Politics

The US has warned Venezuela's interior minister Diosdado Cabello he could face prosecution or other consequences if he resists U.S. demands, and U.S. officials say he oversees security forces that a UN report accused of serious human rights abuses.

Derby City Council found two hotels used for asylum accommodation amounted to a material change of use but decided not to take enforcement action, citing proportionality and recent High Court guidance from the Epping case.

Ireland's foreign minister said the government is monitoring a Venezuela-linked oil tanker that was reported near its exclusive economic zone, and the US has said it seized the vessel with British assistance.

Fiona Hill said Russian officials in 2019 indicated they might trade backing off Nicolás Maduro for a freer hand in Ukraine, and that her 2019 testimony resurfaced after a recent U.S. operation to remove Maduro.

Russia said the U.S. boarded the Russian-flagged tanker Marinera near Iceland and called the action a violation of maritime law; U.S. officials said the Coast Guard and U.S. military carried out the boarding and reported no confrontation with Russian forces.

A judge has erased the sentence of Charles Andrew ‘Andy’ Williams, who killed two students in 2001, and ruled he can be resentenced in juvenile court because he was 15 at the time of the crime.

Germany's average number of unemployed rose by 161,000 to 2.948 million in 2025, the highest annual total since 2013. The labour office said 2026 will remain challenging and that any easing is unlikely before mid-year.

A judge ordered Lindsey Halligan to explain why she continues to identify as the US attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia after another judge ruled her appointment unlawful; she has seven days to file a written explanation.

A Russian senator, Dmitry Rogozin, called Prime Minister Keir Starmer 'illiterate' and 'a fool' after Starmer signed a Paris declaration outlining possible British troop deployments to Ukraine; Starmer said any deployment would be subject to a parliamentary vote.

North Yorkshire Council introduced a 100% council tax premium on second homes from April 2025, and the first project named to receive funding is a planned 15-home development south of Sands Lane in Hunmanby, with a reported £435,000 allocation if planning permission is granted.

US officials announced the seizure of a Venezuela-linked, sanctioned oil tanker in the North Atlantic, and Secretary of War Pete Hegseth said the blockade of Venezuelan oil remains in full effect worldwide.

Anicet Georges Dologuélé rejected provisional presidential results, alleging manipulation, while provisional tallies give President Faustin Archange Touadéra about 76.1% of the vote; final results are due Jan. 20.

MPs say the Ministry of Justice is paying about £4m a year to lease HMP Dartmoor while it remains closed for radon contamination, and an additional £68m of improvement costs are expected over the first decade of the lease.

After US forces transferred Nicolás Maduro and Cilia Flores to the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn, they appeared in Manhattan federal court and pleaded not guilty; the jail has a history of complaints about its conditions.

Nigel Farage said Chris Parry should apologise after Parry posted on X suggesting David Lammy should 'go home' and that his loyalty lies in the Caribbean.

Denmark and Greenland requested a meeting with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio after the White House said the U.S. military 'is always an option' regarding Greenland; Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen warned that a U.S. takeover would threaten NATO.

The Met Office has issued an amber warning for snow across parts of Wales from 20:00 Thursday to 09:00 Friday, and councils say they have activated severe weather arrangements as Storm Goretti approaches.

Saudi officials say STC leader Aidarous al-Zubaidi did not board a flight to Riyadh and was reported as having fled to an unknown location. The Saudi-backed presidential council has removed him from its membership and referred him to the public prosecutor.

Faith leaders serving Venezuelans in Venezuela and the U.S. are urging prayer and calm after U.S. forces captured deposed leader Nicolás Maduro; communities in South Florida showed both celebration and uncertainty.

The Conservatives will force a Commons vote on Wednesday over Justice Secretary David Lammy's plan to replace many jury trials with judge-led 'swift courts', and Labour MP Karl Turner has said he will vote with the Tories.

Justice Secretary Angela Constance will make a statement to MSPs after the First Minister received a report from independent advisers into whether she breached the ministerial code; the advisers reportedly found two inadvertent breaches.

The article argues Democrats can reclaim the White House in 2028 by prioritizing affordability, broadening cultural outreach beyond the party base, and countering Republican policies the piece says have raised living costs.

President Trump said US oil firms would rebuild Venezuela's oil industry; analysts note past nationalisation, long sanctions and political instability that make a rapid production rebound uncertain.

Democratic Ohio gubernatorial candidate Amy Acton has chosen former state party chair David Pepper as her running mate, confirming the selection to The Associated Press ahead of a joint public appearance; the announcement came the same day a rival planned a separate running-mate event.

A Nigerian court granted bail to former attorney-general Abubakar Malami, who was arrested in December on money‑laundering and abuse-of-office charges, and adjourned his trial to Feb. 17; he and two co-accused have pleaded not guilty.

Polls show most Americans want the government to focus on domestic issues in 2026 and are split over recent U.S. military action in Venezuela, with Republicans more likely to approve and Democrats largely opposed.

The United States' capture of Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro prompted strong condemnation from Cuba's leadership and has raised concern among residents about the loss of Venezuelan oil supplies amid ongoing power outages and fuel shortages.

The U.S. said it had convinced Venezuela to reroute oil supplies bound for China and to import up to $2 billion of embargoed crude, a move China called bullying; Venezuela has not confirmed the deal and global crude prices fell about 1%.

An 18-year-old was killed after a bus struck a crowd at a mass ultra-Orthodox protest in Jerusalem; police have detained the driver and said they are investigating.

South Korean President Lee Jae Myung said he asked Chinese President Xi Jinping to mediate on the North Korean nuclear issue, and Lee reported that Xi responded patience was needed.