A newly released video has revealed the details of a covert maritime operation that enabled Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado to leave the country last month, defying a decade-long travel ban and nearly a year spent in hiding. The operation allowed Machado to travel to Norway, where she was scheduled to receive the Nobel Peace Prize, marking a significant moment in her long-running confrontation with Venezuela’s political establishment. According to footage shared

RICHMOND, Va. — Virginia is set to mark a historic milestone on Saturday as Governor-elect Abigail Spanberger is sworn in as the Commonwealth’s first woman to hold the state’s highest office. The inauguration ceremony will take place in Richmond, drawing state leaders, invited guests, and residents to an event that underscores a significant shift in Virginia’s nearly 250-year political history. Spanberger will officially assume office during a midday ceremony outside the Vir

China’s record-breaking trade surplus is increasingly reshaping global financial markets as export earnings that once accumulated primarily in state reserves are now being redirected into private investments overseas. The shift marks a notable departure from Beijing’s traditionally centralized management of foreign exchange inflows and introduces new dynamics into global capital movements at a time of heightened sensitivity over trade imbalances and financial stability. Last yea

India delivered a firm rebuttal to Pakistan at the United Nations after Islamabad once again raised the issue of Jammu and Kashmir during a session of the General Assembly, reiterating New Delhi’s position that the matter is an internal issue and not subject to international mediation. Indian officials accused Pakistan of repeatedly misusing multilateral forums to promote a divisive political narrative that does not reflect realities on the ground. The response followed comments m

A surge of cold air carried by a persistent northwesterly wind is set to deliver some of the coldest conditions of the season through the weekend and into the Martin Luther King Jr. Day holiday. The combination of falling temperatures and gusty winds will make conditions feel significantly colder, particularly during the overnight and early morning hours. By Saturday evening, the strengthening northwest wind is expected to drive wind chill values down into the teens, despite actual air temperatures remaining slightly higher. As the night progresses, colder air will continue to settle in, pushing wind chill readings into the single digits by early Sunday morning. These conditions may feel especially harsh for anyone spending time outdoors, as exposed skin will cool rapidly under the steady breeze. Sunday morning will begin on a frigid note, with temperatures hovering near 10 degrees. When combined with the lingering wind, wind chill values around zero are anticipated in many areas. While some sunshine is expected later in the morning and into the afternoon, it will do little to offset the entrenched cold air mass. Afternoon highs are forecast to struggle, barely reaching the 20-degree mark, well below typical seasonal levels. The cold will not ease Sunday night, as clear skies and light winds allow temperatures to drop once again. Overnight lows are expected to fall into the low teens heading into the holiday morning, with wind chill values again approaching zero. These conditions reinforce the ongoing cold snap, extending the stretch of icy mornings and limited daytime warming. Martin Luther King Jr. Day itself is expected to remain firmly in winter’s grip. Afternoon temperatures are forecast to rise only into the lower 20s, even with periods of sunshine. While the sun may provide a brief visual break from the gray of winter, it will offer little practical warmth, leaving the day feeling sharply cold from start to finish. Residents are encouraged to take precautions during this period of freezing temperatures, particularly during early morning and evening hours when wind chill values are lowest. The extended duration of the cold air, paired with persistent northwest winds, underscores the importance of dressing appropriately and limiting prolonged outdoor exposure when possible. As the holiday weekend unfolds, the dominant weather theme will remain unchanged: frigid air, biting wind chills, and minimal relief from the cold.

The United States State Department is preparing to pause visa processing for applicants from approximately 75 countries beginning January 21, according to an internal departmental directive. The measure instructs consular officers to deny visa applications under existing immigration law while the department conducts a broad reassessment of screening and vetting standards. The pause is described as indefinite, with only very limited exceptions expected during the review period. The c

At least 22 people were killed and more than 30 others injured after a construction crane collapsed onto a passenger train in northeast Thailand on Wednesday morning, derailing multiple coaches and triggering a fire, local authorities said. The incident occurred during peak travel hours, turning a routine commute into one of the deadliest rail disasters the country has seen in recent years. Police officials confirmed that the accident took place at around 9:00 am local time in Nakho

Apple has emerged as the world’s leading smartphone manufacturer in 2025, overtaking long-time rival Samsung in global shipments, according to the latest industry analysis. The milestone marks a significant shift in the global smartphone market, ending a 14-year period during which Samsung consistently held the top position in worldwide shipments. Industry data shows that Apple recorded the highest year-on-year growth among the top five smartphone brands, capturing a 20 percent sh

