Nato chief Rutte: ‘Keep on dreaming’ if you think Europe could defend itself without US – as it happened 26. January 2026 (17:43) Mark Rutte said Europe would need to spend ‘billions and billions of euros’ on defenceThe European Commission got also asked about the regular US criticism that it is “targeting” US big tech companies and that, in doing so, it undermines free speech.Digital spokesperson Regnier replied:“Again, we don’t target any company … based of its origin. Now on your censorship point: I think if anyone dares to compare freedom of expression with child sexual abuse material or freedom of expression with undressing women digitally without their consent, then they are not fully aligned with Europe or absolutely not aligned with Europe. We don’t even live on the same planet. “No comments to be made on this US internal matter. But, of course, we deplore any loss of innocent lives.”“I have said innocent lives, but it’s not for us to judge, innocent or not innocent. Any life lost, we deplore it, in general, and it is, of course, for the justice system in the US to establish the facts.” Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Reform says it would cut green policies to fund £2bn income tax cut in Scotland 26. January 2026 (17:36) Party’s pitch to voters in May Holyrood elections dismissed as ‘profoundly unserious, almost comically so’ by analystsUK politics live – latest updatesReform UK would slash what it calls “highly dubious” environmental protection measures to help fund a £2bn cut to income tax in Scotland if it won May’s Holyrood elections, the party has said.Malcolm Offord, the multimillionaire financier who was announced as leader of Reform UK in Scotland 10 days ago, used his first major speech to announce plans to realign the country’s tax system – where higher earners currently pay significantly more – with the rest of the UK and institute a 1p-in-the-pound cut across the board. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Remains of last Israeli held in Gaza after 7 October 2023 returned 26. January 2026 (17:28) Return of police sergeant Ran Gvili’s body should pave way for progress on second phase of Trump ceasefire planThe remains of the Israeli police sergeant Ran Gvili, who was killed fighting Hamas-led militants on 7 October 2023, have been returned to Israel.Militants took Gvili’s body to Gaza to use as a bargaining chip. He was the last of 251 people captured that day still held in the territory. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Donald Trump says his administration is reviewing Alex Pretti shooting 26. January 2026 (17:23) President announces he is sending his border czar, Tom Homan, to Minneapolis as outrage mounts over killingUS politics live – latest updatesDonald Trump said his administration is reviewing the fatal shooting of Alex Pretti in Minneapolis by a federal officer, and that he will send border czar Tom Homan to Minnesota. “Tom is tough but fair, and will report directly to me,” Trump wrote in a Truth Social post on Monday. In the same post the president said Congress and the justice department were “looking” at Ilhan Omar, the Democratic Minnesota congresswoman who has been the target of much of Trump’s ire in his recent crackdown on the state. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Georgia leads push to ban datacenters used to power America’s AI boom 26. January 2026 (17:07) Southern state becoming ground zero in fight against rapid growth of facilities using huge amounts of energy and waterLawmakers in several states are exploring passing laws that would put statewide bans in place on building new datacenters as the issue of the power-hungry facilities has moved to the center of economic and environmental concerns in the US.In Georgia a state lawmaker has introduced a bill proposing what could become the first statewide moratorium on new datacenters in America. The bill is one of at least three statewide moratoriums on datacenters introduced in state legislatures in the last week as Maryland and Oklahoma lawmakers are also considering similar measures. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
On Labour’s soft left, the question isn’t whether to challenge Starmer, but when 26. January 2026 (17:01) With Andy Burnham out of the picture, timing is key as rebel MPs weigh up other potential party leadersUK politics live – latest updatesA spectre is haunting the most ambitious politicians in Labour – the question of timing. If you hope one day to become prime minister, you could blink and miss your moment.Andy Burnham clearly believed he did not have much time. But now he might have longer than he thought. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Two British far-right activists arrested in France 26. January 2026 (16:34) Men in custody for allegedly broadcasting content likely to incite hatred from French coastFrench authorities have arrested two far-right British activists in what is believed to be the first case of its kind.An order had been issued on Friday prohibiting British activists from gathering for a planned “stop the boats” protest nicknamed Operation Overlord in the departments of Nord and Pas-de-Calais. The order was due to expire at 8am on Monday but was extended for two days. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Merz’s party vows to clamp down on Germany’s ‘lifestyle part-time work’ 26. January 2026 (16:32) Business wing of Christian Democrats aims to scrap legal right to fewer hours, saying people should need permissionThe business wing of Germany’s leading Christian Democratic Union party is proposing a ban on the legal entitlement to work part-time, arguing that those wishing to work fewer hours should have to acquire special permission to do so.Currently, every employee in Europe’s largest economy has a fundamental right to carry out part-time work, with many, particularly women, often needing to do so for reasons relating to childcare or looking after elderly relatives. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Hundreds feared dead in attempt to cross Mediterranean during cyclone 26. January 2026 (15:54) Fifty killed in one incident as Italian authorities estimate 380 people may have drowned last weekEurope live – latest updatesUp to 380 people may have drowned attempting to cross the Mediterranean last week as Cyclone Harry battered southern Italy and Malta, the Italian coastguard has said, as a shipwreck with the loss of 50 lives was confirmed by Maltese authorities.Just one person, who was hospitalised in Malta, survived the shipwreck, which happened on Friday. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Saudi Arabia ordered to pay £3m to London dissident over Pegasus spying 26. January 2026 (15:48) High court finds kingdom responsible for hacking phones of Ghanem al-Masarir and for physical attack on himA judge has ordered Saudi Arabia to pay more than £3m in damages to a London-based dissident whose phones were targeted with Pegasus spyware.In a judgment handed down on Monday, Judge Pushpinder Saini ruled that Ghanem al-Masarir was entitled to compensation for psychiatric harm sustained after discovering that his iPhones had been hacked, as well as a physical attack on him outside Harrods in central London. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
