‘They threw us out like baggage’: Russian family deported from US to Costa Rica still in limbo 26. January 2026 (14:00) Alexander, his wife and son, who fled danger under Putin, fighting for security – and compensation – after torment of migration journeyAlmost a year after Donald Trump strong-armed a deal with Costa Rica to receive 200 people from other countries who were being deported from the United States after being denied the right to request asylum, a small handful remain there in legal limbo and fighting for compensation.The asylum seekers flown to Costa Rica in chains last February, despite not being criminals, were from 20 other countries, chiefly parts of Asia and Africa and included 81 children. They had all tried to request refuge at the US-Mexico border but were quickly removed from American soil after Trump returned to the White House and effectively closed the US asylum system. In the face of a variety of political difficulties with deporting them to their native countries, the Trump administration sent them to Costa Rica, as he did others to Panama. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
UK military sexual abuse investigation widened as more than 500 contact police 26. January 2026 (13:50) Inquiry into enlistment medical examinations has been expanded from army to also include navy and RAFMore than 500 people have contacted police investigating sexual abuse that allegedly took place during armed services medical examinations over almost 50 years.The investigation was launched after reports about the abuse of some recruits at army enlistment medical examinations but its scope has been expanded to include the Royal Navy and Royal Air Force. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Former home secretary Suella Braverman defects to Reform UK 26. January 2026 (13:29) Braverman becomes third sitting Conservative MP to join Nigel Farage’s party in little more than a weekUK politics live – latest updatesSuella Braverman has defected to Reform, the third sitting Conservative MP to join Nigel Farage’s party in little more than a week.Arriving as a surprise speaker at a Reform event in London, Braverman, who has been an MP since 2015 and served as home secretary under Liz Truss and Rishi Sunak, said: “Today am announcing that I resign the Conservative whip. I have resigned the Conservative whip and my party membership of 30 years because I believe with my heart and soul that a better future is possible for us.” Continue reading...(The Guardian)
‘It’s a farce’: families of Venezuela political prisoners still await their release 26. January 2026 (13:29) Critics believe ‘drip drip’ of releases after Maduro’s dramatic seizure an attempt by regime to ‘keep the US satisfied’In the days after Nicolás Maduro was accused of stealing Venezuela’s 2024 election, the relatives of hundreds of protesters captured during the ensuing clampdown flocked to the Zone 7 police detention centre in search of incarcerated loved ones.Now, after the tables turned dramatically and Maduro finds himself locked up in the US, the families have returned to demand the immediate release of every last one of their country’s political prisoners. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Gunmen open fire at football match in Mexico, killing at least 11 26. January 2026 (13:17) Mayor of Salamanca in Guanajuato state says attack is part of ‘crime wave’ as he appeals to president for help Gunmen opened fire at a football match in central Mexico on Sunday, killing at least 11 people and wounding 12, authorities said.César Prieto, the mayor of the town of Salamanca in central Guanajuato state, said in a statement posted to social media platforms that the gunmen arrived at the end of a match. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
EU launches inquiry into X over sexually explicit images made by Grok AI 26. January 2026 (12:30) Investigation comes after Elon Musk’s firm sparked outrage by allowing users to ‘strip’ photos of women and childrenEurope live – latest updatesThe European Commission has launched an investigation into Elon Musk’s X over the production of sexually explicit images and the spreading of possible child sexual abuse material by the platform’s AI chatbot feature, Grok.The formal inquiry, launched on Monday, also extends an investigation into X’s recommender systems, algorithms that help users discover new content. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Trump says his administration is ‘reviewing everything’ after Minneapolis killing as Republicans join calls for investigation – US politics live 26. January 2026 (11:59) President signals to Wall Street Journal that he would eventually withdraw ICE agents, though did not give a timeframeMinnesota governor Tim Walz appealed to Donald Trump to withdraw federal agents from Minnesota on Sunday, a day after US border patrol officers shot and killed Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old ICU nurse who was monitoring the immigration crackdown.“What’s the plan, Donald Trump?” Walz asked at a news conference. “What do we need to do to get these federal agents out of our state?” Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Pharrell Williams sued by former Neptunes partner Chad Hugo over alleged lost earnings 26. January 2026 (11:37) The producers who helped define the sound of pop music in the 90s and 00s are in dispute over earnings from their final album as NERDChad Hugo is suing Pharrell Williams, his production partner in the Neptunes, over claims that Williams owes Hugo up to $1m from their final album as NERD, 2017’s No One Ever Really Dies.The Neptunes defined the sound of pop music in the late 90s and early 00s, producing for artists including Kelis, Britney Spears, Beyoncé, Clipse and Justin Timberlake. As NERD, they released five albums. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Weather tracker: Severe storms grip US as snow, ice and deep freeze spread 26. January 2026 (11:21) Warnings issued across 26 US states, while Portugal braces for heavy rain as Storm Joseph rolls inThe US is enduring another bout of severe winter weather, as a succession of powerful weather systems brings heavy snow, freezing rain and extreme cold temperatures to much of the country.Twenty-six states, from Texas to Massachusetts, were under storm warnings issued by the National Weather Service over the weekend, with many alerts remaining in place this week. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
‘Our spirit can’t be broken’: Minneapolis city council member on resisting Trump’s immigration crackdown 26. January 2026 (11:00) Aisha Chughtai, who represents the district where Alex Pretti was fatally shot, vows to fight through ‘despair’ caused by federal immigration enforcementMinneapolis residents, angry and anxious, resolve to fight on as they mourn Alex PrettiAfter weeks of federal raids and aggression, Minneapolis city council member Aisha Chughtai said what her community needs most now “is for ICE to leave Minnesota”.Chughtai represents the district where 37-year-old nurse Alex Pretti was shot and killed by federal agents on Saturday, the second killing of a Minneapolis resident by a federal agent on the city’s southside this year. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
