Canadian ex-Olympian pleads not guilty to 17 felonies including drug trafficking 27. January 2026 (00:08) Authorities allege Ryan Wedding, 44, ‘turned to a life of crime’ after his snowboarding career endedRyan Wedding, the Canadian former Olympic snowboarder accused of cocaine distribution and orchestrating several murders, appeared on Monday in a southern California courtroom for arraignment.The 44-year-old has been charged with drug trafficking, conspiracy to murder, witness tampering and money laundering, among other charges. Authorities allege that after his snowboarding career, Wedding “turned to a life of crime” as a narcotics trafficker and led an organization that moved cocaine from South America to the US and Canada. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Australia news live: out-of-control bushfire threatens Victorian towns; Adelaide swelters through its hottest ever night 26. January 2026 (23:56) Extreme fire weather expected to fuel blazes and pose threat to communities near Great Ocean Road. Follow today’s news live Get our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastVictoria to open nation’s first offshore wind auction this yearAustralia’s first offshore wind auction is set to kick off this year, with the Victorian Government announcing it would invite tenders for 2 gigawatts of capacity in August.We want to give industry the certainty it needs to invest and help us keep building the renewable energy Victoria needs to push down energy bills. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Wife of captain of oil tanker captured by US forces starts legal action to free him 26. January 2026 (23:32) Judicial review request made in Edinburgh says Avtandil Kalandadze of Russian-flagged Marinera is being detained unlawfullyLawyers acting for the wife of the captain of a Venezuela-linked oil tanker captured by US forces in UK waters are calling for a judicial review of his situation, claiming he is being detained unlawfully.The Marinera, a Russian-flagged vessel previously known as Bella 1, has been in the Moray Firth in recent days. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Extreme heatwave may break records in Victoria as firefighters warn of bushfire risk in ‘very dry’ state 26. January 2026 (22:46) Ouyen and Mildura in northern Victoria forecast to break state’s all-time maximum on Tuesday, as weather warnings issuedFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastA day of record-breaking heat looms for Victoria, with temperatures forecast to hit 49C in the Mallee and Melbourne facing its hottest day since Black Saturday 2009.It was 26.1C as the sun rose on Tuesday over the small Victorian town of Ouyen, the Mallee town of 1,170 people whose forecast high of 49C would break the state’s temperature record of 48.8C set in Hopetoun on Black Saturday in 2009. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
US winter storm: at least 18 people dead and nearly 200m under cold alerts 26. January 2026 (22:33) Thousands of flights also canceled as states from Texas to Maine grapple with heavy snow, ice and cold temperaturesTell us: have you been affected by the US storm?The powerful winter storm sweeping across much of the US over the weekend has been linked to at least 18 deaths.The deaths have been reported from Texas to New England as many parts of the country grappled with heavy snow, ice and dangerous cold. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
White House avoids Minneapolis tirade as signs suggest Trump backing down 26. January 2026 (22:02) Karoline Leavitt seemed unusually defensive in discussing Alex Pretti’s killing – and refused to endorse Stephen MillerWhat Karoline Leavitt, the White House press secretary, did not say on Monday was more important than what she did.When Leavitt stepped up to the briefing room podium to address the deadly shooting of Alex Pretti by federal agents in Minneapolis, she avoided the kind of victim-blaming tirade that has become de rigueur for Donald Trump’s administration. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
UK loses WHO status as measles-free after rise in deaths and fall in jab uptake 26. January 2026 (22:00) UN health body says Britain is one of six countries in Europe and central Asia where disease has become re-establishedThe UK has lost its status as a measles-free country after a rise in deaths from the disease and fall in the proportion of children having the MMR jab in recent years.The World Health Organization said it no longer classified Britain as having eliminated measles because the disease had become re-established. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Burnham will try again for Westminster return but declines offer of seat in 2027 26. January 2026 (21:25) Greater Manchester mayor’s hopes of imminent return as MP appear remote as relationship with Starmer at low ebbAndy Burnham has not given up hopes of returning to Westminster and will try again, allies say, but would need to be convinced that Keir Starmer would not try to block him again before running.The Greater Manchester mayor’s hopes of an imminent return to parliament appeared remote, however, as No 10 sources suggested that relations between the two men were at a low ebb and played down chances of a rapprochement. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Portuguese police seize record 9 tonnes of cocaine from ‘narco-sub’ 26. January 2026 (20:55) Four arrested during seizure which was part of largest shipment ever found on such a vessel bound for EuropePortuguese police have made a record seizure of almost nine tonnes of cocaine after intercepting a “narco-sub” off the Azores carrying what is thought to be the largest shipment of the drug ever found on one of the Europe-bound, semi-submersible vessel.The Portuguese Judicial Police (PJ) said its officers had confiscated the haul in a recent joint operation with the country’s navy and air force that had been conducted in coordination with the US Drug Enforcement Administration and the UK National Crime Agency. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Melania documentary struggles in UK cinemas as Vue admits sales are ‘soft’ 26. January 2026 (20:30) Only one ticket sold for premiere of film about US first lady at Vue’s flagship London branch as insiders question launch strategyAs film exhibitor strategies go, counter-programming is one of the most reliable. It worked for The Dark Knight and Mamma Mia!, released in the US on the same day in 2008, as well as for Dunkirk and Girls Trip in 2017. In 2023, Barbie and Oppenheimer leveraged the tactic to the tune of $2.5bn in combined box office takings.This week we could see another example as Amazon releases its authorised documentary about Melania Trump in more than 100 UK cinemas. There it will compete against an already-eclectic slate of releases including the Jason Statham action film Shelter, the ape horror Primate, Bradley Cooper’s comedy-drama Is This Thing On? and Richard Linklater’s Jean-Luc Godard fictionalisation Nouvelle Vague. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
