‘Durham’s other cathedral’: mining union hall reopens after £14m restoration 04. January 2026 (17:00) Considered one of world’s finest trade union buildings and famous for its ‘pitmen’s parliament’, Redhills was built on a grand scaleOutside the impressively grand, Edwardian baroque building in Durham are two wooden benches, each dedicated to men who died too young.They were, the inscription reads, both “sacked and victimised” during the 1984-85 miners’ strike. Yet they’re in grounds that look as if they might have been owned by rich, exploitative mine owners. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
HSBC becomes first big UK lender to cut its mortgage rates in 2026 04. January 2026 (16:54) Reduction follows Bank of England’s base cut in December, with further cuts expected this yearHSBC has become the first major lender to cut mortgage rates this year, a move that could spark a price war over the coming months.The banking group, which is one of the UK’s largest mortgage lenders, has cut rates across a range of residential and landlord buy-to-let mortgage products. The new rates come into effect on Monday. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Man who died trying to save two people in dangerous sea was ‘true selfless hero’ 04. January 2026 (16:18) Family of Mark Ratcliffe, 67, share tribute to ‘loving husband, father, son’ who died at Withernsea, East Yorkshire, on FridayA 67-year-old man who died trying to save two people in difficulty in the sea has been described as “a true selfless hero with a heart of gold”.The family of Mark Ratcliffe named him as the man who was pulled unconscious from the sea at Withernsea, East Yorkshire, on Friday afternoon. Police said he died at the scene. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Flooding forces hundreds to flee homeless shelter in San Diego 04. January 2026 (16:00) Officials evacuated about 325 men and women from Bridge shelter on New Year’s Day after heavy rainsFor the third time in seven years, hundreds of people had to flee a homeless shelter in downtown San Diego this week after a heavy storm dropped a month’s worth of rain, causing floods.The area received 2in of rain on New Year’s Day, which broke local records and forced multiple water rescues, according to the San Diego Union-Tribune. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Former Little Mix singer Jesy Nelson says her twin babies may never walk 04. January 2026 (15:53) The 34-year-old posts emotional video saying the girls will ‘fight all the odds’ after spinal muscular atrophy diagnosisThe former Little Mix singer Jesy Nelson has said her twin babies will “fight all the odds” after being diagnosed with a rare genetic condition that means it is unlikely they will ever be able to walk.The 34-year-old singer and her fiance, Zion Foster, welcomed their twins Ocean Jade and Story Monroe Nelson-Foster in May, after they were born prematurely. In an emotional Instagram video posted on Sunday, Nelson revealed the girls had been diagnosed with spinal muscular atrophy type 1 (SMA1). Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Trump’s focus on Venezuelan oil reinforces claim action was never about ‘war on drugs’ 04. January 2026 (15:44) US president claims US will take back ‘stolen’ oil, but experts say no legal claim to natural reserves existsVenezuela crisis – latest updatesHailing the US military operation to capture Nicolás Maduro as spectacular, extraordinary and “an assault not seen since World War II”, Donald Trump surprised many by making Venezuela’s oil the central focus of his hour-long press conference on Saturday.The US president made little mention of the “war on drugs” that for months had been his main justification for the military buildup and the strikes on boats that have killed 116 people, instead referring to oil more than a dozen times, even when questions made no reference to it. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Delcy Rodríguez strikes defiant tone but must walk tightrope as Venezuela’s interim leader 04. January 2026 (15:01) Technocrat must accommodate US demands while shoring up a regime that is hated by many VenezuelansUS attacks Venezuela – live updatesIn her first speech as Venezuela’s interim leader, Delcy Rodríguez lambasted the US and pledged fealty to Nicolás Maduro. But the Trump administration has made a cold calculation: she will bow to Washington.Rodríguez is a political veteran who served as Maduro’s vice-president and oil minister and defended the regime against accusations of terrorism, drug-running and election-stealing, yet for now she is Donald Trump’s favoured option to lead Venezuela. “She’s essentially willing to do what we think is necessary to make Venezuela great again,” Trump said. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
World ‘may not have time’ to prepare for AI safety risks, says leading researcher 04. January 2026 (15:00) AI safety expert David Dalrymple said rapid advances could outpace efforts to control powerful systemsThe world “may not have time” to prepare for the safety risks posed by cutting-edge AI systems, according to a leading figure at the UK government’s scientific research agency.David Dalrymple, a programme director and AI safety expert at the Aria agency, told the Guardian people should be concerned about the growing capability of the technology. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Why has the US captured Venezuela’s president and what happens next? 04. January 2026 (14:09) Donald Trump’s capture of Nicolás Maduro follows months of military campaign and years of strained relationshipUS attacks Venezuela – live updatesThe US carried out airstrikes across Venezuela overnight on Friday, with explosions rocking the capital, Caracas, before dawn. Shortly afterwards, Donald Trump announced that US forces had captured the Venezuelan president, Nicolás Maduro, and his wife, Cilia Flores, and flown them out of the country.The US attorney general, Pam Bondi, said they would face trial in New York on charges of involvement in narco-terrorism. A fresh indictment was issued on Saturday. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
‘Oh my gosh, they’re all from London and Cambridge’: York University’s northerners fight back 04. January 2026 (14:00) Lucy Morville, from Burnley, thought most students would be from the north and felt ‘culture shock’ surrounded by southernersLike many students from the north, Lucy Morville says she felt “culture shock” at being surrounded by southerners when she arrived at university. But she said the shock was even greater because it wasn’t what she expected when she enrolled at the University of York.“I hadn’t travelled much down south before university, and I was like, ‘Oh my gosh, they’re all from London and Cambridge.’ It was such a shock to me,” she said. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
