President Donald Trump announced that the U.S. hit a facility connected to Venezuelan drug boats, describing it as a "major explosion." The Venezuelan government has not responded, and it is unclear where the event happened or if U.S. military or CIA were involved. The U.S. has been targeting Venezuelan drug-smuggling boats as part of its strategy against President Nicolás Maduro.
Key Facts
President Trump announced a U.S. strike on a facility linked to Venezuelan drug boats.
He mentioned a "major explosion" at a dock area without providing specifics about its location.
The Venezuelan government has not yet responded to the incident.
It is unclear if the incident occurred within Venezuelan territory or involved the U.S. military or CIA.
Since September, the U.S. has targeted over 20 Venezuelan drug boats, resulting in at least 100 deaths.
The U.S. aims to stop the flow of fentanyl and cocaine into the country.
A large U.S. military presence, including the USS Gerald Ford, has been deployed to the Caribbean.
Venezuela accuses the U.S. of using its "war on drugs" as a pretext to undermine President Maduro and access oil reserves.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy denied Russia's claim that Ukraine attacked Russian President Vladimir Putin's residence. The alleged attack happened after a meeting between President Donald Trump and Zelenskyy in Florida. The claim has added tension to ongoing peace talks aimed at ending the conflict between Russia and Ukraine.
Key Facts
Russia claimed Ukraine attacked Putin's residence using long-range drones.
Ukrainian President Zelenskyy denied the attack and accused Russia of trying to disrupt peace talks.
The alleged attack supposedly occurred after meetings between President Trump and Zelenskyy.
Russia's Foreign Minister stated no injuries resulted from the attack due to air defense systems.
Russia is reconsidering its negotiating stance due to these allegations.
Peace talks focus on ending Russia's invasion of Ukraine, now approaching its fourth year.
Fighting continues in Ukraine, with recent casualties reported in various regions.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Paul Elliott, known as Paul Chuckle from the comedy duo Chuckle Brothers, received an MBE for his charity work, particularly with Marie Curie Cancer. Several other individuals, including 95-year-old scriptwriter Roy Clarke, received honours for their contributions in various fields such as television, environment, and local government.
Key Facts
Paul Elliott, a comedian from Rotherham, was made an MBE in the New Year Honours list.
Elliott supported Marie Curie, a charity that helps with end-of-life care, as a tribute to his late brother, Barry.
Roy Clarke, a 95-year-old writer known for TV shows like "Last of the Summer Wine," received a knighthood.
Liz Ballard, the former chief executive of Sheffield and Rotherham Wildlife Trust, received a CBE for her work in the environment.
Several others also received CBEs for contributions to culture, health, and local government.
Medallists of the Order of the British Empire (BEM) were awarded to people for their community service.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Amy and Ryan Jackson, who started the Lily Mae Foundation, have been awarded the British Empire Medal in the UK's New Year Honours list. The foundation helps parents who have lost babies through stillbirth, miscarriage, or neonatal death. The couple from the West Midlands began this charity in memory of their stillborn daughter Lily.
Key Facts
Amy and Ryan Jackson founded the Lily Mae Foundation in 2010.
The foundation supports parents who have lost babies due to stillbirth, miscarriage, or neonatal death.
Both were awarded the British Empire Medal in the New Year Honours.
They provide about 600 memory boxes each year to grieving parents.
The Jacksons received honorary doctorates from Coventry University in 2024 for their efforts.
The couple was invited to the King's Garden party but are awaiting the date.
Other individuals from Coventry and Warwickshire received various honours for their contributions to society.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Actor Idris Elba received a knighthood for his charitable work with young people as part of the New Year Honours. England women's football coach Sarina Wiegman was made an honorary dame for leading her team to victory in the European Championships. Several notable personalities and sports figures were also recognized for their contributions.
Key Facts
Idris Elba was knighted for his charity work focusing on young people and anti-knife crime initiatives.
England women's football coach Sarina Wiegman received an honorary dame title for leading the team to win the European Championships.
