The Venezuelan defense minister accused the U.S. of using advanced military technology during the abduction of President Nicolas Maduro. President Trump mentioned using a weapon called "the discombobulator" in the operation. The U.S. operation allegedly involved technologies never used before, including a "sonic weapon."
Key Facts
Venezuela's defense minister claimed the U.S. used Venezuela as a test site for new military technologies.
The U.S. operation to abduct President Nicolas Maduro happened on January 3.
President Trump acknowledged using a weapon he called "the discombobulator" during the operation.
The Venezuelan defense minister reported 47 Venezuelan and 32 Cuban soldiers died during the attack.
President Trump mentioned using a "sonic weapon" against Maduro's Cuban bodyguards.
The U.S. has historically used "sonic" systems like LRADs for security and crowd control.
LRADs can project sound over long distances and cause discomfort but are not designed to disable electronics.
King Charles III influenced President Donald Trump to change his stance on the UK’s contribution to the Afghanistan war. Trump initially questioned the reliability of NATO allies but later praised the British soldiers who died in Afghanistan after King Charles expressed concerns. This shift might ease tensions between the UK and the US.
Key Facts
President Trump initially made comments questioning NATO allies' support for the US.
King Charles showed concern over Trump’s remarks, prompting a change in Trump’s stance.
Trump later acknowledged the sacrifice of 457 British soldiers in the Afghanistan war.
Buckingham Palace has not officially commented on King Charles' influence.
The change might help King Charles' planned visit to the US in April.
Prince Harry and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer criticized Trump's original comments.
The negotiations over Greenland continue amid these diplomatic discussions.
The U.S. Supreme Court reversed a lower court's decision to grant a new trial to a man convicted of the attempted murder of his girlfriend. Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson disagreed with the majority decision, suggesting she would not have taken up the case. The decision involves the application of a federal law related to prisoner appeals.
Key Facts
The Supreme Court decided against giving Charles Brandon Martin a new trial.
Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson dissented from the Supreme Court's decision.
The case involved the Antiterrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act of 1996.
Martin was convicted of attempting to murder his girlfriend, Jodi Torok.
Torok was found shot and unconscious, and evidence linked Martin to the crime.
Martin argued his rights were violated because a forensic report was not disclosed.
A lower court initially granted a new trial, but higher courts reversed this decision.
The Supreme Court ruled that the non-disclosure of the report did not change the verdict's fairness.
Suella Braverman, a former UK Home Secretary and member of the Conservative Party, has joined the Reform UK party. She is the fourth Conservative MP to switch to Reform UK since the last election, bringing the party's total number of MPs to eight.
Key Facts
Suella Braverman was previously the UK Home Secretary.
She has left the Conservative Party after 30 years.
Braverman announced her move at a Reform UK rally in London.
She is now part of the Reform UK party, led by Nigel Farage.
She is the fourth Conservative MP to join Reform UK since the last election.
Master Sergeant Roderick "Roddie" Edmonds, an American soldier in World War II, bravely saved 200 Jewish-American soldiers from potential death in a German POW camp. He refused to identify the Jewish soldiers, risking his own life to protect them. His actions remained a secret for many years until his son, Chris, uncovered the story.
Key Facts
January 27 is recognized as International Holocaust Remembrance Day.
Roddie Edmonds was a Master Sergeant in the U.S. Army during World War II.
He was captured and sent to a POW camp called Stalag IX-A in Germany.
Edmonds became the senior commander among the captured American soldiers.
German officers demanded Jewish soldiers be identified, but Edmonds ordered all soldiers to stand together.
He defied the command by claiming, "We are all Jews here," to protect his men.
A German officer threatened him with a gun, but Edmonds stood firm.
His heroic actions were uncovered by his son Chris over 20 years after Edmonds' death.
Thousands of people in Australia joined marches to support Indigenous rights. This event happened on the anniversary of the British colonial fleet arriving in Sydney, a day some call Australia Day, while others refer to it as Invasion Day.
