Twenty-two councils ask for election delays
16 Jan 2026
More than twenty English councils have requested permission to delay their local elections scheduled for May, affecting over 2.5 million voters. The proposed postponements are linked to the government’s wide-ranging reorganisation of local government, which will replace many two-tier county and district councils with new unitary authorities. Ministers argue that holding elections for councils expected to be dissolved or restructured within a year would be costly, inefficient, and distracting from frontline services. Elections would instead be deferred until 2027. However, the move has sparked significant political controversy. Opposition parties have accused the government of undermining democratic accountability and avoiding voter scrutiny, warning that councillors could remain in office for extended periods without renewed mandates. Protests have erupted at some council meetings, highlighting public concern over transparency and trust in the democratic process. While ministers insist that national security, efficiency, and service delivery remain priorities, critics argue that postponing elections risks weakening public confidence in local government.
Keir Starmer has said that Elon Musk’s social media platform X is acting to ensure compliance with UK law, following outrage over its AI tool, Grok, being used to generate non-consensual sexualised images. There was widespread condemnation in parliament, with ministers describing the images, particularly of women and children, as shameful and harmful. Ofcom has launched an independent investigation, with the Government pledging full support and signalling that further legislation will be introduced if current powers prove insufficient. While X restricted some image-generation features, many feel it continues to enable abuse, accusing it of monetising exploitation. The controversy has reignited debate over free speech, corporate responsibility, and the regulation of artificial intelligence. Concerns have also been raised about the impact of automated content on young people’s mental health and the need for stronger online safeguards.
In an unexpected move, as the House of Lords was considering the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill, a motion was introduced calling for additional time to scrutinise the proposals before the current parliamentary session ends. Supporters of the bill argue that extending debate is necessary to allow it to return to the Commons, while critics insist that thorough examination is essential to strengthen safeguards for vulnerable people. Former Archbishop of Canterbury George Carey, who supports the bill, has warned that bishops opposing assisted dying risk undermining their public credibility by resisting legislation backed by significant sections of society. His position contrasts sharply with that of other Church leaders who argue that legalising assisted dying would erode the sanctity of life and place pressure on the elderly, disabled, and terminally ill. The debate highlights ongoing tensions between compassion, autonomy, and the Christian conviction that life is sacred and worthy of protection at every stage.
Kent / Sussex: major incident declared, water supplier under investigation for shortages
16 Jan 2026
South East Water is under investigation by regulator Ofwat after repeated outages since November left tens of thousands of households and businesses across Kent and Sussex without drinking water. Some properties have endured up to six days without supply, with around 8,500 addresses still affected. The watchdog is examining whether the company breached licence conditions by failing to meet customer service standards or provide adequate support. This follows earlier prolonged outages in Tunbridge Wells, where 24,000 properties lacked drinkable water for nearly two weeks. Ofwat is also reviewing the firm’s supply resilience, while the government has asked for a wider licence review. A major incident has been declared, schools have closed, and ministers are holding daily emergency meetings. South East Water has blamed storm-related power cuts and burst pipes, but frustration remains high as recovery plans continue amid slow refilling of storage tanks.
Poland: ‘only Trump can restrain Russia’
16 Jan 2026
On a visit to the UK, Karol Nawrocki, Poland’s president, has warned that Europe faces an increasingly dangerous security environment and believes only Donald Trump can restrain Russia’s ambitions. He said that Russia could not be trusted and was actively testing both Poland’s defences and Europe’s unity. He pointed to large-scale drone incursions from Belarus and Ukraine as evidence of a sustained hybrid conflict, involving military pressure and disinformation. While expressing concern about tensions within the Western alliance, he argued that Donald Trump remained Europe’s essential security guarantor and deserved support for efforts to end the war in Ukraine. Nawrocki praised Britain’s military assistance and criticised European leaders for neglecting defence readiness. With Poland investing heavily in security, he urged greater focus on resilience, cooperation and unity in what he described as dangerous and uncertain times.
US senators have introduced bipartisan legislation aimed at safeguarding NATO unity amid rising tensions over Greenland. The bill would prevent US government funds from being used to seize, occupy or otherwise assert control over the territory of any NATO member state. This is a response to repeated statements by Donald Trump suggesting that Greenland, a self-governing territory of Denmark, should come under US control, even by force. Many believe that such rhetoric threatens NATO’s core principle of collective defence and undermines trust among allies. European leaders, particularly in Denmark and Greenland, have firmly rejected any suggestion of US control, emphasising their commitment to NATO, Danish sovereignty and the EU. On 16 January, with the territory’s strategic location and natural resources drawing global attention, Marco Rubio is due to meet the foreign ministers of Denmark and Greenland in Washington, and a bipartisan group of US lawmakers will be in Denmark for talks. Breaking news: some European troops have gone to Greenland after inconclusive talks with the USA. See
New data from European and American scientists shows the planet endured its third-warmest year on record in 2025, with little expectation of cooling ahead. According to them, global temperatures averaged 1.47°C above pre-industrial levels, meaning the past eleven years are now the warmest ever recorded. For the first time, the three-year average from 2023 to 2025 exceeded the 1.5°C threshold set by the Paris Agreement, raising serious doubts about the world’s ability to meet its climate goals (especially since the USA, one of the main emitters of greenhouse gases, withdrew from the agreement a year ago). The UK Met Office confirmed similar findings, pointing to rising greenhouse gas concentrations as the main driver. While some countries have announced emissions targets, scientists warn these remain insufficient. In October, UN secretary-general Antonio Guterres stressed the need for early warning systems to protect communities across the globe.
Donald Trump has stepped back, at least temporarily, from threats of US military action against Iran, saying he has been assured that the killing of protesters has stopped and that no executions are planned. He said these assurances came from ‘very important sources on the other side’, though the claims have not been independently verified. Despite reports that over 3,400 have been killed during the recent anti-government protests and fears of imminent executions, Trump said he was unconvinced that military action would bring decisive change. He had been strenuously lobbied by leaders in the Middle East to not to go ahead with strikes which would be certain to lead to an Iranian counterstrike on US bases. Iranian officials have publicly denied plans for executions, and at least one expected execution has been postponed. While rhetoric has softened slightly, deep divisions over human rights abuses and Iran’s nuclear ambitions persist, leaving the situation fragile and unresolved.