María Corina Machado vows to return to Venezuela and rejects rule of Maduro’s deputy 06. January 2026 (16:47) Opposition leader says her movement is ready to win a fair election and praises Trump for toppling the presidentFrom elation to frustration: Trump snub wrongfoots Venezuela’s oppositionThe Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado has vowed to return to the country as soon as possible and rejected the authority of the interim president backed – for now – by the US after it forcibly removed Nicolás Maduro from power.Machado told Fox News from an undisclosed location that her movement was ready to win a free election, and praised Donald Trump for toppling Maduro. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Doug LaMalfa, California Republican congressman, dies aged 65 06. January 2026 (16:27) LaMalfa’s death cuts the House Republican majority to 218-213, tightening GOP control for passing billsDoug LaMalfa, a California Republican who represented the state’s rural northern region in the House and was known for his work on water and forestry policy, has died at age 65, according to statements from Republican officials.LaMalfa, a fourth-generation rice farmer who previously served in the California state legislature, was in his seventh term representing California’s first congressional district. He sat on the House agriculture, natural resources, and transportation and infrastructure committees. No cause of death has been announced. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
It would be an honour to write James Bond theme song, says Noel Gallagher 06. January 2026 (16:12) Songsmith’s comments come after his brother Liam stoked rumours Oasis had been courted for the roleNoel Gallagher has said that he would “absolutely” write the theme song for the next James Bond film if asked, saying that doing so would be an honour.Speaking to TalkSport, the Oasis songwriter revealed that while there had not been any contact between himself and the producers of the franchise, he would leap at the opportunity to contribute music for the film, adding that he thought the theme songs the series was known for should be made by British artists. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
US justice department has released less than 1% of Epstein files, filing reveals 06. January 2026 (15:54) Federal law required majority of documents to be released by 19 December, but only 125,575 pages have been publishedThe Department of Justice has released less than 1% of the so-called Epstein files, a court filing has revealed, as Democrats step up criticism of the Trump administration’s “lawlessness” for keeping records under seal.The department conceded that only 12,285 documents, totalling 125,575 pages, relating to the disgraced financier and sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein have been published to date, despite a federal law requiring the vast majority to be released by 19 December. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Kent water failure was foreseen and could have been stopped, regulator says 06. January 2026 (15:48) Problem at water treatment centre left 24,000 Tunbridge Wells homes without drinking water for two weeksA failure at a water treatment centre that left tens of thousands of Kent households without water was foreseen weeks before it happened and could have been stopped, the regulator has said.Twenty-four thousand homes in the Tunbridge Wells area were without drinking water for two weeks from 30 November last year due to a failure at the Pembury water treatment centre. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Six people die as snow, ice and freezing temperatures wreak havoc in Europe 06. January 2026 (15:44) Deaths in France and Bosnia as icy conditions disrupt travel in countries including UK and the NetherlandsSix people have died as snow, ice and freezing temperatures continue to wreak havoc across parts of Europe.Authorities in the Landes region of south-west France said three people died and 15 were injured in road accidents on Tuesday, while two more were killed in accidents in the Paris area. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Two Republicans oppose Pete Hegseth’s censure of fellow Senator Mark Kelly 06. January 2026 (15:40) Pushback from Susan Collins and Thom Tillis is striking amid tepid response from most other Republican senatorsTwo senior Republican senators on Monday openly opposed Pentagon secretary Pete Hegseth’s attempt to punish their fellow Senator Mark Kelly by demoting him and cutting his pension after he released a video telling active-duty military to follow the law.Susan Collins of Maine, who chairs the Senate appropriations committee with jurisdiction over the Pentagon’s budget, said she believed it was wrong to target Kelly’s military benefits because of a political video. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Protester detained in Sydney for wearing ‘globalise the intifada’ jacket says she should ‘never have been arrested’ 06. January 2026 (15:00) Woman, 53, claims police told her slogan was unlawful despite being unable to point to legislation banning its useGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastA protester detained in Sydney’s CBD while wearing a jacket that said “globalise the intifada” says she should “never have been arrested” and claims police told her the slogan was unlawful, despite them being unable to point to legislation banning its use.The 53-year-old woman was arrested on Sunday during a protest against the US military intervention in Venezuela for wearing a shirt “displaying offensive messaging”, police alleged. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
‘Won’t go down without a fight’: Moira Deeming among Victorian Liberal MPs facing preselection challenge 06. January 2026 (15:00) Exclusive: Western metropolitan region MP to battle Dinesh Gourisetty ahead of November state election as Ann-Marie Hermans also challengedGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastVictorian Liberal upper house MPs Moira Deeming and Ann-Marie Hermans are to face preselection challenges, as senior party members sound out a former journalist to run against Renee Heath.Guardian Australia has confirmed from three sources not authorised to comment publicly that Dinesh Gourisetty, a prominent figure in Melbourne’s fast-growing Indian community, will nominate for preselection in the western metropolitan region against Deeming. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
NSW ministers warned not to meet alone with prominent lobbyist after firm placed on watchlist 06. January 2026 (15:00) Eamonn Fitzpatrick, a former media adviser to several Labor premiers and prime ministers, says he ‘self-reported two genuine errors’ and rectified the lobbyist register immediatelyGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastNew South Wales ministers have been warned not to meet alone with one of the most prominent lobbyists in the state, Eamonn Fitzpatrick, or his firm after the NSW Electoral Commission placed EJF Advisory on a watchlist for breaches of the lobbying code.The NSW lobbyist register showed the firm was placed on a watchlist from 13 November 2025 “due to contraventions of the Lobbyists Code of Conduct or the Lobbying of Government Officials Act 2011 (Logo Act)”. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
