Republican claims of ‘terrorism’ leave everyone unsafe, Muslim leader warns 04. January 2026 (14:00) Edward Ahmed Mitchell of Council on American-Islamic Relations says Texas and Florida governors abusing powerThe deputy director of the US’s biggest Muslim civil rights and advocacy group warns that Republican governors’ steps to declare his organization a “terrorist organization” won’t stop with the Muslim community.“No governor should have the power to unilaterally declare a civil rights or advocacy group he disagrees with a terrorist organization, take punitive action against them, all in violation of due process and free speech,” Edward Ahmed Mitchell, the deputy director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, told the Guardian this month. “If any governor can get away with abusing that kind of power, then no organization is safe.” Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Canadian officials say US health institutions no longer dependable for accurate information 04. January 2026 (14:00) Misinformation from the Trump administration is cited as fuelling Canadians’ concerns over childhood vaccinations Canadian officials and public health experts are warning that US health and science institutions can no longer be depended upon for accurate information, particularly when it comes to vaccinations, amid fears that misinformation from the Trump administration could further erode Canadians’ confidence in healthcare.“I can’t imagine a world in which this misinformation doesn’t creep into Canadians’ consciousness and leads to doubt,” said Dawn Bowdish, an immunologist and professor at McMaster University in Ontario. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Starmer says closer ties with EU single market preferable to a customs union 04. January 2026 (13:48) Prime minister gives clearest sign yet that government is seeking to further deepen Britain’s links with BrusselsCloser ties with the EU single market are preferable to a customs union, Keir Starmer has said, in his clearest sign yet that the government is seeking to further deepen links with Brussels.The prime minister said the UK should consider “even closer alignment” with the single market. “If it’s in our national interest … then we should consider that, we should go that far,” he told the BBC’s Laura Kuenssberg. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
UK ‘not entirely clear’ what it means for US to ‘run’ Venezuela 04. January 2026 (13:35) UK waiting to determine if US breached international law by capturing Nicolás Maduro, PM’s chief secretary saysUS politics live – latest updatesThe UK is “not entirely clear” what it means for the US to be in charge of Venezuela, the chief secretary to the prime minister has said, urging a move towards a peaceful transition of power.Darren Jones said the UK would wait to determine whether there had been a breach of international law after the US attacked the Venezuelan capital and captured its president, Nicolás Maduro, and his wife on Saturday. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
From the AI bubble to Fed fears: the global economic outlook for 2026 04. January 2026 (13:00) Analysts and investors voice caution about tech valuations and Trump’s influence on the US central bankInvestors expect global stock markets to keep rising in 2026, despite fears that the AI bubble could burst, and anxiety about chaos engulfing the US central bank.Wall Street strategists broadly expect the S&P 500 share index of US-listed companies to continue to rise over the next 12 months, but said it could be a volatile year if geopolitical tensions increase and inflation fails to fall. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
NHS England urged to introduce external second opinion when dismissing staff 04. January 2026 (13:00) Narinder Kapur proposes ‘Amin’s rule’ named after Amin Abdullah who killed himself after losing his jobNHS England is being urged to introduce an independent second opinion whenever it decides to dismiss a healthcare professional, in memory of a nurse who set himself on fire after being unfairly dismissed from his job.Dr Narinder Kapur, an NHS whistleblower, is proposing “Amin’s rule”, named after Amin Abdullah, who killed himself in 2016, to plug a gap he says exists when it comes to staff wellbeing. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
US attack on Venezuela raises fears of future Greenland takeover 04. January 2026 (12:49) Danish ambassador posts ‘friendly reminder’ about defence ties after provocative Maga post over territoryVenezuelan president jailed in New York – live updatesThe US bombardment of Venezuela and the capture of its president, Nicolás Maduro, have renewed fears of an American takeover of Greenland, as members of Donald Trump’s Maga movement gleefully set their sights on the Danish territory after the attack in South America.Just hours after the US military operation in Venezuela, the rightwing podcaster Katie Miller – the wife of Stephen Miller, Donald Trump’s powerful deputy chief of staff for policy – posted on X a map of Greenland draped in the stars and stripes with the caption: “SOON.” Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Belgian PM’s cat Maximus is social media star with ‘subliminal political message’ 04. January 2026 (12:44) Maximus Textoris Pulcher, an official resident at Rue de la Loi 16, shows a warmer side of Bart De Wever For nearly 15 years, Britain’s Larry the Cat has charmed visitors to 10 Downing Street. Now another prime ministerial pet is proving a social media hit in Belgium.Maximus Textoris Pulcher was announced in August as an official resident at the Belgian prime minister’s office, Rue de la Loi 16 in central Brussels. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
How Trump circumventing Congress is different from previous presidents 04. January 2026 (12:00) The disdain as to why information on the Maduro raid was withheld even from senior lawmakers is unmistakableNothing speaks more eloquently of the disempowering of the US Congress under Donald Trump’s second presidency than the brazenly audacious arrest of Venezuela’s leader, Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia.Far from recognizing it, Trump did not even acknowledge Congress’s right to know – keeping senior members in the dark until the operation to seize the strongman was under way. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Spycops sent thousands of surveillance reports to MI5, inquiry documents reveal 04. January 2026 (11:00) Security Service was able to compile detailed files on members of legitimate protest groups infiltrated by undercover police officersThousands of surveillance reports compiled by undercover police officers who spied on political campaigners were routinely passed to MI5, documents obtained by the spycops inquiry have revealed.Police sent undercover officers on long-term deployments to infiltrate mainly leftwing protest groups and gather enormous quantities of information about their political and personal activities. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
