Politics

The Home Secretary is reported to plan removing government support for some asylum seekers and to begin evictions from hotels in the spring; further hotel closures are expected by April.

The Supreme Court agreed to take up Cisco's appeal in a lawsuit alleging the company's technology was used against Falun Gong members in China; oral arguments are set for the spring and a decision is expected by early summer.

The U.S. Senate advanced a resolution that would bar President Donald Trump from taking military action against Venezuela without congressional approval. The move has been described as a rare rebuke of the president.

Five current and former Stanford students pleaded not guilty as a trial opened over a June 5, 2024 occupation of the university president’s offices; authorities initially arrested 12 people and the university is seeking about $329,000 in restitution.

Authorities say 56-year-old Arlene Lillis died after a shark bite while snorkeling at Dorcsh Beach in St. Croix, and territorial officials have opened an investigation.

The Scottish Government has appealed an Information Commissioner's ruling that it wrongly withheld evidence from the investigation into Nicola Sturgeon, saying release would risk contempt of court; the government has lodged an appeal at the Court of Session.

Laura Ingraham was confronted by a protester while reporting in Minneapolis during demonstrations after the fatal shooting of Renee Nicole Good; the FBI is leading the investigation and local officials have publicly questioned federal actions.

Federal officials said an ICE officer shot a 37-year-old woman in what they described as self‑defense; multiple videos from different angles have circulated showing the moments around the incident and local leaders criticized the use of force.

President Trump held a closed-door meeting with major oil executives to discuss possible investment — he said he expected about $100 billion to revive Venezuelan oil output; companies have not confirmed firm commitments.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Rick Rieder has not yet been interviewed by President Trump for the Federal Reserve chair post and that a nominee is expected later this month.

The Information Commissioner’s Office advised Jeremy Corbyn’s Peace and Justice Project to consider referring the unauthorised Your Party membership launch to Report Fraud or the police, saying serious criminal activity may have occurred. The ICO also assessed that formal ICO involvement was not required at this time.

Officials say two people described as linked to the Tren de Aragua gang were shot in Portland after agents say their vehicle moved toward ICE officers; the FBI and the Oregon Department of Justice have opened investigations.

The Scottish Conservatives said average non-domestic rateable values have risen about 123%, with some hospitality firms facing increases nearing 400%, and the Scottish Government will set out decisions on rates and reliefs in the Budget on 13 January.

Nigel Farage announced Laila Cunningham as Reform UK's candidate for London mayor and said the party will seek to unseat incumbent Sadiq Khan; Cunningham emphasised law-and-order concerns and opposed the Ulez expansion.

A GoFundMe set up for Renee Nicole Good’s family has raised more than $1.5 million after she was shot by an ICE agent; the Department of Homeland Security described the shooting as self‑defense and the FBI has opened an investigation.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the department is investigating four Minnesota money-transfer businesses and announced enhanced reporting and FinCEN inquiries for transfers from Hennepin and Ramsey counties.

The New START treaty between the US and Russia is set to expire on February 6, ending the last formal limits on deployed strategic warheads; together the two countries hold roughly 87% of the world’s nuclear weapons.

A federal judge quashed subpoenas and disqualified acting U.S. Attorney John Sarcone from investigations into New York Attorney General Letitia James, ruling he was serving unlawfully when he requested them. The judge said the Justice Department used personnel moves that bypassed statutory appointment limits.

A Blendon Township use-of-force review board found Officer Connor Grubb did not violate department policy in the Aug. 24, 2023, shooting that killed Ta'Kiya Young and her unborn child, and Grubb had previously been acquitted by a Franklin County jury; further administrative actions are undetermined at this time.

Comedians Bowen Yang and Matt Rogers told listeners not to donate to Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett's Senate campaign; Crockett has announced a run for John Cornyn's Senate seat.

A small U.S. team of diplomats and security officials traveled to Venezuela to assess a possible reopening of the U.S. Embassy in Caracas; Venezuela acknowledged the visit and said it will send a delegation to the United States, without specifying timing.

Chagos islanders' leadership has written to US President Donald Trump asking him to block a UK proposal to transfer sovereignty over the Chagos archipelago to Mauritius, saying the move would risk the Diego Garcia military base. Parliament is due to vote on the treaty on Monday.

President Trump revived a proposal that the United States acquire Greenland; commentators note a long history of US strategic interest while climate scientists warn that unilateral control could disrupt international research and access.

A Daily Mail poll by J.L. Partners found 67% of Republican registered voters support additional U.S. military intervention beyond Venezuela, while 43% of all Americans backed more intervention and 42% opposed it.

The article reports President Trump ordered a military strike on Venezuela and that polls show limited public support while many Americans remain focused on healthcare and affordability.

U.S. forces boarded the oil tanker Olina in the Caribbean, which Southern Command said is the fifth tanker seized in an effort targeting sanctioned shipments linked to Venezuela.

An expert at Aintree University Hospital warns long-term ketamine use can cause severe bladder damage that may lead to bladder removal and stomas. The hospital has opened a specialist clinic to treat people with ketamine-related bladder injury.

Supporters of Reza Pahlavi say recent street demonstrations answered his call, but many Iranians remain wary of a return to monarchical rule and no clear alternative leadership has emerged; international figures have so far been cautious.

Reports say Maria Corina Machado has discussed offering her Nobel Peace Prize to Donald Trump as part of talks about a Washington meeting, and Trump has said accepting the prize would be "a great honor."

Keir Starmer told Emmanuel Macron and Friedrich Merz that Nato should 'step up' operations in the Arctic amid a diplomatic row over Greenland; crisis talks between US advisers and Danish officials are due next week.