Intense heat across south-east Australia could shatter temperature records in coming days 23. January 2026 (03:11) High to extreme fire danger expected across several states as inland parts of SA, Victoria, NSW and Queensland may have more than five days above 40CFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastAll-time temperature records could tumble in Victoria and New South Wales over coming days, as a dome of intense heat pushed into south-east Australia, bringing extreme to catastrophic fire conditions.Starting from Saturday, the Bureau of Meteorology has forecast a prolonged period of intense heat across South Australia, Victoria, New South Wales and southern Queensland. Some inland areas could experience more than five days above 40C. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Man accused of plot to murder US border patrol’s Bovino found not guilty 23. January 2026 (02:43) Acquittal of Juan Espinoza Martinez in Chicago marks latest major federal prosecution to fall apart in courtA man accused of a murder-for-hire plot targeting a top US border patrol leader was found not guilty on Thursday in Chicago, the latest high-profile prosecution by the Department of Justice to fall apart in court.The government alleged that Juan Espinoza Martinez, 37, had offered a $10,000 bounty over Snapchat in October for the killing of Gregory Bovino, the border patrol official who has spearheaded aggressive immigration operations in cities across the country. Defense lawyers argued Espinoza Martinez was sharing an innocuous social media message that did not constitute a threat. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Japan pauses restart of world’s largest nuclear power plant one day after it went online 23. January 2026 (01:19) Operator says it does now know when the problem at the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa plant in Niigata province will be solved, after an alarm sounded during start-upThe restart of the world’s largest nuclear power plant was suspended in Japan on Thursday just a day after it went online for the first time in about 14 years, with the operator saying it does not know when the problem will be solved.The Kashiwazaki-Kariwa plant in Niigata province had been closed since the 2011 Fukushima disaster, but operations to relaunch it began on Wednesday after it received the final green light from the nuclear regulator. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
MPs ask Serious Fraud Office to investigate UK home insulation sector 23. January 2026 (01:01) More than 30,000 households left with defects after ‘catastrophic failure’ of Tory government schemesMembers of parliament have called for the Serious Fraud Office to investigate the UK’s home insulation sector, after thousands of householders suffered ruined homes, big financial losses and months of disruption from the “clear and catastrophic failure” of two Conservative government schemes.More than 30,000 households were left with defects, some of them severe, including mould, water ingress and damage to the fabric of walls, with about 3,000 dwellings so badly damaged they presented immediate health and safety risks to occupants. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
House rejects resolution that would bar Trump from sending troops to Venezuela 23. January 2026 (00:56) Vote on legislation falls just short of number needed for passage, showing Mike Johnson’s tenuous hold on majorityThe US House has rejected a resolution that would have prevented Donald Trump from sending US military forces to Venezuela, after a vote on the legislation fell just short of the majority needed for passage.The tied vote was the latest sign of House speaker Mike Johnson’s tenuous hold on the majority, as well as some of the growing pushback in the Republican-controlled Congress to the US president’s aggressions in the western hemisphere. A Senate vote on a similar resolution was also tied last week until JD Vance broke the deadlock. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Sussan Ley confident she will survive as opposition leader and says door is open to Nationals rejoining Coalition 23. January 2026 (00:38) David Littleproud says it’s not up to him to determine who the Liberal leader is, despite his comments on Thursday that he would not work with LeyFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastSussan Ley says her likely leadership rivals Angus Taylor and Andrew Hastie remain committed to her position, as speculation grows about an imminent challenge to the embattled Liberal leader.A day after the Nationals leader, David Littleproud, split the Coalition and said his party would not serve under Ley’s leadership, the opposition leader told Channel Seven on Friday she expected to remain in the top job. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
House approves homeland security bill despite Democrats’ opposition over ICE 23. January 2026 (00:19) Outrage mounts over ICE violence but seven Democrats vote with Republicans as funding bill passes 220-207 House Republicans overcame widespread Democratic opposition on Thursday to approve a bill funding the Department of Homeland Security, the federal agency spearheading Donald Trump’s immigration crackdown.The 220-207 vote, with seven Democrats joining nearly all Republicans, came amid mounting outrage over its heavy-handed and violent tactics in Minnesota and elsewhere. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Six injured after knife attack at Kurdish demonstration in Antwerp 22. January 2026 (23:59) Incident outside Opera House that left two people in critical condition is not being investigated as terrorism, police saySix people have been injured after a knife attack at a demonstration in Belgium on Thursday evening, police said.Two of the victims were in a critical condition in hospital after the incident in the port city of Antwerp near the Operaplein (Opera Square), police spokesperson Wouter Bruyns said. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
JP Morgan chief Jamie Dimon took home $43m pay last year 22. January 2026 (23:48) Bank hails Dimon’s ‘exemplary leadership’ as package for one of corporate America’s best-paid bosses rose 10%JPMorgan Chase chief executive Jamie Dimon took home a total pay package of $43m last year, it has been disclosed.Dimon’s total compensation rose 10% in 2025, according to a regulatory filing, cementing his status as one of the highest-paid bosses in corporate America. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Rural and coastal areas of England to get more cancer doctors 22. January 2026 (23:30) Government says plan will help end postcode lottery in access to diagnostic tests and treatmentHospitals in rural and coastal parts of England will get more cancer doctors to help tackle stark inequalities that mean people in some areas are far more likely to die from the disease.The plan is part of a government drive to end the “patchy” nature of NHS cancer care, which is characterised by wide postcode lotteries in access to diagnostic tests and treatment. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
