With a new leader and tired opponent, this should be the Victorian Liberals’ year – if not for self-inflicted wounds 09. January 2026 (15:00) As dysfunction reigns, the party shows yet again that its greatest obstacle to winning government is not Labor but itselfGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastThis should be the Victorian Liberal party’s year. They head into November’s election with a new, energetic and articulate leader in Jess Wilson, who has vowed to drag her party to the centre and reconnect with voters it has lost in recent years.Across the aisle stands a weary third-term Labor government, burdened by the state’s debt – forecast to hit $192bn by 2028-29 – and the baggage of more than a decade in power. No Victorian Labor government has ever secured a fourth term – a fact that should give the Liberals cause for optimism. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Anonymous painting bought at auction on ‘hunch’ identified as two-in-one Rubens 09. January 2026 (14:53) Study of man often featured in works by the Flemish master reveals hidden painting of woman beneath model’s beardIs it a bald elderly man with a big bushy beard and a wine-addled stare? Or a friendly young woman with flowing locks and a crown of braids?To Belgian art dealer Klaas Muller, an answer to that question mattered less than the fact that this particular take on the duck-rabbit optical illusion was painted by one Peter Paul Rubens. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
US hiring held firm in December amid economic uncertainty 09. January 2026 (14:41) Employers added 50,000 jobs, according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, despite a year of uneven growthHiring held firm in the US last month, official data showed, amid uncertainty over the strength and direction of the world’s largest economy.Employers added 50,000 jobs to the US labor force last month, following a year of uneven growth , according to data released from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics on Friday. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Starmer rules out EU financial services alignment talks 09. January 2026 (14:32) City firms welcome clarity as government signals it will not reopen Brussels-era rules, despite closer cooperation elsewhereBusiness live – latest updatesUK politics live – latest updatesKeir Starmer will exclude financial services from negotiations on closer alignment with the EU, prompting a sigh of relief from Brexit-weary City lobbyists.A government spokesperson said officials would continue to explore cooperation “where it is in our economy’s interest”, but it is understood there will be no push for City firms to return to the Brussels rulebook. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Iran’s supreme leader signals harsher crackdown as protest movement swells 09. January 2026 (14:18) Ayatollah Ali Khamenei calls protesters ‘vandals’ and ‘saboteurs’ and blames the US for instigating the unrestIran’s supreme leader has vowed that authorities will “not back down” in the face of growing protests, blaming the US for instigating demonstrations that started over economic conditions and have since expanded to calls for political reform.In his first speech since the protests started 13 days ago, the supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, signalled on Friday that a greater crackdown was coming. He described protesters as “vandals” and “saboteurs”, and accused them of working on behalf of foreign agendas. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
No 10 condemns ‘insulting’ move by X to restrict Grok AI image tool 09. January 2026 (14:15) Spokesperson says limiting access to paying subscribers just makes ability to generate unlawful images a premium serviceUK politics live – latest updatesDowning Street has condemned the move by X to restrict its AI image creation tool to paying subscribers as insulting, saying it simply made the ability to generate explicit and unlawful images a premium service.There has been widespread anger after the image tool for Grok, the AI element of X, was used to manipulate thousands of images of women and sometimes children to remove their clothing or put them in sexual positions. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Princess of Wales says nature ‘helped me heal’ in 44th birthday video 09. January 2026 (14:15) Catherine says she feels ‘deeply grateful’ in final instalment of Mother Nature series, a year on from cancer treatmentThe Princess of Wales has marked her 44th birthday with a short video in which she says she has spent winter reflecting on how “deeply grateful” she is and how nature helps to heal.In the video, entitled Winter and the final instalment of her quarterly Mother Nature series, Catherine says: “Even in the coldest, darkest season, winter has a way of bringing us stillness, patience and quiet consideration.” Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Public urged to grow unusual plants to safeguard diversity of UK blooms 09. January 2026 (14:00) Plant Heritage says gardening trends mean many species in danger of disappearing as they are no longer offered for saleMore than half of garden plants previously grown in the UK are no longer offered for sale as flower fashions and modern gardening trends have reduced the diversity of blooms.Plant Heritage is asking the public to choose unusual plants for their gardens, and maybe even start their own national collections of rare blooms, in order to stop some cultivated plants from dying out. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Doge cuts cost US taxpayers $10bn to cover workers’ paid leave, analysis finds 09. January 2026 (14:00) Analysis estimates Trump administration ‘wasted’ billions to compensate over 154,000 federal employees on leaveThe Trump administration “wasted” $10bn on paid leave, or paying workers to stay home, as part of the “department of government efficiency’s” assault on the federal workforce, a new analysis by Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility (Peer) estimates.In a letter sent to the Government Accountability Office (GAO), Peer estimates that more than 154,000 employees were put on paid leave in 2025, making up nearly 7% of the federal civilian workforce. That costs taxpayers approximately $10bn in compensation for workers who were staying home and not working. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Trump claims to have cancelled ‘previously expected’ second wave of attacks on Venezuela – US politics live 09. January 2026 (11:49) US president says move was reaction to Caracas releasing large numbers of political prisoners as ‘sign of seeking peace’The US Supreme Court could issue a ruling later in the day determining whether Trump can invoke the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) to impose tariffs without the approval of Congress.Although it is unclear whether the Supreme Court will issue a ruling, it has scheduled Friday as a “decision day” for releasing opinions, fuelling speculation that the tariff case could be decided this afternoon. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
