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Steve Wright has pleaded guilty to the 1999 murder of 17-year-old Victoria Hall and to the attempted kidnap of Emily Doherty; he is already serving a whole life sentence for five other murders. Mr Justice Bennathan has said Wright will be sentenced on Friday at the Old Bailey so Victoria's family can attend and submit victim impact statements.

Officials said multiple suicide and gun attacks across Balochistan left at least 33 people dead while security forces reported killing 92 assailants; the Baloch Liberation Army claimed responsibility.

South Staffordshire Community Lottery has raised £252,649 and supported 107 local charities and organisations with funding for activities, equipment and conservation work.

A retrospective study found that a blood test combining four markers (CA19-9, THBS2, ANPEP and PIGR) identified pancreatic cancer about 92% of the time; researchers say further testing in larger, prediagnostic populations is needed before any screening use.

On this day in 2024 the Bernards Heath children's playground in St Albans reopened after a community fundraiser that raised £100,000, and the opening was formally led by MP Daisy Cooper.

The Suir Catchment Better Farming for Water Action Plan was launched in Thurles to speed adoption of the 8 Actions for Change on farms and to unite farmers, industry and agencies in efforts to improve water quality in the River Suir catchment.

Arsenal beat Corinthians in extra time to claim the first-ever Fifa Women's Champions Cup; Caitlin Foord scored the 104th-minute winner and goalkeeper Anneke Borbe was injured late in extra time.

Donegal manager Jim McGuinness said it was 'not a difficult conversation' to persuade Michael Murphy to return for 2026; Murphy came on as a second-half substitute in Donegal's Division One win after recovering from surgery.

Steven Spielberg won the Grammy for Best Music Film for Music By John Williams, completing an Emmy–Grammy–Oscar–Tony (EGOT) and becoming the 22nd person to do so.

House prices in the UK increased in January 2026 while mortgage affordability pressures eased, and mortgage approvals for house purchase stayed close to pre-pandemic levels.

The Rafah crossing between Gaza and Egypt is due to reopen after being closed since mid‑2024 under a delayed clause of last year’s ceasefire deal; many Palestinians stranded on both sides hope to reunite with family or travel for urgent medical care while details of how crossings will operate remain unclear.

Egyptian and Israeli officials said the Rafah crossing reopened on Monday for a small number of passengers, with about 50 Palestinians allowed to cross in each direction on the first day and no goods permitted to enter.

Clitheroe in Lancashire was named one of Britain’s best places to live for 2026 and is highlighted for its strong food and drink scene and proximity to notable natural areas.

A longevity doctor outlines a sleep-focused routine, saying late sugary or carbohydrate-rich meals and nighttime fluids can disrupt melatonin and that morning natural sunlight before 10am supports circadian regulation.

Hospitals in Gaza reported that Israeli strikes killed at least 12 people, including women and children. The strikes occurred a day before a southern border crossing is expected to open.

Thousands of immigrant parents in Minneapolis say they are staying home and arranging Delegations of Parental Authority after federal immigration officers were deployed; a judge ordered the release of a detained five-year-old boy.

OpenClaw is a widely downloaded AI personal assistant that can act autonomously when given account access, and experts have raised concerns about security and unintended actions.

Blood Cancer UK, Lymphoma Action and Anthony Nolan have formally appealed NICE's decision to recommend against continued NHS use of Tecartus for mantle cell lymphoma; NICE says patients who have already started the treatment may complete it and will review the appeal through its established process.

A Scottish Parliament committee has urged urgent action to reduce long waits for autism and ADHD assessments, and the Scottish government has announced an extra £3.4m to improve access to neurodevelopmental support.

Market stalls and street-food outlets in Rawtenstall have moved to cabins in the town square and units in the bus station while the old market hall is being renovated with £4.2m of Levelling-Up funding.

The article describes visits to The Beeches Community Primary School breakfast club and the Unity Centre in Whitton, both offering services for families and local residents; The Beeches was among the first 750 schools in a pilot free breakfast scheme and the Unity Centre hosts NHS and community activities with coordination funded until June 2026.

Walsall Council and partners have secured funding to redevelop Blakenall Community Centre, with planned upgrades including a new entrance, a children's play area and improved accessibility.

Representatives for Beyoncé did not respond to the BBC's requests for comment. The win prompted discussion about long-standing racial tensions in country music and how awards classifications reflect that history.

More than £8,000 raised by the 2025 Blackburn Charity Bonfire was presented to six local charities at a January 21 event, and organisers said further donations will be made over the coming months.

A Russian drone strike hit a bus carrying mineworkers in Dnipro, killing at least 12 people and injuring seven, authorities and the company DTEK reported; the same day, Ukraine said US-brokered talks with Russia were delayed until 4–5 February in Abu Dhabi.

Erfan Soltani, 26, who was arrested on January 8 on charges including propaganda and acting against national security, has been released on bail after about three weeks and reportedly had his belongings returned.

A £1.1m Rosetta Stone study at Imperial College will analyse immune and microbiome markers in people with Long Covid and ME/CFS; the three-year project will study 250 people with each condition alongside matched healthy controls.

Ukrainian officials said a Russian drone strike killed at least 12 miners, and Kyiv has rescheduled trilateral peace talks while planned outages strain the power grid amid severe cold.

A Glasgow man who received a heart transplant in March 2023 completed a more than 110km trek across the Sahara two years later to raise funds for homelessness charity Crisis, and has raised almost £11,500.

Fraser Wilson, who received a heart transplant in March 2023, completed more than 110km across the Moroccan Sahara last November to raise funds for the charity Crisis and has so far raised almost £11,500.