Police in England and Wales to get new strict emergency response time limits 25. January 2026 (23:30) Home Office will set out changes to policing on Monday that it claims are biggest overhaul in two centuriesPolice forces in England and Wales will be told to respond to emergency calls within strict time limits as part of plans to be announced on Monday.Officers will be expected to arrive at crime scenes within 15 minutes in urban areas and 20 minutes in the countryside while attending serious crimes, the Home Office said.A reduction in the number of police forces.Local policing areas to deal with everyday crimes such as shoplifting.Home secretaries to be given the power to sack chief constables.An FBI-style National Police Service to lead on terrorism, fraud and organised crime.Every police officer in England and Wales to hold a licence to serve.A fast track for professionals and experts so they can take senior police roles.A new police commander to lead on violent disorder and rioting.A new national forensics team to help catch rapists and murderers. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Rebuffed Burnham can return to honing his stature and attack lines 25. January 2026 (19:37) Greater Manchester mayor will not be tested in tough byelection or against PM for now, but can continue to pose speculative threatLabour row erupts after Andy Burnham blocked from byelection raceWith his return to Westminster seemingly blocked, on Monday Andy Burnham will get back to the two roles to which he has devoted his time in recent years: being mayor of Greater Manchester and annoying Keir Starmer.The second is very much a part-time and unofficial role, but it is noticeable how Burnham manages to edge back into the media spotlight whenever the leader of his party is having a tough time. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Canada has no intention of pursuing free trade with China, says Carney 25. January 2026 (19:33) PM says recent agreement just cuts tariffs on a few sectors, as Trump threatens 100% tariffs on Canadian importsCanada’s prime minister, Mark Carney, said on Sunday his country had no intention of pursuing a free trade deal with China, responding to Donald Trump’s threat to impose a 100% tariff on goods imported from Canada if the US’s northern neighbour went ahead with a trade deal with Beijing.Carney said his recent agreement with China merely cut tariffs on a few sectors that were recently hit with them. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Almost a quarter of UK GPs are seeing obese children aged four and under 25. January 2026 (18:44) Exclusive: Almost half of GPs have seen children up to the age of seven who have obesity, research findsAlmost a quarter of GPs are seeing children aged four or under who are obese, according to a survey of UK family doctors.The “alarming” research also found that almost half (49%) of GPs have seen boys and girls up to the age of seven who have obesity, including a handful younger than a year old.Almost one in four (23%) said they had seen children aged zero to four where obesity was a clinical concern.Among the doctors, 81% have seen obesity in those between their first 12 months and the age of 11.Four in five (80%) find it somewhat or very challenging to talk to the parents of an obese child under the age of 16 about their weight and health, with only 10% saying that is easy to do.Nearly two thirds (65%) find it hard to talk to obese young people themselves, with just 20% saying that is easy. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Online fundraiser for Alex Pretti raises nearly $500,000 day after fatal shooting 25. January 2026 (17:52) GoFundMe platform surpasses goal of $20,000 a day after federal agents killed the US citizen in MinneapolisAn online fundraiser benefiting the family of Alex Pretti had raised nearly $500,000 by Sunday morning, a day after federal agents killed the US citizen and nurse in Minneapolis in a shooting that ignited another round of street protests against Donald Trump’s administration and its immigration crackdown in the city.In a substantial indication of public sentiment, the “Alex Pretti is an American Hero” campaign on the GoFundMe platform surpassed its goal of $20,000 quickly after organizer Keith Edwards launched it on Saturday. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
NRA and pro-gun groups call for ‘full investigation’ into killing of Alex Pretti 25. January 2026 (17:48) Groups typically aligned with Trump call for investigation as NRA wades into the national dialogueThe National Rifle Association (NRA) has joined other gun lobbying and advocacy groups that are typically aligned with Donald Trump in calling for the Republican president’s administration to conduct a “full investigation” into the killing of Alex Pretti, the 37-year-old nurse who was shot dead by federal immigration officials in Minneapolis on Saturday.Pretti was reportedly legally permitted to carry a gun and is a citizen of the US, where it is a constitutional right to bear arms. Widely circulated video of his shooting death does not depict Pretti ever holding a gun. It does show an officer reaching to Petti’s lower back and stepping away with what appeared to be a pistol – and Petti being subsequently shot to death. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Iran president’s son urges authorities to restore internet after protest blackout 25. January 2026 (17:46) Yousef Pezeshkian says nothing will be solved by trying to postpone moment footage of violent crackdown circulateThe son of Iran’s president has called for the internet restrictions in the country to be lifted, saying nothing will be solved by trying to postpone the moment when pictures and video of the protests circulate, which were violently crushed by the regime.With a battle underway at the top of the regime about the political risks of continuing to block Iran from the internet, Yousef Pezeshkian, whose father, Masoud, was elected in the summer of 2024, said keeping the digital shutdown would create dissatisfaction and widen the gap between the people and the government. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Thousands march in Crowborough over asylum plan for former military camp 25. January 2026 (17:05) Protesters walk to Sussex market town from base where Home Office plans to house up to 500 asylum seekersThousands of people have marched through an East Sussex market town to protest against UK government plans to house asylum seekers on a former military site.Crowds of men, women and children walked to Crowborough from the base, where the Home Office plans to house up to 500 male asylum seekers as part of plans to end the use of hotels for the same purpose. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Calls mount on Trump administration to fully investigate Alex Pretti’s killing 25. January 2026 (16:49) Republican senator says ‘credibility’ of ICE and DHS are ‘at stake’ as calls come from both sides of political dividePressure mounted on Donald Trump’s administration on Sunday to fully investigate the previous day’s killing by federal immigration officers of 37-year-old nurse Alex Pretti in Minneapolis.Calls for an investigation have come from all sides of the political divide after video analysis showed officers had removed from Pretti a handgun he was reportedly permitted to carry – and which he was not handling – before fatally shooting him. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Starmer had no good options on Burnham – but blocking him is a big risk 25. January 2026 (16:37) PM will now face questions over whether he is focussed more on protecting job than boosting Labour’s chancesIt is a sign that the political deck of cards is stacked against you when the only good hand is one that was never really going to be dealt. And so it was with Keir Starmer and Andy Burnham.In an ideal world for the prime minister, Andrew Gwynne’s announcement that he was stepping down from his Gorton and Denton seat would have been followed by Burnham saying he already had a job as Greater Manchester mayor and would sit this one out, thanks very much. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
