White House unleashes torrent of untruths after woman shot dead by ICE 09. January 2026 (11:00) Victim-blaming began almost as soon as Renee Nicole Good was killed – we examine the claims and the realityThe killing of a US citizen by a federal immigration agent in Minneapolis was a five-alarm fire for the Trump administration. But a torrent of untruths, half-truths, smears, and innuendo has been unleashed by the White House, and amplified by its social media and cable television acolytes, in an attempt to douse the flames.Hakeem Jeffries, the Democratic House minority leader, called homeland security secretary Kristi Noem a “stone cold liar” on Thursday for her efforts to falsely portray the victim Renee Nicole Good, a 37-year-old mother of three and award-winning poet, as a “domestic terrorist”. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Alzheimer’s therapies should target a particular gene, researchers say 09. January 2026 (11:00) Scientists at UCL say drug developers should focus on two risk-raising variants of the Apoe geneNew therapies for Alzheimer’s disease should target a particular gene linked to the condition, according to researchers who said most cases would never arise if its harmful effects were neutralised.The call to action follows the arrival of the first wave of drugs that aim to treat Alzheimer’s patients by removing toxic proteins from the brain. While the drugs slow the disease down, the benefits are minor, and they have been rejected for widespread use by the UK’s National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (Nice). Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Russia fires hypersonic Oreshnik missile at Ukraine in massive attack 09. January 2026 (09:43) Kyiv dismisses as ‘absurd’ Moscow’s attempt to portray missile launch as retaliation for supposed attempted drone strike on Putin residenceEurope live – latest updatesRussia’s military has said it fired its new hypersonic Oreshnik missile at a target in Ukraine during a massive overnight strike.Ukraine confirmed the attack, saying it took place in the west of the country near the EU border. Moscow said the launch of the intermediate-range ballistic missile was retaliation for a supposed attempted Ukrainian drone attack on Vladimir Putin’s residence late last month – an allegation Kyiv and Washington have said is false. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
‘In isolation, we’ll never flourish’: What Iranians think about the protests and an end to the Islamic Republic 09. January 2026 (09:34) In Tehran this week, young adults told the Guardian about collapsing living standards, the mass anti-government protests and their hopes for the futureMahsa is single and lives with her family. She has a page online where she sells her clothes and had arranged for a prominent influencer to run a major promotion for her. But because of the current situation, the influencer returned the money, and her sales and page activity came to a halt. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Sainsbury’s blames ‘significant headwinds’ for drop in Argos sales at Christmas 09. January 2026 (09:31) Online competition and weak consumer confidence behind fall, although sales at group’s supermarkets roseBusiness live – latest updatesSainsbury’s has blamed “significant headwinds” from weak consumer confidence, heavy online competition and widespread discounting for a fall in sales at its Argos chain over the all-important Christmas quarter.The UK’s second-largest grocer said its supermarkets increased sales by 3.4% at established stores in the three months to 3 January but Argos sales fell 1% in the period. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Mining firms Rio Tinto and Glencore restart $260bn merger talks 09. January 2026 (09:09) Deal would create world’s largest mining company and come almost a year after previous discussions failedBusiness live – latest updatesRio Tinto and Glencore have restarted talks over a merger that would create the world’s largest mining company.The talks come almost a year after previous discussions between the two mining companies collapsed. If a deal is agreed, it would create a global mining business with an enterprise value of more than $260bn (£193bn). Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Storm Goretti batters UK with heavy winds and snow 09. January 2026 (08:36) Met Office issues rare red warning as winter storm causes power cuts, travel disruption and school closuresStorm Goretti has battered the UK, with tens of thousands of Britons across the country facing widespread power cuts, travel disruption and school closures.The winter storm brought 99mph winds and a rare red warning was issued by the Met Office for “dangerous, stormy” winds in the south-west. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
‘A colossal own goal’: Trump’s exit from global climate treaties will have little effect outside US 09. January 2026 (07:00) For much of the last 30 years, the rest of the world has been forced to persevere with climate action in the face of US intransigenceOutrage as Trump withdraws from key UN climate treaty along with dozens of international organisationsDonald Trump’s latest attack on climate action takes place amid rapidly rising temperatures, rising sea levels, still-rising greenhouse gas emissions, burgeoning costs from extreme weather and the imminent danger that the world will trigger “tipping points” in the climate system that will lead to catastrophic and irreversible changes.The US president’s decision to withdraw from the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the world’s leading body of climate scientists, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, will not alter any of those scientific realities. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Attempt to overturn the Gambia’s ban on FGM heard by supreme court 09. January 2026 (07:00) Case brought by Muslim leaders and MP follows failed 2024 bid and seen as part of global anti-women’s rights backlashA group of religious leaders and an MP in the Gambia have launched efforts to overturn a ban on female genital mutilation at the country’s supreme court.The court case, due to resume this month, comes after two babies bled to death after undergoing FGM in the Gambia last year. Almameh Gibba, an MP and one of the plaintiffs, tabled a bill to decriminalise FGM that was rejected by the country’s parliament in 2024. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Home Office tells Gaza academic his bid to bring family to UK not urgent 09. January 2026 (07:00) Bassem Abudagga losing hope after being told wife must go to visa application centre, of which none remain in GazaA Palestinian academic has failed in his latest attempt to be reunited with his family in the UK after the Home Office concluded their case was not urgent and it was more appropriate for his two children to remain with their mother in a tent in Gaza.Bassem Abudagga was also told in a letter from Home Office officials that no reason had been found that was “sufficiently compelling” to defer a requirement that his wife attend a visa application centre (VAC) in Gaza so she could provide fingerprints to satisfy the conditions for evacuation. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
