Jewish groups warned ban on Maccabi Tel Aviv fans attending match could be seen as ‘antisemitic’ 02. January 2026 (20:51) FoI request reveals West Midlands police comments about concern over ban at match against Aston VillaJewish communities warned West Midlands police that a ban on Maccabi Tel Aviv fans attending a match against Aston Villa “could be perceived as antisemitic”, documents show.Supporters of the Israeli team were banned from attending the Europa League fixture at Villa Park in Birmingham on 6 November sparking outrage, with the prime minister, Keir Starmer, condemning it as “wrong” and suggesting it amounted to antisemitism. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
College freshman identified as one of three hikers found dead on California’s Mount Baldy 02. January 2026 (20:38) Marcus Alexander Muench Casanova, 19, died on the Devil’s Backbone trail after reportedly falling 500ftA 19-year-old college freshman has been identified as one of the hikers whose remains were found on California’s Mount Baldy on Monday.The San Bernardino county sheriff announced this week that Marcus Alexander Muench Casanova, a resident of Seal Beach, California, was discovered along a mountain trail known as the Devil’s Backbone. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
DC pipe bomb suspect must remain in jail before trial, judge rules 02. January 2026 (20:12) Brian Cole, accused of planting bombs before Capitol attack, presents ‘intolerable risk of danger’, court findsA federal magistrate judge has ruled that the man accused of planting pipe bombs outside the Democratic and Republican headquarters the night before the 6 January Capitol attack must remain in custody while awaiting trial.In a memorandum opinion, the court determined that Brian Cole Jr, 30, of Woodbridge, Virginia, “poses an intolerable risk of danger to the community if released”, granting the government’s motion for pretrial detention. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
US homeland security condemned for using Japanese artist’s work without consent 02. January 2026 (20:10) Hiroshi Nagai, in a post on X, has objected to his artwork being used by the agency to promote its deportation agenda The US Department of Homeland Security is facing backlash once again, this time from a Japanese artist who has condemned the agency for using his work without permission to promote deportations.In a post on X on New Year’s Eve, DHS posted a photo featuring a pristine and empty beach with palm trees and a vintage car. Written across the photo was “America after 100 million deportations,” along with a separate caption that said: “The peace of a nation no longer besieged by the third world.” Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Teenage girl educated in Britain among the missing after Crans-Montana fire 02. January 2026 (19:54) Charlotte Niddam, 15, went to school in Hertfordshire and her family have not heard from her since the blazeA teenager educated in Britain is among those missing after a deadly fire in a Swiss ski resort.Charlotte Niddam, 15, lived in Bushey, Hertfordshire, until recently and attended Immanuel college, a private Jewish secondary school in the town. The school issued a statement on Friday saying it was “praying for a miracle for Charlotte”. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
‘Suspension of entry into the US’, paparazzi – and wine: three other reasons George Clooney moved to France 02. January 2026 (19:21) A UK government warning that Amal Clooney risks US sanctions over her role in the issuing of an arrest warrant for the Israeli prime minister is key among reasons the couple have sought French citizenshipThe exodus from Hollywood to shores not presided over by Donald Trump has been busy and loud. Ellen DeGeneres, Robin Wright and Courtney Love moved to England; Rosie O’Donnell opted for Ireland; Eva Longoria, Spain. Other Trump critics, including Richard Gere, Lena Dunham and Ryan Gosling, have upped sticks without citing the re-election as a motivating factor.In the case of Clooney, however, there has appeared little doubt that his decision to gain French citizenship was primarily because of Trump, whose re-election he energetically campaigned against. Yet amid the heat and headlines generated by the pair’s war of words, some of the actor’s reasons for relocating may have flown under the radar. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Anthony Joshua’s driver charged with dangerous driving after fatal crash in Nigeria 02. January 2026 (18:54) British boxer was injured in collision that killed his personal trainer Latif Ayodele and strength coach Sina GhamiNigerian police have charged Anthony Joshua’s driver with causing death by dangerous driving after a fatal crash that killed two people.Adeniyi Mobolaji Kayode, 46, was also charged with driving without a valid driving licence and “driving without due care and attention, causing bodily harm and damage to property”. He is due to appear in court on 20 January. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
FBI says it thwarted planned New Year’s Eve terrorist attack in North Carolina 02. January 2026 (18:52) FBI says teen was planning Islamic State-inspired hammer and knife attack on Jews, Christians and LGBTQ+ peopleThe FBI has said it thwarted an alleged plot to carry out a New Year’s Eve terrorist attack on a grocery store and restaurant in North Carolina in support of the Islamic State (IS).Christian Sturdivant, 18, of Mint Hill – a town outside Charlotte – was arrested on 31 December as he was being released from a special medical facility. He was charged with attempting to provide material support to a foreign terrorist organization, the US attorney for the western district of North Carolina, Russ Ferguson, said at a press conference on Friday morning. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Ministers cannot go on ignoring the Shamima Begum case, for two important reasons 02. January 2026 (18:10) The fate of the woman who left the UK at 15 in search of Islamic State raises wider questions about citizenshipWhile many aspects of UK political polling have shifted drastically since 2019, the public’s view on Shamima Begum has remained largely fixed: a big majority do not want the now 26-year-old woman back in the UK.In 2019, Sajid Javid, then home secretary, stripped the Londoner of her UK citizenship on the grounds that she was a security threat, having travelled as a schoolgirl with two friends to territory controlled by Islamic State (IS) in Syria. At the time, 76% of people backed the move. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Google AI Overviews put people at risk of harm with misleading health advice 02. January 2026 (18:00) Exclusive: Inaccurate information presented in summaries, Guardian investigation findsPeople are being put at risk of harm by false and misleading health information in Google’s artificial intelligence summaries, a Guardian investigation has found.The company has said its AI Overviews, which use generative AI to provide snapshots of essential information about a topic or question, are “helpful” and “reliable”. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
