Archaeologists discover signs of Roman industrial hub at site in Sunderland 08. January 2026 (07:47) Discovery of more than 800 whetstones, used to sharpen weapons, seen as one of the most significant finds in northern England for a centuryArchaeologists have found evidence of a huge and previously unknown industrial hub of Roman manufacturing in a discovery seen as one of the most significant finds in northern England for a century.Researchers were astonished to discover more than 800 whetstones at a site on the banks of the River Wear, and evidence of there being hundreds, if not thousands, more buried in the riverbank. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Adelaide festival dumps prominent academic Randa Abdel-Fattah over ‘cultural sensitivity’ concerns after Bondi attack 08. January 2026 (07:35) Abdel-Fattah accuses the board of ‘blatant and shameless’ anti-Palestinian racism and censorship, as other authors pull out in solidarityFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastThe Adelaide festival has removed prominent academic and Palestine advocate Randa Abdel-Fattah from its lineup citing concerns over “cultural sensitivity” after a review undertaken in the wake of the Bondi terror attack.The festival covers arts, music, talks and theatre and includes Adelaide’s annual Writers’ Week next month, where Abdel-Fattah was due to appear for the second time after hosting a number of panels and sessions in 2023. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
AI chatbot Grok used to create child sexual abuse imagery, watchdog says 08. January 2026 (07:00) Internet Watch Foundation warns Elon Musk-owned AI risks bringing sexualised imagery of children into the mainstreamOnline criminals are claiming to have used Elon Musk’s Grok chatbot to create sexual imagery of children, as a child safety watchdog warned the AI tool risked bringing such material into the mainstream.The UK-based Internet Watch Foundation (IWF) said users of a dark web forum boasted of using Grok Imagine to create sexualised and topless imagery of girls aged between 11 and 13. IWF analysts said the images would be considered child sexual abuse material (CSAM) under UK law. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Supermarkets could help UK shoppers eat more sustainable local fish – study 08. January 2026 (07:00) Shift from ‘big 5’ imports to British fish such as sprats and sardines would help diets and the planet, say researchersSupermarkets could help to support British consumers to move away from their reliance on mainly imported seafood – the “big 5” of cod, haddock, tuna, salmon and prawns – to more sustainable, nutritious and locally caught fish such as sardines and anchovies, researchers say.A study by the University of East Anglia (UEA), which confirmed previous research showing consumers did not eat the recommended amount of fish in their diet, suggests the UK could be overlooking a major opportunity to improve national health as well as bolstering local economies by embracing its own rich populations of nutritious small fish. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Right to protest is under attack in England and Wales, reports warn 08. January 2026 (07:00) Human Rights Watch and Justice say recent legislative changes have had a chilling effect and should be repealedThe right to protest is under attack in England and Wales with laws trampling over human rights protections and more oppressive restrictions in the pipeline, two major reports have warned.Both Human Rights Watch and the cross-party law reform organisation Justice say recent legislative changes have created a chilling effect on lawful protest and should be repealed. Their reports, simultaneously published on Thursday, also say that proposals for more curbs should be halted. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Two weeks on, questions linger over targeting and impact of US airstrikes in Nigeria 08. January 2026 (06:00) Very little information has been shared about strikes in Sokoto stateTwo weeks after the US carried out Christmas Day airstrikes in north-west Nigeria on what it described as Islamic State fighters, questions remain over the specific group that was targeted and the operation’s impact.In the aftermath of the strikes, Donald Trump said in a post on his Truth Social platform that “ISIS Terrorist Scum in Northwest Nigeria, who have been targeting and viciously killing, primarily, innocent Christians” were hit with “numerous perfect strikes”. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
EU accused of fuelling Putin’s war by importing Russian liquefied natural gas 08. January 2026 (06:00) Despite Brussels’ pledge to ban Russian LNG by 2027, shipments to European ports increased in the last yearEuropean governments have been accused of fuelling Vladimir Putin’s war in Ukraine as new data shows the Kremlin earned an estimated €7.2bn (£6.2bn) last year from exporting its liquefied natural gas (LNG) to the EU.Brussels has pledged to ban imports of Russian LNG – natural gas that is supercooled to make it easier to transport – by 2027 but an analysis suggests there is yet to be any letup in the vast quantities being received at European ports from Russia’s LNG complex on the Yamal peninsula in Siberia. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Two men charged after allegedly scamming $50,000 from elderly women in car parks across NSW 08. January 2026 (05:48) Scam allegedly involved one man telling the women there was an issue with their vehicle while the other stole itemsFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastTwo men have been charged after allegedly stealing more than $50,000 by scamming 18 elderly women in shopping centre car parks across New South Wales.NSW police arrested the two men – aged 37 and 57 – on Wednesday after 18 alleged thefts across the state, including in Newcastle, Wagga Wagga and several Sydney suburbs. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Venezuela open to oil deal, says Rodríguez, as Vance claims US ‘controls’ country’s resources 08. January 2026 (05:35) The Trump administration is asserting control over Venezuelan oil, after seizing a pair of sanctioned tankers on WednesdayVenezuela’s interim president, Delcy Rodríguez, has defended plans to open up her country’s oil market to Washington, as Donald Trump’s vice-president JD Vance reiterated that the US would have complete control of the country’s supplies.Rodríguez said on Wednesday that America’s attack to remove her predecessor, Nicolás Maduro, put a “stain” on the countries’ relations, but added it was “not unusual or irregular” to trade with the US, adding that Venezuela was “open to energy relations where all parties benefit.” Continue reading...(The Guardian)
‘The most dangerous day’: bushfires break out in Victoria as BoM warns of catastrophic conditions to come 08. January 2026 (05:12) Temperatures recorded by Thursday lunchtime included 44.9C at Tarcoola in SA, 45.8C at Hopetoun airport in Victoria, 43.7C at Paraburdoo, WA and 43C at Hay, NSWFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastVictoria’s Hume Highway has closed, regional trains have been cancelled and firefighters from at least two states are battling blazes in the worst heatwave to descend on Australia since 2019-20.As Melbourne prepares for a forecast of 41C day on Friday, the acting premier, Ben Carroll, described Victoria as “one of the most bushfire-prone areas in the world”. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
