The Guardian

Economy weathered a fraught geopolitical landscape to reach 5% target but structural challenges at home ‘are not going away’, say expertsChinese authorities can say they hit their growth goals last year, but Donald Trump’s ongoing trade aggression, a slow-motion housing market collapse and unhappy consumers remain major challenges for the world’s second-largest economy.Data released on Monday showed the Chinese economy grew by 5% in 2025, steady on the year before and hitting the official target of “around” that pace. Continue reading... Source link : https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/jan/19/chinas-economy-hit-growth-goal-last-year-despite-trump-trade-war-and-property-crisis Author : Patrick Commins and agencies Publish date : 2026-01-19 06:26:00 Copyright for syndicated content

PM confirms Australia was asked to join new body focused on Gaza reconstruction and Middle East peace efforts at weekendFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastAnthony Albanese is considering Donald Trump’s invitation for Australia to join the US president’s proposed “board of peace” initiative, despite concerns its could undermine the work of existing organisations including the UN.The prime minister confirmed Australia had been invited to join the new international body at the weekend, promising serious consideration, especially around proposals to advance Middle East peace efforts. Continue reading... Source

Police praise fast actions and bravery of boy’s friends as he faces ‘fight for his life’ in hospitalFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastA 12-year-old boy is in for the “fight of his life” after being attacked by a large shark while swimming in Sydney Harbour on Sunday afternoon.New South Wales police said the boy was jumping off a popular rock ledge near Nielsen park in Sydney’s east about 4.20pm on Sunday with friends when the attack, possibly by a bull shark, took place. Continue reading... Source link

UK prime minister holds phone call with US president as European leaders scramble to protect Danish territoryKeir Starmer has told Donald Trump he is wrong to threaten tariffs against Nato allies to try to secure Greenland, as part of a flurry of diplomatic calls intended to tackle the crisis.The UK prime minister spoke to the US president on Sunday, as well as to Mette Frederiksen, the Danish PM, whose country’s territory includes Greenland; Ursula von der Leyen, the president of the European Commission; and Mark Rutte, the Nato secretary general. Continue reading... Source link : https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/jan/18/tariffs-nato-allies-keir-starmer-donald-trump-greenland-crisis-call Author : Peter Walker

Deputy prime minister remains coy over whether Australia will join US-backed postwar Gaza panel. Follow today’s news liveGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastHate speech laws ‘don’t deliver everything we wanted them to’: home affairs ministerThe home affairs minister, Tony Burke, says the hate speech laws – which the government has been forced to split – don’t do everything the government had initially intended. In splitting the bill, the government has dropped anti-vilification provisions that had no support from the Greens or the Coalition.Certainly there’s parts of it that they had called for that they’re now

Establishment will give training in AI and other skills, more than a decade after David Cameron axed previous schoolMinisters will bring in a new “school of government” for senior civil servants to train them in AI and other skills – more than a decade after David Cameron axed the previous college for Whitehall.Darren Jones, the chief secretary to the prime minister, will announce the new body in a speech on Tuesday setting out the government’s plans to “rewire” the civil service for modern times. Continue reading... Source link : https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2026/jan/18/uk-to-create-new-school-of-government-to-train-senior-civil-servants Author : Rowena Mason Whitehall editor Publish date : 2026-01-18

Jake Lang’s anti-Islam, anti-Somali and pro-ICE rally near City Hall outnumbered by hundreds of counterprotesters Hundreds of counterprotesters on Saturday drowned out a far-right activist’s attempt to hold a small rally in support of the Trump administration’s latest immigration crackdown in Minneapolis.Conservative influencer Jake Lang organized an anti-Islam, anti-Somali and pro-Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) demonstration, saying on social media beforehand that he intended to “burn a Quran” on the steps of City Hall. But it was not clear if he carried out that plan. Continue reading... Source link : https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/jan/18/minneapolis-counterprotesters-chase-far-right-activist Author : Associated Press Publish date : 2026-01-18 15:03:00

Finance minister says Netanyahu should back annexation and settlement, and attacks Turkey and Qatar’s role on Gaza ‘executive board’Far-right members of Israel’s governing coalition on Sunday rejected a US-backed plan for postwar governance in Gaza, criticising their prime minster, Benjamin Netanyahu, for failing to annex the Palestinian territory and establish new Israeli settlements in the territory.After the announcement of the White House’s pick of world leaders who will join the so-called Gaza “board of peace”, which includes Turkey and Qatar, both of which have been critical of Israel’s war in the Strip, Israeli far-right finance minister, Bezalel Smotrich, described ‘‘Netanyahu’s

European leaders say tariff threat ‘unacceptable’ as Trump escalates plan for the US to acquire Greenland Germany’s engineering association has called on the European Commission to consider using its ‘Anti-Coercion Instrument’ against US president Donald Trump’s plan to impose additional tariffs on European countries in the Greenland dispute.The instrument allows the bloc to retaliate against third countries that put economic pressure on EU members to change their policies. Continue reading... Source link : https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2026/jan/18/greenland-eu-donald-trump-tariffs-keir-starmer-europe-live-latest-updates Author : Tom Ambrose Publish date : 2026-01-18 10:14:00 Copyright for syndicated content belongs to the linked Source.

