Reeves condemns Farage opposition to lifting two-child benefit cap 07. January 2026 (23:30) Exclusive: Chancellor says Reform leader wants to keep children in poverty based on skin colour after U-turnRachel Reeves has said she was angered by Nigel Farage’s suggestion that only British-born families should have the two-child benefit cap lifted, saying the Reform UK leader would keep children in poverty based on their skin colour.The chancellor, who will introduce legislation to lift the cap on Thursday, said it had been a burden for her not to be able to do so sooner, but it had been vital to do it at a moment of market stability. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Smaller farms in England to be prioritised for nature funding, minister to announce 07. January 2026 (23:30) Emma Reynolds is expected to say an application window for the Sustainable Farming Incentive will be opened to smaller and new farms firstSmaller farms will be prioritised for nature funding, the environment secretary is to announce, in a shake-up of post-EU nature subsidies.Emma Reynolds is expected to tell the Oxford Farming Conference on Thursday that in June an application window for the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) will be opened solely for smaller farms and new entrants to the scheme, with larger farms only allowed to apply from September. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Trump says he plans crackdown on defense firms over executive pay and stock buybacks 07. January 2026 (22:51) President says he wants to raise military budget to $1.5tn and accuses US defense companies of delivery failures Donald Trump has claimed he plans to crack down on executive compensation and shareholder payouts at military defense contractors, as his administration looks to dramatically ramp up spending on the armed forces.In a series of posts on social media, the US president said he wants to increase the military budget to $1.5tn – and complained that defense giants had been failing to swiftly deliver “vital” equipment to the US and its allies across the world. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Shock and outrage at scene of Minneapolis ICE shooting: ‘This is just sad’ 07. January 2026 (22:32) People gathered at the scene of the killing to protest after city’s mayor demands ICE ‘get the fuck out’When a federal agent shot and killed a woman during a large-scale immigration enforcement operation in Minneapolis on Wednesday, the Guardian was nearby, shadowing observers who have trained for months to monitor and respond to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) activity in the state.ICE vehicles, unmarked, lined the street, and yellow police tape cordoned off the area in the immediate aftermath of the shooting. Dozens of protesters and community members were seen on the snowy street, shouting at ICE agents and at the local police. More agents arrived amid the chaos. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Groups launch court challenge to NSW laws restricting protests after terror attacks 07. January 2026 (22:00) Blak Caucus, Palestine Action Group and Jews Against the Occupation ‘48 argue the laws restrict the constitutional right to free political speechFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastA constitutional challenge has been launched against controversial laws in New South Wales that restrict protest actions for up to three months after terrorist incidents, introduced following the December Bondi attack.The groups the Blak Caucus, Palestine Action Group (PAG) and Jews Against the Occupation ‘48 filed the challenge in the NSW supreme court on Wednesday, arguing in the court summons that the laws are invalid because they “impermissibly burden the implied constitutional freedom of communication on government and political matters”. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Minnesota Democrats voice outrage after fatal ICE shooting: ‘Leave our state immediately’ 07. January 2026 (21:59) Governor readies national guard as Minneapolis mayor and others denounce immigration agent killing woman during raidWoman in Minnesota fatally shot by ICE agent during raid, video showsDemocratic leaders across Minnesota are calling for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents to leave Minneapolis and are urging residents to “remain calm” after a federal immigration officer shot and killed a 37-year-old woman in the city during an immigration enforcement operation on Wednesday.“We’ve dreaded this moment since the early stages of this ICE presence in Minneapolis,” Jacob Frey, Minneapolis’s Democratic mayor, said at a news conference on Wednesday afternoon after the shooting. “They are not here to cause safety in this city. What they are doing is not to provide safety in America. What they are doing in causing chaos and distrust.” Continue reading...(The Guardian)
US immigration agents linked to spike in shootings under Trump administration crackdown 07. January 2026 (21:55) Data compiled by news non-profit the Trace shows 14 firearm incidents and more uses of force casesFederal immigration agents have been involved in a sharp rise in shootings in recent months, coinciding with the Trump administration’s expanded immigration enforcement efforts.Under Trump’s crackdown, immigration officers have been connected to 14 shootings, according to data compiled by the Trace, a non-profit newsroom focused on gun violence in the US. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
‘They are killing us’: authorities use force against protesters in Kurdish regions of Iran 07. January 2026 (21:17) People face teargas, pellet guns and violence as protests continue and opposition parties call for general strikeDemonstrations over economic conditions broke out in Kurdish regions of Iran on Wednesday despite authorities using violence to try to disperse protests before an announced general strike, according to witnesses and rights groups.Protesters took to the streets across Kurdish cities in western Iran, with shopkeepers shutting down stores and demonstrators chanting against government corruption. People said they were met with force as authorities fired teargas, pellet guns and what demonstrators said were live bullets at crowds. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
María Corina Machado to publish book on political vision for Venezuela amid upheaval 07. January 2026 (20:51) Venezuelan opposition leader and Nobel peace prize winner will lay out vision for the country in book publishing in USVenezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado will publish a book in the US that lays out her vision for Venezuela’s political reconstruction as the country faces significant upheaval.The 120-page work titled The Freedom Manifesto is being released by Regnery Publishing, a conservative book publisher acquired by Skyhorse Publishing in 2023. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Australia news live: BlueScope rejects $13.2bn Stokes bid; police warn of shopping centre carpark scam 07. January 2026 (20:45) Seven tycoon will need to find more cash to buy steel maker. Follow today’s news liveGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastPolice warn elderly shoppers of thefts and fraud in shopping centre carparksNSW police are investigating a spate of reports of elderly drivers being allegedly stolen from and scammed at shopping centre carparks across the state. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
