Venezuela Updates: Senate Advances Measure to Curb Trump’s Use of Force

Russia says US has released two tanker crew members as Kyiv calls for stronger action against ‘shadow fleet’ – Europe live

Moscow thanks US for release of crew of ship seized earlier this week, after Zelenskyy calls for ‘clear reaction’ from world after heavy overnight strikes on UkrainePope Leo also chooses to express a view on the recent events in Venezuela, calling for world governments – I think he means US president Donald Trump in particular – to “respect the will” of the Venezuelan people.Goes without saying that it’s particularly important coming from the first US pope.“I wish to repeat my urgent appeal that peaceful political solutions to the current situation should be sought, keeping in mind the common good of the peoples and not the defence of partisan interests.”“This pertains, in particular to Venezuela. In light of recent developments in this regard, I renew my appeal to respect the will of the Venezuelan people and to safeguard the human and civil rights of all ensuring a future of stability and concord.”“The Holy See strongly reiterates the pressing need for an immediate ceasefire and for dialogue motivated by a sincere search for ways leading to peace.I make an urgent appeal to the international community, not to waver in its commitment to pursuing just and lasting solutions that will protect the most vulnerable and restore hope to the afflicted peoples.” Continue reading...

Trump claims to have cancelled ‘previously expected’ second wave of attacks on Venezuela – US politics live

US president says move was reaction to Caracas releasing large numbers of political prisoners as ‘sign of seeking peace’Italian prime minister Giorgia Meloni said on Friday she did not believe the United States would launch a military strike to take control of Greenland, warning that any such move would have serious consequences for Nato.At her traditional new year’s press conference, Meloni added that there was a need for a “serious and significant” Nato presence in the Arctic region, including Greenland. Continue reading...

Storm Goretti live: rail services suspended, flights cancelled and schools closed across UK as 380,000 homes in France lose power

Road, rail and air travel disrupted across the UK as Storm Goretti brings wind, rain and snow to the UK and parts of EuropeTell us: how have you been affected by Storm Goretti?Officials in the West Midlands have warned of the “worst snowfall in a decade” as parts of England and Wales prepare to be hit with 5-10cm of snow on Friday, and up to 15-25cm in some areas.In a statement on Wednesday, Stoke-on-Trent city council reassured residents it had not run out of grit after “misinformation” began to circulate. It said:We are now facing the worst snowfall we have faced in 10 years. The Met Office has predicted that we could have 3.5 inches of snow and temperatures as low as minus 4C on Thursday into Friday morning. As a result, we are carefully managing our resources and stock of salt.Unfortunately, we have been made aware of some misinformation circulating regarding the council’s salt supplies and gritting operations. It simply isn’t true that we have run out of grit.The current cold snap is now expected to last at least until this weekend according to Met Office forecasts, and we know that prolonged exposure to low temperatures can have a severe impact on people’s health, especially if they’re older or have serious health conditions.That’s why we’re urging people to check in on friends, family and neighbours who may be more vulnerable to the cold and make sure that they’re able to keep themselves warm while this period of cold lasts. Continue reading...

Reform-led Kent council accused of breaking pledges with council tax rise of almost 4% – UK politics live

Leader of Lib Dem opposition says promises of tax cuts made before local elections had been ‘utterly broken’Reform UK’s “flagship” local authority has raised council tax by almost 4% despite pledges to cut taxes before last year’s local elections, PA Media reports. PA says:Kent county council (KCC) produced its draft budget for 2026-27 on Thursday evening, revealing a 3.99% council tax hike.Reform UK took control of KCC after the local elections in May where it overturned a 30-year Tory majority, winning 57 out of 81 seats.These proposals reflect the real priorities of Kent residents. People took the time to share their views, and we listened …Through sound financial management and efficiencies, the council has been able to keep the proposed [council tax] increase below the level previously expected.Reform stood for election promising to make savings and lower the burden on taxpayers. Today, that promise has been utterly broken. They are boasting about a nearly 4% increase instead of 5%, a difference of just 33p per week for the average Kent family.It’s a poor outcome given the hype and promises made at the election and for the last nine months.Over 1,000 amendments in committee have been tabled, arranged into approximately 84 groups. So far, we have spent in total some 32 hours in this house scrutinising the bill, and we have another 50 hours scheduled.However, in four days of committee – about 17 hours – we have considered only 10 groups. If we continue at the rate we are going, this house will fail to complete the process of scrutiny.This house is more respected, not less, for giving extensive scrutiny to this bill. I think it would be a sad day if those of us who believe in exhaustive scrutiny and extensive debate were to be told that that was not in our best traditions.I am reminded of a wonderfully wise Scottish saying from the 16th century, which I believe this bill shows has stood the test of time: “You can’t make a silk purse out of a sow’s ear.” Our procedures are being followed appropriately and reasonably. If any bill is so poorly drafted and so unsafe, surely the question is not so much whether the bill deserves more time, but whether yet more time could transform it. Continue reading...

Runway Wall Caused All the Deaths in 2024 South Korean Plane Crash, Report Says

A computer simulation ordered by the government showed that everyone on board would have survived if the concrete berm had been made of materials that easily broke apart.

UK ministers considering leaving X amid concern over AI tool images

Labour party chair says government having conversations about use of platform in light of sexualised Grok images UK politics live – latest updatesUK ministers are considering leaving X as a result of the controversy over the platform’s AI tool, which has been allowing users to generate digitally altered pictures of people – including children – with their clothes removed.Anna Turley, the chair of the Labour party and a minister without portfolio in the Cabinet Office, said on Friday that conversations were happening within the government and Labour about their continued use of the social media platform, which is controlled by Elon Musk. Continue reading...

Here’s the latest.

Elon Musk's Grok AI image editing limited to paid X users after deepfakes

It comes after government urged Ofcom to use all its powers – up to and including an effective ban – against X.

Weather tracker: Kosovo floods trap people in homes and cut water supplies

Emergency rescuers step in as intense rain results in landslips, power cuts and communities left isolatedKosovo has seen prolonged, intense rainfall this week leading to widespread flooding. Cities, towns and villages were inundated as rivers overflowed their banks. Communities were cut off and emergency services rescued people trapped in their homes. People lost their water supply as well as electricity in the Drenas, Malisheva and Rahovec municipalities after flood water entered electrical substations.Personal weather stations across the south-west of the country recorded more than 50mm within 24 hours on Tuesday and Wednesday, with some local stations recording about 80mm in the municipality of Malisheva. This followed previously heavy rainfall from Saturday to Monday, during which official weather stations at Junik and Gllogjan in the west of the country recorded 231.5mm and 151.6mm of rain respectively within two days. A further 130mm fell in the region of Junik on Tuesday, exacerbating the flooding with landslips. Continue reading...