Three-page letter acknowledged that while Peter Malinauskas could not direct festival board, he was ‘deeply concerned’ Palestinian Australian author’s invitation not rescindedGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastA letter sent by the South Australian premier to the Adelaide writers’ week board criticising the inclusion of Palestinian Australian writer Randa Abdel-Fattah in the 2026 program has been made public.The three-page letter, first published in full by Adelaide’s Sunday Mail newspaper, was signed by Peter Malinauskas and dated 2 January. Continue reading... Source link : https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2026/jan/18/peter-malinauskas-adelaide-writers-week-letter-randa-abdel-fattah-ntwnfb Author : Royce Kurmelovs Publish date : 2026-01-18 07:24:00 Copyright for syndicated

Many believed a US president would – for the first time – rescue them but now people can only despair after mass arrests and brutalityWhen Donald Trump, said he would “rescue” protesters if Iranian authorities started shooting, Siavash Shirzad believed the US president.The 38-year-old father had seen protests rise up before, only to be brutally crushed by authorities. But this was the first time in his life that the president of the United States had promised to help demonstrators. Reassured, Shirzad took to the streets, ignoring his family’s warnings and joining the growing crowds. Continue reading... Source link : https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/jan/18/why-protesters-iran-feel-betrayed-donald-trump

Kyrylo Budanov arrives in US heading delegation for further talks on peace proposals. What we know on day 1,425Russia is taking aim at Ukraine’s nuclear power system, Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Sunday, as the Kremlin continues to try to freeze Ukraine into submission by crippling its energy grid. “We do not see any willingness on the part of the aggressor to comply with any agreements or end the war,” the Ukrainian president said. “Instead, there is ample information about preparations for further Russian strikes on our energy sector and infrastructure, including facilities and networks that serve our nuclear power plants.

Woman killed by tree branch as NSW SES records more than 800 calls for help. Follow updates liveGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastAustralia news live: NSW dog owners face jail time for leaving dogs in cars; flood warnings issued for SydneyNew South Wales will crack down on people who leave their dogs in cars and use painful collars in proposed changes to animal welfare laws.Owners who leave dogs in hot cars or use painful prong collars on their pets could face jail time under proposed changes to animal welfare laws.It was proper wet season rain.

Using one of his favourite weapons to win an argument, the president underlines the unstable nature of any deal with TrumpDonald Trump’s threat to impose fresh tariffs on eight European countries – UK, Norway and six EU member states – is a wrecking ball to the carefully stitched deals he concluded with those countries last summer.The two biggest voting blocs in the European Parliament, the European People’s Party (EPP) and the Socialist & Democrats (S&D), said on Saturday night the deal with the EU cannot be approved in the present circumstances. Continue reading... Source link : https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/jan/17/trumps-tariff-threat-is-an-attempt-to-divide-europe-and-quash-opposition-over-greenland Author : Lisa

President also denies he ever offered JPMorgan CEO Jamie Dimon the chair of the Federal ReserveDonald Trump threatened to sue JPMorgan Chase on Saturday, citing an unsubstantiated allegation that major banks discriminated against him after the 6 January 2021 Capitol riot.Trump announced the potential lawsuit in a post on social media, tying the threat to his criticism of a recent Wall Street Journal article that reported he had offered the JPMorgan Chase CEO, Jamie Dimon, the position of US Federal Reserve chair. Trump insists the report is inaccurate and says no such offer was ever made. Continue reading... Source link

Supreme leader blames US for death toll and calls Donald Trump a criminal for support of demonstrationsThe Iranian supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has acknowledged for the first time that thousands of people were killed during the protests that rocked Iran over the last two weeks.In a speech on Thursday, Khamenei said that thousands of people had been killed, “some in an inhuman, savage manner”, and blamed the US for the death toll. The supreme leader railed against Trump, whom he called a “criminal” for his support of demonstrations, and called for strict punishment of protesters. Continue reading... Source link

Despite injuries, walkers and pet dog continue trek to promote ‘peace, loving kindness and compassion’ in the USA group of Buddhist monks has passed the halfway mark on a 2,300-mile Walk for Peace, as they seek to raise awareness of “peace, loving kindness and compassion” in the US and the world.The 18 monks, two of whom are following a Buddhist practice of never lying down during the three-month journey, were in North Carolina on Saturday, their 83rd day on the road. Led by the Venerable Bhikkhu Paññākāra, who is conducting the walk barefoot, they have already overcome a serious injury

