Australia’s largest coal-fired power plant, Eraring, will extend its operational life by two years until 2029, as announced by Frank Calabria, CEO of Origin Energy. This decision aims to support the national energy grid amid ongoing concerns about its capacity to meet demand.

A judge has ordered the release of actor Timothy Busfield from jail during a detention hearing concerning child sex abuse charges. The ruling by state district court judge David Murphy comes amid allegations that Busfield inappropriately touched a minor while directing the TV series The Cleaning Lady.

A significant number of Democrats, including Chris Murphy, Ro Khanna, and Ilhan Omar, have announced their intention to vote against the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) funding bill due to widespread outrage over the recent killing of Renee Good by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents. This decision reflects a growing discontent within the party regarding ICE's tactics and the broader implications of immigration enforcement.

Nationals frontbenchers Ross Cadell and Bridget McKenzie have publicly stated that opposition leader Sussan Ley will determine their futures in shadow cabinet after they voted against Labor's hate speech bill, breaching party solidarity rules. Susan McDonald also voted against the Coalition's stance, although her position remains less defined.

A 12-year-old boy named Nico Antic is in critical condition after suffering severe injuries from a shark attack in Sydney Harbour on January 18. The incident occurred at a beach in Vaucluse, and he has been fighting for his life in the hospital for over 60 hours. His family is now facing the possibility of the worst outcome as they await updates on his condition.

Nearly 400 millionaires and billionaires from 24 countries have signed an open letter urging global leaders to raise taxes on the super-rich, coinciding with the World Economic Forum in Davos. This initiative highlights concerns over the increasing political influence wielded by the wealthiest individuals in society.

The Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) has highlighted a critical situation regarding the rising costs and inefficiencies in the special educational needs (SEND) system in England, indicating that government spending on SEND education is projected to double from 2015 to 2028. This increase threatens to limit funding for mainstream schools, creating a challenging environment for educational equity.

Dame Judi Dench has voiced her support for a campaign aimed at protecting London's parks and green spaces, highlighting that over 50 of these areas are currently at risk from development, according to recent research. The Oscar-winning actor, known for her love of trees, has previously expressed her commitment to environmental causes, including planting trees in memory of loved ones.

The number of grassroots music venues (GMVs) in the UK decreased by just nine in 2025, marking the lowest annual decline since 2018. Despite this stabilization, over half of these venues reported no profit, and employment in the sector fell by nearly 22%. Thirty venues closed permanently, while 69 previously inactive spaces returned to operation.