News 17/01/26

Thousands have protested in Greenland and Denmark against plans by US President Donald Trump to take over Greenland, an autonomous Danish territory.

Demonstrations were held in Copenhagen and Greenland’s capital, Nuuk. The rallies coincided with a visit to Copenhagen by a US Congress delegation, led by Democratic Senator Chris Coons, who described Mr Trump’s rhetoric as not constructive. Mr Trump has said he will impose tariffs on European countries opposed to his plan and has not ruled out taking Greenland, which he says is critical for America’s national security.

A system known as Jess’s Rule, urging doctors to reconsider a patient’s diagnosis after three appointments without results, is being advertised in all GP practices in England from this week.

The rule is named after 27-year-old Jessica Brady, who contacted her surgery 20 times in six months before dying from cancer in 2020. Jess’s Rule encourages GPs to seek a second opinion, order further tests, and see patients face-to-face when three appointments have yielded no diagnosis or symptoms worsen.

Donald Trump has announced via Truth Social that he intends to implement a wave of tariffs on several European countries, including the United Kingdom, until the United States is permitted to purchase Greenland.

He stated that ten per cent tariffs would take effect on the first of February for Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, the UK, the Netherlands and Finland. These charges will then increase to twenty-five per cent on the first of June until a deal for the purchase is reached.

Forecasters have warned that temperatures could plummet across the UK towards the end of the month, increasing the likelihood of snow.

The Met Office says temperatures this weekend will be mostly average, with showers on Saturday and highs of ten degrees. Meteorologist Honor Criswick said Sunday would be a cloudy and grey day with dense fog. Spells of rain will push northwards through the day, potentially turning heavy at times in some southern areas.

The body of fifteen year old Grace Keeling is believed to have been found, police have said.

Her body was discovered among rocks on Withernsea beach at eight thirty am on Thursday. Tide times, weather conditions and the location meant emergency workers were unable to recover Grace before high tide on Friday. Detective Superintendent Simon Vickers said specialist teams later safely recovered her body.

Iran’s supreme leader has publicly acknowledged that thousands of people were killed during recent protests, some in what he described as an inhuman and savage manner.

A violent response to the unrest has claimed three thousand and ninety lives, according to Iranian Human Rights Activists News Agency, though some groups believe the toll is far higher. An internet blackout has made information difficult to verify. Ayatollah Ali Khamenei blamed the United States for the deaths. US President Donald Trump urged demonstrators to keep protesting and warned of possible military intervention.

NASA says its Space Launch System rocket carrying the Orion crew capsule is heading to the launch pad.

Workers and families gathered before dawn to watch the move, led by NASA administrator Jared Isaacman and the four assigned astronauts. The rocket will take eight to ten hours to travel four miles to launch complex thirty nine B at around one mile per hour.

A landmark bus station site in Slough could be sold after being declared surplus.

The Brunel Way station, known for its seventy metre aluminium structure, opened in twenty eleven as part of the Heart of Slough regeneration. A fire in October twenty twenty two caused significant damage and it has remained closed while an insurance claim was resolved. A report recommends declaring the site surplus, allowing a potential sale.

Uganda’s leader Yoweri Museveni has won the presidential election, officials say, despite opposition claims of ballot stuffing.

The eighty one year old has ruled for forty years and will begin a seventh term after securing seventy one percent of the vote. His challenger Bobi Wine received twenty four percent.

Several police officers have been injured after a protest outside the Iranian embassy in London turned violent.

The Metropolitan Police said officers had missiles thrown at them during clashes, leading to a number of arrests. The London Ambulance Service was called to the unrest in South Kensington at 8.45pm, with paramedics confirming four people were taken to hospital. The Met said several officers were hurt, while social media footage appeared to show protesters were also injured during demonstrations on Friday evening.

Justice Secretary David Lammy has blocked the move of a convicted killer to an open prison after allegations he released rap music about murdering teenager Jimmy Mizen.

Jake Fahri received a life sentence with a minimum term of fourteen years in 2009 after killing the sixteen year old in south London by throwing an oven dish which shattered and severed blood vessels in his neck. Fahri was released on licence in 2023 but recalled last January after reports he was making drill music as artist Ten.

Experts behind a major new review say taking paracetamol while pregnant is safe and does not increase the risk of autism, ADHD, or other developmental issues in children.

Pregnant women “should feel reassured” by the findings, which contradict controversial claims from US President Donald Trump last year that paracetamol “is no good” and that expectant mothers should “fight like hell” not to take it. His views were widely criticised by medical organisations, while experts say this latest Lancet review is rigorous and should settle the debate. US health officials maintain, however, that “many experts” continue to express concern over its use during pregnancy.

President Zelensky has called Ukraine’s air defence supplies “insufficient”, revealing several systems were “without missiles” until Friday morning.

He said Ukraine received a “substantial package” earlier in the day, adding: “I can say this openly because today I have those missiles.” His remarks follow days of intense Russian bombardment of Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, leaving thousands without heating and electricity during a bitterly cold winter. Schools in Kyiv will remain closed until February, the mayor announced, as temperatures drop as low as minus nineteen degrees Celsius.