Canada separatists accused of ‘treason’ after secret talks with US state department 29. January 2026 (19:39) Alberta activists’ covert meetings with US officials revealed, outlining group’s increasingly emboldened effortsCovert meetings between separatist activists in the Canadian province of Alberta and members of Donald Trump’s administration amount to “treason”, the premier of British Columbia said on Thursday.“To go to a foreign country and to ask for assistance in breaking up Canada, there’s an old-fashioned word for that – and that word is treason,” David Eby told reporters. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Keir Starmer opens door to UK visit by Xi Jinping after bilateral talks 29. January 2026 (19:37) PM says trip to China has put relationship in stronger place, but possible return visit angers British criticsUK politics live – latest updatesKeir Starmer has taken a big step towards rapprochement with China, opening the door to a UK visit from Xi Jinping in a move that drew immediate anger from British critics of Beijing.During the first visit by a UK prime minister to China in eight years – a period which Starmer has described as an “ice age” – he said talks with the Chinese president had left the bilateral relationship in a stronger position. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
UK unlikely to join a US attack on Iran – but may help Gulf states if Tehran retaliates 29. January 2026 (19:18) Deployment of RAF Typhoon squadron to Qatar signals willingness to protect country from a counterattackBritain is unlikely to assist the US in an attack on Iran but a deployment of RAF Typhoons to Qatar last week signals a willingness to help regional allies if Tehran tries to widen the conflict in retaliation.A first strike on Iran is unlikely be in line with the UK’s interpretation of international law, but British forces could become involved if there is a need to help Qatar or other regional allies in self-defence. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Is Trump about to attack Iran? – The Latest 29. January 2026 (18:09) Donald Trump says ‘time is running out’ for Iran as the threat of war appears to loom closer. A huge US armada is being moved towards Iran and is seen as the starkest indication yet that Trump intends to strike.The US president had called on the Iranian regime to negotiate a deal on the future of its nuclear programme, only weeks after he promised Iranian protesters ‘help was on the way’ then backtracked days later.Nosheen Iqbal talks to the Guardian’s deputy international news editor, Devika Bhat, about what Trump could do next – watch on YouTube Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Criminal investigation opened into two officials over deadly new year Swiss fire 29. January 2026 (17:59) Prosecutors questioning Crans-Montana head of public safety and a former fire safety officer, documents showProsecutors investigating the deadly new year bar fire that killed 40 people in the Swiss ski resort of Crans-Montana have opened a criminal investigation into a current and a former local council official, according to documents and local media reports.The municipality’s head of public safety was this week summoned to a hearing next Friday, their lawyer, Nicolas Rivard, confirmed on Thursday, adding that his client would be reserving any statement for the public prosecutors. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
EU formally designates Iran’s Revolutionary Guards as a terrorist organisation 29. January 2026 (17:52) ‘Any organisation that kills thousands of its own people is working toward its own demise,’ says Kaja Kallas The EU has listed Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a terrorist organisation, ending years of division over the issue in response to the regime’s brutal repression of protesters.“Repression cannot go unanswered,” said Kaja Kallas, the EU’s foreign policy chief, on Thursday. The paramilitary organisation has played a significant role in suppressing demonstrations in Iran. “Any regime that kills thousands of its own people is working toward its own demise,” she wrote on X. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Rate-rigging convictions of five bankers referred to UK appeals court 29. January 2026 (17:45) The referral comes after the supreme court overturned the convictions of two other traders, Tom Hayes and Carlo PalomboFive more former bankers convicted of rigging interest rates will be given a fresh chance to clear their names, after the supreme court overturned a decade-old ruling against the trader Tom Hayes last year.The Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC) said on Thursday that it had referred the ex-City traders’ convictions back to the court of appeal. The men were jailed between 2016 and 2019 on charges of manipulating the euro interbank offered rate, Euribor, or the now defunct London interbank offered rate, Libor. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
ICE ends surge in Maine as border czar pledges to keep operation in Minnesota 29. January 2026 (17:41) Tom Homan acknowledges immigration enforcement needs ‘certain improvements’, without offering any detailsUS politics live – latest updatesFederal authorities have ended their immigration enforcement surge in Maine, a state senator said on Thursday, even as Donald Trump’s “border czar” Tom Homan insisted that the much bigger operation in Minnesota would continue.Susan Collins, a Republican, cited a conversation with the homeland security secretary, Kristi Noem, that the “enhanced operation” in her state of Maine had been wrapped up. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Senate Democrats considering deal to head off partial government shutdown 29. January 2026 (17:32) A vote for short-term DHS funding bill would give the party time to negotiate reforms on immigration operations Senate Democrats are considering a deal that would head off a partial government shutdown and give the party time to negotiate new restrictions on immigration operations in response to the killings of US citizens Alex Pretti and Renee Good in Minneapolis.The talks, confirmed to the Guardian by a Senate aide, come after Senate Democrats demanded a series of reforms on federal agents involved in Donald Trump’s mass deportation campaign, including a prohibition on wearing masks, the imposition of a code of conduct and independent investigations of violations.Shrai Popat contributed reporting from Minneapolis Continue reading...(The Guardian)
‘Feels like a losing battle’: the fight against flooding in Somerset 29. January 2026 (17:18) Emergency pumps are deployed in attempt to stop water inundating homes around River Parrett‘Like a sea out there’: flooded Somerset residents wonder how water can be managedSince medieval monks started draining and managing the Somerset Levels, humans have struggled to live and work alongside water.“At the moment it feels like a losing battle,” said Mike Stanton, the chair of the Somerset Rivers Authority. “Intense rainfall is hitting us more often because of climate change. It may be that in the next 50 years, perhaps in the next 20, some homes around here will have to be abandoned.” Continue reading...(The Guardian)
