Heatwave and fire warnings as parts of Victoria expected to approach ‘all-time maximum record’ temperatures 22. January 2026 (07:07) At least five days of temperatures above 40C forecast for parts of South Australia, Victoria and NSWFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastVictorians are being warned to brace for another heatwave, with temperatures set to soar towards record levels in some parts of the state, putting authorities on alert in fire-affected areas.South Australia and parts of New South Wales have also been told to prepare for hot weather, due to what the Bureau of Meteorology senior meteorologist Kevin Parkyn described as a “dome of heat” that has caused record-breaking heat in Western Australia moving east. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
The year of the ‘hectocorn’: the $100bn tech companies that could float in 2026 22. January 2026 (07:00) OpenAI, Anthropic, SpaceX and Stripe are rumoured to be among ten of the biggest companies considering IPOsYou’ve probably heard of “unicorns” – technology startups valued at more than $1bn – but 2026 is shaping up to be the year of the “hectocorn”, with several US and European companies potentially floating on stock markets at valuations over $100bn (£75bn).OpenAI, Anthropic, SpaceX and Stripe are among the big names said to be considering an initial public offering (IPO) this year. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Half the world’s 100 largest cities are in high water stress areas, analysis finds 22. January 2026 (07:00) Exclusive: Beijing, Delhi, Los Angeles and Rio de Janeiro among worst affected, with demand close to exceeding supplyHalf the world’s 100 largest cities are experiencing high levels of water stress, with 39 of these sitting in regions of “extremely high water stress”, new analysis and mapping has shown.Water stress means that water withdrawals for public water supply and industry are close to exceeding available supplies, often caused by poor management of water resources exacerbated by climate breakdown. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Trump declaration of Greenland framework deal met with scepticism amid tariff relief 22. January 2026 (06:52) Nato chief Mark Rutte says there is ‘a lot of work to be done’, as some Danish MPs voice concern at Greenland apparently being sidelined in US president’s talks Donald Trump’s announcement of a “framework of a future deal” that would settle the issue of Greenland after weeks of escalating threats has been met with profound scepticism from people in the Arctic territory, even as financial markets rebounded and European leaders welcomed a reprieve from further tariffs.Just hours after the president used his speech at the World Economic Forum to insist he wanted Greenland, “including right, title and ownership,” but backed away from his more bellicose threats of military intervention – Trump took to social media to announce “the framework of a future deal with respect to Greenland” and withdrew the threat of tariffs against eight European countries. He later called it “a concept of a deal” when he spoke to business network CNBC soon after Wall Street closed. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Sussan Ley’s leadership all but over after Coalition split, senior Liberals say 22. January 2026 (06:21) Senior Coalition sources also believe David Littleproud’s leadership of the Nationals could end after division over hate speech lawsFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastSussan Ley’s leadership of the Liberal party is all but over, senior colleagues believe, after a spectacular split over hate speech laws blew up the Coalition for the second time in eight months.Angus Taylor and Andrew Hastie are the leading contenders to replace her, according to multiple sources who anticipate a challenge could begin to materialise as early as Friday, after the day of mourning for the Bondi massacre. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
ActionAid to rethink child sponsorship as part of plan to ‘decolonise’ its work 22. January 2026 (06:00) Development charity’s new co-chairs signal shift from controversial sponsor a child scheme launched in 1972 to long-term grassroots fundingChild sponsorship schemes that allow donors to handpick children to support in poor countries can carry racialised, paternalistic undertones and need to be transformed, the newly appointed co-chief executives of ActionAid UK said as they set out to “decolonise” the organisation’s work.ActionAid began in 1972 by finding sponsors for schoolchildren in India and Kenya, but Taahra Ghazi and Hannah Bond have launched their co-leadership this month with the goal of shifting narratives around aid from sympathy towards solidarity and partnership with global movements. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Queensland PhD candidate accused of plotting to firebomb Australia Day event wanted AI-driven society, court hears 22. January 2026 (05:38) Sepehr Saryazdi, 24, charged with planning terrorist act after allegedly plotting to throw molotov cocktail at Gold Coast eventFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastA Queensland PhD candidate has been accused of planning to throw a molotov cocktail at an Australia Day crowd, as part of an alleged terrorist plot to overthrow the government and replace it with a “cybernetics” alternative, a court has heard.Sepehr Saryazdi, 24, allegedly planned an attack for Monday’s celebrations to promote a new phase of civilisation powered by artificial intelligence, a court heard on Thursday. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Children cook meals for needy and mourners lay wreaths for Bondi attack victims on national day of mourning 22. January 2026 (05:14) Australians urged to do a good deed – or mitzvah – as Anthony Albanese says day is ‘opportunity for us as a nation to wrap our arms around the Jewish community’Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastFresh wreaths of flowers have been laid at Bondi beach, children have cooked meals for those in need and Anthony Albanese has welcomed the opportunity to “wrap our arms around” the Jewish community as Australia holds a national day of mourning for the victims of last month’s terror attack.Under the banner of the New South Wales government’s One Mitzvah for Bondi initiative, all Australians were urged to do a good deed – or mitzvah – on Thursday to mark the day of mourning. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Australian shares shoot up after Trump walks back tariff threat 22. January 2026 (04:42) The de-escalation fuelled a rally in global share markets as buyers ride the ‘Trump Always Chickens Out’ trade strategyFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastAustralian shares shot higher on Thursday to recoup part of their recent losses, after Donald Trump dropped a tariff threat used against European allies amid his pressure campaign to gain control of Greenland.The de-escalation fuelled a rally in global share markets that flowed into Australia, sending the benchmark S&P/ASX 200 briefly above the 8,860 point mark, before a slight easing. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Filipino journalist Frenchie Cumpio found guilty of terror financing in verdict rights groups call ‘absurd’ 22. January 2026 (04:28) Reporters Without Borders said the ruling against the 26-year-old journalist showed a ‘blatant disregard for press freedom’ in the Southeast Asian nationA young Filipino journalist who spent nearly six years in a crowded provincial prison was found guilty of terror financing on Thursday, in a case rights groups and a UN rapporteur labelled a “travesty of justice”.Community journalist and radio broadcaster Frenchie Cumpio, 26, and former roommate Marielle Domequil broke down in tears and hugged each other as the guilty verdict was read and they were sentenced to 12-18 years in prison by judge Georgina Uy Perez of the Tacloban regional court. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
