Politics

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez spoke at Zohran Mamdani's January 1 inauguration, saying the new mayor was ushering in a "new era" for the city. U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders administered the oath of office.

Japan's foreign ministry said President Trump invited Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi to visit the United States this spring and that the two leaders agreed to coordinate the trip; the White House has not yet confirmed the call.

A convicted double-murderer who held a prison officer hostage was awarded compensation and legal costs after a High Court found failures in reviews of his segregated conditions.

Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro urged Donald Trump to begin 'serious talks' and declined to confirm reports of a pre-Christmas US airstrike that US media have linked to the CIA.

A 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals panel ruled 2-1 that California's ban on openly carrying firearms in counties with more than 200,000 residents violates the U.S. Constitution.

Less than 24 hours after his inauguration, Mayor Zohran Mamdani rode the subway to City Hall and then revoked several executive orders from the previous administration, including two related to Israel.

Police were alerted to a break-in at Bruntons Aero Products in Musselburgh shortly after midnight on January 1, and inquiries are ongoing. A social media post accompanying a video said the site was targeted because of links to Leonardo UK.

The Trump administration suspended about 6,900 Minnesota borrowers over suspected COVID-era loan fraud tied to the Feeding Our Future probe, and federal investigations are ongoing with House Oversight hearings set for January 7.

The BBC said it has reached a settlement with the Horenstein family after a news crew filmed inside their home following the 7 October attacks, and the family reportedly received £28,000.

Minnesota has until Jan. 9 to provide federal child care recipient and provider information after HHS paused some federal child care funds.

Donald Trump's reported McDonald's meal has circulated widely, and in a Wall Street Journal interview he defended his health while his physician said a CT scan was done to rule out cardiovascular issues.

A magistrate judge ordered that Brian Cole Jr., accused of placing explosive devices outside the Democratic and Republican party headquarters the night before 6 January, must remain in custody pending trial; the court said it could not set conditions to assure community safety.

Former No 10 adviser Paul Ovenden criticised a "political perma-class" and said ministers were distracted from voters' priorities; several government experts and commentators said ministers already hold the power to change Whitehall and the government declined to comment.

A federal judge dismissed Louisville's proposed settlement with the U.S. Justice Department after the department withdrew its support earlier this year.

The FBI announced it arrested an 18-year-old in North Carolina who is accused of planning a New Year's Eve attack and has been charged with attempting to provide material support to a foreign terrorist organization.

Israel announced it will deregister 37 NGOs operating in Gaza with a 1 March deadline; aid deliveries have resumed after a ceasefire but remain insufficient, and about 1.6 million people are reported to face acute food insecurity.

Swiss investigators say sparklers on Champagne bottles likely ignited a fire at the Le Constellation bar in Crans-Montana that killed and injured dozens; the inquiry is ongoing.

The Government said the Northern Ireland Troubles Bill will strengthen a reformed legacy commission and add protections for veterans, after Veterans Commissioner David Johnstone warned the bill treats veterans "worse than terrorists".

The US military reported that seven ISIS fighters were killed and around a dozen were captured in Syria after an ambush that killed two US soldiers and a civilian interpreter. The operations included airstrikes and a series of missions late in December.

Actress and heiress Sara Foster suggested on social media that the killing of Democratic lawmaker Melissa Hortman may be connected to an alleged Somali fraud scheme in Minnesota. Other lawmakers criticised the suggestion while authorities continue investigating both the shooting and separate fraud allegations.

A viral video flagged alleged fraud by Somali-run childcare and social service providers in Minnesota, prompting federal scrutiny. Officials have announced freezes on some state payments while investigations continue. For now, we'll stick to the confirmed facts.

Zohran Mamdani will take office on January 1 with a midnight oath at the decommissioned Old City Hall subway stop and a public ceremony at City Hall Plaza; he is New York City's first Muslim mayor and campaigned on affordability measures.

Officials said Russian drones struck Odesa overnight, injuring six people including a toddler and damaging apartment buildings and energy facilities.

A viral video alleges many Somali-run daycares in Minnesota were empty while receiving public funds, and lawmakers and federal officials have raised concerns about whether the state's election 'vouching' rule could be vulnerable to abuse.

Labour has ruled out removing dual national Alaa Abd El‑Fattah's UK citizenship over past tweets, saying they do not meet the high legal threshold; Abd El‑Fattah has apologised and returned to the UK after a pardon in Egypt.

The European Court of Human Rights has asked the UK to justify its 2019 decision to strip Shamima Begum of British citizenship and has sent four formal questions to the Home Office; the next step is a response from the UK government.

Russian authorities reported power outages in parts of the Moscow region after drone strikes, with estimates of affected residents ranging from about 100,000 to 600,000.

Police Scotland says drugs with an estimated street value of almost £80 million were seized across Scotland in 2025; arrests have been made and inquiries are ongoing.

Bulgaria becomes the 21st country to adopt the euro on New Year's Day, amid political instability and public concern about price rises.

Huge crowds gathered outside Bangladesh’s parliament for funeral prayers for former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia, who died at age 80.