US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has spoken to several American media outlets about Venezuela.
On NBC, he was asked whether the United States is at war with Venezuela. He said it was not a war, adding the US is at war with drug trafficking organisations, not the country itself. Rubio said the seizure of boats bringing drugs towards the United States would continue.
Police in Switzerland say the bodies of all forty victims of a bar fire in the ski resort of Crans Montana have now been identified.
The victims were aged between fourteen and thirty nine, with fifteen under eighteen. They included Swiss, Italian, Romanian, Turkish, Portuguese, French and Belgian nationals, as well as a citizen of the UK, France and Israel. One hundred and nineteen others were injured, most with severe burns, and six remain unidentified. A criminal investigation into the French couple who ran Le Constellation is continuing.
New powers allowing mobile phones to be seized from illegal migrants without arrest have come into force.
The government says the move will help gather intelligence on smuggling gangs organising small boat crossings. The Home Office says seizures will begin on Monday at the Manston processing centre in Kent, with officers able to search clothing and check mouths for hidden SIM cards.
A prisoner has been charged with escaping on New Year’s Day while two others remain at large including a convicted murderer.
Aaron Thomas aged thirty nine was arrested in Bristol and is due in court on Monday. Police believe the men fled HMP Leyhill in South Gloucestershire on New Year’s Day between five and eight.
A man who died trying to save two people from the sea in East Yorkshire has been named as Mark Ratcliffe.
In a tribute, his family said the sixty seven year old was a true selfless hero with a heart of gold who was cruelly taken trying to save others. Mr Ratcliffe was pulled unconscious from the water and died at the scene at Withernsea on Friday, Humberside Police said. Another body recovered on Friday evening was that of a forty five year old woman. Officers continue searching for one remaining missing person.
The Met Office is warning of travel disruption on Monday morning as many people return to work and school after the Christmas break.
Amber warnings for further snow are in place in northern Scotland following several days of heavy falls. New snowfall is also possible across England and Wales during the coming week, despite slightly higher temperatures. Later, strong winds and heavy rain could add further hazards as low pressure crosses the UK.
Former Little Mix star Jesy Nelson has revealed her twin baby daughters have been diagnosed with a rare genetic condition and will probably never walk.
The singer gave birth to Ocean Jade and Story Monroe Nelson Foster prematurely last May with musician Zion Foster. She said the girls have Spinal Muscular Atrophy, describing it as the most severe muscular disease. Nelson said it affects every muscle, including breathing and swallowing.
Snow is expected to reach as far as the south coast overnight, while parts of Scotland could see up to thirty centimetres.
Amber snow warnings are in force for northern Scotland, with heavy snow due overnight and a risk of temporary blizzard conditions. Elsewhere, yellow warnings cover snow and ice, with one to three centimetres expected in places, five to eight centimetres locally, and widespread icy conditions likely.
England’s promising start to the fifth Ashes Test against Australia was halted by bad light and rain on the opening day in Sydney.
Joe Root and Harry Brook had taken England to 211-3 before the weather wiped out the evening session at the Sydney Cricket Ground. The fourth wicket pair put on an unbroken 154, England’s highest partnership of a series they trail three one. After captain Ben Stokes won the toss for the fourth time on the tour, England had earlier slipped to 57-3 despite favourable batting conditions.
British forces have bombed a suspected weapons stockpile previously used by Islamic State in Syria.
RAF Typhoons dropped guided bombs in a joint operation with the French air force on Saturday night. The Ministry of Defence said several access tunnels were targeted in a mountainous area north of the ancient city of Palmyra. The operation was intended to help prevent any attempted resurgence of the Daesh terrorist movement.
Police say sixteen more victims have been identified following the deadly fire.
Those named include an eighteen year old Swiss woman, two fifteen year olds, a fourteen year old, and Swiss men aged thirty one, twenty, eighteen and seventeen, as well as two sixteen year olds. Two sixteen year old Italians were also identified, along with a sixteen year old holding dual Italian and United Arab Emirates nationality. An eighteen year old Romanian, a thirty nine year old Frenchman, and an eighteen year old Turkish national were also confirmed.
Two prisoners are being hunted by police after escaping from jail on New Year’s Day.
Avon and Somerset Police are searching for Matthew Armstrong and Daniel Washbourne, both with histories of violent offences. Armstrong has a conviction for murder. A third prisoner, also suspected of absconding at the same time, was arrested in Bristol today.
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