Brazilian president vetoes bill reducing Jair Bolsonaro’s prison sentence 08. January 2026 (19:03) Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva rejects bill passed by congress as he marks anniversary of 2023 Brasília riotsBrazil’s president, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, has vetoed a bill that would dramatically reduce the prison sentence of the country’s far-right former leader Jair Bolsonaro, who was convicted last year of plotting a coup.Lula vetoed the bill, which was passed by congress in December, on the third anniversary of riots by Bolsonaro supporters in the capital, Brasília, over his defeat by Lula in the 2022 general election. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
On the lamb: 50 sheep break away from flock and storm German supermarket 08. January 2026 (18:37) Ewes and lambs coaxed out of store in Burgsinn after about 20 minutes, leaving trail of destruction in drinks sectionAbout 50 wayward sheep broke off from their flock and stormed a discount supermarket in a German town, startling and delighting customers as the animals rushed to explore the aisles before being escorted from the premises.The woolly incursion occurred on Monday during a routine seasonal migration of the sheep in the Bavarian municipality of Burgsinn. A few dozen of the sheep had other ideas about the route and made their way into a store of the Penny retail chain. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
‘Shadow fleet’ ships moving sanctioned oil reflagged to Russia at rising rate 08. January 2026 (18:24) Lloyd’s List analysis suggests 40 suspicious vessels joined Russian registry last year, with 17 reflagged last monthTwo oil tankers under US sanctions sailing through Channel towards RussiaForty ships accused of belonging to a large “shadow fleet” moving sanctioned oil for Venezuela and others were reflagged to Russia last year in an apparent attempt to gain Kremlin protection from American seizure.Analysis by the shipping intelligence publication Lloyd’s List suggests that of those, at least 17 suspicious vessels joined the Russian registry over the past month, compared with 15 ships in the previous five months of 2025. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Hundreds of nonconsensual AI images being created by Grok on X, data shows 08. January 2026 (18:00) Sample of roughly 500 posts shows how frequently people are creating sexualized images with Elon Musk’s AI chatbotNew research that samples X users prompting Elon Musk’s AI chatbot Grok demonstrates how frequently people are creating sexualized images with it. Nearly three-quarters of posts collected and analyzed by a PhD researcher at Dublin’s Trinity College were requests for nonconsensual images of real women or minors with items of clothing removed or added.The posts offer a new level of detail on how the images are generated and shared on X, with users coaching one another on prompts; suggesting iterations on Grok’s presentations of women in lingerie or swimsuits, or with areas of their body covered in semen; and asking Grok to remove outer clothing in replies to posts containing self-portraits by female users. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
FBI takes over investigation into killing of US citizen by ICE officer in Minneapolis 08. January 2026 (17:59) City remains on edge, with several protests planned in the day, after the killing of Renee Nicole Macklin GoodUS politics live – latest updatesThe FBI has taken full control of the investigation into the fatal shooting of Renee Nicole Macklin Good by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency (ICE) officer in Minneapolis, it emerged on Thursday.In a statement, the Minneosta Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) said it was initially called upon to help investigate the shooting before federal officials “reversed course” and said the case would be solely led by the FBI. As it now no longer has access to the case materials, witnesses and evidence, the BCA said it had “reluctantly” withdrawn from the investigation. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
US Senate advances war powers resolution to stop Trump from taking further military action in Venezuela 08. January 2026 (17:46) Democratic-led resolution requires US president to seek Congress’s approval to use military against VenezuelaThe US Senate on Thursday advanced a bipartisan resolution to prevent Donald Trump from taking further military actions against Venezuela, after he ordered a weekend raid to capture that country’s president, Nicolás Maduro, without giving Congress advance notice.The measure passed with 52 senators in favor and 47 opposed. All Democrats voted for the measure, as did Republicans Rand Paul, Todd Young, Lisa Murkowski, Josh Hawley and Susan Collins. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Saudi Arabia says UAE helped Yemeni separatist leader flee as crisis deepens 08. January 2026 (17:40) Riyadh says Aidarous al-Zubaidi, leader of the UAE-backed Southern Transitional Council, was helped to flee YemenSaudi Arabia has accused the United Arab Emirates of smuggling a UAE-backed separatist leader out of Yemen after he failed to turn up for crisis talks in Riyadh on Wednesday.The Saudi-led coalition in Yemen said Aidarous al-Zubaidi had fled the port city of Aden for Abu Dhabi under Emirati supervision, deepening a diplomatic row between Saudi Arabia and the UAE. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Syrian army orders Aleppo evacuations amid fighting with Kurdish forces 08. January 2026 (17:16) People told to leave three areas as fears grow of wider conflict between government and Kurdish authoritiesThe Syrian army ordered civilians to evacuate neighbourhoods of Aleppo on Thursday after fighting with Kurdish forces entered its third day, deepening the rift between the Syrian government and the US-backed Kurdish authorities in Syria.The Syrian government urged people to leave the three contested neighbourhoods of Sheikh Maqsoud, Ashrafieh and Bani Zeid by early afternoon, opening humanitarian corridors and displacement shelters to facilitate their exit. The Syrian army said it would begin military operations against the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) after the deadline, and issued maps showing specific areas that needed to be evacuated. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Masses of toxic litter pours from Rhine into North Sea each year, research finds 08. January 2026 (17:00) Citizen scientists help in University of Bonn study showing river carries up to 4,700 tonnes of ‘macrolitter’ annuallyThousands of tonnes of litter is pouring into the North Sea via the Rhine every year, poisoning the waters with heavy metals, microplastics and other chemicals, research has found.This litter can be detrimental to the environment and human health: tyres, for example, contain zinc and other heavy metals that can be toxic to ecosystems in high concentrations. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
One of UK’s largest concert instruments will sound again after being restored to glory 08. January 2026 (17:00) At 14 metres tall and with intricate maze of pipes, valves and keys, the Bristol Britton organ produces ‘colossal’ soundAfter falling silent eight years ago, one of the UK’s largest – and loudest – concert hall instruments is bursting back into life.Standing 14 metres high and encompassing more than 5,000 pipes, Bristol’s revered Britton organ is making its comeback this weekend, revived and revitalised after a painstaking restoration. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
