Judge blocks Trump officials from detaining refugees in Minnesota 29. January 2026 (03:29) Ruling follows arrests under DHS ‘re-vetting’ operation of more than 100 refugees who had been lawfully resettledA federal judge has blocked the Trump administration from detaining refugees in Minnesota, following a spate of arrests in the state.More than 100 refugees who had lawfully resettled in the state had been arrested in recent weeks, according to attorneys and advocacy groups. Some were flown to detention centers in Texas, according to attorneys representing the cases, and then were abruptly released – and left to find and pay their own way back home. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
FBI executes search warrant at election office in Fulton county, Georgia 29. January 2026 (02:51) County spokesperson says warrant seeks number of 2020 election records while FBI declines to give further detailsThe FBI executed a search warrant at the election office in Fulton county, Georgia, on Wednesday for records related to the 2020 election, according to a spokesperson for the county and the FBI.The warrant sought all ballots from the 2020 election in Fulton county, tabulator tapes, ballot images and voter rolls, according to a warrant obtained by the Guardian. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Chinese man who filmed evidence of Xinjiang rights abuses is granted asylum in US 29. January 2026 (02:43) Lawyer for Guan Heng, whose exposed evidence of persecution of Uyghurs, says he is ‘textbook example of why asylum should exist’A US immigration judge has granted asylum to a Chinese national who he said had a “well founded fear” of persecution if sent back to China after exposing alleged human rights abuses against Uyghurs there.Guan Heng applied for asylum after arriving in the US illegally in 2021. He has been in custody since being swept up in an immigration enforcement operation in August last year as part of a mass deportation campaign by the Trump administration. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Extra public holiday for NSW under consideration as Anzac Day falls on weekend, premier says 29. January 2026 (02:10) State government in talks with RSL to ensure the creation of long weekend doesn’t detract from national day of remembranceFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastA late attempt to add a public holiday to create an Anzac Day long weekend, falling into line with Western Australia and the ACT, is being considered by the New South Wales government.The premier, Chris Minns, on Thursday said his government is in talks to create a new public holiday, accounting for Anzac Day falling on a Saturday. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Food sector calls for transition period if UK and EU agree post-Brexit rules reset 29. January 2026 (01:01) Industry groups warn that aligning agriculture standards overnight could cost British businesses up to £810m a yearBritish food sector representatives have urged the government to introduce a transition period if it agrees to realign post-Brexit agriculture rules with the EU.They warned that aligning regulations overnight would create a “cliff edge” that could cost UK businesses between £500m and £810m a year, because of the divergence in standards since Brexit. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
UK probably needs large new factory to meet target of 1.3m cars a year, say industry boss 29. January 2026 (01:01) Mike Hawes casts doubt on Labour’s plan to double production by 2035, as Starmer visits China with carmaker delegationA target of building 1.3m cars a year is likely to be missed unless a large new UK factory is built in the coming years, an industry group has said, as Keir Starmer prepares to hold trade talks in China.Labour aims to have 1.3m vehicles rolling off production lines by 2035, a central ambition of its industrial strategy. That would nearly double the 764,715 cars and vans made in 2025, according to new data from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT). Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Households in England and Wales must splash out more as water bills rise again 29. January 2026 (01:01) Average bills to go up by 5.4% in April, with Ofwat approving record spending plans amid outrage over sewage spillsWater bills in England and Wales will rise by an average of £33 per household in April, in the latest above-inflation increase intended to fix leaking pipes and sewage treatment works.The increase will push the average annual water bill to £639 in the year from 1 April, up 5.4% on the previous year, according to figures published on Thursday by Water UK, a lobby group for the industry. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Bluey tops US streaming charts in 2025 for second year in a row, with 45bn minutes watched 29. January 2026 (01:01) Australian children’s cartoon series about a family of blue heelers has yet to announce a new seasonAustralian-made animated series Bluey was the most streamed show in the US for the second year in a row, topping Nielsen’s annual year-end streaming charts for 2025.US viewers watched 45.2bn minutes of the show on Disney+ according to Nielsen, down from 55.62bn in 2024, but still impressive given the show comprises 154 episodes – most of them less than 10 minutes’ long. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Senate Democrats demand DHS funding bill include reforms to ‘rein in ICE’ 29. January 2026 (00:02) Move sets up clash with Republicans that could see government partially shut down in coming daysChuck Schumer, the Senate’s top Democrat, on Wednesday demanded that legislation funding the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) include a ban on wearing masks and other reforms aimed at federal agents involved in immigration enforcement, setting up a clash with Republicans that could see the government partially shut down in the coming days.Congress is racing to head off a lapse in federal funding from beginning after Friday, and the Senate’s Republican leaders plan to hold a key procedural vote on Thursday on the DHS funding measure and five bills that authorize spending by several other government departments. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Keir Starmer to hold talks with Xi to bolster economic ties with China 28. January 2026 (23:30) PM is first UK leader to visit China in eight years and hopes to strengthen bond with superpower amid uncertainty over US allianceKeir Starmer will meet the Chinese president Xi Jinping on Thursday for historic talks he hopes will deepen economic ties at a time when some inside government fear the US is no longer a reliable partner.The prime minister – the first UK leader to visit China in eight years – will hold a 40-minute meeting with Xi at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing before a number of cultural and business receptions. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
