The Original Factory Shop calls in administrators, putting 1,200 jobs at risk 28. January 2026 (19:21) Homeware chain will continue to trade on high streets while administrators ‘assess options’ for businessHow has your local high street changed since 2019? Check your postcodeStudy: ‘Labour risks election wipeout unless it improves high streets’The Original Factory Shop homeware chain has called in administrators, putting 1,200 jobs at risk, putting the decision partly down to higher costs from government policies.Administrators from Interpath have been appointed at the 137-store discount retailer, which was bought by the private equity firm Modella Capital less than a year ago. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
First female archbishop of Canterbury vows to call out misogyny 28. January 2026 (18:47) Sarah Mullally confirmed as 106th person to take up post as some African church leaders express dismay at appointmentThe first female archbishop of Canterbury has marked her confirmation in the role with a vow to speak out about misogyny while questions continue about her record on safeguarding.Sarah Mullally took part in a service at St Paul’s Cathedral which legally confirmed her as the 106th person to take up the post and the first woman in the role. Some African church leaders have expressed dismay at the appointment. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
US intelligence agencies disagree with Trump’s opposition to Chagos deal, says Starmer 28. January 2026 (18:00) Downing Street sources say agreement is ‘done deal’ and will not be scuppered by US president’s U-turnUS intelligence agencies disagree with Donald Trump’s newly found opposition to the Chagos deal, Keir Starmer has said, as he underlined how the US administration had supported the deal as it bolstered their defences.The prime minister made his remarks, which could undermine the US president’s fresh view of the deal as an “act of great stupidity”, on the flight to Beijing for a visit that will cover UK national security among other issues. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
UK must ‘move now’ to ban social media for under-16s, says Brianna Ghey’s mother 28. January 2026 (18:00) Esther Ghey has previously said she believes her daughter’s social media addiction made her more vulnerableEsther Ghey has called on MPs to vote for an age restriction on social media in the coming weeks, as she accused the government of “kicking the can down the road” with its planned consultation.The mother of the murdered teenager Brianna Ghey told the Guardian’s Politics Weekly podcast she believed children would be harmed if the government waited for the results of its assessment later this year rather than enacting a ban straight away. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Dutch government discriminated against Bonaire islanders over climate adaptation, court rules 28. January 2026 (17:55) Judgment in The Hague orders Netherlands to do more to protect Caribbean people in its territory from impacts of climate crisisThe Dutch government discriminated against people in one of its most vulnerable territories by not helping them adapt to climate change, a court has found.The judgment, announced on Wednesday in The Hague, chastises the Netherlands for treating people on the island of Bonaire, in the Caribbean, differently to inhabitants of the European part of the country and for not doing its fair share to cut national emissions. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Guardian pair honoured for Noel Clarke coverage at Women in Journalism awards 28. January 2026 (17:52) Sirin Kale and Lucy Osborne named women of the year and former Gaza reporter Malak A Tantesh wins rising star prizeThe Guardian journalists Sirin Kale and Lucy Osborne have been recognised for their investigation covering accusations of sexual misconduct against the actor and director Noel Clarke by more than 20 women.The pair were named women of the year at the Women in Journalism awards. Osborne dedicated the honour to the “many brave women, our sources” who chose to give evidence after Clarke took legal action against the Guardian. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Trump says he’ll ‘de-escalate’ Minnesota immigration enforcement crackdown even as raids continue 28. January 2026 (17:52) Fallout from shooting of Alex Pretti by federal agents dogs White House as outrage mounts and protests are plannedDonald Trump claimed without offering further details that he would “de-escalate a little bit” his immigration enforcement crackdown in Minnesota as he appeared to give lip service to quelling the backlash to two fatal shootings by federal agents, even as the raids continued without pause.The president did not say whether he would direct Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) or US border patrol agents to change tactics. Federal immigration raids continued in the state on Wednesday just as they have since the shootings, including an incident on Tuesday during which agents appeared to attempt to enter the consulate of Ecuador in Minneapolis without a warrant. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Iran appears to ease internet blackout as cost of shutdown mounts 28. January 2026 (17:41) Experts say uneven connectivity suggests regime is throttling and filtering data as losses said to hit $36m a dayIranian authorities appear to have relaxed – but not removed – internet restrictions, in what experts say is a sign of the mounting costs of the most severe internet blackout the regime has ever imposed.“There seems to be a real patchwork of connectivity. I think if most people have access, it’s some kind of degraded service,” said Doug Madory, the director of internet analysis at Kentik. “It’s almost like they’re developing a content blocking system by trial and error.” Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Matt Goodwin becomes Reform UK candidate, and Esther Ghey on banning social media – podcast 28. January 2026 (17:34) Reform UK has announced Matt Goodwin as its candidate for the hotly anticipated Gorton and Denton byelection. John Harris and Kiran Stacey discuss his chances. Plus, John speaks to Esther Ghey about why the government should back a social media ban for under-16s Continue reading...(The Guardian)
The arts of war: can Europe’s artists embrace the idea of ‘armed pacifism’? 28. January 2026 (17:16) Pacifism is core to modern European culture, but a ‘no arms’ attitude risks leaving artists and film-makers short of answers when facing military aggression and political threats• Don’t get This Is Europe delivered to your inbox? Sign up hereOne reason why art – painting, literature, film, theatre, all of it – is so important to society is that it creates spaces that can tolerate difficult answers to difficult questions. This makes art the opposite of politics, where politicians are under constant pressure to give easy answers to difficult questions.I was thinking about this distinction this month while watching the European film awards, this continent’s answer to the Oscars, which has moved its annual ceremony to January this year as it seeks to position itself as a major tastemaker for grownup cinema. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
