‘Catastrophic’: fears for families after Trump officials cut $10bn in social funds 08. January 2026 (14:00) Health department’s decision to freeze money for childcare and for families in need could lead to disaster, experts sayThe Trump administration’s sudden decision to freeze $10bn worth of federal funding for childcare and needy families has not only already thrown the US childcare system into mass confusion, but could also lead to disaster for hundreds of thousands of families within weeks, experts say.The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced late on Tuesday it would block California, Colorado, Illinois, Minnesota and New York from drawing down money from three major social safety programs over “serious concerns about widespread fraud and misuse of taxpayer dollars in state-administered programs”. In order to access the funding, the Democratic-run states must provide the Trump administration with extensive documentation to allay the fears of fraud. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Minneapolis had been bracing for catastrophe before ICE killing 08. January 2026 (14:00) Before shooting of Renee Nicole Good, 37, agents had been grabbing people at stores, gyms, homes and schoolsIn the days before a federal agent shot and killed 37-year-old Renee Nicole Good in Minneapolis, the Trump administration said it was launching what would be the agency’s “largest operation to date” in the Twin Cities.Since early December, agents from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Customs and Border Protection and Homeland Security Investigations – many of them masked and brandishing rifles – have grabbed people at hardware stores and gyms, or outside homes and schools around the cities. They have violently tackled undocumented immigrants as well as US citizens, including advocates and protestors. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Greggs puts up price of sausage roll by 5p to £1.35 amid rising costs 08. January 2026 (13:39) Bakery chain also adds 10p to a latte, bringing it to £2.25, as CEO warns of ‘a tough, challenging market’Greggs has added 5p to the price of a sausage roll and 10p to a latte coffee as it leans on some of its bestsellers to soak up rising wage, energy and packaging costs.The UK’s largest bakery chain said it had no plans for further price increases at present and it expected inflation to ease this year as it admitted it had sold fewer items in the run-up to Christmas amid a “very tough, challenging market”. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Trump plans to use Venezuela’s huge crude reserves ‘to cut US oil price to $50 a barrel’ 08. January 2026 (13:00) President reportedly hopes falling price will cut domestic consumer energy billsBusiness live – latest updatesDonald Trump plans to use Venezuela’s vast crude reserves to establish control of most of the western hemisphere’s oil in an attempt to drive the market price down to about $50 (£37) a barrel, according to reports.The US president has repeatedly raised the prospect of producing enough crude from Venezuela’s oilfields to drive down the US oil price from more than $56 a barrel today to about $50 in an effort to cut energy costs for consumers, according to the Wall Street Journal, which cited senior Trump administration officials. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Farage accused of ‘parroting Kremlin lines’ after remarks on UK troops in Ukraine 08. January 2026 (12:20) Pat McFadden says stance on potential peace deployment casts doubt on Reform leader’s commitment to national securityUK politics live – latest updatesNigel Farage has been accused of “parroting Kremlin lines” after saying that he would vote against any UK government plans to deploy the military in Ukraine.On Tuesday, Britain and France said they would be ready to send troops to Ukraine after a peace deal, but the Reform UK leader said he would vote against any such move to put boots on the ground. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Holiday Inn turned away homeless men despite rooms being paid for 08. January 2026 (11:56) Charity worker describes incident at Manchester hotel as disgusting and ‘complete discrimination on appearance’Two homeless men were turned away from a Holiday Inn in sub-zero temperatures despite their booking already being paid for, a charity has said.The hotel in Manchester city centre refused to accommodate the men and staff members apparently told them: “I know that you’re from the street and the hotel doesn’t allow it.” Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Tesco aiming for bumper 2026 after best Christmas market share in decade 08. January 2026 (11:48) Chain reports strong sales but shares drop 5% after analysts say third quarter performance was behind expectationsBusiness live – latest updatesTesco has said it aims to grab an even bigger slice of the grocery market this year after winning its best share in more than a decade over Christmas with strong sales of fresh food and its Finest own-label range.The supermarket, which has an almost 29% market share, according to Worldpanel by Numerator, said it had taken the most share from Asda, the UK’s third-largest supermarket chain that has been struggling to turn around falling sales. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
German president criticises US foreign policy for leading to ‘breakdown of values’ underpinning world order – Europe live 08. January 2026 (11:30) Frank-Walter Steinmeier has strongly criticised the US foreign policy under Donald TrumpGerman president Frank-Walter Steinmeier has strongly criticised the US foreign policy under Donald Trump, warning that “there is the breakdown of values by our most important partner, the USA, which helped build this world order” in the first place.In last night’s speech at a Körber Foundation event marking his 70th birthday, Steinmeier said the US behaviour represented a second historic rupture of the world order after Russia’s annexation of Crimea and the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Reuters reported. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Tech titans divided over whether to pay billionaire tax or flee California 08. January 2026 (11:00) State residents worth more than $1bn could face one-off, 5% tax to help fund education, food assistance and healthcareA battle is brewing in California over a plan to tax billionaires – with tech titans divided over whether they should pay up, or flee the state.Under a tax proposal that could be put to voters this November, any California resident worth more than $1bn would have to pay a one-off, 5% tax on their assets to help cover education, food assistance and healthcare programs in the state. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
UK competition watchdog to investigate Kingsmill owner’s planned takeover of Hovis 08. January 2026 (10:25) CMA’s move comes as Associated British Foods, which also owns Primark, issues profit warningBusiness live – latest updatesThe UK competition watchdog has ramped up its investigation into a £75m takeover deal that will result in the owner of Kingsmill snapping up its sliced bread rival Hovis.Associated British Foods (ABF), which also owns the Primark clothing chain, confirmed plans to buy Hovis from private equity owners Endless in August, combining the UK’s second- and third-largest bread brands. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