The United States sharply criticised Russia on Monday, January 12, for its use of a nuclear-capable Oreshnik ballistic missile in Ukraine, describing the launch as a dangerous and unjustified escalation of the ongoing conflict. The condemnation was delivered during an emergency meeting of the United Nations Security Council convened to address the latest developments in the war. Addressing the council, US Deputy Ambassador to the United Nations Tammy Bruce said Russia’s decision t

San Francisco state and city leaders announced a proposed legislative change Monday aimed at expanding the use of court-ordered assisted outpatient treatment as part of an effort to confront the city’s ongoing mental health crisis. The announcement was made during a morning press conference outside San Francisco City Hall, where officials described the proposal as a significant shift in how treatment for severe mental illness is handled in California. Mayor Daniel Lurie joined mem

Apple is preparing to introduce a major upgrade to its digital assistant through a multiyear partnership with Google that will bring advanced AI capabilities to Siri using Gemini models. This collaboration represents a significant evolution in Apple’s artificial intelligence strategy, enabling more natural conversations, improved contextual understanding, and deeper integration across devices. The enhanced version of Siri is expected to arrive later this year and marks Apple’s most prominent

Iran’s exiled crown prince Reza Pahlavi has intensified his appeal to former United States president Donald Trump, urging immediate action against Iran’s leadership as nationwide protests continue to grip the country and reports of fatalities mount. In a series of statements issued on Monday, Pahlavi portrayed the Iranian government as severely weakened and argued that decisive international support could help protesters bring an end to the current political system. Pahlavi soug

Australia has moved India into its highest-risk category for student visa applicants, a decision that will result in stricter scrutiny and longer processing timelines for thousands of prospective students. The change, implemented under Australia’s Simplified Student Visa Framework, takes effect from January 8, 2026, and represents an out-of-cycle reclassification driven by concerns over emerging integrity risks in the student visa system. Under the revised framework, India has bee

A 24-year-old student from Andhra Pradesh pursuing a master’s degree in the US state of Texas has been reported missing after undertaking a solo winter trip to Alaska during the Christmas holiday period. The student, identified as Karasani Hari Krishna Reddy, is a native of Guntur district and had travelled to Alaska on December 22 with plans to return within two weeks, according to information shared by his friends. Reddy, who was studying in Texas, had informed his friends and r

India on Friday said it was concerned about the fatal shooting in Minneapolis, citing the presence of a large Indian community in the United States and the broader implications of the incident. The reaction came amid growing scrutiny of immigration enforcement practices in the US following the death of a woman during a federal operation. Responding to questions on the incident, the Ministry of External Affairs said India was closely following developments related to the Minneapolis

Iran witnessed a dramatic escalation in nationwide unrest as anti-Khamenei protests intensified following a rallying call by exiled crown prince Reza Pahlavi. Demonstrations entered their 12th consecutive day, with residents across Tehran and other cities chanting slogans from homes and marching through streets despite heavy restrictions imposed by authorities. Late Thursday, internet connectivity and telephone services were abruptly cut across the country, triggering what monitorin

California Gov. Gavin Newsom is set to use his final State of the State address on Thursday to portray the state as a governing model for the nation, drawing a sharp contrast with what he describes as instability and dysfunction at the federal level under President Donald Trump. The Democratic governor plans to argue that California’s policy direction and values stand in opposition to those coming from Washington, positioning the state as both a counterweight and an alternative to the curre

Indian tourism is undergoing a quiet but significant shift as international travellers begin to look beyond the country’s most familiar destinations. While cities like Goa, Jaipur, Delhi, and Mumbai have long dominated travel itineraries, a new name is steadily gaining global attention. According to Agoda’s New Horizons Rankings, Thiruvananthapuram has emerged as the fastest-growing destination

High political drama unfolded in Kolkata after the Enforcement Directorate conducted raids linked to an alleged money laundering case at locations associated with the Indian Political Action Committee. The situation took an unprecedented turn when West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee personally arrived at the residence of I-PAC head Prateek Jain while the search operation was still underway. S

Documents released under the United States Foreign Agents Registration Act have shed new light on Pakistan’s diplomatic efforts during India’s Operation Sindoor in April last year, revealing an extensive and urgent campaign to seek Washington’s intervention as tensions escalated between the two South Asian neighbors. The filings indicate that Islamabad repeatedly appealed to US officials for assistance, offering a range of economic and strategic incentives in return for diplomatic engag