London Symphony Orchestra announces John Harte as managing director 07. January 2026 (14:24) Harte, who was been Aurora orchestra’s chief executive since 2009, replaces Kathryn McDowellThe London Symphony Orchestra has announced that John Harte will be the orchestra’s next managing director, replacing Dame Kathryn McDowell, who steps down after 20 years in the role at the end of the summer.Harte has been chief executive of Aurora Orchestra since 2009, where, alongside principal conductor Nicholas Collon and creative director Jane Mitchell, he has built the group from a startup into one of the most successful and innovative new British arts organisations in recent decades. Prior to his role with Aurora, Harte worked for the British choral label Collegium and completed a doctorate in Middle Eastern history at the School of Oriental and African Studies. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
MPs would get vote on troop deployment to Ukraine, says Keir Starmer 07. January 2026 (14:19) UK and France ready to send peacekeeping troops, PM tells House of CommonsUK politics live – latest updatesMPs will have a debate and vote before any UK troops are deployed on peacekeeping duties in Ukraine, Keir Starmer has announced at prime minister’s questions.Speaking after Britain and France said they would be willing to send troops if there was a peace deal, following discussions at a wider summit in Paris, Starmer was pressed by Kemi Badenoch, the Conservative leader, as to why he was not making a full Commons statement. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
US suspends funds for needy families in five Democratic-led states 07. January 2026 (14:14) Administration has alleged fraud in decision to halt grants from California, Colorado, Illinois, Minnesota and New YorkDonald Trump’s administration said Tuesday that it is withholding funding for programs that support needy families with children in five Democratic-led states over concerns about fraud.The US Department of Health and Human Services, which oversees the program, will require the states to provide extra documentation to access the funds.The child care and development fund subsidizes day care for low-income households, enabling parents to work or go to school.Temporary assistance for needy families provides cash assistance and job training so parents in poverty can afford diapers and clothes and earn paychecks.The social services block grant, a much smaller fund, supports several different social service programs. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Brigitte Bardot laid to rest in funeral ceremony broadcast across Saint-Tropez 07. January 2026 (14:09) Service attended by singers, animal rights activists, and public figures including Marine Le PenBrigitte Bardot, the film star turned animal rights activist, will be laid to rest in her home town of Saint-Tropez on Wednesday during a funeral attended by her favourite politician, the far-right leader Marine Le Pen.Bardot died at her La Madrague villa on 28 December aged 91. Her funeral is being held at the Notre-Dame de l’Assomption church and broadcast on large screens across the town. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Australia’s cost of living ‘getting crazier’ as nearly half of lower-income families worry about affording school shoes 07. January 2026 (14:00) Nine in 10 families are worried about price of back-to-school essentials as inflation continues to bite, research has foundFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesBudgeting for Laura, a single mother of four, often means deciding between buying enough food or paying her electricity bill on time.“Some weeks we’re good, some weeks we’re down and I have to go into the community and ask for vouchers,” she says. The down weeks have been happening more since the pandemic. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
First flight of 2026 under UK ‘one in, one out’ asylum scheme cancelled 07. January 2026 (13:55) Detainees under scheme to return people entering UK on small boats told their plane tickets have been cancelledThe first flight of 2026 to return asylum seekers who came to the UK on small boats to France has been cancelled, the Guardian understands.Detainees earmarked for the UK government’s “one in, one out” scheme who had tickets for a flight on Wednesday morning to Paris were told their tickets had been cancelled. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Yemen separatist leader to make last stand after rejecting Saudi ultimatum, supporters say 07. January 2026 (13:47) Saudi airstrikes hit Aidarous al-Zubaidi’s military camps after he defies a demand to travel to Riyadh for talksThe leader of Yemen’s routed southern separatist movement, Aidarous al-Zubaidi, has decided to make a defiant last stand in Aden, his supporters say, rejecting a Saudi ultimatum to travel to Riyadh for talks and – for now – a plan to flee the southern capital.Al-Zubaidi, the president of the Southern Transitional Council (STC), has been gathering his remaining troops in Aden as rival Saudi-backed forces seek to take control of Aden. His supporters say his mood is to fight it out although he knows it is likely there will be an attempt to kill him. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
France and allies discuss response to possible US invasion of Greenland 07. January 2026 (13:23) French, German and Polish foreign ministers to meet amid escalating threats to seize part of Danish kingdomEurope live – latest updatesFrance has said it is working with allies on how to react if the US were to invade Greenland, amid mounting tension over Donald Trump’s escalating threats to take over the Arctic territory.The French foreign minister, Jean-Noël Barrot, said the subject would be discussed at a meeting with the German and Polish foreign ministers on Wednesday. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
UK construction hit by worst run since global financial crisis 07. January 2026 (13:08) Output shrank for 12th month in a row in December, while housebuilding in deepest slump since 2020Business live – latest updatesBritain’s construction sector has recorded its worst run since the financial crisis almost two decades ago, with housebuilding mired in the deepest slump since the start of the Covid pandemic in 2020.UK construction output shrank for the 12th month in a row in December, the longest unbroken run of declines since the global financial crash of 2007-09, although there were signs of optimism among companies, according to a monthly industry survey. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Trump claims Venezuela is set for an oil boom after US attack – history points to a bumpy road ahead 07. January 2026 (13:00) From Venezuela to Libya to Iraq, removal of dictators has not always guaranteed a surge in oil production, data showsHours after Nicolás Maduro was captured by US special forces in Venezuela and indicted on drugs, weapons and “narco-terrorism” charges, Donald Trump spoke extensively about his plans for something else entirely: oil.Venezuela’s oil reserves – reputedly the world’s largest – are set to be pumped by a parade of powerful US oil companies, according to the US president, most of whom have not operated in the country in decades. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
