained chef Jamie Oliver were awarded million-pound bonuses after sale to private firmBusiness live – latest updatesThe Charity Commission has opened a statutory inquiry into City & Guilds’ sale of its qualification awards business to a private company last year.The announcement has been made after the Guardian revealed last month how City & Guilds bosses were handed million-pound bonuses after the charity privatised its business arm. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Germany braces for more heavy snowfall as Storm Goretti hits northern Europe 09. January 2026 (16:13) France and Germany battered by strong winds and plunging temperatures, as schools closed and travel disruptedGermany is expecting heavy snowfalls of up to 20cm after record winds of more than 210kph left almost 400,000 homes in France without electricity, as Storm Goretti battered north-western Europe.No major or widespread damage to property was reported in France on Friday but one man was seriously hurt after slipping from his roof while trying to replace fallen tiles and 27 others suffered minor injuries, several requiring hospital treatment. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Robots that can do laundry and more, plus unrolling laptops: the standout tech from CES 2026 09. January 2026 (15:30) Robot vacuums that can climb stairs and device for BlackBerry lovers also on display at annual Las Vegas tech showThis year will be filled with robots that can fold your laundry, pick up objects and climb stairs, fridges that you can command to open by voice, laptops with screens that can follow you around the room on motorised hinges and the reimagining of the BlackBerry phone.Those are the predictions from the annual CES tech show in Las Vegas that took place this week. The sprawling event aims to showcase cutting-edge technology developed by startups and big brands. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
With a new leader and tired opponent, this should be the Victorian Liberals’ year – if not for self-inflicted wounds 09. January 2026 (15:00) As dysfunction reigns, the party shows yet again that its greatest obstacle to winning government is not Labor but itselfGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastThis should be the Victorian Liberal party’s year. They head into November’s election with a new, energetic and articulate leader in Jess Wilson, who has vowed to drag her party to the centre and reconnect with voters it has lost in recent years.Across the aisle stands a weary third-term Labor government, burdened by the state’s debt – forecast to hit $192bn by 2028-29 – and the baggage of more than a decade in power. No Victorian Labor government has ever secured a fourth term – a fact that should give the Liberals cause for optimism. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Anonymous painting bought at auction on ‘hunch’ identified as two-in-one Rubens 09. January 2026 (14:53) Study of man often featured in works by the Flemish master reveals hidden painting of woman beneath model’s beardIs it a bald elderly man with a big bushy beard and a wine-addled stare? Or a friendly young woman with flowing locks and a crown of braids?To Belgian art dealer Klaas Muller, an answer to that question mattered less than the fact that this particular take on the duck-rabbit optical illusion was painted by one Peter Paul Rubens. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
US hiring held firm in December amid economic uncertainty 09. January 2026 (14:41) Employers added 50,000 jobs, according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, despite a year of uneven growthHiring held firm in the US last month, official data showed, amid uncertainty over the strength and direction of the world’s largest economy.Employers added 50,000 jobs to the US labor force last month, following a year of uneven growth , according to data released from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics on Friday. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Starmer rules out EU financial services alignment talks 09. January 2026 (14:32) City firms welcome clarity as government signals it will not reopen Brussels-era rules, despite closer cooperation elsewhereBusiness live – latest updatesUK politics live – latest updatesKeir Starmer will exclude financial services from negotiations on closer alignment with the EU, prompting a sigh of relief from Brexit-weary City lobbyists.A government spokesperson said officials would continue to explore cooperation “where it is in our economy’s interest”, but it is understood there will be no push for City firms to return to the Brussels rulebook. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Iran’s supreme leader signals harsher crackdown as protest movement swells 09. January 2026 (14:18) Ayatollah Ali Khamenei calls protesters ‘vandals’ and ‘saboteurs’ and blames the US for instigating the unrestIran’s supreme leader has vowed that authorities will “not back down” in the face of growing protests, blaming the US for instigating demonstrations that started over economic conditions and have since expanded to calls for political reform.In his first speech since the protests started 13 days ago, the supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, signalled on Friday that a greater crackdown was coming. He described protesters as “vandals” and “saboteurs”, and accused them of working on behalf of foreign agendas. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
No 10 condemns ‘insulting’ move by X to restrict Grok AI image tool 09. January 2026 (14:15) Spokesperson says limiting access to paying subscribers just makes ability to generate unlawful images a premium serviceUK politics live – latest updatesDowning Street has condemned the move by X to restrict its AI image creation tool to paying subscribers as insulting, saying it simply made the ability to generate explicit and unlawful images a premium service.There has been widespread anger after the image tool for Grok, the AI element of X, was used to manipulate thousands of images of women and sometimes children to remove their clothing or put them in sexual positions. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Princess of Wales says nature ‘helped me heal’ in 44th birthday video 09. January 2026 (14:15) Catherine says she feels ‘deeply grateful’ in final instalment of Mother Nature series, a year on from cancer treatmentThe Princess of Wales has marked her 44th birthday with a short video in which she says she has spent winter reflecting on how “deeply grateful” she is and how nature helps to heal.In the video, entitled Winter and the final instalment of her quarterly Mother Nature series, Catherine says: “Even in the coldest, darkest season, winter has a way of bringing us stillness, patience and quiet consideration.” Continue reading...(The Guardian)
