Public urged to grow unusual plants to safeguard diversity of UK blooms 09. January 2026 (14:00) Plant Heritage says gardening trends mean many species in danger of disappearing as they are no longer offered for saleMore than half of garden plants previously grown in the UK are no longer offered for sale as flower fashions and modern gardening trends have reduced the diversity of blooms.Plant Heritage is asking the public to choose unusual plants for their gardens, and maybe even start their own national collections of rare blooms, in order to stop some cultivated plants from dying out. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Doge cuts cost US taxpayers $10bn to cover workers’ paid leave, analysis finds 09. January 2026 (14:00) Analysis estimates Trump administration ‘wasted’ billions to compensate over 154,000 federal employees on leaveThe Trump administration “wasted” $10bn on paid leave, or paying workers to stay home, as part of the “department of government efficiency’s” assault on the federal workforce, a new analysis by Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility (Peer) estimates.In a letter sent to the Government Accountability Office (GAO), Peer estimates that more than 154,000 employees were put on paid leave in 2025, making up nearly 7% of the federal civilian workforce. That costs taxpayers approximately $10bn in compensation for workers who were staying home and not working. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Trump claims to have cancelled ‘previously expected’ second wave of attacks on Venezuela – US politics live 09. January 2026 (11:49) US president says move was reaction to Caracas releasing large numbers of political prisoners as ‘sign of seeking peace’The US Supreme Court could issue a ruling later in the day determining whether Trump can invoke the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) to impose tariffs without the approval of Congress.Although it is unclear whether the Supreme Court will issue a ruling, it has scheduled Friday as a “decision day” for releasing opinions, fuelling speculation that the tariff case could be decided this afternoon. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Syria announces ceasefire in Aleppo after three days of clashes with Kurds 09. January 2026 (11:14) US envoy welcomes pause in hostilities in contested region although it is unclear whether deal will holdSyria’s government has announced a ceasefire after three days of clashes with Kurdish fighters in Aleppo, which has led to more than 140,000 people being displaced.The pause in the fighting, which was the most intense in the country for more than six months, came into effect at 3am local time (midnight GMT). Under the terms of the ceasefire, Kurdish militants were to leave the three contested neighbourhoods of Sheikh Maqsoud, Ashrafieh and Bani Zaid, where clashes were happening. They would be provided safe passage to the north-east of the country, which is controlled by the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), and be allowed to take light arms with them. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
One awards battle after another: A-listers face off at this year’s Golden Globes 09. January 2026 (11:03) Big names from Leonardo DiCaprio to Timothée Chalamet are aiming for a win at Hollywood’s most important Oscars precursorHollywood’s A-list will assemble this weekend for the 83rd Golden Globes ceremony, a night that will reveal where this year’s Oscars race is headed.Stars including Leonardo DiCaprio, Timothée Chalamet, Jennifer Lawrence, Emma Stone, Michael B Jordan and Ariana Grande are among those nominated for film awards while small screen nominees include Helen Mirren, Jenna Ortega, Jude Law and Glen Powell. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
‘We are not for sale’: chair of Greenland’s top labor union rebukes Trump’s call for annexation 09. January 2026 (11:00) Exclusive: SIK leader Jess Berthelsen rejects Trump claim that the US needs Greenland for ‘national security’Greenland “will not be annexed”, the longtime leader of its largest labor union has declared, refuting Donald Trump’s claims that the Arctic territory’s current status poses a national security threat to the US.In an interview with the Guardian, Jess Berthelsen, chair of SIK, Greenland’s national trade union confederation, said people in the territory do not recognize the US president’s allegations that Russian and Chinese ships are scattered throughout its waters. “We can’t see it, we can’t recognize it and we can’t understand it,” he said. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
White House unleashes torrent of untruths after woman shot dead by ICE 09. January 2026 (11:00) Victim-blaming began almost as soon as Renee Nicole Good was killed – we examine the claims and the realityThe killing of a US citizen by a federal immigration agent in Minneapolis was a five-alarm fire for the Trump administration. But a torrent of untruths, half-truths, smears, and innuendo has been unleashed by the White House, and amplified by its social media and cable television acolytes, in an attempt to douse the flames.Hakeem Jeffries, the Democratic House minority leader, called homeland security secretary Kristi Noem a “stone cold liar” on Thursday for her efforts to falsely portray the victim Renee Nicole Good, a 37-year-old mother of three and award-winning poet, as a “domestic terrorist”. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Alzheimer’s therapies should target a particular gene, researchers say 09. January 2026 (11:00) Scientists at UCL say drug developers should focus on two risk-raising variants of the Apoe geneNew therapies for Alzheimer’s disease should target a particular gene linked to the condition, according to researchers who said most cases would never arise if its harmful effects were neutralised.The call to action follows the arrival of the first wave of drugs that aim to treat Alzheimer’s patients by removing toxic proteins from the brain. While the drugs slow the disease down, the benefits are minor, and they have been rejected for widespread use by the UK’s National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (Nice). Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Russia fires hypersonic Oreshnik missile at Ukraine in massive attack 09. January 2026 (09:43) Kyiv dismisses as ‘absurd’ Moscow’s attempt to portray missile launch as retaliation for supposed attempted drone strike on Putin residenceEurope live – latest updatesRussia’s military has said it fired its new hypersonic Oreshnik missile at a target in Ukraine during a massive overnight strike.Ukraine confirmed the attack, saying it took place in the west of the country near the EU border. Moscow said the launch of the intermediate-range ballistic missile was retaliation for a supposed attempted Ukrainian drone attack on Vladimir Putin’s residence late last month – an allegation Kyiv and Washington have said is false. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
‘In isolation, we’ll never flourish’: What Iranians think about the protests and an end to the Islamic Republic 09. January 2026 (09:34) In Tehran this week, young adults told the Guardian about collapsing living standards, the mass anti-government protests and their hopes for the futureMahsa is single and lives with her family. She has a page online where she sells her clothes and had arranged for a prominent influencer to run a major promotion for her. But because of the current situation, the influencer returned the money, and her sales and page activity came to a halt. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
