‘It’s the sovereignty of the country’: Guinea-Bissau says US vaccine study suspended 23. January 2026 (12:00) Despite US pushback, officials in west Africa say controversial hepatitis B study on pause amid ethics concernsUS health officials insisted it was still on. African health leaders said it was cancelled. At the heart of the controversy is the west African nation of Guinea-Bissau – one of the poorest countries in the world and the proposed site of a hotly debated US-funded study on vaccines.The study on hepatitis B vaccination, to be led by Danish researchers, became a flashpoint after major changes to the US vaccination schedule and prompted questions about how research is conducted ethically in other countries. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Weather tracker: Record snowfall in eastern Russia leaves people stranded 23. January 2026 (11:46) Town of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky gets 6 feet of snow in places, burying cars and cutting off roads and buildingsA record-breaking snowfall event unfolded in far eastern Russia last week when the town of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, located on the Kamchatka peninsula’s east coast, received more than 6 feet (1.8 metres) of lying snow in places.Strong winds accompanying the snowfall caused extreme drifting of more than 10 feet against buildings and cars. Two key ingredients combined to cause such an extreme snowfall event. Strong Pacific low pressures dragged moist air from the tropics northwards, which clashed with cold Arctic air already over the region. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Piper James autopsy finds ‘evidence consistent with drowning and injuries consistent with dingo bites’ 23. January 2026 (11:45) Canadian backpacker, 19, was found dead on K’gari island earlier this week surrounded by pack of wild dingoesThe autopsy of Piper James, whose body was found on K’gari surrounded by a pack of dingoes, has found “physical evidence consistent with drowning and injuries consistent with dingo bites”.The Canadian backpacker’s trip to Australia ended in tragedy when the 19-year-old was found dead on a beach on Monday on the world heritage-listed island and tourist destination formerly known as Fraser Island off the Queensland coast. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Spanish court points finger at Israel as it drops Pegasus spyware case again 23. January 2026 (11:38) Judge shelves inquiry into use of Israeli-made software to target ministers’ phones citing chronic lack of cooperationSpain’s highest criminal court has again shelved its investigation into the use of Israeli-made Pegasus software to target the mobile phones of senior Spanish ministers, including the prime minister, citing a chronic lack of cooperation from the Israeli authorities that has violated “the principle of good faith” between countries.The investigation began in May 2022 after the Spanish government revealed that the phones of the prime minister, Pedro Sánchez, and the defence minister, Margarita Robles, had both been infected the previous year with the spyware, which, according to its manufacturers, NSO Group, is available only to state agencies. It was later established the phones of the interior minister and the agriculture minister had also been targeted. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Kremlin repeats demand that Ukraine must withdraw from Donbas to end war ahead of joint talks with US – Europe live 23. January 2026 (11:13) With talks of a confrontation over Greenland receding, attention turns back to ending the four-year war between Ukraine and RussiaMeanwhile, the Kremlin repeated its demand that Kyiv must withdraw its forces from the eastern Donbas region for the war to end, showing it had not dropped its maximalist demands ahead of trilateral talks with the US and Ukraine in Abu Dhabi, AFP reported.“Russia’s position is well known on the fact that Ukraine, the Ukrainian armed forces, have to leave the territory of the Donbas. They must be withdrawn from there,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said, adding: “This is a very important condition.” Continue reading...(The Guardian)
British retail sales jump as online jewellery firms offer surprise Christmas sparkle 23. January 2026 (10:11) Sales volume rise of 0.4% in December confounds forecasts as new survey shows sharp rebound in consumer confidenceDavos: Global economic outlook in focus, as gold approaches $5,000 – live updatesUK retail sales were stronger than expected last month, as the nation’s shops received a surprise boost during the crucial Christmas trading period.Sales volumes across Great Britain rose by 0.4% in December, according to figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS), with internet sales doing particularly well, especially online jewellers. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Trump prompts outrage with claim Nato troops avoided frontline in Afghanistan 23. January 2026 (08:58) UK MPs and veterans condemn US president’s comments and highlight his avoidance of military service in VietnamDonald Trump has provoked outrage among British MPs and veterans after claiming Nato troops stayed away from the frontline in Afghanistan.The US president made his comments in an interview with Fox News in which he reiterated his suggestion that Nato would not support America if asked. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Student loans: ‘My debt rose £20,000 to £77,000 even though I’m paying’ 23. January 2026 (08:00) Millions of graduates are trapped by ballooning debts, as their repayments are dwarfed by the interest addedHelen Lambert borrowed £57,000 to go to university and began repaying her student loan in 2021 after starting work as an NHS nurse.Since then she has repaid more than £5,000, typically having about £145 a month taken from her pay packet. But everything she hands over is dwarfed by the £400-plus of interest that is added to her debt every month, thanks to rates that have been as high as 8%. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Campaigner launches £1.5bn legal action in UK against Apple over wallet’s ‘hidden fees’ 23. January 2026 (07:00) James Daley says anti-competitive behaviour led to additional charges that have pushed up costs for millionsThe financial campaigner James Daley has launched a £1.5bn class action lawsuit against Apple over its mobile phone wallet, claiming the US tech company blocked competition and charged hidden fees that ultimately harmed 50 million UK consumers.The lawsuit takes aim at Apple Pay, which they say has been the only contactless payment service available for iPhone users in Britain over the past decade. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Counter-terrorism police investigating ‘highly targeted’ attacks on Pakistani dissidents in UK 23. January 2026 (07:00) Exclusive: victims in hiding after attacks involving physical assault, attempted arson and the use of firearms Scotland Yard’s counter-terrorism command is investigating a series of “highly targeted” attacks on two Pakistani dissidents living in Britain which may bear the hallmarks of states using criminal proxies to silence their critics.One person has been arrested after a series of four attacks which began on Christmas Eve. One of the attacks involved a firearm. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
