Politics

President Trump cited the Monroe Doctrine as part of the public rationale after U.S. forces captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro; reports say Maduro will face criminal charges in the United States.

A Pathfinder pilot to speed family court cases has started in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, using early investigations and Child Impact Reports before hearings; the government said some pilot areas have cut case lengths and reduced backlogs.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio publicly thanked some news organizations that were told in advance about the U.S. operation in Venezuela and said their decision not to publish details helped protect lives; Semafor reported that The New York Times and The Washington Post delayed coverage after learning of the raid in advance.

On the fifth anniversary of Jan. 6, lawmakers and others are marking the day with separate events instead of a shared memorial; Democrats have reconvened the Jan. 6 committee to hear witness testimony while House Republicans are holding separate gatherings.

President Donald Trump will meet House Republicans at a Kennedy Center policy forum as they seek alignment ahead of a critical midterm year; votes on extending expired health insurance subsidies are expected as soon as this week.

Jorge Rodriguez was sworn in on Jan. 5 as president of the National Assembly and pledged to uphold the constitution; Nicolas Maduro Guerra expressed support for interim president Delcy Rodriguez and called for the return of his parents.

Villagers along the Bangladesh‑Myanmar border have been injured and have lost limbs to landmines, and international monitors report a marked increase in mine casualties in Myanmar during 2024–25.

An external audit of 114 cases handled by former SafeSport investigator Jason Krasley prompted the agency to reopen three cases and identified lapses in professional boundaries; the report included 12 recommendations for policy changes.

A U.S. outdoor brand posted images of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro wearing its Patriot Blue hoodie after his capture; Maduro and his wife pleaded not guilty at a federal court appearance.

A man who posed as a rear admiral addressed a 2019 military parade while wearing medals later identified as unearned; he pleaded guilty and was fined, and his uniform and medals were seized and destroyed.

Police said violent crime in New Orleans fell for a third straight year in 2025, and 350 National Guard troops have begun patrolling parts of the city.

U.S. national security officials were reported to have determined that Ukraine did not target Russian President Vladimir Putin's residence; Russia had accused Ukraine of a drone strike and Ukraine denied the claim.

A new law allows authorities to seize mobile phones and SIM cards from migrants without arrest; the Home Office says seizures will begin at the Manston processing centre to gather intelligence on people‑smuggling networks.

A US military operation removed Nicolás Maduro and he is reported to face drug‑trafficking charges in a New York courtroom. President Trump's remarks about running Venezuela and his focus on oil have prompted concern among regional leaders and opposition figures.

Criminal barristers in Northern Ireland are starting an indefinite withdrawal from legally aided Crown Court cases from Monday, citing urgent concerns about Crown Court fee rates; the Justice Minister has announced a proposed 16% fee increase and the next steps remain undetermined at this time.

North Korea reported that leader Kim Jong Un observed test-flights of hypersonic missiles and said the drills were meant to assess readiness and the country’s war deterrent ahead of a major party congress.

UCU members at Aberdeen, Stirling, Heriot-Watt and Strathclyde are voting on whether to authorise strike action or action short of a strike amid proposed job cuts and refusals to rule out compulsory redundancies. Ballots opened on Monday and will remain open into February, with closing dates between 9 and 17 February.

Russell Findlay, leader of the Scottish Conservatives, said being a conservative and a unionist is especially important ahead of the May Holyrood election and criticised Reform UK and Nigel Farage; Chancellor Rachel Reeves has said a referendum would not be held even if the SNP wins a majority.

Yulia Lemeshchenko, a Ukrainian weightlifting champion, was sentenced in Moscow to 19 years after being accused by Russian authorities of plotting sabotage and assassinations; she did not deny the charges and said she acted against Russian military aggression.

Labour MPs are pressing Prime Minister Keir Starmer to condemn a US operation that captured Venezuela's president, and Mr Maduro and his wife are due in court on Monday.

The prime minister said he wants closer alignment with the EU single market; opposition leaders and some Conservatives said the remarks breach previous Brexit pledges.

NSW police said they attended an unauthorised protest in George Street, Sydney, where three people were arrested and later released with no charges reported. Undetermined at this time.

President Trump warned Colombia could face military action, while Venezuela's Nicolás Maduro was captured by U.S. forces and is due to be arraigned Monday in Manhattan federal court.

A memorial service at the Kingsmill Memorial Wall will mark 50 years since the 1976 ambush that killed 10 men; a coroner and an official review have described the attack as sectarian and identified failings in the original police inquiry.

Minnesota Governor Tim Walz condemned President Trump's reshared post that linked the killing of lawmaker Melissa Hortman to a Somali-linked fraud probe; state leaders and Hortman's family called the claim a conspiracy or misinformation and said it risked endangering people.

Lee Jae Myung arrived in Beijing to meet Xi Jinping and other senior Chinese officials, and he will visit Shanghai; this is the first visit by a South Korean leader to China since 2019.

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said Venezuelans previously covered by temporary protected status can apply for refugee status, and she said the US wants a Venezuelan leader who will partner to curb drug trafficking and security threats.

President Trump told The Atlantic that acting Venezuelan leader Delcy Rodríguez would 'pay a very big price, probably bigger than Maduro' if she 'doesn't do what's right.' Nicolás Maduro was arrested and is being held in a New York federal jail on U.S. drug trafficking charges.

The article reports that Gen. Dan 'Raizin' Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs, described a U.S. operation that captured Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro, who is reported to be in U.S. custody. It also recounts an earlier, large U.S. strike on Iranian sites that the piece says was coordinated under Caine.

The article notes the Scottish Budget is due next week and says SNP finance minister Shona Robison has ruled out income tax rate cuts despite extra funds from Westminster policy changes.