‘Hands off Greenland’ rallies have been organised in Copenhagen, Aarhus, Aalborg, Odense and NuukDonald Trump’s renewed interest in taking control of Greenland has become a subject of pointed dissent among congressional Republicans, with several allies speaking out in recent days against the idea after the president reintensified his interest following the US raid that captured Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro.Congressional Republicans are typically loath to disagree openly with the president, who has repeatedly called for his party’s dissenters to be voted out of office. But amid polling that shows an overwhelming majority of Americans oppose taking control of the island and

Mark Davis, running in Florida, says he bought domain because Republican party had gone ‘full fascist’A Florida congressional candidate says he bought the online domain nazis.us and set it up to redirect visitors to the US Department of Homeland Security, under whom federal agents have been carrying out brutal immigration crackdowns at the behest of the Trump administration.Mark Davis, who says he is running as a Democrat for Republican Vern Buchanan’s seat in November’s midterms, took responsibility for the ploy in a Friday X post – as polling showed most Americans believe the killing of Minneapolis woman Renee Nicole Good

As international treaty comes into force, bill to make it law in Britain is moving at ‘glacial pace’ through parliamentThe UK risks being shut out of a historic oceans summit because parliament has failed to ratify the UN’s high seas treaty, environmental charities and campaigners have warned.The high seas treaty, formally known as the Agreement on the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Marine Biological Diversity of Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction, comes into force on Saturday, after two decades of talks. Continue reading... Source link : https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2026/jan/17/shut-out-ocean-cop-failing-ratify-high-seas-treaty Author : Damien Gayle Environment correspondent Publish date : 2026-01-17 06:00:00 Copyright for syndicated

Tim Walz, state’s Democratic governor and Jacob Frey, Minneapolis mayor, have been vocal critics of immigration crackdownThe US justice department is investigating Minnesota’s political leaders for allegedly conspiring to obstruct the Trump administration’s controversial immigration crackdown there, according to multiple reports.The investigation, which CBS News first reported, marks an extraordinary use of federal power to challenge two of the crackdown’s most vocal Democratic critics, including the state’s governor, Tim Walz, and the mayor of Minneapolis, Jacob Frey. Continue reading... Source link : https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/jan/16/us-doj-minnesota-tim-walz-jacob-frey-inquiry Author : Roque Planas Publish date : 2026-01-17 03:02:00 Copyright for syndicated content belongs to the linked

After Renee Good’s killing in Minneapolis, calls grow for accountability in the shooting of Keith Porter Jr on New Year’s EveUS citizens and permanent residents: have you been racially profiled by ICE?Family and friends of a Los Angeles man who was killed by an off-duty US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officer over the holidays are urging local officials to arrest and prosecute the federal agent.Keith Porter Jr, a 43-year-old father of two, was fatally shot by an ICE officer on New Year’s Eve outside his apartment complex, according to LA and federal officials. An LA police department (LAPD) spokesperson

Grand jury in Ohio charged Michael David McKee, 39, with aggravated murder and burglary for fatal shootingsAn Ohio grand jury has indicted an Illinois surgeon in the double homicide of his ex-wife and her dentist husband, who were killed in their Columbus home in December in a case that initially generated nationwide mystery.Court records show a Franklin county grand jury charged Michael David McKee on 16 January with aggravated murder and aggravated burglary while using a firearm suppressor. Continue reading... Source link : https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/jan/16/illinois-surgeon-double-homicide-ex-wife-husband Author : Associated Press Publish date : 2026-01-16 22:40:00 Copyright for syndicated content belongs to the

Astrid Tuminez will step down as Utah Valley University president in May as school still reckons with Kirk’s murderAstrid Tuminez, Utah Valley University’s seventh president, will step down at the end of the semester. She announced the decision on Wednesday during a State of the University address, speaking to a packed audience of students and faculty.Tuminez, 61, said in an interview that the decision to step down had been building for some time. “There’s never a good time,” she said. “I love UVU so much.” The choice, she explained, came with a mix of grief and relief. “It is a

Edward Brandt sentenced to 20 weeks in prison after behaviour left Tory peer ‘in fear of sexual violence’A former councillor has been jailed for 20 weeks after stalking Penny Mordaunt, which the former Cabinet minister said left her fearing “sexual violence”.Edward Brandt, a professional sailor, had been found guilty of the offence but was acquitted of a more serious charge of stalking involving serious alarm or distress. Continue reading... Source link : https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2026/jan/16/former-councillor-edward-brandt-jailed-stalking-mp-penny-mordaunt Author : Nadeem Badshah Publish date : 2026-01-16 17:52:00 Copyright for syndicated content belongs to the linked Source.