Why Trump’s options are limited when it comes to using force against Iran 13. January 2026 (18:17) As US president tells protesters ‘help is on the way’, any military action would be unlikely to succeedIran crisis live – latest updatesDonald Trump may not be unafraid to use military force against Iran, according to the White House, but the reality is the US president has few to no options that could obviously help that country’s protest movement, never mind the fact that the history of US intervention in the region has hardly been a success.Emboldened by the seizure of the erstwhile Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro, after an operation that took months of planning, Trump talked up military intervention against the Iranian regime with no military pre-positioning having taken place. In fact, there has been a drawdown in the last few months, reducing military options further. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Hillsborough law to be delayed over security services concerns 13. January 2026 (18:04) Ministers hope to reach compromise after MPs and families said bill went too far in shielding intelligence officersThe government is to delay the progress of the Hillsborough law while ministers thrash out a compromise, amid concerns from MPs and families over how it will apply to serving intelligence officers.The bill will enforce a duty of candour on public officials and contractors to tell the truth in the aftermath of disasters. But concerns were raised by campaigners that it went too far in protecting individual employees of the intelligence agencies who might have misled public inquiries or investigations. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Bill Clinton faces being held in contempt of Congress after he and Hillary refuse to testify in Epstein inquiry – US politics live 13. January 2026 (18:02) Republican House oversight committee chair James Comer says he will move to hold former president in contemptDonald Trump is heading to Detroit, Michigan today, where he’ll tour a Ford factory in Dearborn.The president will deliver remarks to the Detroit Economic Club at 2pm ET, to continue his “affordability” tour, where he’s expected to tout the administration’s commitment to revitalising manufacturing and keeping costs down. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
More than 300 Met officers and staff reveal they are Freemasons or in other ‘hierarchical’ societies 13. January 2026 (17:56) Figure emerges as judge considers legal challenge to Scotland Yard policy forcing police to declare affiliation to semi-secret organisationMore than 300 Metropolitan police officers and staff have obeyed an order to tell their bosses if they are members of hierarchical organisations such as the Freemasons, the high court has heard.Britain’s largest force announced the policy last month and it has met fierce opposition from bodies representing Masons. They have taken legal action to seek an injunction, claiming it amounts to religious discrimination and breaches human rights laws. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
UK announces ‘full and further sanctions’ amid Iran killings and arrests 13. January 2026 (17:45) Sanctions to target finance, energy, transport, software and other significant industries, Yvette Cooper tells MPsIran crisis live – latest updatesThe UK has announced “full and further sanctions” against Iran amid widespread protests that have resulted in hundreds of deaths and arrests.The sanctions will target finance, energy, transport, software and other significant industries, Yvette Cooper, the foreign secretary, told MPs. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
South Korean prosecutors demand death penalty for former president Yoon Suk Yeol 13. January 2026 (17:29) Yoon is on trial for insurrection charges, after trying to declare martial law in late 2024South Korean prosecutors have demanded the death penalty for former president Yoon Suk Yeol over his failed martial law declaration in December 2024, in the first insurrection trial of a Korean head of state in three decades.Prosecutors characterised the case as the “serious destruction of constitutional order by anti-state forces”, telling Seoul central district court that Yoon had “directly and fundamentally infringed upon the safety of the state and the survival and freedom of the people”. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Zoe Saldaña becomes highest-grossing actor of all time 13. January 2026 (17:27) Star overtook Scarlett Johansson after success of third Avatar – her films have now made more than $15.46bn worldwideZoe Saldaña has become the highest-grossing actor of all time.The 47-year-old Oscar winner has overtaken Scarlett Johansson after the success of Avatar: Fire and Ash added more than $1.2bn to her total. Saldaña’s films have now made more than $15.46bn worldwide, according to the Numbers. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Greenland and Denmark unite against US advances before White House talks 13. January 2026 (17:19) Island’s PM tells media event with Danish counterpart ‘we choose Denmark’ and will not be owned or governed by USEurope live – latest updatesGreenland’s prime minister has said “we choose Denmark” before high-stakes talks at the White House about Donald Trump’s intention to take control of the Arctic territory.Amid rising tensions over the US president’s push, Jens-Frederik Nielsen told a joint press conference with his Danish counterpart, Mette Frederiksen on Tuesday that the island would not be owned or governed by Washington. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Musk’s AI tool Grok will be integrated into Pentagon networks, Hegseth says 13. January 2026 (17:13) Defense secretary says AI tool will join military systems later this month as it comes under fire for sexual imageryPete Hegseth announced on Monday that the US military will begin integrating Elon Musk’s artificial intelligence tool, Grok, into Pentagon networks.Speaking at the SpaceX headquarters in Texas on Monday evening, the US defense secretary said that the integration of Grok into military systems would go live later this month. “Very soon we will have the world’s leading AI models on every unclassified and classified network throughout our department,” Hegseth said. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
California county accused of profiling Asian Americans agrees to police reforms 13. January 2026 (17:00) Agreement in Siskiyou county comes after lawsuit from Hmong residents alleging harassment by law enforcementA northern California county accused of pervasive and systematic racial discrimination against Asian Americans has agreed to policing reforms and independent oversight.Siskiyou, a sprawling rural county in the state’s far north, has for years been the site of conflict over water rights, marijuana and policing practices. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
