Syria agrees ceasefire with Kurdish-led forces after two weeks of clashes
Sunday, 18 January 2026 17:49![[syndicated profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/feed.png){kind=small}
bbc_feedPresident Ahmed al-Sharaa said the deal would allow the Syrian state to reassert control over most areas.
bbc_feedChile declares 'state of catastrophe' as deadly wildfires menace cities
Sunday, 18 January 2026 16:39bbc_feedAt least 16 people are confirmed dead and 20,000 are evacuated as fires rage in two southern regions.
Man arrested after woman dies in street
Sunday, 18 January 2026 15:36bbc_feedPolice believe the man arrested on suspicion of murder knew the woman who died.
Greenland's people must decide its future, says Nandy
Sunday, 18 January 2026 15:32bbc_feedThe culture secretary says Trump's plan to place tariffs on the UK and other allies over the issue is "deeply unhelpful".
Six killed in Pakistan shopping mall fire
Sunday, 18 January 2026 15:00bbc_feedParts of the huge plaza in Karachi have collapsed as firefighters battle to extinguish the blaze.
Aston Villa v Everton: Premier League – live
Sunday, 18 January 2026 18:07guardianworldnews_feed⚽ Premier League updates from the 4.30pm GMT kick-off
⚽ Live scores | Tables | Follow us on Bluesky | Mail Billy
Premier League report: Will Unwin was at Molineux this afternoon. Let’s hope this one is a bit livelier. The players are in the tunnel, kick-off is in five minutes.
Harrison Armstrong, 18, will start his third game in a row for Everton since returning from his loan at Preston.
Continue reading...Senegal v Morocco: Africa Cup of Nations final – live
Sunday, 18 January 2026 18:05guardianworldnews_feed⚽ Afcon final updates, 7pm GMT (8pm in Rabat) kick-off
⚽ Jonathan Wilson on this Afcon | Follow us on Bluesky
Morocco are unchanged from the semi-final win over Nigeria. Senegal make three changes: Lamine Camara, Antoine Mendy and Mamadou Sarr come in for Krepin Diatta and the suspended pair of Kalidou Koulibaly and Habib Diarra.
Morocco are unchanged from the semi-final win over Nigeria. Senegal make three changes: Lamine Camara, Antoine Mendy and Mamadou Sarr come in for Krepin Diatta and the suspended pair of Kalidou Koulibaly and Habib Diarra.
Continue reading...The Guardian view on Trump and Greenland: get real! Bullying is not strength | Editorial
Sunday, 18 January 2026 17:59guardianworldnews_feedTariff threats over the Arctic island expose the limits of coercive diplomacy. Europe’s united response and pushback shows fear is fading
For all Donald Trump’s bluster about restoring American strength, his attempt to bully European allies over Greenland reveals a deeper weakness: coercive diplomacy only works if people are afraid to resist. Increasingly, they aren’t. And that is a good thing. Bullies often back down when confronted – their power relies on fear. Mr Trump’s threat to impose sweeping tariffs on Europeans unless they acquiesce to his demand to “purchase” Greenland has stripped his trade policy bare. This is not about economic security, unfair trade or protecting American workers. It is about using tariffs as a weapon to force nations to submit.
The response from Europe has been united and swift. That in itself should send a message. France’s Emmanuel Macron says plainly “no amount of intimidation” will alter Europe’s position. Denmark has anchored the issue firmly inside Nato’s collective security. EU leaders have warned that tariff threats risk a dangerous downward spiral. Even Italy’s prime minister, Giorgia Meloni, seen as ideologically close to Mr Trump, publicly called the tariff threat a “mistake” – adding that she has told him so.
Continue reading...The Guardian view on microplastics research: questioning results is good for science, but has politi
Sunday, 18 January 2026 17:58guardianworldnews_feedErrors in measuring microplastic pollution can be corrected. Public trust in science also needs to be shored up
It is true that science is self-correcting. Over the long term this means that we can generally trust its results – but up close, correction can be a messy process. The Guardian reported last week that 20 recent studies measuring the amount of micro- and nanoplastics in the human body have been criticised in the scientific literature for methodological issues, calling their results into question. In one sense this is the usual process playing out as it should. However, the scale of the potential error – one scientist estimates that half the high-impact papers in the field are affected – suggests a systemic problem that should have been prevented.
