Elon Musk’s Grok AI generates images of ‘minors in minimal clothing’ 02. January 2026 (17:27) xAI says it is working to improve systems after lapses in safeguards led to wave of sexualized images this weekElon Musk’s chatbot Grok posted on Friday that lapses in safeguards had led it to generate “images depicting minors in minimal clothing” on social media platform X. The chatbot, a product of Musk’s company xAI, has been generating a wave of sexualized images throughout the week in response to user prompts.Screenshots shared by users on X showed Grok’s public media tab filled with such images. xAI said it was working to improve its systems to prevent future incidents. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Man, 51, dies trying to rescue woman in sea off Brighton beach 02. January 2026 (17:17) Death of man from Kettering comes shortly after disappearance of two men during a Christmas Day swim in DevonA 51-year-old man has died after attempting to rescue a woman who was struggling to swim at Brighton beach on New Year’s Day, police have confirmed.Sussex police were alerted at 10.35am on Thursday after the swimmer, from Kettering, Northamptonshire, was recovered from the water to the west of Brighton Palace Pier. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
China’s BYD overtakes Tesla as world’s biggest electric car seller 02. January 2026 (17:07) Sales at Elon Musk’s company slump after Donald Trump’s withdrawal of EV subsidiesChina’s BYD overtook Tesla as the world’s largest electric carmaker in 2025, after the US company run by Elon Musk reported a slump in deliveries at the end of the year.BYD sold 2.26m battery electric cars during the year, easily outstripping the 1.63m deliveries reported on Friday by Tesla for the same period. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Saudi warplanes kill seven UAE-backed Yemeni separatists 02. January 2026 (16:24) Strikes on Southern Transitional Council are first fatal coalition attack on group since it seized swathes of southern YemenSaudi warplanes have targeted separatist fighters in Yemen, killing seven in a counterattack against a sweeping advance by the United Arab Emirates-backed Southern Transitional Council.The deaths on Friday are the first from coalition fire since the secessionist STC seized swathes of Hadramout and al-Mahra provinces last month. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Israel accuses Mamdani of antisemitism on first day as New York mayor 02. January 2026 (16:14) Foreign ministry says mayor has poured ‘antisemitic gasoline on an open fire’ by scrapping IHRA definitionIsrael’s foreign ministry has accused the New York mayor, Zohran Mamdani, of pouring “antisemitic gasoline on an open fire” after he reversed a recent order by the outgoing mayor, Eric Adams.“On his very first day as @NYCMayor, Mamdani shows his true face: he scraps the IHRA definition of antisemitism and lifts restrictions on boycotting Israel. This isn’t leadership. It’s antisemitic gasoline on an open fire,” the foreign ministry said in a post on X. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Flu patient numbers in English hospitals fall for second straight week 02. January 2026 (15:31) Medical director says NHS ‘far from complacent’ as cold snap bites, with average of 2,676 flu patients a day on wardsThe number of people in hospital with flu in England has fallen for the second week in a row, NHS figures show, as England’s top doctor said the health service was “far from complacent” as a cold snap takes hold.An average of 2,676 flu patients were in hospital each day during the week ending 28 December, down 13% from 3,061 the previous week. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Ørsted files legal challenge against US government over windfarm lease freeze 02. January 2026 (15:27) Europe’s biggest offshore wind developer seeking to overturn White House decision to suspend work on a $5bn wind farm projectEurope’s biggest offshore wind developer is taking the Trump administration to court over its decision to suspend work on a $5bn project on the north-east US coast.Denmark’s Ørsted filed a legal challenge on Thursday against the White House’s decision 10 days ago to suspend the lease for its Revolution Wind site as part of a sweeping move halting all construction of offshore wind. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Colorado authorities suspect mountain lion attack after woman found dead near trail 02. January 2026 (15:03) Other hikers had reported seeing the animal near the body and scared it away ‘by throwing rocks’ at itAuthorities are investigating a suspected fatal mountain lion attack after a woman was found dead on a hiking trail in Colorado on Thursday.In a news release on Thursday, Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) said that hikers reported seeing a mountain lion near a person lying on the ground on the Crosier Mountain trail in unincorporated Larimer county at around 12.15pm local time on Thursday. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Aboriginal woman’s death in custody in NT prompts calls for independent investigation 02. January 2026 (15:00) Police say woman’s death in Tennant Creek appeared to be the result of a medical episode, but Aboriginal legal service says internal investigation is ‘not sufficient’Warning: This article contains references to Indigenous Australians who have diedGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastThe Northern Territory’s peak Aboriginal legal service has called for an independent investigation after a 44-year-old Aboriginal mother of five died at the Tennant Creek watch house last Saturday.NT police said her death appeared to be the result of a medical episode inside her cell on 27 December, after she was arrested on Christmas Day for an alleged aggravated assault.Indigenous Australians can call 13YARN on 13 92 76 for information and crisis support; or call Lifeline on 13 11 14, Mensline on 1300 789 978 or Beyond Blue on 1300 22 4636 Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Real estate agents under the microscope in Australian-first privacy ‘compliance sweep’ 02. January 2026 (15:00) Businesses including pubs and car rental companies targeted to check if they use ‘power asymmetry’ to gather personal data and keep it too longGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastReal estate agencies who ask for phone numbers at open houses, car dealerships that keep driver licences on file, and pubs and bars that scan IDs for entry will be targeted by the privacy regulator in its first “compliance sweep” of dozens of businesses.The crackdown by the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner could see businesses fined up to $66,000 if their privacy policies fail to meet legal standards.Rental and property inspections.Chemists and pharmacists who collect information for paperless receipts and medication provision.Licensed venues that collect ID’s for entry.Pawnshops and secondhand dealers, andCar rental companies and car dealerships that collect personal data for rentals or test drives. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
