Two-star Michelin restaurant in Wales handed one-star hygiene rating 14. January 2026 (23:49) Chef patron Gareth Ward ‘not embarrassed’ by the score, and says it was due to inspectors’ concerns about the use of raw ingredientsThe chef behind a Welsh restaurant with two Michelin stars says it has “the highest standards in the world”, despite being given a one-star hygiene rating in a recent inspection.Ynyshir, a restaurant with rooms near Machynlleth on the southern edge of the Eryri national park, has been praised as one of the best in the world. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Prop 50: appeals court rejects Republican bid to block California maps 14. January 2026 (23:30) Judges uphold redrawing to offset Texas gerrymandering as Newsom attacks lawsuit as ‘weak attempt to silence voters’A federal appeals panel on Wednesday upheld the California ballot initiative that allows temporary changes to congressional district maps designed to benefit Democrats in upcoming elections.The measure, known as Proposition 50, emerged in response to actions taken in Texas, where Republican leaders sought to adjust congressional districts to increase GOP representation in the US House. As the midterm elections approach, a period when shifts in party control are common, Trump urged Texas officials to redraw their maps to boost Republican seats. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Trump signs bill returning whole milk to US school lunches 14. January 2026 (22:38) Move allowing whole and 2% milk to be served in cafeterias overturns Obama-era limits to higher-fat milk optionsWhole milk is heading back to school cafeterias across the country after Donald Trump signed a bill on Wednesday overturning Obama-era limits on higher-fat milk options.Non-dairy drinks such as fortified soy milk may also be on the menu in the coming months after adoption of the Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act, which cleared Congress in the fall. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Three Palestine Action protesters end their hunger strike 14. January 2026 (22:04) Four more who had paused their strikes choose not to continue after government opts against giving contract to Elbit Systems UKThree Palestine Action-affiliated prisoners have announced the end of their hunger strike after the government decided not to award a £2bn contract to the Israeli arms company subsidiary Elbit Systems UK – with another four who had paused their protest choosing not to continue.Fears had been growing for the welfare of those taking part. On Wednesday, Heba Muraisi, 31, would have been on day 73 of refusing food, the same number of days as reached by the Irish republican hunger striker Kieran Doherty, who survived the longest of 10 men who died in a 1981 action. The earliest death among the Irish republicans was after 46 days, raising fears about the risk to life of the prisoners in jail awaiting trial for offences relating to protests claimed by Palestine Action. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Bears under California homes go from one-off to trend 14. January 2026 (22:02) It’s unclear whether bear removed from Altadena house is same one seen under other homesLast week, it appeared the the saga of a black bear that had captivated the Los Angeles community of Altadena for months had come to an end: the Bear League, a Lake Tahoe-based non-profit, was able to successfully remove a 550lb black bear that had been living in a crawlspace under Ken Johnson’s home in Altadena since late November.This week, however, reports emerged of bears appearing under other homes. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Police chief behind Maccabi Tel Aviv ban clings to job despite home secretary wanting him to quit 14. January 2026 (21:50) Shabana Mahmood has lost confidence in Craig Guildford over his force’s ‘exaggerated and untrue’ intelligence assessmentsExplainer: What did West Midlands police chief get wrong in decision to ban Maccabi fans?The police chief who used “exaggerated and untrue” intelligence to justify a ban on Israeli football fans was clinging on to his job on Wednesday, despite the home secretary demanding he resign.Craig Guildford, who leads West Midlands police, is determined to stay in his post for now, the Guardian has learned, despite a war of words that culminated in Shabana Mahmood declaring she had lost confidence in him. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
California attorney general investigates Musk’s Grok AI over lewd fake images 14. January 2026 (21:09) AI tool made by Elon Musk’s xAI makes it easy to harass women with deepfake images, says state’s top attorneyCalifornia authorities have announced an investigation into the output of Elon Musk’s Grok.The state’s top attorney said Grok, an AI tool and image generator made by Musk’s company xAI, appears to be making it easy to harass women and girls with deepfake images on X and elsewhere online. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Labour MPs could rebel over Hillsborough law after talks with families break down 14. January 2026 (21:03) Families are concerned about possibility for intelligence services to veto officers giving evidence after disastersKeir Starmer is facing the prospect of Labour MPs rebelling on his manifesto-promised Hillsborough law after talks broke down with families over how the duty of candour would apply to serving intelligence officers.Starmer was introduced at last year’s Labour conference by Margaret Aspinall, whose son James, 18, was one of the 97 people killed in the 1989 Hillsborough disaster. She praised him for pushing forward with the bill after months of arguments over its future. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
US announces start of Gaza ceasefire second phase 14. January 2026 (20:28) No details given of potential members of committee that will be created to run territory as part of phase twoThe US has announced the start of the second phase of the Gaza ceasefire, including the creation of a committee of Palestinian technocrats who are supposed to take over the day-to-day running of the territory for a transition period.The announcement was made on social media by Donald Trump’s special envoy, Steve Witkoff, but it lacked any detail or names of potential members of the proposed “national committee for the administration of Gaza”. The committee is not expected to begin work until mandated by a “peace board” chaired by Trump, which has yet to be created. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Amazon to close Milton Keynes fulfilment centre, affecting 590 workers 14. January 2026 (20:27) The site was the UK’s first Amazon warehouse and staff will be offered a transfer to a new Northampton site or elsewhereAmazon is planning to close one of its UK fulfilment centres, offering workers the chance to transfer to another site.The company announced a consultation on a proposal to close the site in Milton Keynes, which was the first Amazon centre to open in the UK, in 1998. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
