UK supermarkets go all out for ‘Jab-uary’ with food for those on weight-loss drugs 17. January 2026 (13:00) M&S, Morrisons and Ocado among retailers bringing out ranges targeting shoppers taking Wegovy or similarVeganuary and dry January are among the new year health kicks enthusiastically endorsed by supermarkets, but this year the buzz is around “Jab-uary” as pricey diet foods aimed at people on weight-loss drugs hit the shelves.Marks & Spencer, Morrisons, Asda, Ocado and the Co-op are among the big names targeting shoppers who use weight-loss injections, known as GLP-1 agonists, but better known by brand names such as Wegovy and Mounjaro. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
‘Make no mistake, this is an occupation’: ICE’s deadly presence casts long shadow over Minneapolis 17. January 2026 (12:00) Classrooms have emptied, shops have shut, and the mood is tense – but as the federal operation has ramped up, so has residents’ responseAt 6.15am, Jac Kovarik revs up their SUV and snakes through the iced-over streets of south Minneapolis, eyes scanning for federal immigration agents.The neighborhood where Renee Good was killed by a federal officer has been eerily quiet. The bus stops are depleted of early shift workers. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Greenland and Denmark set for anti-Trump protests – Europe live 17. January 2026 (11:42) ‘Hands off Greenland’ rallies have been organised in Copenhagen, Aarhus, Aalborg, Odense and NuukIn his latest posts on Truth Social, Donald Trump appeared to double down on his threats to impose tariffs on countries that do not “go along” with his plan to annex Greenland.Late Friday, the president posted a black-and-white photograph of himself leaning over his desk in the Oval Office, his face serious and his hands in fist. The photo was accompanied with the text: “Mister Tariff”. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Damien Martyn declares ‘I’m back!’ after leaving hospital following meningitis 17. January 2026 (11:14) In a social media post, the former Australia batter revealed he had been given a ‘50/50 chance of surviving’ and thanked medical staff and well-wishers Damien Martyn has declared he is back after overcoming a meningitis scare, which he said took his life out of his hands.In a heartfelt post on his social media accounts, the former Australia batter said he was given a 50% chance to live after battling the disease, which causes an infection and swelling of fluid and membranes around the brain and spinal cord. The 54-year-old was put into an induced coma on 27 December and was fighting for his life in a Gold Coast intensive care unit until he woke eight days later. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Zahawi defection pushes Reform’s vaccine scepticism into spotlight 17. January 2026 (11:00) The views of the former Tory vaccines minister clash with those of high-profile members and the party faithfulThere was no shortage of ammunition for reporters seeking to pepper Nadhim Zahawi with questions when the former Conservative chancellor was unveiled as Reform’s newest recruit on Monday.But one persistent line of questioning seemed to draw a flash of real anger from the defector: did he reject the views of a doctor who was permitted by Reform to use the main stage at its annual conference to claim that the Covid vaccines, which Zahawi had himself rolled out as vaccines minister during the pandemic, were responsible for King Charles and the Princess of Wales’ cancers? Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Republican dissent as key figures warn Trump against Greenland pursuit 17. January 2026 (11:00) Congressional Republicans criticize ‘absurd’ idea as polls show most Americans oppose taking control of territoryDonald Trump’s renewed interest in taking control of Greenland has become a subject of pointed dissent among congressional Republicans, with several allies speaking out in recent days against the idea after the president reintensified his interest following the US raid that captured Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro.Congressional Republicans are typically loath to disagree openly with the president, who has repeatedly called for his party’s dissenters to be voted out of office. But amid polling that shows an overwhelming majority of Americans oppose taking control of the island and warnings from Denmark that an invasion would spell the end of Nato, some congressional Republicans have issued forceful warnings against pursuing the issue. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
US House candidate buys nazis.us domain to redirect visitors to homeland security 17. January 2026 (10:00) Mark Davis, running in Florida, says he bought domain because Republican party had gone ‘full fascist’A Florida congressional candidate says he bought the online domain nazis.us and set it up to redirect visitors to the US Department of Homeland Security, under whom federal agents have been carrying out brutal immigration crackdowns at the behest of the Trump administration.Mark Davis, who says he is running as a Democrat for Republican Vern Buchanan’s seat in November’s midterms, took responsibility for the ploy in a Friday X post – as polling showed most Americans believe the killing of Minneapolis woman Renee Nicole Good by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent demonstrated problems with the way ICE has been operating. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Shelling out? Easter eggs in the UK are smaller but pricier this year 17. January 2026 (10:00) Chocolate treats reduced in size or weight as higher price of cocoa drives new wave of ‘shrinkflation’Chocolate eggs are looking smaller than ever this year and it is not just because Easter is still so far away.Many of the Easter eggs already out on supermarket shelves this month not only cost more, but have been reduced in size or weight as the price of cocoa has driven a new wave of shrinkflation. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Betfair urged to hand tens of thousands to victim of gambling fraudster 17. January 2026 (08:00) Betting exchange appeared to miss multiple opportunities to stop ‘VIP’ customer betting with stolen money Betfair is under pressure to hand tens of thousands of pounds to the victim of a fraudster and gambling addict, after appearing to miss multiple opportunities to stop the “VIP” customer betting with stolen money.Andrew Morford, a former finance manager, was given a two-year suspended sentence on Wednesday, after admitting a £340,000 fraud against his former employer, carried out between May 2019 and February 2024. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
HMRC taking more than a year to pay out tax rebates 17. January 2026 (08:00) Taxpayers talk of having to borrow cash and wait for months amid ‘significant backlogs’ in processing of claimsSome people are waiting a year or more for HM Revenue and Customs to refund overpaid tax and national insurance contributions (NICs).In some cases, refunds that were previously processed within a few weeks are taking 10 months or more, an investigation by Guardian Money has found. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
