Judge-only trials in England and Wales will not wipe out crown court backlog, report says 22. January 2026 (01:01) IFG says proposed plans, which will slash the number of jury trials, will produce ‘marginal gains’ of less than 2% time savedDavid Lammy’s plans to introduce judge-only criminal trials in England and Wales will save less than 2% of time in crown courts, the Institute for Government (IFG) has said.In a report that casts doubt on the ability of the changes, which will slash the number of jury trials to achieve their goal of wiping out the courts’ backlog, the thinktank described the gains from judge-only trials as “marginal”. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Four in five blind people struggle with gap at UK train stations, survey finds 22. January 2026 (01:01) RNIB research uncovers high anxiety around rail travel with some having fallen into gaps or been trapped in doors‘It was a very lucky escape’: blind man who fell on to tracks calls for rail travel improvementsFour in five blind and partially sighted people in the UK have struggled to cross the gap between trains and station platforms, according to a survey, with some falling and injuring themselves.Many blind and partially sighted people avoid taking train journeys owing to anxieties around whether they will be properly supported after having had inconsistent experiences, according to research from the Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB). Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Hong Kong national security trial of three pro-democracy activists to open 22. January 2026 (00:45) Chow Hang-tung, Lee Cheuk-yan and Albert Ho, who led Tiananmen Square vigils, accused of inciting subversion The national security trial of three pro-democracy activists who organised an annual memorial in Hong Kong to mark the Tiananmen Square massacre is to begin on Thursday.Chow Hang-tung, Lee Cheuk-yan and Albert Ho are charged with inciting subversion under Hong Kong’s national security law. Their trial is one of the most high-profile national security cases to be heard in Hong Kong since Beijing imposed the law in 2020. The defendants face a maximum penalty of 10 years’ imprisonment if convicted. The law has a near-100% conviction rate. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Use of ADHD medication in UK more than tripled in 13 years, study finds 22. January 2026 (00:30) UK had highest relative increase of five countries in study, with 20-fold rise in proportion of women over 25 using itThe proportion of people in the UK on attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) medication has tripled in the past decade, with a 20-fold increase among women aged 25 and over, a study shows.Researchers led by the University of Oxford examined electronic health records from Belgium, Germany, the Netherlands, Spain and the UK to estimate the use of ADHD medication among adults and children aged three and above. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Bezos’s Blue Origin announces plans to deploy thousands of satellites in 2027 22. January 2026 (00:19) Deployment will serve data centers, governments and businesses, jumping into market dominated by SpaceXJeff Bezos’s space company Blue Origin on Wednesday announced a plan to deploy 5,408 satellites in space for a communications network that will serve data centers, governments and businesses, jumping into a satellite constellation market dominated by Elon Musk’s SpaceX.Deployment of satellites is planned to begin in the last quarter of 2027, Blue Origin said, adding the network will be designed to have “data speeds of up to 6 Tbps anywhere on Earth”. That speed, possible with the satellites’ planned optical communications, is extreme by consumer standards and would make the network key for data processing and large-scale government programs. Blue Origin said the network would be meant to serve a maximum of roughly 100,000 customers. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Wind and solar overtook fossil fuels for EU power generation in 2025, report finds 22. January 2026 (00:01) Researchers say event described as ‘major tipping point’ for clean energy in era of destabilised politicsWind and solar overtook fossil fuels in the European Union’s power generation last year, a report has found, in a “major tipping point” for clean energy.Turbines spinning in the wind and photovoltaic panels lit up by the sun generated 30% of the EU’s electricity in 2025, according to an annual review. Power plants burning coal, oil and gas generated 29%. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
OECD calls on Australia to raise GST and increase affordable housing amid budget deficit 21. January 2026 (23:46) Survey by organisation, which is led by former Liberal senator Mathias Cormann, says economy is ‘now normalising’, after post-pandemic struggleGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastThe OECD has called on the government to broaden the GST, do more to reduce greenhouse emissions and adopt ambitious social housing targets as part of its annual economic survey of Australia.Ahead of Jim Chalmers’ fifth federal budget in May, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development said Australia’s economy was “now normalising”, after struggling through a lengthy period of weak growth following the pandemic. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Theranos founder Elizabeth Holmes asks Trump to commute prison sentence 21. January 2026 (23:28) US justice department’s website shows the disgraced former CEO petitioned Donald Trump over fraud convictionTheranos founder Elizabeth Holmes has asked Donald Trump to commute her sentence after she was convicted of defrauding investors in her now-defunct blood-testing startup that was once valued at $9bn, a notice on the US Department of Justice website showed.The justice department’s office of the pardon attorney lists the status of her commutation request, which was made last year, as pending. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Trump walks back Greenland tariffs threat, citing vague ‘deal’ over territory 21. January 2026 (23:25) US president claims ‘framework’ of agreement in the works after ‘very productive’ meeting with Nato secretary generalDonald Trump has walked back his threat to impose sweeping US tariffs on eight European countries, claiming he had agreed “the framework of a future deal” on Greenland.Four days after vowing to introduce steep import duties on a string of US allies over their support for Greenland’s continued status as an autonomous Danish territory, the president backed down. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Museums must reach all parts of UK, says Nandy as £1.5bn of arts funding announced 21. January 2026 (23:00) Culture secretary says national institutions will receive £600m but they must extend influence outside LondonLondon-based museums need to ensure they reach every part of the country, according to Lisa Nandy, the culture secretary, who on Wednesday announced a landmark £1.5bn funding package for the arts meant to restore national pride.National museums including the British Museum and the National Portrait Gallery will be handed a £600m package but the culture secretary has urged them to look outside the capital to extend their sphere of influence. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