Key Facts
Thousands marched in Australia to support Indigenous rights.
The march took place on the anniversary of the British fleet's arrival in Sydney.
This day is known as Australia Day by many Australians.
Indigenous communities and their supporters call it Invasion Day.
The march highlights ongoing discussions about Indigenous rights in Australia.
A cargo ship captain named Vladimir Motin testified in court that he did not fall asleep before his ship collided with a U.S. tanker off the East Yorkshire coast in March 2025. He faces charges of gross negligence manslaughter after the crash left a person missing and presumed dead. Motin claims he did not leave the ship's bridge in the hours leading up to the collision.
Key Facts
Vladimir Motin is the captain of the cargo ship Solong.
The Solong crashed into the U.S. tanker Stena Immaculate on March 10, 2025.
The crash off the East Yorkshire coast resulted in one person missing and presumed dead.
Motin denies falling asleep before the crash and faces a manslaughter charge.
He was on watch duty alone during the crash and claims to have stayed on the bridge.
Defence lawyer James Leonard asked if Motin left the bridge; he said he did not.
Motin was using radar systems to monitor the ship's course before the crash.
He stated that the autopilot did not disengage when he tried to take manual control one mile from the tanker.
People in Paris are protesting after videos showed the violent arrest of a Mauritian migrant worker named El Hacen Diarra. The migrant worker died while in police custody, sparking widespread demands for justice.
Key Facts
Protests occurred in Paris over the death of a migrant worker.
The migrant worker's name was El Hacen Diarra, who was from Mauritius.
Videos of Diarra's arrest showed police using force.
The arrest took place shortly before Diarra died in police custody.
Thousands participated in the protests, calling for justice.
The incident has raised concerns about police treatment of migrants in France.
A rescue dog named Opal, previously punished for barking, has found a loving home where she's encouraged to use her voice. Opal was surrendered by a breeder, lived with fear, and suffered health issues but is now recovering both emotionally and physically with her new owner.
Key Facts
Opal is an English cream golden retriever previously using for breeding at a puppy mill.
She was punished with a shock collar, which led to her silence.
Dana Martini began fostering Opal on November 15 and adopted her on December 22.
Opal initially had severe separation anxiety and other fears.
She had health issues, including ear infections and tumors, requiring surgery.
Opal now finds comfort in her new home and has begun to howl, which her owner views as positive progress.
Opal is comforted by her owner's scent and no longer howls when left alone with a familiar T-shirt.
Social media users have celebrated Opal's recovery and newfound ability to express herself.
France is debating a law to ban social media for children under 15 years old. President Emmanuel Macron supports the law, which aims to protect children’s mental health by blocking access to harmful social networks like Snapchat and TikTok. The law is expected to pass with the help of several political parties.
Key Facts
France is considering a law to ban social media for those under 15.
President Macron wants the law in place by September.
The aim is to protect young people from harmful social media effects on mental health.
The state media regulator would list which networks are harmful and banned.
The bill has support from pro-Macron parties and the centre-right Republicans.
France would need to create age-verification methods if the law is passed.
Other European countries are considering similar bans for teenagers.
The proposed French law follows a global trend to restrict children's access to social media.
A ceasefire between the Syrian army and the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) is mostly holding, though both sides accuse each other of breaking the agreement. The Syrian army claims the SDF used drones to attack positions near Aleppo, while the SDF says the army targeted areas near Ain al-Arab. The ceasefire was extended to aid a U.S. operation involving detainees with links to ISIL.
Key Facts
The Syrian army and SDF accuse each other of violating a ceasefire that has been extended by 15 days.
The Syrian army claims the SDF launched over 25 explosive drones in the Aleppo area.
The SDF accuses the Syrian army of shelling near Ain al-Arab, leading to clashes.
Both forces report injuries and damage due to the attacks.