The risk is that in a febrile political atmosphere in which trust in science is being actively eroded on issues from climate change to vaccinations, even minor scientific conflicts can be used to sow further doubt. Given that there is immense public and media interest in plastic pollution, it is unfortunate that scientists working in this area did not show more caution.
Continue reading...Trump’s tariff threat over Greenland risks ‘dangerous downward spiral’, warn Nato members – Europe l
Sunday, 18 January 2026 17:57guardianworldnews_feedThe leaders of Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden and the UK issue joint statement ahead of EU ambassadors meeting
The United States will also suffer if president Donald Trump implements threats to impose tariffs on European countries opposing his plans to acquire Greenland, a French minister said on Sunday.
“In this escalation of tariffs, he has a lot to lose as well, as do his own farmers and industrialists,” French agriculture minister Annie Genevard told broadcasters Europe 1 and CNews.
Continue reading...UK to create new ‘school of government’ to train senior civil servants
Sunday, 18 January 2026 17:52guardianworldnews_feedEstablishment will give training in AI and other skills, more than a decade after David Cameron axed previous school
Ministers 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...The trials of setting up David Lammy’s ‘swift courts’ | Letters
Sunday, 18 January 2026 17:44guardianworldnews_feedAdjustments to the plans to limit jury trials face a major obstacle, writes Janet Carter; plus letters from Kirsty Brimelow KC and Paul Keleher KC
Your article on a possible U-turn for magistrates to sit with a judge in a proposed “swift court” throws up a major obstacle (Plans to limit jury trials in England and Wales may be watered down after backlash, 12 January). Where are these additional magistrates going to come from? The magistracy is the linchpin of our criminal justice system and it is already stretched.
Recruitment of suitable volunteers is not easy. The commitment is high, and the criteria are quite properly tight. In January 2022 there was a £1m campaign to recruit 4,000 new magistrates. By April 2024, only 2,008 new magistrates had been appointed. The success rate of applicants in the year ending March 2025 was only 22%.
Continue reading...The playground politicking around Robert Jenrick’s jump | Letters
Sunday, 18 January 2026 17:44guardianworldnews_feedMadhan Street reflects on the language used to talk about Robert Jenrick’s defection and Dr Anthony Isaacs calls for cooperation to counter a Conservative/Reform alliance
It was striking to read about Kemi Badenoch’s dismissal of Robert Jenrick from the Conservative party, which included quotes attributed to Westminster insiders (‘Not so clever after all’: how Robert Jenrick was ejected before he defected, 15 January).
“We knew we had to act immediately. If we challenged him first, there was a risk of him going straight out and doing it anyway”; “Badenoch left it to her chief whip, Rebecca Harris, to phone Jenrick, a move which one ally described as ‘delicious’”; “Jenrick’s clever-dick people, they’re not so clever after all”; “She’s blown him up with his own grenade, very decisive, no pissing about, fair play to her”.
Continue reading...In praise of Martin Kettle’s mind and method | Letters
Sunday, 18 January 2026 17:43guardianworldnews_feedReaders reflect on the writer’s legacy after the publication of his last regular weekly column for the Guardian after 41 years on the staff
How much I shall miss Martin Kettle, even while I disagree with him (The world of today looks bad, but take hope: we’ve been here before and got through it – and we will again, 15 January). Last August, hundreds of union flags were fastened to our streetlamps overnight and without permission. Demonstrators at our market clock with a Palestinian flag were regularly abused. So, in the first week of January, some Quakers hosted a meeting of political and religious leaders to discuss the growing incivility of political discourse.
The pro-Palestinian group leader was followed by the Reform parliamentary candidate. Then various contributors from other parties and local churches spoke at length about what we had in common. A retired diplomat concluded that Britain is resilient. We are still more tolerant than most others. . The local vicar emphasised a “clear, common concern to express differences with tolerance and kindness”. There was no point in holding a plenary, so the final 20 minutes, we all spoke to our neighbours about why we had come and what we had learned. Frozen winter turned to thaw.
Geof Sewell
Thirsk, North Yorkshire
Deactivate your X account – you won’t miss it when it’s gone | Letter
Sunday, 18 January 2026 17:37guardianworldnews_feedWhy prolific poster Sam Nair decided it was time to kick the doom-scrolling into touch
As a past follower of Marie Le Conte (AKA the Young Vulgarian) on X, I read her column on leaving the platform with interest, complete empathy and self-reflection (To anybody still using X: sexual abuse content is the final straw, it’s time to leave, 12 January).
