US supreme court to consider Trump’s bid to fire Lisa Cook from Fed board 21. January 2026 (10:00) Case will test the limit of Trump’s powers as he continues extraordinary campaign for control over central bankThe US supreme court will hear oral arguments over Donald Trump’s bid to fire a Federal Reserve governor on Wednesday morning, as his administration continues its extraordinary campaign for control over the central bank.The US president tried to fire Lisa Cook in August over apparent discrepancies on mortgage applications Trump’s officials claim are evidence of fraud. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Criticism of Benjamin Netanyahu may be an offence under Australia’s new hate speech laws, Greens warn 21. January 2026 (08:37) Anthony Albanese and Tony Burke say the laws are needed to protect Australians – particularly the Jewish communityGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastThe Greens have warned Labor’s newly passed hate speech bill could criminalise reasonable expressions of contempt or ridicule by individuals and groups, and see critics of the government of Israel targeted for prosecution.Greens justice spokesperson, David Shoebridge, said rushed amendments – agreed between Labor and the Coalition in the wake of the Bondi terror attacks – represent an unprecedented expansion of political power to ban organisations and criminalise speech based on vague standards. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
UK inflation rises for first time in five months to 3.4% in December 21. January 2026 (08:00) Bigger than forecast rise part-fuelled by hikes in air fares and food prices suggests Bank of England will keep interest rates on hold in FebruaryDavos live – latest updatesInflation in the UK has risen for the first time in five months to 3.4% in December, according to official figures, suggesting the Bank of England will hold off from making a change to interest rates next month.The Office for National Statistics (ONS) said the annual inflation rate, as measured by the consumer prices index (CPI), increased from 3.2% in November, after falling in October and flatlining in the previous three months. The figure overshot City economists’s forecasts of a modest rise to 3.3%. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Thousands of workers flee Cambodia scam centres, officials say 21. January 2026 (07:55) Amnesty International deeply concerned for scores of people ‘walking around in search of assistance’Thousands of people, including suspected victims of human trafficking, are estimated to have been released or escaped from scam compounds across Cambodia over recent days, after growing international pressure to crackdown on the multibillion-dollar industry.The Indonesian embassy in Phnom Penh said it had received reports from 1,440 of its nationals who had been released from scam centres, while large queues of Chinese nationals were also seen outside the Chinese embassy. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Iran’s central bank using vast quantities of cryptocurrency championed by Farage, says report 21. January 2026 (07:00) Regime appears to have turned to digital currency issued by Tether in the face of sanctionsIran’s central bank appears to have been using vast quantities of a cryptocurrency championed by Nigel Farage, according to a new report.Elliptic, a crypto analytics company, said it had traced at least $507m (£377m) of cryptocurrency issued by Tether – a company touted by the Reform UK leader – passing through accounts that appear to be controlled by Iran’s central bank. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Tight spot: cheapest spray takes first place in Choice stain remover test 21. January 2026 (06:41) Aldi triumphed in the consumer watchdog’s laundry showdown, while some name brands failed to come out in the washGet our weekend culture and lifestyle emailThe cheapest laundry stain removal spray from a major Australian supermarket is also one of the best-performing products in the field, according to a product test by consumer advocacy group Choice.Choice tested 23 stain remover powders and 20 pre-treater sprays on common garment stains caused by sweat, grass and mud, and cooking oil, as well as stubborn stains from chocolate ice-cream, tomato, baby food, blood and makeup.Sign up for the fun stuff with our rundown of must-reads, pop culture and tips for the weekend, every Saturday morning Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Shinzo Abe’s killer sentenced to life in prison over shooting of Japanese former PM 21. January 2026 (06:21) Abe was killed by Tetsuya Yamagami in 2022 while campaigning in the city of Nara, a shooting that shocked Japan, where gun crime is almost unheard ofA court in Japan has sentenced the assassin of former prime minister Shinzo Abe to life in prison – a case that shocked the public and exposed politicians’ ties to an influential religious group.Tetsuya Yamagami, 45, had earlier pleaded guilty to killing Abe in July 2022 as he was making an election campaign speech in the western city of Nara. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
‘I felt numb’: German bank heist victims devastated after thieves ransack 3,000 deposit boxes 21. January 2026 (06:00) Gelsenkirchen savings bank was raided over Christmas by criminals who used huge drill to access vaultFaqir Malyar, a carpet trader from the western German city of Gelsenkirchen, was on his way to visit one of his customers during the Christmas holidays when he heard news on the radio of an astonishing bank heist. Thieves had drilled a hole in the wall of the vault of a local Sparkasse – savings bank – and made off with the contents of almost 3,250 deposit boxes.The robbery, likened by a police spokesperson to the Hollywood film Ocean’s Eleven, made international headlines: it is estimated that the thieves’ haul could have been worth as much as €300m (£260m), a sum that would make it the one of the biggest bank heists in a country wearily familiar with them. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Trump’s Air Force One turns back to Washington after ‘minor electrical issue’ 21. January 2026 (05:40) AF1, which was taking Donald Trump to Davos, returned to Washington DC after the flight experienced minor electrical issue, White House saysDonald Trump’s plane, Air Force One, was forced to abort its flight to Switzerland on Tuesday and turn back after what officials described as a “minor electrical issue”.Karoline Leavitt, the White House press secretary, said the decision to return to Washington DC had been taken shortly after departure “out of an abundance of caution”, once the crew detected the fault. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
‘I could never hope to equal it again’: Jeffrey Archer announces next novel will be his last 21. January 2026 (05:11) The 85-year-old bestselling author’s final novel, Adam and Eve, will be published in English in OctoberBestselling novelist Jeffrey Archer has announced his next novel, Adam and Eve, will be his last, coming out 50 years after his debut was published.The 85-year-old author has sold more than 300m books around the world since his first novel, Not a Penny More Not a Penny Less, was published in 1976, according to his publishers. His 1979 novel, Kane and Abel, was his biggest hit, selling more than 34m copies in 119 countries and 47 languages, and being reprinted more than 130 times. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
