Badenoch tells Starmer to ‘just get on’ with under-16s social media ban 21. January 2026 (17:00) Tory leader says delay will harm children’s mental health after No 10 said it would consult on policy by summerAs a parent – and a Conservative – I know that banning social media for under-16s is the right thing to doKemi Badenoch has called on Keir Starmer to “just get on” with a ban on social media for under-16s, saying delay is a dereliction of duty that is harming children’s mental health.After the government said it would consult on a social media ban for under-16s by the summer, the Conservative party leader urged the prime minister to act more quickly, “however difficult to implement” it would be. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Doge improperly shared sensitive social security data, DoJ court filing reveals 21. January 2026 (16:39) Trump administration acknowledges that Elon Musk’s cost-cutting operation accessed Americans’ sensitive dataAfter months of denials, the Trump administration has acknowledged in a federal court filing that employees working for Elon Musk’s supposed cost-cutting operation accessed and improperly shared Americans’ sensitive social security data.The justice department court filing, submitted on Friday in an ongoing lawsuit, reveals that a member of the so-called “department of government efficiency” (Doge) signed a secret data-sharing agreement with an unidentified political advocacy group whose stated aim was to find evidence of voter fraud and overturn election results in certain states. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
‘Serious mistake’: there’s no benefit for Australia in joining Donald Trump’s ‘board of peace’ – only risk 21. January 2026 (15:00) To tie ourselves to the worst excesses of the Trump regime would be an act of national sabotageFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastThe company you keep.Vladimir Putin, Viktor Orbán, Donald Trump. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Australians to perform acts of kindness on national day of mourning for Bondi terror attack victims 21. January 2026 (15:00) Mitzvahs – or charitable acts – will include preparing meals for vulnerable communities while the Sydney Opera House will host a memorial serviceGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastThousands of Australians are expected to perform acts of kindness on Thursday to commemorate the victims of last month’s Bondi terror attack, as the Jewish tradition of mitzvah spreads across faiths and backgrounds.A mitzvah, which is a core value in Judaism, has come to mean any charitable act and is being requested of Australians to mark the national day of mourning. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Gen Xers the new baby boomers: analysis identifies Australia’s richest landholders by generation 21. January 2026 (15:00) Those born between 1965 and 1980 own an average of $1.455m in housing and land, KPMG report findsGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastGen X households now hold the most property wealth of any generation, as baby boomers downsize their homes and move more of their money into cash and retirement accounts.Once known as the “slacker generation”, those born between 1965 and 1980 are mostly now aged over 50 years and have enjoyed years of inflated home prices. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Sydney Water blames food outlets for illegally adding to fatberg. But restaurants say ‘if it’s a problem, it’s their problem’ 21. January 2026 (15:00) Huge spike in fats, oils and grease going to Malabar treatment plant follows 2017 changes to reporting regime and reduced inspections, critics sayGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastSydney Water says up to 12,000 food businesses in the city’s south-west could be illegally discharging fats, oils and grease into the sewage catchment that flows to Malabar – home to a problematic fatberg that could be as big as four buses.The rise in restaurants and food manufacturers without proper grease traps and waste control measures is partly due to an increase in businesses overall. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Davos live: Trump says Europe ‘not heading in right direction’ as he addresses world leaders 21. January 2026 (14:56) Rolling coverage of the World Economic Forum in Davos, where the US president is addressing world leadersQ: Is the US worried that institutional investors in Europe might pull out of the US Treasury market, such as pension funds in Denmark?Bessent brushes this aside, sayingThe size of Denmark’s investment in US Treasury bonds, like Denmark itself, is irrelevant.It is less than $100 million.They’ve been selling Treasuries for years. I’m not concerned at all. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
BBC announces landmark deal to make bespoke content for YouTube 21. January 2026 (14:51) Agreement a milestone for British television as broadcaster teams up with world’s biggest video platformThe BBC has announced it will produce tailor-made content for YouTube in a milestone for British television as the public service broadcaster teams up with the world’s biggest video platform.The corporation has previously posted clips and trailers for BBC shows on YouTube, but under the new deal it will make fresh programming for its online rival. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Starmer tells MPs he ‘will not yield’ over Greenland despite US pressure – UK politics live 21. January 2026 (14:47) PM says Trump’s Chagos Islands comment designed to put pressure on him to ‘yield’ over Greenland, but he will not complyWe’re not far off PMQs. Here is the list of MPs down to ask a question.There will be two statements in the Commons after PMQs. At 12.30pm Ed Miliband, the energy secretary, will give one about the warm homes plan, and about an hour later Emma Reynolds, the environment secretary, will give one on the water white paper. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Snapchat’s parent company settles social media addiction lawsuit before trial 21. January 2026 (14:42) Snap’s chief executive had been due to testify in civil action also involving Meta, TikTok and YouTubeSnapchat’s parent company has settled a civil lawsuit shortly before it was due to start in California, but other large tech companies still face a trial under the case.Snap’s chief executive, Evan Spiegel, had been due to testify in a tech addiction lawsuit which also involves the Instagram owner, Meta; ByteDance’s TikTok; and Alphabet-owned YouTube – which have not settled. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