Figure skating champions Jayne Torvill and Christopher Dean were recognized with damehood and knighthood, respectively.
Leah Williamson and several other Lionesses players received various honors for their part in winning the European Championships.
Comedy actor Meera Syal was awarded a damehood for her contributions to drama and literature.
Actor Warwick Davis received an OBE for his role in entertainment.
Singer Ellie Goulding was recognized with an MBE for her work as an environmental ambassador.
Opera singer Alice Coote and composer Max Richter were made CBEs for their contributions to classical music.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Cynthia Erivo, an actress and singer from the UK, has been made a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) for her contributions to music and drama. She is currently starring in the film Wicked: For Good and is known for her roles in Broadway, film, and television. Despite having no family connections in the entertainment industry, Erivo has won multiple awards and is close to achieving an EGOT, which means winning an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony.
Key Facts
Cynthia Erivo has been honored with an MBE for her work in music and drama.
She stars in the film Wicked: For Good and has been nominated for a Golden Globe for it.
Erivo has already won a Grammy, daytime Emmy, and Tony, and is seeking an Oscar for an EGOT.
She was raised in London by her mother after her parents separated.
Erivo studied at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA), a prestigious drama school.
Her role in The Color Purple on Broadway earned her a Tony Award.
She featured in the film Harriet, earning Oscar and Golden Globe nominations.
Erivo plays a lead role in the TV series based on Aretha Franklin's life.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
People in Saint-Tropez, France, gathered to honor Brigitte Bardot, a famous French actress, after she died at age 91. She will be buried in a cemetery near the seaside.
Key Facts
Brigitte Bardot was a well-known French actress.
Bardot passed away at the age of 91.
Residents of Saint-Tropez paid tribute to her outside her home.
She will be buried in a seaside cemetery near Saint-Tropez.
Bardot was also known for her involvement in far-right activities.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Sectarian tensions in Syria are complicating the efforts of the country's new leader, President Ahmed al-Sharaa, to stabilize and reintegrate Syria into the global community. Recent violence has occurred between Alawite protesters and government supporters in coastal cities, raising concerns about security risks.
Key Facts
Syria's new President, Ahmed al-Sharaa, took office in January.
President al-Sharaa aims to stabilize Syria and improve its global standing.
Sectarian violence is a current challenge to these efforts.
Recent clashes happened in the coastal cities of Latakia and Tartous.
The Alawite community has protested, claiming marginalization.
Government troops intervened in the violence and were attacked.
The tensions pose significant security concerns for Syria.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
President Donald Trump commented on China's military exercises near Taiwan, stating he was not worried about the developments and emphasized his relationship with China's leader, Xi Jinping. China's drills are described as a warning against Taiwan's independence efforts and the influence of external powers, while Taiwan has put its forces on alert. The situation affects global trade and regional security, with the drills coinciding with recent U.S. arms sales to Taiwan.
Key Facts
China conducted military drills around Taiwan, involving air and naval forces.
The exercises are meant as a warning against Taiwan seeking independence and to deter external influences.
President Trump expressed no concern and mentioned his strong relationship with President Xi Jinping of China.
The U.S. recently approved an arms deal for Taiwan, which angered China.
Taiwan has heightened its military alert in response to the exercises.
The situation could affect global trade routes and the semiconductor industry.
China's maneuvers have caused travel disruptions and were linked to U.S. arms support in Chinese state media.
The drills, named "Justice Mission 2025," could continue, with Taiwan closely monitoring the situation.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
President Donald Trump mentioned that talks about a ceasefire in Gaza are ongoing, with the focus on getting Hamas to disarm. He stated that rebuilding efforts in Gaza could begin soon.
Key Facts
President Donald Trump is pushing for the next stage of the Gaza ceasefire talks.
The main issue is whether Hamas will agree to disarm.
President Trump believes rebuilding in Gaza should start soon.
He described Gaza as a "tough neighbourhood".
