Politics

U.S. forces removed Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro and he was arraigned in Manhattan federal court; U.S. officials say the action was lawful while U.N. and several governments expressed concern about its implications for international law.

Fujitsu's European boss told MPs the company is "not a parasite" and declined to provide a compensation figure for victims of the Post Office Horizon IT scandal; the government has paid £1.32bn so far and the inquiry's final report is expected later this year.

More than 300 people from Tibu and El Tarra have fled Catatumbo and are sheltering in Cúcuta, officials said. Authorities report border crossings in Cúcuta have not increased significantly; further developments are unclear.

Canada's Indigenous governor general Mary Simon and Foreign Minister Anita Anand will visit Nuuk in early February to open a Canadian consulate, Prime Minister Mark Carney said; the visit follows renewed U.S. discussion about Greenland's status.

The NRA filed a federal lawsuit saying leaders of the NRA Foundation, allied with former CEO Wayne LaPierre, sought to seize control and repurpose about $160 million in donations. The association is seeking a jury trial and an injunction to block the foundation's use of the NRA name and trademarks; no court date has been set.

Rep. Jim Baird was hospitalized after his vehicle was struck and his congressional office said he is expected to make a full recovery; President Trump said Baird's wife was also hospitalized.

Sir Keir Starmer and several European leaders said they will defend Greenland's territorial integrity after comments by US president Donald Trump about seizing the territory; Denmark's prime minister warned that a forced takeover would undermine NATO.

California Republican Representative Doug LaMalfa has died at 65, and colleagues said his passing further narrows the Republican majority in the U.S. House, which they reported as a two-vote margin following a recent resignation.

George Conway, a former Republican who became a vocal critic of Donald Trump, has launched a Democratic campaign to represent New York's 12th congressional district.

Pakistan's military said Afghanistan is becoming a 'hub for terrorists' and alleged about 2,500 foreign militants entered from Syria; Kabul had no immediate comment.

President Trump has said the United States will 'run' Venezuela after Nicolás Maduro's ouster, but administration statements have been broad and sometimes contradictory, and officials and former diplomats say few details about post-oust governance have been provided.

Management has offered a 4% consolidated pay rise and a 4% increase to allowances for 2025/26; teacher unions will consult members before formally responding.

Keir Starmer will tell Cabinet he is focusing on tackling the cost of living; recent figures show rising consumer credit-card debt and higher food prices.

The UN Security Council voted to adopt a US-backed 20-point Gaza plan with 13 votes in favor and abstentions from Russia and China; the plan includes provisions for a ceasefire framework, an international stabilization force and a transitional governing board.

Reuters reports the Trump administration is discussing possible terrorism-related sanctions against the UN relief agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA), and officials say no final decision has been made.

President Cyril Ramaphosa condemned a US operation that captured Nicolas Maduro and called for his release, while parties in South Africa's national unity government publicly disagreed over the country's response.

An opinion piece argues that No 10 lacks a coherent foreign policy and criticises Prime Minister Keir Starmer's cautious public responses to recent international events, citing a US operation involving Venezuela and ongoing crises in Ukraine, Gaza and Iran.

BCP Council will extend weekly kerb-side food waste collections to about 100,000 more residents from 6 April, adding roughly 70,000 properties in Poole and 30,000 in Bournemouth.

Senators Susan Collins and Thom Tillis publicly opposed Pentagon secretary Pete Hegseth's move to demote Senator Mark Kelly and reduce his pension after a video; Hegseth has opened an administrative retirement grade determination proceeding.

Cilia Flores and Nicolás Maduro were captured by US special forces and are being held in New York facing US criminal charges; reporting describes Flores as having held significant political influence in Venezuela.

Top Democrats criticised a US military raid in Venezuela and said lawmakers were not informed in advance; they called the action unlawful under the US Constitution. The Senate is set to debate and vote next week on a bipartisan war powers resolution to block further hostilities without Congress's approval.

Public Health Scotland reports a 12.8% drop in patients waiting more than 52 weeks for outpatient appointments between October and November 2025, marking a sixth monthly fall; the Scottish Government says levels are now lower than in April and aims for no patient to wait over 52 weeks by March 2026.

An 81-year-old man was seriously injured after being struck by a white Suzuki Ignis on Queensferry Road near Dean Bridge at about 00:30 on New Year's Day; Police Scotland is appealing for witnesses and for anyone with dash-cam footage.

The US National Security Strategy includes a proposed 'Trump Corollary' to the Monroe Doctrine, and Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro is in US custody after an arraignment with a next court date set for March 17.

Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch told UK media she believed the US was 'morally right' to remove Venezuela's leader. The Venezuelan president was captured by US forces and has appeared in a New York court.

Megyn Kelly urged caution about U.S. military action after reports that Nicolás Maduro was captured and taken to the United States, and she criticized Fox News' coverage; President Trump said rebuilding Venezuela could cost taxpayers and indicated elections would follow after the country is stabilized.

A YouGov poll found 51% of Britons disapprove of the US operation that led to the capture of Venezuela's president, while 21% approve. The survey also shows about 20% of Britons view Donald Trump favourably and 76% unfavourably, a margin little changed since mid-December.

The National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund reports that on-duty officer fatalities fell from 148 in 2024 to 111 in 2025, a nearly 25% decrease, and that firearm deaths dropped to 44, the lowest in at least a decade.

President Claudia Sheinbaum said she does not see a risk of U.S. military intervention, and analysts say Trump's public threats are being used as a negotiating tactic to extract concessions.

Wes Streeting said the capture of Nicolás Maduro shows the rules-based international system is disintegrating and that the resulting instability threatens UK national security.