I joined X – or rather, Twitter – in 2007 after reading a Guardian article on the five next hit websites. Needless to say, most of the others have been forgotten. I was bored in my uni halls and it sounded the most interesting.
Continue reading...Newcastle struggle to find cutting edge in drab stalemate with Wolves
Sunday, 18 January 2026 16:12guardianworldnews_feedNewcastle arrived at Molineux in retro shirts to bring back memories of David Ginola and Les Ferdinand but there was neither swagger nor flair in this goalless draw against Wolves. There was the potential to go fifth in the Premier League with a win for the Magpies but instead they toiled on their way to a point.
With two-thirds of possession throughout, Newcastle must have expected to come away with more but they possessed neither the creativity nor finishing. Wolves were worthy of the draw, which moves them three points away from Derby’s worst tally of 11, a total many home supporters feared would not be overcome at Christmas.
Continue reading...Fairy Cat, by Hisa Takano
Sunday, 18 January 2026 09:54![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
rachelmanija
One rainy day Kanade, a high school student, finds a mouse-sized cat in his room. It's a fairy cat or "palm-sized cat!" They are elusive magical creatures which sometimes adopt humans, but mostly behave like ordinary cats. Only extra-tiny!
That's about it for the plot. What this manga is actually about is showing an incredibly adorable tiny cat being an incredibly adorable tiny cat. It's an incredibly adorable manga. Proof:
Israel pushes back on Trump's picks for executives on Gaza 'Board of Peace'
Sunday, 18 January 2026 17:30bbc_feedIsrael says it is unhappy it was not consulted, and Palestinians have also been critical.
Goals galore in FA Cup as Liverpool, Man Utd & Man City progress
Sunday, 18 January 2026 17:10bbc_feedLiverpool, Manchester City and Manchester United all cruise into the fifth round of the Women's FA Cup as 55 goals are scored across 12 matches on Sunday.
Wilson establishes lead over Higgins in Masters final
Sunday, 18 January 2026 16:47bbc_feedKyren Wilson makes a strong start towards winning his first Masters crown as he establishes a 5-3 lead over John Higgins in the opening session of the final.
Chile declares 'state of catastrophe' as deadly wildfires menace cities
Sunday, 18 January 2026 16:39bbc_feedAt least 16 people are confirmed dead and 20,000 are evacuated as fires rage in two southern regions.
Six killed in Pakistan shopping mall fire
Sunday, 18 January 2026 15:00bbc_feedParts of the huge plaza in Karachi have collapsed as firefighters battle to extinguish the blaze.
Riverside walk & nap prepare Raducanu for dominant win
Sunday, 18 January 2026 13:50bbc_feedBritish number one Emma Raducanu overcomes a shaky start to sail past Thailand's Mananchaya Sawangkaew in the Australian Open first round.
How riverside walk & a nap set up Raducanu for dominant Melbourne win
Sunday, 18 January 2026 13:50bbc_feedBritish number one Emma Raducanu overcomes a shaky start to sail past Thailand's Mananchaya Sawangkaew in the Australian Open first round.
Trump’s Tariff Threats Over Greenland
Sunday, 18 January 2026 13:34bbc_feedThe US president plans more tariffs on countries against his proposed Greenland takeover.
Syrian army seizes country's largest oil field from Kurdish forces
Sunday, 18 January 2026 13:25bbc_feedThe Kurdish-led SDF militia withdrew from the Omar oil field amid an eastward push by government forces.
Chip wreck! Thousands of chips wash ashore on beach
Sunday, 18 January 2026 13:06bbc_feedThe chips washed up in Sussex after shipping containers containing "food and packaging" came ashore.
Spurs chiefs consider sacking Frank as fans turn
Sunday, 18 January 2026 09:43bbc_feedTottenham head coach Thomas Frank is under significant internal scrutiny with the club considering calling time on his seven-month reign.
Big chains accused of masquerading as independent restaurants on delivery apps
Sunday, 18 January 2026 07:39bbc_feedJustina John says independent restaurants are "small fish trying to swim with the sharks".
