US senator calls veterans affairs’ data collection of non-citizen workers ‘thinly veiled effort to instill fear’ 21. January 2026 (12:00) In letter to VA and DHS, Adam Schiff expressed alarm after Guardian reported on memo to gather informationAdam Schiff, a US senator, is expressing alarm in a letter to the Departments of Veterans Affairs (VA) and Homeland Security (DHS), following a report from the Guardian that revealed the VA was gathering data on its “non-citizen” workforce.The VA told the Guardian some of the information gathered could be shared with other agencies for immigration enforcement purposes. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Supreme court to consider Trump’s bid to fire Lisa Cook from Fed board – US politics live 21. January 2026 (11:54) A federal court blocked Cook’s removal, and she remains on the Fed’s rate-setting boardLauren Aratani is a reporter for Guardian USTrump’s bid to remove Cook last summer marked the first time in US history that a president fired a sitting Fed governor. She was appointed by Joe Biden in 2022, becoming the first woman of color to serve on the Fed’s board. Her term is set to be completed in 2038, as Fed governors serve at 14-year terms. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Prince Harry v Daily Mail live: Duke of Sussex to give evidence in court 21. January 2026 (11:49) Lawyers for Prince Harry previously laid out 14 articles about him they allege were secured using unlawful information-gathering by Associated NewspapersThe Duke of Sussex believes he has faced a “sustained campaign” of attacks for having “the temerity to stand up” to the publisher of the Daily Mail, the high court heard on Tuesday.Lawyers for Prince Harry made the claim as they set out 14 articles about him they allege were secured using unlawful information-gathering by Associated Newspapers Ltd, which publishes the Daily Mail and the Mail on Sunday. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Toby Carvery owner faces eviction from north London site for felling ancient oak 21. January 2026 (11:25) Felling of 500-year-old oak has provoked fury from public and Enfield council, which leases land to Mitchells & ButlersThe restaurant chain Toby Carvery is facing eviction from one of its sites after taking a chainsaw to an ancient oak tree without the permission of its council landlord.The partial felling last April of the 500-year-old oak on the edge of a Toby Carvery car park in Whitewebbs Park, Enfield, provoked widespread public dismay and fury from Enfield council, which leases the land to the restaurant’s owners Mitchells & Butlers Retail (M&B). Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Keir Starmer to visit China with British business leaders next week, say reports 21. January 2026 (11:09) Prime minister’s reported trip follows approval by UK government for Beijing to build new embassy in LondonUK politics live – latest updatesDavos live – latest updatesKeir Starmer will reportedly visit China next week after controversial plans for Beijing to build a vast embassy in London were approved by his government.The UK prime minster will lead a delegation of blue-chip British companies, according to Reuters. The same firms, which include BP, HSBC, Intercontinental Hotels Group, Jaguar Land Rover and Rolls-Royce were also said to be among those who will join a revamped “UK-China CEO council”. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Driving test cheating up 47% in Great Britain, prompting road safety concerns 21. January 2026 (11:09) DVSA says increase to 2,844 recorded cases in year to end of September is down to more cheating and better detectionAttempts to cheat on driving tests in England, Scotland and Wales increased by 47% in a year, figures show, raising concerns about road safety.There were 2,844 cases recorded in the year to the end of September 2025, according to figures by the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA), up from 1,940 during the previous 12 months, and 1,274 in 2018-19. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Starmer should resist calls to match Trump ‘tweet-for-tweet’, says Miliband 21. January 2026 (11:05) Britain would be in ‘much worse’ position if PM took tougher line with US president, energy secretary suggestsUK politics live – latest updatesEurope live – latest updatesDavos live – latest updatesBritain would be in a “much worse” position if Keir Starmer had done what others were calling on him to do by matching Donald Trump “tweet-for-tweet”, a UK cabinet minister has said.Defending the prime minister’s handling of the deepening diplomatic crisis over Greenland and the US president’s threat of levying tariffs on the UK and other Nato allies, the energy secretary, Ed Miliband, declined to say if Britain would respond in kind. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Syrian army reportedly enters detention camp holding relatives of IS suspects 21. January 2026 (10:57) Apparent move follows withdrawal of Kurdish forces from al-Hawl, where about 24,000 people are detainedSyria’s army has reportedly entered the country’s vast al-Hawl detention camp that houses relatives of suspected Islamic State jihadists, after Kurdish forces withdrew.A large group of soldiers opened the camp’s metal gate and entered while others guarded the entrance, according to an Agence France-Presse journalist at the scene. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Trump treasury secretary brands Denmark ‘irrelevant’ as Greenland row deepens 21. January 2026 (10:55) Scott Bessent’s barb against Nato ally follows claims Danish pension funds could disinvest in US government debt marketBusiness live – latest updatesCarney emerging as unflinching realist ready to tackle TrumpDonald Trump’s treasury secretary has dismissed Denmark as “irrelevant” in his administration’s latest attack on a traditional US ally, as world leaders in Davos prepare for the president’s arrival in the Swiss ski resort.Speaking on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum, Scott Bessent brushed aside claims that European investors, such as Denmark’s pension funds, might pull out of the market for US government debt in retaliation for Trump’s attempt to annex Greenland. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Nigel Farage apologises for 17 breaches of MPs’ code of conduct 21. January 2026 (10:54) Reform UK leader, who failed to declare £380,000 on time, says he is computer-illiterate ‘oddball’UK politics live – latest updatesNigel Farage has apologised for 17 breaches of the MPs’ code of conduct after failing to declare £380,000 of income on time, saying he is an “oddball” who does not do computers.The Reform UK leader and MP for Clacton said he had relied on a senior member of staff to submit his income to the register of interests and had been let down, but he took full responsibility for the error. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