The ceasefire extension supports a U.S. mission to transfer detainees linked to ISIL from Syria to Iraq.
President Ahmed al-Sharaa seeks to control the entire country, but Kurdish authorities resist joining state institutions.
Sir Keir Starmer, the leader of the UK's Labour Party, defended the decision to block Andy Burnham from running in a by-election. The party's National Executive Committee, including Starmer, decided this to avoid an unnecessary election for the Mayor of Greater Manchester. Some Labour members disagreed, saying it might be a political maneuver, while Starmer emphasized focusing resources on crucial upcoming elections.
Key Facts
Sir Keir Starmer is the leader of the UK's Labour Party.
Andy Burnham is the Mayor of Greater Manchester and was blocked from running for a parliamentary seat.
The decision was made by Labour's National Executive Committee (NEC).
The NEC wants to avoid holding a mayoral election unnecessarily.
Starmer stated that focusing on upcoming elections is crucial for the party.
Some Labour members criticized the decision as political maneuvering.
Burnham did not comment further on the situation and focused on his mayoral role.
Starmer emphasized past collaboration with Burnham on projects like the Northern Powerhouse Rail.
A private business jet crashed during takeoff in a snowstorm at Maine's Bangor International Airport, killing seven people and seriously injuring one. The plane was a Bombardier Challenger 600, and the crash happened as a big winter storm affected much of the United States. Investigations into the crash are being conducted by the Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board.
Key Facts
A private jet crashed during takeoff at Bangor International Airport in Maine.
Seven people died, and one person survived with serious injuries.
The crash occurred during a major winter storm affecting the U.S., although only a few inches of snow had fallen in Bangor at the time.
The plane was a Bombardier Challenger 600, made to carry nine to eleven passengers.
The jet was registered to a company linked to a law firm in Houston, Texas.
Both the Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board are investigating the incident.
The airport is about 200 miles north of Boston and was temporarily closed after the crash.
Other planes were taking off safely from the airport at the time of the crash.
Israel plans to reopen Gaza's Rafah crossing after recovering the body of a missing Israeli captive. The crossing will be used for people only and under Israeli control.
Key Facts
Israel will reopen the Rafah crossing in Gaza after finding the body of the last Israeli captive in Gaza.
The crossing is only for the movement of people, not goods.
Israel will fully oversee the operation of the crossing.
There are concerns that the reopening might lead to encouraging Palestinians to leave Gaza.
Rafah is a key crossing point between Gaza and neighboring countries.
Nintendo released a new trailer for “The Super Mario Galaxy Movie," a sequel to the 2023 animated film “The Super Mario Bros. Movie.” The trailer features Mario and Luigi in the Sand Kingdom and introduces Yoshi, a character first seen in the "Super Mario World" video game. The movie is set to release in U.S. theaters on April 1, 2024.
Key Facts
Nintendo released a new trailer for “The Super Mario Galaxy Movie.”
The film is a sequel to the 2023 animated film “The Super Mario Bros. Movie.”
The trailer starts with Mario and Luigi on motorbikes in the desert.
Yoshi, a green dinosaur character from “Super Mario World,” appears in the trailer.
The movie showcases characters like Birdo, Baby Mario, and others from the Mario games.
The release date was moved to April 1, 2024, in U.S. theaters, two days earlier than planned.
Sir Mark Tully, a respected BBC journalist known for his reports on India, has passed away at the age of 90. Many people, including India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi, have paid tribute to him, calling him a significant figure in journalism for his deep connection with India and his influential reporting on major South Asian events.
Key Facts
Sir Mark Tully, a well-known BBC broadcaster, died in Delhi at age 90.
He was cremated in Delhi, with hundreds attending the ceremony to say goodbye.
He was known as the BBC’s “voice of India” due to his extensive reporting on the country.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi praised Tully as a major figure in journalism with strong links to India.
Sir Mark reported on key events like the Indian army's storming of the Sikh Golden Temple, the creation of Bangladesh, and the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan.
