3,000 jobs at risk unless MoD signs helicopter order, sources say 11. January 2026 (19:58) Skilled workers at Leonardo Helicopters fear it will close Yeovil site if Ministry of Defence delays awarding contractThe UK’s last military helicopter factory must land a long-awaited order from the Ministry of Defence within the coming weeks to secure about 3,000 manufacturing jobs, industry sources suggest.Skilled workers at Leonardo Helicopters – the Italian owner of the former Westland factory in Yeovil, Somerset – fear the company will follow through on threats to close the facility at the end of March, if the UK military fails to place an order for new helicopters by that time. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
‘The last actual hippie’: musicians pay tribute to the Grateful Dead’s Bob Weir 11. January 2026 (19:31) Stars from Bob Dylan to Brandi Carlile remember rock band co-founder as ‘beautiful human’ after his death at 78The death of Bob Weir, the Grateful Dead co-founder, rhythm guitarist, vocalist and writer of much of the legendary psychedelic rock band’s songs, drew a chorus of tributes from fellow musicians and fans who described him as a “musical guru” and “the last actual hippie”.Weir recently survived cancer but died from “underlying lung issues”, according to a statement posted on Saturday on Instagram. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Kristi Noem vows to send ‘hundreds’ more agents to Minneapolis as protests erupt across US 11. January 2026 (19:28) Demonstrators took to cities including Salt Lake City and LA to voice outrage over ICE’s fatal shooting of Renee GoodMinneapolis mayor urges FBI to include state officials in Renee Good inquiryThousands of people took to the streets across the US this weekend to express their outrage over the fatal shooting of a Minneapolis woman by an immigration officer, even as the head of homeland security, Kristi Noem, pledged on Sunday to send “hundreds more” federal agents to the city.Demonstrators in Minneapolis marched toward the residential street where Renee Good, a 37-year-old American citizen and mother of three, was fatally shot by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officer on Wednesday while driving away in her car. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Slashing jury trials could clear courts backlog within a decade, says Lammy 11. January 2026 (19:00) Exclusive: Lord chancellor urges MPs to back judge-only trials in thousands of criminal cases in England and WalesThe backlog of nearly 80,000 trials clogging up the court system could be cleared within a decade if parliament agrees to slash the number of jury trials, David Lammy, the lord chancellor, has claimed.In an interview with the Guardian, the deputy prime minister, who is facing a backbench rebellion over the proposals, has urged Labour MPs and the public to back a version of Canada’s judge-only trials in thousands of criminal cases in England and Wales. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Trump tells Cuba to ‘make a deal’ or face the consequences 11. January 2026 (18:59) No more Venezuelan oil or money will flow to the communist-run island after Maduro’s fall, says US presidentDonald Trump has told Cuba to “make a deal” or face unspecified consequences, adding that no more Venezuelan oil or money would flow to the communist-run Caribbean island that has been a US foe for decades.As Cuba, a close ally of Venezuela and major beneficiary of its oil, braced for potential widespread unrest after Nicolás Maduro was deposed as the South American nation’s leader, the US president ramped up his threatening language on Sunday. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Derek Martin, who played Charlie Slater in EastEnders, dies aged 92 11. January 2026 (18:23) Boy born in Bow would go on to play the devoted father and taxi driver in the BBC One soap between 2000 and 2011Derek Martin, who starred as Charlie Slater in EastEnders, has died aged 92.Martin played the devoted father and taxi driver on the BBC One soap between 2000 and 2011, and continued making guest appearances until his departure in 2016. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Germany rejects RFK Jr claims about Covid vaccine exemption prosecutions 11. January 2026 (18:05) Health minister Nina Warken says Robert F Kennedy Jr’s assertions that German doctors are facing legal action are unfoundedThe German government has sharply rejected claims by the US health secretary, Robert F Kennedy Jr, that doctors in Germany have faced legal action for issuing vaccine and mask exemptions during the Covid-19 pandemic.“The statements made by the US secretary of health are completely unfounded, factually incorrect, and must be rejected,” Germany’s health minister, Nina Warken, said in a strongly worded statement released late on Saturday. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
‘Fateful moment’ for Denmark amid Trump threats to take over Greenland 11. January 2026 (17:52) Danish prime minister says country is at a crossroads and accuses US of turning its back on NatoMette Frederiksen has said that Denmark is at a “fateful moment” amid Donald Trump’s threats to take over Greenland, accusing the US of potentially turning its back on Nato.Speaking at a party leader debate at a political rally on Sunday, the Danish prime minister said Denmark was “at a crossroads”. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Guard at Winter Olympic construction site dies in freezing conditions 11. January 2026 (17:43) 55-year-old worker died during overnight shiftTemperatures plunged to -12C in Cortina d’AmpezzoA guard at a construction site near a 2026 Winter Olympic venue in the mountain resort of Cortina d’Ampezzo died during a freezing overnight shift, authorities have confirmed. Italy’s infrastructure minister, Matteo Salvini, called for a full investigation into the circumstances of the 55-year-old worker’s death.Italian media reported that the death occurred on Thursday while the worker was on duty at a construction site near Cortina’s ice arena. Temperatures that night plunged to -12C (10.4F). Continue reading...(The Guardian)
EU wants ‘Farage clause’ in Brexit ‘reset’ talks with UK 11. January 2026 (17:26) Move would mean Brussels would receive compensation if future government reneged on deal Starmer is negotiatingThe EU is reportedly demanding guarantees the UK will compensate the bloc if a future government reneges on the Brexit “reset” agreement Keir Starmer is currently negotiating.The termination clause is a stark reminder of the painful and costly divorce in which the EU set up a colossal €5.4bn (£4.7bn) fund to help its member states cope with the disruption caused by the UK’s exit in 2020. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