Around 1,500 soldiers on standby for deployment to Minneapolis, officials say
Sunday, 18 January 2026 07:28bbc_feedThe troops are an option should Donald Trump decide to use them to quell anti-ICE protests in the city, an official tells CBS News.
Faisal Islam: Trump's Greenland threats to allies are without parallel
Sunday, 18 January 2026 06:38bbc_feedThe US president's latest threats will baffle the leaders of allied nations, writes the BBC's economics editor.
Aston Villa v Everton: Premier League – live
Sunday, 18 January 2026 17:38guardianworldnews_feed⚽ Premier League updates from the 4.30pm GMT kick-off
⚽ Live scores | Tables | Follow us on Bluesky | Mail Billy
Premier League report: Will Unwin was at Molineux this afternoon. Let’s hope this one is a bit livelier. The players are in the tunnel, kick-off is in five minutes.
Harrison Armstrong, 18, will start his third game in a row for Everton since returning from his loan at Preston.
Continue reading...Trump’s tariff threat over Greenland risks ‘dangerous downward spiral’, warn Nato members – Europe l
Sunday, 18 January 2026 17:27guardianworldnews_feedThe leaders of Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden and the UK issue joint statement ahead of EU ambassadors meeting
The United States will also suffer if president Donald Trump implements threats to impose tariffs on European countries opposing his plans to acquire Greenland, a French minister said on Sunday.
“In this escalation of tariffs, he has a lot to lose as well, as do his own farmers and industrialists,” French agriculture minister Annie Genevard told broadcasters Europe 1 and CNews.
Continue reading...Government pulls amendment to Hillsborough law after backlash
Sunday, 18 January 2026 17:24guardianworldnews_feedProposed change relating to spies was criticised by campaigners and MPs as allowing an opt-out for senior officials
The government has pulled an amendment to its proposed Hillsborough law amid concerns from campaigners and MPs that the legislation was being watered down.
The public office (accountability) bill aims to force public officials and contractors to tell the truth after disasters.
Continue reading...Uganda’s president calls opponents 'terrorists' in victory speech
Sunday, 18 January 2026 17:17guardianworldnews_feedYoweri Museveni wins seventh term but poll criticised by observers and rights groups over repression of opposition and internet blackout
Uganda’s president, Yoweri Museveni, fresh from winning a seventh term in office at 81, said on Sunday that the opposition were “terrorists” who had tried to use violence to overturn the election results.
Official results showed Museveni winning a landslide with 72% of the vote, but the poll was criticised by African election observers and rights groups due to the heavy repression of the opposition and an internet blackout.
Continue reading...Bielle-Biarrey hat-trick fires holders Bordeaux to Champions Cup victory at Bristol
Sunday, 18 January 2026 15:25guardianworldnews_feedPool 4: Bristol 15-27 Bordeaux
Bielle-Biarrey lights up match to secure top spot
The odds on Bordeaux Bègles successfully defending their Champions Cup crown shortened considerably on a damp, grey Sunday lunchtime in Bristol. Good sides can adapt their game to suit awkward conditions and, for the second weekend in a row, French class outflanked English energy and optimism with a hat-trick of tries from the spectacularly prolific French winger Louis Bielle-Biarrey.
The Bears, seeking to play billionaire rugby on a day crying out for more prudent housekeeping, made far too many unforced errors and duly paid the price against opponents who are now perfectly placed in this year’s tournament. They will have the luxury of playing all their subsequent knockout games either on French soil or, if they reach the final, just across the Spanish border in Bilbao, and at this rate it will require something special to prevent them claiming back-to-back titles.
Continue reading...Goals galore in FA Cup as Liverpool, Man Utd & Man City progress
Sunday, 18 January 2026 17:10bbc_feedLiverpool, Manchester City and Manchester United all cruise into the fifth round of the Women's FA Cup as 55 goals are scored across 12 matches on Sunday.
Wilson establishes lead over Higgins in Masters final
Sunday, 18 January 2026 16:47bbc_feedKyren Wilson makes a strong start towards winning his first Masters crown as he establishes a 5-3 lead over John Higgins in the opening session of the final.
BBC demands tighter vetting after Apprentice candidate's offensive social media posts
Sunday, 18 January 2026 16:43bbc_feedA contestant due to appear on the forthcoming series is found to have previously posted offensive messages on social media.