The progress of the ceasefire depends on Hamas's disarmament.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Activists supporting Palestine have damaged the Labour Party offices in London to show support for prisoners on hunger strike in the UK. The detainees, accused of offenses linked to protests against an Israeli firm's UK subsidiary, are on a hunger strike demanding fair legal treatment. The situation has drawn international attention, with concerns growing about the detainees' health.
Key Facts
Activists damaged Labour Party offices in London with red paint and smashed windows.
The protest supports prisoners on hunger strike in UK jails.
Hunger strikers are accused of breaking into sites linked to an Israeli defense company.
Four detainees are currently on hunger strike, with some refusing food for over 50 days.
The detainees demand better legal treatment and have been held longer than usual pretrial limits.
International concern has increased, with comparisons made to past significant hunger strikes.
The hunger strike has sparked many demonstrations in support across the UK.
The detainees are part of Palestine Action, which the UK has designated under anti-terrorism laws.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Israeli President Isaac Herzog denied President Donald Trump's statement that Herzog promised a pardon for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. President Trump claimed that Herzog had told him a pardon was "on its way," but Herzog's office stated no such conversation took place. Tensions have been high as Netanyahu faces corruption charges and seeks U.S. support.
Key Facts
Israeli President Isaac Herzog denied telling President Trump he would pardon Prime Minister Netanyahu.
President Trump claimed that Herzog promised a pardon for Netanyahu.
Netanyahu faces multiple corruption charges.
Herzog's office stated there has been no conversation with Trump about a pardon since the request was submitted.
Trump has compared Netanyahu's legal cases to his own past legal challenges.
Trump praised Netanyahu but his aides are frustrated with the Israeli PM's slow progress on the Gaza peace process.
U.S. officials say Netanyahu has lost support in the administration, with only Trump still backing him.
Trump and Netanyahu planned to discuss disarming Hamas and rebuilding Gaza, among other topics.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Claudia Winkleman will host a new chat show on BBC One and iPlayer starting in spring 2026. The show will feature famous guests from film, television, and music, and will be produced by the same company that created Graham Norton's chat show. Claudia recently left her role as co-host of Strictly Come Dancing and was honored with an MBE for her contributions to broadcasting.
Key Facts
Claudia Winkleman will host a new chat show on BBC One and iPlayer from spring 2026.
The show will be produced by So Television, which also produces Graham Norton's chat show.
Claudia Winkleman was the host of Strictly Come Dancing with Tess Daly for over ten years.
She was honored with an MBE by King Charles III for her services to broadcasting.
Claudia Winkleman will continue hosting the series "The Traitors" on BBC One.
Further details about the new chat show will be announced later by the BBC.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Nepal is ending a scheme that required climbers to pay a deposit for bringing their waste down from Mount Everest, as it did not reduce waste on the mountain. The current system will be replaced by a new plan that includes a non-refundable fee, which will help fund checkpoints and monitoring by mountain rangers to make sure climbers remove their trash. Officials believe this new approach will be more effective in addressing the waste problem on Everest.
Key Facts
Nepal is stopping a waste deposit scheme for climbers on Mount Everest after 11 years.
Climbers had to pay a $4,000 deposit, returned only if they brought back at least 8kg of waste.
The scheme was unsuccessful; waste still accumulates, mainly at higher camps.
Most waste brought down was from lower camps, not the more problematic higher camps.
A new plan will charge a non-refundable $4,000 clean-up fee to fund better waste monitoring.
This fee will fund checkpoints and mountain rangers to enforce waste removal.
The Sherpa community supports this change, having questioned the deposit scheme's effectiveness.
The new fee will be part of a five-year plan to address mountain waste issues.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
The UK government is investigating "information failures" regarding British-Egyptian activist Alaa Abd El Fattah. This review was prompted by the resurfacing of his past tweets, which led to calls for his UK citizenship to be revoked. The tweets and related issues have sparked concerns about rising antisemitism.
Key Facts
The UK Foreign Secretary, Yvette Cooper, announced a review into past communication failures.
