Reform UK accused of ‘empty rhetoric’ over plan to hike council tax 5% in Derbyshire 05. January 2026 (18:46) Four Reform-led councils want to raise tax by maximum allowed amount with more areas not being ruled outA Reform-led local authority has confirmed it is planning to increase council tax by the maximum allowed amount, despite promises during the local election to reduce taxes.Derbyshire county council confirmed the rise after predicting a £38m gap in its budget, with overspends in children’s social care and adult social care. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Stanford students face trial over felony charges stemming from pro-Palestinian protest 05. January 2026 (18:04) Trial is the most severe criminal case brought against US students who staged protests against Israel’s war in GazaFive Stanford University students are facing trial beginning on Monday over felony charges stemming from a pro-Palestinian protest on campus – the most severe criminal case brought against some of the thousands of students who staged nationwide protests and encampments against Israel’s war in Gaza.The northern California students are part of a group of 12 who were charged with felony conspiracy to trespass and felony vandalism in connection to an hour-long, June 2024 occupation during which the group barricaded themselves inside the university president’s office to demand Stanford consider a student resolution to divest from Israel, among other requests. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
US traders make big profits betting on Maduro’s capture in January 05. January 2026 (17:44) Arrest of Venezuelan president appears to have been anticipated on ‘prediction markets’ where people bet on future events Gamblers appear to have made large profits after successfully betting on the capture of Venezuela’s president, Nicolás Maduro.Ahead of Donald Trump’s shock announcement on Saturday morning, traders seemed to have anticipated Maduro’s political demise by placing timely wagers on so-called “prediction markets”. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Novo Nordisk launches Wegovy weight-loss pill in US, triggering price war 05. January 2026 (17:33) First and only GLP-1 pill on the market costs significantly less than injectable versionsThe first pill version of the blockbuster GLP-1 weight loss drugs has been launched in the US by Novo Nordisk at a lower cost than jab varieties, accelerating a price war in the sector.The Danish pharmaceutical company said on Monday that its once-a-day Wegovy pill, which received approval from the US regulator just before Christmas, was now available in the country. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Pete Hegseth issues formal censure to Democratic senator Mark Kelly 05. January 2026 (17:24) US defense secretary also started proceedings that could strip Kelly from retired military rank and cut pensionDefense secretary Pete Hegseth said on Monday that he had issued a formal censure to Democratic senator Mark Kelly and initiated proceedings that could strip the Arizona lawmaker of his retired military rank and cut his pension, escalating a dispute that began when Kelly urged service members to resist unlawful orders.Just days after a covert mission to capture Venezuelan dictator Nicolás Maduro and strike the capital city, Hegseth announced that Kelly faces retirement grade determination proceedings, a rare administrative action that could see the former astronaut and navy captain demoted in his retired rank. Hegseth accused Kelly of making “seditious statements” that undermined military discipline. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Delcy Rodríguez strikes conciliatory tone with US after Trump warning 05. January 2026 (17:19) Venezuela’s interim leader offers to work with US after Trump threatened she could pay ‘very big price’Analysis: Delcy Rodríguez must walk tightrope as Venezuela’s interim leaderVenezuela’s acting president, Delcy Rodríguez, has offered to work with the US, dialing down the confrontational tone she intially adopted after the capture of the dictator Nicolás Maduro.In a statement late on Sunday, Rodríguez said she had “invited the US government to work together on an agenda of cooperation”. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Starmer urged to scrap ‘outdated’ law limiting power to stop new gambling premises 05. January 2026 (17:00) ‘Aim to permit’ rule places legal duty on licensing authorities to err on the side of allowing new bookmakers or 24-hour slot machine shops Keir Starmer has been urged to abolish an “outdated” rule that limits the power of communities to prevent bookmakers and 24-hour slot machine shops from opening on high streets.In a letter to the prime minister, nearly 300 politicians and campaigners called for an end to the “aim to permit” policy, introduced when Tony Blair’s Labour government liberalised gambling laws in 2005. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Trump’s attack leaves China worried about its interests in Venezuela | Amy Hawkins 05. January 2026 (16:51) Maduro had just affirmed ‘strong bonds of brotherhood’ with Beijing when US made its shocking interventionVenezuela crisis – latest updatesHours before his life and the fate of his country was changed dramatically, Venezuela’s leader, Nicolás Maduro, was exchanging smiles and handshakes with a Chinese delegation in the presidential palace in Caracas.On Friday evening, shortly before he was seized by US forces, Maduro wrote on Telegram of his meeting with China’s special envoy for Latin American affairs, Qiu Xiaoqi: “A fraternal meeting that reaffirms the strong bonds of brotherhood and friendship between China and Venezuela. Through thick and thin!” Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Tim Walz says he will not run for third term as Minnesota governor 05. January 2026 (16:27) Announcement comes after ongoing fraud of social services cases became focus of ire for Republicans and TrumpUS politics live – latest updatesTim Walz, the Democratic governor of Minnesota who ran for vice-president in 2024, announced on Monday that he is abandoning his quest for a third term in office.
The move comes after ongoing fraud of social services cases caught the attention of US Republicans, including Donald Trump, who then used the cases as a pretext to go after Somali residents.Walz said in a statement that he wasn’t able to “give a political campaign my all”. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
All 116 people injured in Swiss resort fire identified, say police 05. January 2026 (16:09) Bodies of first foreign victims repatriated after 40 people died in fire at New Year’s Eve party in Crans-Montana All 116 people injured in the fire that tore through a bar in the Swiss ski resort of Crans-Montana during a New Year’s Eve party, killing 40 mostly young partygoers, have been identified, police have said, as the bodies of the first foreign victims were repatriated.Police in Valais canton said in a statement on Monday they had revised the number of wounded down from 119 because three people admitted to accident and emergency wards on Thursday morning had been wrongly recorded as injured in the blaze. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
