Top stories - Google News

• Starmer defends blocking Burnham from by-election, as mayor says he's focusing on Manchester - BBC26 January 2026, 11:34 am
  Starmer defends blocking Burnham from by-election, as mayor says he's focusing on Manchester  BBCStarmer defends blocking Andy Burnham from by-election run after backlash  BBCPM defends Burnham block saying it will allow focus on elections 'we must win'  Sky NewsLabour’s Burnham veto has made a tricky Manchester byelection much harder  The GuardianLabour Party tensions mount as Andy Burnham is blocked from standing as an MP  Financial Times
  
• M6 traffic: Tragedy as Porsche driver dies after 'serious collision' - Daily Express26 January 2026, 11:14 am
  M6 traffic: Tragedy as Porsche driver dies after 'serious collision'  Daily ExpressPorsche driver killed in Great Barr M6 barrier crash  BBCMan found dead on major motorway after crash as cops make urgent appeal  thesun.co.ukM6 southbound crash clears after Junction 31A disruption  blogpreston.co.ukRECAP: 'Severe delays' on M6 due to crash  lancashiretelegraph.co.uk
  
• China’s top general under investigation for alleged violations amid corruption crackdown - The Guardian26 January 2026, 10:27 am
  China’s top general under investigation for alleged violations amid corruption crackdown  The GuardianSecrets, scandal and ‘nuclear treason’: inside Xi’s military purge  The TimesTop Chinese general ‘leaked nuclear secrets to US’  The TelegraphWhat Xi Jinping’s purge of China’s most senior general reveals  The EconomistXi's purge of top general paints a fascinating picture of power and control within a ruthless and unforgiving system  Sky News
  
• Disposable income in 11 towns and cities has risen twice as fast as rest of UK - The Guardian26 January 2026, 10:22 am
  Disposable income in 11 towns and cities has risen twice as fast as rest of UK  The GuardianStoke-on-Trent disposable incomes 'dropped by £5.5k on elsewhere'  BBCLondon’s Living Standards Rise Twice as Quickly as Rest of UK  BloombergDisposable income rises in Bristol at almost twice national average  bristol247.comSussex city and town named top places in UK for disposable income - beating London  theargus.co.uk
  
• Life after Molly: Ian Russell on big tech, his daughter’s death – and why a social media ban won’t work - The Guardian26 January 2026, 10:00 am
  Life after Molly: Ian Russell on big tech, his daughter’s death – and why a social media ban won’t work  The GuardianBereaved parents fear delays to social media ban could harm children  BBCBanning under-16s won’t fix social media  Financial TimesBan social media for teenagers now, say bereaved families  The Telegraph'Strong case' for social media ban on children, says home secretary - but police won't be involved  Sky News
  
• UK among 10 countries to build 100GW wind power grid in North Sea - The Guardian26 January 2026, 9:56 am
  UK among 10 countries to build 100GW wind power grid in North Sea  The GuardianUK to join major wind farm project with nine European countries  BBCMiliband and Jørgensen: Clean energy is Europe’s only route to security and prosperity  politico.euUK and Europe sign historic pact to drive clean energy future  GOV.UKMiliband leans on EU to aid North Sea push  The Telegraph
  
• Edinburgh and Glasgow top London as UK’s nightlife hotspots, Uber data shows - The Guardian26 January 2026, 9:47 am
  Edinburgh and Glasgow top London as UK’s nightlife hotspots, Uber data shows  The GuardianEdinburgh crowned UK’s best city for nightlife  The TimesTwo Scottish cities ranked above London for best nightlife and takeaways  TheNational.scotWest Midlands city top spot for 'early risers and late night revellers' as Uber reveals top trip locations  expressandstar.comMost popular venues in Cardiff for Uber passengers revealed  dailypost.co.uk
  
• Inside world of London’s ‘Turkish mafia’ who are ruling streets with guns and violence - Metro.co.uk26 January 2026, 7:00 am
  Inside world of London’s ‘Turkish mafia’ who are ruling streets with guns and violence  Metro.co.uk
  
• Horror as woman, 21, trapped in toilet and sexually assaulted on board busy train as man jailed - thesun.co.uk26 January 2026, 6:51 am
  Horror as woman, 21, trapped in toilet and sexually assaulted on board busy train as man jailed  thesun.co.ukSex offender jailed for trapping and assaulting woman in train toilet – Essex  British Transport PoliceMan trapped passenger in train loo and assaulted her as she screamed for help  thesun.co.ukClapham man imprisoned for back‑to‑back sexual assaults on rail service  DPSimulationHe thought he could get away with sex attacks on train - other passengers proved him wrong  mylondon.news
  
• Australian Open 2026: Jessica Pegula ends Madison Keys title defence and wins apple pie bet - BBC26 January 2026, 6:03 am
  Australian Open 2026: Jessica Pegula ends Madison Keys title defence and wins apple pie bet  BBCSpotless Pegula ends Keys’ Australian Open reign with serve of apple pie and cheese  The GuardianDefending champion Madison Keys dumped out of Australian Open by close friend  The IndependentMadison Keys won’t eat cheddar apple pie if she loses to Jessica Pegula at Australian Open  Tennis.comMadison Keys claims Jessica Pegula has a ‘superpower’ she does not get enough credit for  Tennishead
  
• Tributes paid as BBC Radio Guernsey presenter John Randall dies - BBC26 January 2026, 5:56 am
  Tributes paid as BBC Radio Guernsey presenter John Randall dies  BBCBBC radio legend dies after health battle as tributes paid to 'one of a kind'  Daily Star'One of a kind' BBC star dies aged 68 after short illness  birminghammail.co.ukBeloved BBC star John Randall dies as fans pay tribute to 'one of a kind' presenter  The MirrorJohn Randall dead: Beloved BBC radio host dies after short illness as tributes pour in  Daily Express
  
• The keys to keeping your bond with your partner intact for decades - Daily Mail26 January 2026, 5:35 am
  The keys to keeping your bond with your partner intact for decades  Daily Mail
  
• Rosenior reveals where Chelsea must improve after Crystal Palace win - standard.co.uk26 January 2026, 5:05 am
  Rosenior reveals where Chelsea must improve after Crystal Palace win  standard.co.ukPremier League: Chelsea beat 10-man Palace, Villa and Forest win  BBCCrystal Palace 1-3 Chelsea highlights  Sky SportsEstêvão and Fernández power Chelsea past Crystal Palace as Wharton sees red  The GuardianJoao Pedro: We controlled the game | News | Official Site  Chelsea
  
• Eighteen dead after Philippines ferry with 300 passengers sinks - BBC26 January 2026, 4:06 am
  Eighteen dead after Philippines ferry with 300 passengers sinks  BBCPhilippines ferry with 350 on board capsizes leaving 15 dead and dozens missing  The GuardianAt least 15 dead and hundreds rescued after ferry sinks in southern Philippines  Sky NewsFifteen dead after Philippines ferry with 300 passengers sinks  BBCFerry carrying more than 350 people sinks in southern Philippines  CNN
  
• NHS to increase accuracy of bowel cancer test in England - The Guardian26 January 2026, 2:30 am
  NHS to increase accuracy of bowel cancer test in England  The GuardianBowel cancer screening changes will save thousands of lives  The TelegraphNHS increasing bowel cancer screening sensitivity in England  Cancer Research UK - Cancer NewsMajor change to bowel cancer screening as thousands more to be tested  The IndependentNew improved NHS bowel cancer test is still quick, simple and done at home - but the impact is HUGE  thesun.co.uk