The review concerns British-Egyptian activist Alaa Abd El Fattah's past tweets.
Cooper, along with Sir Keir Starmer and David Lammy, did not know about these tweets.
The tweets called for violence against Zionists and police, leading to calls for stripping Abd El Fattah of UK citizenship.
Abd El Fattah apologized, acknowledging his past posts were shocking and hurtful.
Sir Keir Starmer faced criticism for welcoming Abd El Fattah to the UK.
The review aims to address distress caused, especially regarding increasing antisemitism concerns.
Alaa Abd El Fattah was recently freed from prison in Egypt and reunited with his family.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
President Donald Trump warned Iran that the U.S. would take strong action if Iran rebuilds its military. While standing next to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Trump did not provide a direct response when asked about the possibility of changing Iran's government.
Key Facts
President Trump issued a threat to Iran regarding its military activities.
Trump made these remarks while visiting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
The warning from Trump specifically addressed Iran rebuilding its military forces.
An Israeli reporter asked Trump about the U.S. stance on changing Iran's government.
President Trump did not give a clear answer about forcing any change in Iran's government.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
President Donald Trump mentioned on a radio show that the U.S. attacked a large facility, likely in Venezuela, as part of an anti-drug effort. However, no government agency has confirmed this incident, and few details are available. Venezuelan officials have not responded to the claim, and the location or nature of the strike remains unclear.
Key Facts
President Trump said the U.S. "knocked out" a facility in what seemed to be Venezuela.
No U.S. agency has confirmed whether an attack occurred.
Trump mentioned an explosion in a dock area related to drug shipping.
The U.S. has been conducting operations in the Caribbean and Pacific areas to stop drug shipments.
Venezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodríguez criticized the U.S. for seizing oil tankers and other military actions.
Experts noted that if such an action happened, it would usually be kept secret.
Trump previously approved CIA operations in Venezuela.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky responded to President Donald Trump's comments that Russian President Vladimir Putin wants Ukraine to succeed. Zelensky expressed distrust in Putin's intentions, saying that Russia should provide financial aid for Ukraine's reconstruction if they truly want to help.
Key Facts
President Zelensky reacted to statements by President Trump regarding Vladimir Putin's support for Ukraine.
President Trump said that Russia might assist in rebuilding Ukraine after a peace deal is signed.
Zelensky showed skepticism towards Putin's intentions and claimed that Putin does not truly want success for Ukraine.
Zelensky mentioned that cheap electricity is not what Ukraine needs; financial aid for reconstruction would be more beneficial.
During the conversation, Zelensky made it clear that he does not trust Putin's promises or statements.
The discussion took place during an interview with Fox News' Bret Baier in West Palm Beach, Florida.
President Trump acknowledged that the idea of Russia helping Ukraine might sound strange.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
President Trump stated that Hamas must give up its weapons for peace in Gaza to move forward. He also mentioned the first ground attack on Venezuela and supported Israel's stance in the Gaza situation.
Key Facts
President Trump announced a first ground attack on Venezuela.
Trump emphasized that Hamas needs to disarm for peace talks in Gaza to continue.
He referred to himself as the "president of peace."
Nick Schifrin reported on these announcements.
Trump showed support for Israel's position concerning Gaza.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
China condemned Israel's decision to recognize Somaliland as an independent state. Somaliland declared independence from Somalia in 1991, though it isn't widely recognized internationally. Israel's move has sparked reactions from several countries and organizations, including Somalia's rejection of the recognition.
Key Facts
China criticized Israel for recognizing Somaliland as an independent nation.
Somaliland declared independence from Somalia more than 30 years ago, in 1991.
Israel is the first country to officially recognize Somaliland's independence.
Somaliland operates with its own government, police, and currency.
Somalia rejects Somaliland's independence and sees it as part of its territory.
Israel claims its recognition supports Somaliland's right to self-determination.
Other countries and groups, like Turkey and the African Union, have condemned Israel's decision.
The move is linked to Israel's strategic interests in the Red Sea region.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