In 1992, he faced danger while reporting on the Babri mosque demolition and was protected by local figures.
He was remembered for his clear reporting, even during difficult times such as the 1984 anti-Sikh riots.
Senior journalists and academics have acknowledged his influence and the trust people placed in his reports.
People in Florida have been warned about very cold temperatures due to a new winter storm affecting the U.S. South and Southeast. This weather system has already caused significant snow and ice in other parts of the U.S. and is predicted to bring freezing conditions further north. Citrus farmers in Florida are advised to prepare for colder weather, while the storm's impact could extend from the Gulf Coast up through the Northeast.
Key Facts
People in Florida were alerted to possible freezing temperatures over the coming days.
A winter storm has already caused at least nine deaths and left many without power.
Florida has avoided the worst effects so far but still faces cold weather alerts.
The storm may bring freeze conditions deep into South Florida.
Farmers, especially in citrus-growing areas, should prepare for multiple nights below freezing.
The worst of the cold could affect areas from southern Louisiana to Delaware, missing Florida.
The forecast suggests that Florida will see temperatures about 16 degrees colder than usual.
Cold temperatures are expected to persist in the eastern U.S. until early February.
China announced that its top military official, Zhang Youxia, is under investigation for serious violations. This action is part of a broader campaign led by Chinese leader Xi Jinping, affecting the Central Military Commission's power structure. The situation leads to speculation over Xi's increasing control and potential internal conflicts within China's military leadership.
Key Facts
Zhang Youxia, a top Chinese general, is under investigation for "serious disciplinary and legal violations."
The investigation also includes Liu Zhenli, the joint staff chief.
The People's Liberation Army Daily accused the two of significant corruption and breaking CMC rules.
The Central Military Commission, led by Xi Jinping, now has only two members due to similar past purges.
There is speculation that the investigations are part of Xi's efforts to strengthen control and address military corruption.
Some believe these actions might prevent a potential coup against Xi.
The Chinese military has traditionally had some autonomy, but Xi is consolidating control.
Lebanon has complained to the United Nations about Israel's ongoing attacks despite a ceasefire agreement made in November 2024. Lebanon claims these actions violate a UN resolution and has asked the UN Security Council to stop Israel's military actions and ensure it retreats from Lebanon. The complaint highlights over 2,000 reported incidents of violations in late 2025.
Key Facts
Lebanon filed a complaint with the UN about Israeli attacks after a 2024 ceasefire.
Lebanon says these attacks violate UN Security Council Resolution 1701, which ended the 2006 war between Israel and Hezbollah.
Lebanon reported 2,036 Israeli violations during October, November, and December 2025.
The complaint urges Israel to withdraw to internationally recognized borders and release Lebanese prisoners.
Israeli airstrikes in Lebanon have killed hundreds, including at least 127 civilians as per a UN report from last year.
Israel continues to occupy five areas in Lebanese territory and blocks the rebuilding of certain border villages.
The Lebanese government is working to disarm Hezbollah, beginning with areas south of the Litani River.
Despite these efforts, Israeli attacks have persisted in both southern and northern regions of Lebanon.
Gunmen attacked a football pitch in Salamanca, Mexico, killing at least 11 people and injuring dozens more. The motive for the attack is unclear, but the area has experienced intense violence due to gang activities. Local and federal forces are investigating the incident.
Key Facts
Gunmen opened fire on a football pitch in Salamanca, Mexico, killing at least 11 people.
Witnesses said the shooters arrived in several vehicles and fired indiscriminately.
A woman and a child were among the victims.
The motive for the attack is not yet known.
The state of Guanajuato, where Salamanca is located, had the highest murder rate in Mexico last year.
The violence is linked to gang activities, including oil theft and drug trafficking.
Rivalry between the Jalisco New Generation Cartel and the Cartel de Santa Rosa de Lima contributes to the violence.
Local and federal security forces are conducting an investigation into the shooting.
