Trump did not instruct justice department to investigate Fed chair, says White House, amid widespread criticism – live
Senior Democrat Elizabeth Warren and Republican Thom Tillis joined by all living predecessors of Powell to criticize justice department investigationEx-Fed chairs condemn Trump’s bid to weaken central bankWhy is Trump’s justice department investigating Fed chair Jerome Powell?In response to the news overnight that Donald Trump’s justice department has launched a criminal investigation into Federal Reserve chair Jerome Powell, the Senate banking committee’s top Democrat – Elizabeth Warren – has warned that her colleagues should not move forward with the president’s nominee for the role when Powell’s term expires at in May of this year.Warren accused the president of wanting to “install another sock puppet to complete his corrupt takeover of America’s central bank”.Trump is abusing the authorities of the Department of Justice like a wannabe dictator so the Fed serves his interests, along with his billionaire friends.This Committee and the Senate should not move forward with any Trump nominee for the Fed, including Fed Chair. Continue reading...
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Trump Explores Diplomacy With Iran While Weighing Strikes, Officials Say
Abbas Araghchi, the foreign minister of Iran, said his government was ready to negotiate with the United States. Iranian security forces are cracking down on protests.
Minnesota sues Trump administration to end surge of ICE agents in state
Lawsuit comes in the aftermath of an ICE agent fatally shooting Minneapolis resident Renee Nicole GoodMinnesota attorney general Keith Ellison announced a lawsuit Monday against the federal government, seeking to end the surge of ICE agents in the state.“This is in essence a federal invasion of the Twin Cities, and it must stop,” Ellison said during a press conference, noting the shutdown of schools and the closure of local businesses. “This surge has made us less safe.” Continue reading...
Australia news live: national day of mourning for Bondi victims on 22 January; PM shares condolences for family of farmer killed in Longwood fire
Flags will be flown at half-mast in all commonwealth buildings. Follow updates liveGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastNew role a ‘continuation of Rudd’s public service’, PM saysAlbanese said the decision to step down was “entirely” Rudd’s, but said the ambassador’s next role will only continue his work to advance the public interest.Kevin Rudd has a work ethic unlike anyone I’ve ever met. … He sees this as a continuation of his public service, not just to Australia but to the global community.I have seen first-hand how hard he works, not just in the last few years but throughout his public life. He’s always brought an extraordinary level of energy and discipline to public service.He applied his relentless effort, his experience, intellect and determination to advance Australia’s interests in Washington, and Kevin Rudd has served the nation well. Continue reading...
Kevin Rudd will step down as ambassador to the US a year early
Anthony Albanese thanked the former Labor PM, who will step down in March, for his service to AustraliaFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastKevin Rudd will step down as Australian ambassador to the US at the end of March, Anthony Albanese announced on Tuesday morning.The former prime minister and foreign minister will leave the role a year early, on 31 March, after being appointed global president of the international relations thinktank the Asia Society. Rudd will also head the society’s Centre for China Analysis. Continue reading...
Iran Says It Is Prepared for War but Ready to Negotiate After Trump’s Warnings
The comments came after President Trump said he was “ looking at some very strong options” to curb the Iranian authorities’ harsh repression of anti-government protests.
Cypriot president says he has ‘nothing to fear’ over corruption allegations
Incriminating video, dismissed by officials as a ‘hybrid attack’ has forced resignations of Nikos Christodoulides’s wife and chief of staffThe Cypriot president, Nikos Christodoulides, has said he has “nothing to fear” over a scandal that has forced the resignations of his chief of staff and his wife from a leadership role of a major charity.As allegations of high-level corruption swirled days after the island assumed the rotating EU presidency, officials insisted the country had been the victim of “hybrid warfare”. The incriminating claims, implicating the president and first lady in a cash for access network, were made in a video uploaded on X. Continue reading...
Iran crisis: Trump ‘unafraid’ to use ‘lethal force’ on Iran but wants diplomacy to be ‘first option’, says White House – as it happened
This live blog is now closed.‘The streets are full of blood’: Iranian protests gather momentum as regime cracks downIranian student killed during protests was shot in head ‘from close range’Analysis: Unpredictable Trump weighs up Iranian pleas for help against calls for restraintPeople in Iran: share your views on the current situationIran’s foreign ministry spokesperson, Esmaeil Baghaei, has said communication lines with the US remain open, as the Trump administration continues to weigh the option of military strikes.“This channel of communication between our foreign minister (Abbas Araghchi) and the special envoy of the president of the United States is open,” Baghaei said, in apparent reference to Steve Witkoff.Always opposes interference in other countries’ internal affairs, maintains that the sovereignty and security of all countries should be fully protected under international law, and opposes the use or threat of use of force in international relations. Continue reading...
Louise Adler resigns as director of Adelaide writers’ week
Exclusive: Writing for Guardian Australia, Adler says she ‘cannot be party to silencing writers’ after Adelaide festival board cancelled Randa Abdel-Fattah’s invitation to appearLouise Adler: I cannot be party to silencing writers, which is why I am resigning as director of Adelaide writers’ weekPeter Greste: If we silence voices we don’t agree with, we’re doing the work of extremists for themFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastThe director of Adelaide writers’ week, Louise Adler, has resigned after the board of the Adelaide festival announced it had dumped the Palestinian Australian author Randa Abdel-Fattah from the literary event.“I cannot be party to silencing writers, so with a heavy heart I am resigning from my role as the director of the AWW,” said Adler, one of Australia’s most influential literary figures. Continue reading...
World Court Hears Groundbreaking Genocide Case Against Myanmar
The case was brought to the World Court by a country not directly affected by the alleged genocide of the Rohingya, a precedent for similar claims against other countries, including Israel.