Politics

President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva vetoed a December congressional bill that would have cut former president Jair Bolsonaro's 27-year sentence for his role in the 2023 coup attempt; Congress could seek to override the veto.

ScotRail has opened an independent investigation after reports that some property services staff accepted gifts in return for contracts; several employees have reportedly been suspended while inquiries continue.

French President Emmanuel Macron told ambassadors the United States is 'breaking free from international rules' after recent US actions reported in Venezuela and over Greenland. European leaders have given mixed responses and ministers will discuss the matter in coming meetings.

A Metropolitan Police constable is on trial after using a Taser during a chase that prosecutors say left 61-year-old Leonard Sandiford tetraplegic and reliant on a wheelchair; the officer denies unlawful force and says he feared an immediate threat. The case is being heard at Southwark Crown Court.

London Councils has opened a review of the Older Person's Freedom Pass because rising costs are putting pressure on borough finances; one option under consideration is limiting free travel for over‑66s to buses only, which officials say could save over £100m a year.

President Trump told reporters he watched a grainy video and said Renee Good ran over an ICE agent; the New York Times and others described the footage as unclear and officials say an investigation is under way.

The Senate is set to vote on a resolution to require congressional approval before further strikes on Venezuela after U.S. forces seized President Nicolás Maduro.

Allan Hughes, already serving a drug-trafficking sentence, received a further seven-year prison term after police seized a mobile phone in May 2024 that prosecutors said contained videos and messages linking him to the supply of multiple firearms.

Late-night hosts mocked the Trump administration after it deposed Nicolás Maduro and brought him to New York to face federal drug‑trafficking charges. Top UN officials warned the intervention most likely violated international law.

Officials said Russian drone strikes cut power to all of southern Zaporizhzhia and left more than 600,000 households in Dnipropetrovsk without electricity; crews restored power in Zaporizhzhia while outages continued in parts of Dnipropetrovsk. Undetermined at this time.

A federal judge approved a joint motion by Louisiana and the U.S. Justice Department to dismiss a 1967 desegregation lawsuit in DeSoto Parish; officials said there have been no disputes among the parties since 2014.

The U.K. government described the U.S. seizure of a Venezuela-linked oil tanker as an example of trans-Atlantic cooperation and noted a U.S. pledge of security guarantees for Ukraine; critics say the action and other U.S. moves are straining relations.

India's finance ministry is reported to be planning to remove the 2020 registration and clearance requirements for Chinese firms bidding on government contracts; the final decision is reported to rest with the prime minister's office.

Emmanuel Macron and Frank-Walter Steinmeier said US actions under Donald Trump are moving away from international rules and risk undermining the postwar rules-based order; EU leaders are divided on how to respond.

A funeral was held in Lutry for 16-year-old Arthur Brodard, one of 40 people who died in the New Year bar fire in Crans-Montana; Swiss prosecutors have opened an investigation into the bar's operators and safety compliance.

Ireland's government will oppose the EU‑Mercosur trade agreement in its current form, Tanaiste Simon Harris said, and he noted the European Parliament will still need to ratify the deal.

Saudi Arabia said the United Arab Emirates smuggled Southern Transitional Council leader Aidarous al-Zubaidi out of Yemen to Abu Dhabi; the UAE did not immediately comment and the STC said al-Zubaidi remained in Aden.

Khaleda Zia, Bangladesh's first female prime minister, has died aged 80 (age disputed), and was credited with promoting girls' education and liberalised economic policies.

Minister for AI Niamh Smyth said images generated by X's Grok that depict children breach Irish law, and she has sought a meeting with the company but has not yet received a reply.

Gov. Kathy Hochul and Mayor Zohran Mamdani are set to announce a program offering free child care for 2-year-olds, with Hochul committing to fully fund the first two years and the first year targeting high-need areas.

Spain's government and the Spanish Episcopal Conference agreed on a joint process to compensate victims of clergy sexual abuse whose alleged abusers have died or whose cases are time-barred, allowing victims to file initial petitions with the Justice Ministry for review by the ombudsman; the filing window will be open for one year.

The U.S. Postal Service will change postmarks in 2026 so they show the date an item is first processed by automated sorting machines, which may be days after an item was dropped off; the article reports this may affect time-sensitive mail such as ballots and bills.

Russia warned that foreign troops sent to Ukraine could be considered legitimate military targets after Britain signed a declaration in Paris on possible troop deployments; the UK prime minister said any deployment would require a parliamentary vote.

Sussex Police said 279 people were arrested during its Christmas drink and drug-driving operation, with 97 charged so far and some already convicted.

The US Department of Health and Human Services has frozen about $10bn in federal funds for childcare and other social programmes for five states and is requiring extra documentation from those states and additional records from other CCDF recipients. Experts say the move could leave many families without childcare assistance within weeks if state reserves run out.

The AP reports Delcy Rodríguez engaged with Trump-era figures in 2017 — including directing a $500,000 Citgo donation — and later rose to interim president after serving as vice president with authority over much of Venezuela’s oil sector.

Keir Starmer told the Commons he would put any decision to deploy British troops to Ukraine to a parliamentary debate and vote; he made the remarks after signing a Paris Declaration that sets out intent to deploy forces if a peace deal is reached.

Russia warned that Western troops sent to Ukraine would be "legitimate combat targets" after Britain and France pledged a possible post‑ceasefire multinational deployment; the United States has ruled out sending its own forces.

A 21-year-old driver was sentenced after a July 2024 crash on a country road near Falkirk that killed her boyfriend and two friends; she received three years and ten months in prison and a driving ban of six years and eleven months.

Residents and political figures in Greenland report rising tensions after statements and visits from U.S. officials about the island's future, and some local supporters of closer U.S. ties say they have experienced harassment and moved to Denmark.