Euston HS2 back on track, say ministers as final tunnelling begins 27. January 2026 (19:43) First of two 1,600-tonne boring machines drilling the 4.5 miles from Old Oak Common station switched on in LondonMinisters have pledged that a redeveloped Euston HS2 station will be big enough to “serve the nation” as tunnelling began for the last miles of high-speed railway into central London.Excavating the 4.5-mile tunnels from Old Oak Common in west London is expected to take between 12 and 18 months – although details of the terminus, and how it will be funded, are yet to be revealed. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
With Burnham blocked, Labour’s attention turns back to Angela Rayner 27. January 2026 (19:37) Keir Starmer’s former number two will be a focus of the renewed speculation about party’s future leadershipThe political world abhors a vacuum of intrigue and gossip. The scuppering of Andy Burnham’s return to Westminster has therefore brought renewed attention to other potential successors to Keir Starmer. That is in turn likely to involve renewed scrutiny of Angela Rayner.Starmer’s former number two and housing secretary has been quietly loyal since she resigned as a minister nearly five months ago after what she said was the inadvertent underpayment of stamp duty on a flat in Hove. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Philip Glass withdraws world premiere of his Lincoln symphony from Kennedy Center 27. January 2026 (19:29) Composer says values of Trump-dominated Kennedy Center ‘are in direct conflict’ with symphony’s messagePhilip Glass, the celebrated US composer, has withdrawn the world premiere of his latest symphony at Washington DC’s John F Kennedy Center in protest of Donald Trump’s presidency.In a statement on Tuesday, the 88-year-old composer said: “After thoughtful consideration, I have decided to withdraw my Symphony No 15 ‘Lincoln’ from the John F Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. Symphony No 15 is a portrait of Abraham Lincoln, and the values of the Kennedy Center today are in direct conflict with the message of the symphony. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
One in four adults in England do not drink alcohol 27. January 2026 (17:58) Survey suggests sobriety is on rise, with gender and regional differences in proportion of non-drinkersOne in four adults in England do not drink alcohol, with increasing numbers of men and young people deciding to stay sober, according to a survey.The figures, which come from a questionnaire of 10,000 people as part of the Health Survey for England, found that almost a quarter (24%) of adults in England had not drunk alcohol in 2024, an increase from just under a fifth (19%) in 2022. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Longtime DC House delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton announces retirement 27. January 2026 (17:55) The 88-year-old Democrat and advocate for Washington DC statehood says she will not seek another term in CongressEleanor Holmes Norton, a non-voting House delegate representing Washington DC, announced on Tuesday that she would not seek another term in Congress.“With fire in my soul and the facts on my side, I’ve raised hell about the injustice of denying 700K taxpaying Americans in DC – the same rights given to residents of the states for 33 years,” Norton, 88, said in a post on X that included her full statement. “Now, with pride in our accomplishments, gratitude to DC, and confidence in the next generation, I announced I’ll retire at the end of this term.” Continue reading...(The Guardian)
FBI to investigate Minneapolis activists after far-right claim about Signal chats 27. January 2026 (17:47) The FBI director, Kash Patel, said the inquiry followed a far-right influencer’s post about anti-ICE Signal chatsThe FBI director, Kash Patel, announced on Monday he was launching a criminal investigation into group chats used by Minneapolis protesters on the Signal messaging app, based on a social media post by the far-right personality Cam Higby.Patel used the podcast of another rightwing personality, Benny Johnson, to break the news. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
‘Not surprised at all’: Fareham voters size up Suella Braverman’s Reform switch 27. January 2026 (17:45) Some in Hampshire constituency happy to vote for former Tory MP again but others find defection ‘quite alarming’For Jamie Jewell, the pub owner at the Golden Lion, there has been radio silence from his local MP, Suella Braverman. In January last year, the MP for Fareham and Waterlooville visited the pub, offered to help the owners with removing a protected tree that was damaging the property, and posted photos with the staff on her Facebook page and for local media.Jewell has not heard back from her since. “I’ve sent emails saying ‘we need support here’ and never received a response. Not even an acknowledgment,” Jewell said. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Reform byelection candidate refuses to disown claim that people born in UK not necessarily British 27. January 2026 (17:36) Matthew Goodwin, who is standing in Gorton and Denton, said UK-born people from minority ethnic backgrounds were not always BritishUK politics live – latest updatesThe Reform UK candidate in the Gorton and Denton byelection has refused to disown his claim that UK-born people from minority ethnic backgrounds are not necessarily British.Matthew Goodwin, a hard-right activist, was unveiled on Tuesday as the party’s candidate in the demographically diverse seat in south-east Manchester. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
UPS says it would cut up to 30,000 jobs this year as it aims to boost turnaround 27. January 2026 (17:11) United Parcel Service adds to 2025 job reductions as delivery giant slashes low-profit Amazon deliveriesUnited Parcel Service on Tuesday said it would cut up to 30,000 operational roles in 2026, adding to last year’s job reductions as the delivery giant looks to accelerate a turnaround fueled by a pivot to higher-margin shipments.The company also beat Wall Street estimates for quarterly results in the all-important holiday period and forecast a surprise rise in annual revenue. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Minnesota judge summons acting ICE director, warns of contempt over court defiance 27. January 2026 (16:33) Chief judge orders Todd Lyons to appear, saying patience is exhausted as migrants remain jailed despite rulingsMinnesota’s top federal judge has summoned the acting head of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to appear before him on Friday, warning he may be held in contempt for allegedly defying court orders.Chief US district judge Patrick Schiltz demanded ICE lead Todd Lyons explain himself personally in a three-page order issued Monday evening, declaring that “the court’s patience is at an end”. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
