Online fundraiser for Alex Pretti raises nearly $500,000 day after fatal shooting 25. January 2026 (17:52) GoFundMe platform surpasses goal of $20,000 a day after federal agents killed the US citizen in MinneapolisAn online fundraiser benefiting the family of Alex Pretti had raised nearly $500,000 by Sunday morning, a day after federal agents killed the US citizen and nurse in Minneapolis in a shooting that ignited another round of street protests against Donald Trump’s administration and its immigration crackdown in the city.In a substantial indication of public sentiment, the “Alex Pretti is an American Hero” campaign on the GoFundMe platform surpassed its goal of $20,000 quickly after organizer Keith Edwards launched it on Saturday. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
NRA and pro-gun groups call for ‘full investigation’ into killing of Alex Pretti 25. January 2026 (17:48) Groups typically aligned with Trump call for investigation as NRA wades into the national dialogueThe National Rifle Association (NRA) has joined other gun lobbying and advocacy groups that are typically aligned with Donald Trump in calling for the Republican president’s administration to conduct a “full investigation” into the killing of Alex Pretti, the 37-year-old nurse who was shot dead by federal immigration officials in Minneapolis on Saturday.Pretti was reportedly legally permitted to carry a gun and is a citizen of the US, where it is a constitutional right to bear arms. Widely circulated video of his shooting death does not depict Pretti ever holding a gun. It does show an officer reaching to Petti’s lower back and stepping away with what appeared to be a pistol – and Petti being subsequently shot to death. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Iran president’s son urges authorities to restore internet after protest blackout 25. January 2026 (17:46) Yousef Pezeshkian says nothing will be solved by trying to postpone moment footage of violent crackdown circulateThe son of Iran’s president has called for the internet restrictions in the country to be lifted, saying nothing will be solved by trying to postpone the moment when pictures and video of the protests circulate, which were violently crushed by the regime.With a battle underway at the top of the regime about the political risks of continuing to block Iran from the internet, Yousef Pezeshkian, whose father, Masoud, was elected in the summer of 2024, said keeping the digital shutdown would create dissatisfaction and widen the gap between the people and the government. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Thousands march in Crowborough over asylum plan for former military camp 25. January 2026 (17:05) Protesters walk to Sussex market town from base where Home Office plans to house up to 500 asylum seekersThousands of people have marched through an East Sussex market town to protest against UK government plans to house asylum seekers on a former military site.Crowds of men, women and children walked to Crowborough from the base, where the Home Office plans to house up to 500 male asylum seekers as part of plans to end the use of hotels for the same purpose. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Calls mount on Trump administration to fully investigate Alex Pretti’s killing 25. January 2026 (16:49) Republican senator says ‘credibility’ of ICE and DHS are ‘at stake’ as calls come from both sides of political dividePressure mounted on Donald Trump’s administration on Sunday to fully investigate the previous day’s killing by federal immigration officers of 37-year-old nurse Alex Pretti in Minneapolis.Calls for an investigation have come from all sides of the political divide after video analysis showed officers had removed from Pretti a handgun he was reportedly permitted to carry – and which he was not handling – before fatally shooting him. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Starmer had no good options on Burnham – but blocking him is a big risk 25. January 2026 (16:37) PM will now face questions over whether he is focussed more on protecting job than boosting Labour’s chancesIt is a sign that the political deck of cards is stacked against you when the only good hand is one that was never really going to be dealt. And so it was with Keir Starmer and Andy Burnham.In an ideal world for the prime minister, Andrew Gwynne’s announcement that he was stepping down from his Gorton and Denton seat would have been followed by Burnham saying he already had a job as Greater Manchester mayor and would sit this one out, thanks very much. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
More than a quarter of Britons say they fear losing jobs to AI in next five years 25. January 2026 (16:00) Survey reveals ‘mismatched AI expectations’ between views of employers and staff over impact on careersMore than a quarter (27%) of UK workers are worried their jobs could disappear in the next five years as a result of AI, according to a survey of thousands of employees.Two-thirds (66%) of UK employers reported having invested in AI in the past 12 months, according to the international recruitment company Randstad’s annual review of the world of work, while more than half (56%) of workers said more companies were encouraging the use of AI tools in the workplace. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Pilates after prayers: men’s classes in Bradford mosques offer fitness and friendship 25. January 2026 (16:00) When organisers posted a TikTok promoting 45-minute pilates sessions, the video amassed 2m views. Now plans are afoot for female classes and youth clubsIt’s early afternoon on a gloomy day at the Jamia Usmania mosque in Bradford and a group of mostly elderly men have finished their midday prayers.The assembly of mainly retired men would usually return to the familiar drumbeat of day-to-day life, but instead they make their way downstairs to tackle squats, glute bridges and the butterfly position in the mosque’s weekly 45-minute pilates class. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Outsourced call centre staff at NDIS have to pretend to work for government, workers say 25. January 2026 (15:00) Serco employees also say they are given email addresses identical to public servants, making them indistinguishableGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastOutsourced call centre staff on the national disability insurance scheme (NDIS) phone lines must pretend to be public servants, according to workers, and are responsible for deciding which funding requests are prioritised despite having no specialised welfare training.Workers at Serco, a major outsource provider, have also been issued government agency email addresses, making it impossible for the public to tell them apart from direct employees despite vast differences in their pay, conditions, training and support. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
‘Utterly overwhelmed’: British writer-director’s short film earns Oscar nod 25. January 2026 (15:00) Lee Knight says accolade for A Friend of Dorothy, based on friendship with neighbour, sends message to never give upA writer-director from Stanmore in Middlesex whose short film has been nominated for an Oscar has said he feels “utterly overwhelmed” by the accolade.Lee Knight’s film A Friend of Dorothy, starring Miriam Margolyes and Stephen Fry, is in the running for best live action short. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
