Kennedy Centre: President Donald Trump has moved to rename the Kennedy Center, aiming to honor his legacy by attaching his name to one of the nation's most prominent cultural landmarks. The decision has ignited a fierce debate, with supporters applauding the gesture as a fitting tribute and critics warning that it politicizes a traditionally nonpartisan institution. 

Kennedy Centre: Move to Rename Center After Trump Sparks Controversy 

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte has issued a stern warning to Russia, stating that any further escalation in Ukraine would bring "devastating consequences." He unveiled a three-layer security guarantee for Ukraine, combining military, economic, and political support to bolster the country's defenses and resilience. 

NATO Warns Russia: 'Devastating Consequences' if Ukraine Attacked 

EU-Mercosur Trade Deal: Farmers in Brussels have blocked major streets in protest against the EU-Mercosur trade deal, with the demonstrations gaining momentum as agricultural groups across Europe express fears that the agreement could undermine local farming standards and livelihoods. 

EU-Mercosur Trade Deal: Anti-Mercosur Protests Gain Momentum in Brussels 

Poland announced full combat readiness of its Patriot missile systems, integrated with U.S. IBCS technology under the Wisla programme. The move strengthens NATO’s eastern flank and counters missiles, aircraft, and drones. Polish Defence Minister and U.S. Ambassador praised the systems, calling them a gamechanger. Warsaw previously signed a $2 billion U.S. support deal for Patriot armaments.


Poland Declares Patriot Missile Systems Fully Ready, Strengthening NATO Eastern Flank

Britain's Star Power: UK laboratories are advancing a new era of clean energy by developing gyroscopic spinning technology, which powers ambitious projects for space-based solar power. These systems, designed to capture solar energy in orbit and beam it back to Earth, could provide a continuous and sustainable energy source. 


Britain's Star Power: UK Lab Brings Star Power Closer to Earth

The House Oversight Committee has released a batch of around 70 photos from the estate of late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

It's the third such release from a tranche of over 95,000 photos the committee has acquired from Epstein's estate. It includes images of quotes from the book Lolita written across a woman's body, and redacted images of women's foreign passports.

Democrats Release Latest Batch of Epstein Photos as Justice Department Deadline Looms

U.S. Consumer price inflation was surprisingly soft in November, with an annual headline rate of just 2.7 percent. There is some Scepticism due to the scale of the downside 'miss' relative to analyst expectations, and the impact of the record-longest government shutdown.

Tame U.S. Inflation Gives the Fed Room for More Rate Cuts

President Donald Trump has signed an executive order that will expand access to cannabis, a long anticipated move that would mark the most significant shift in US drug policy in decades.


Trump Expands Access to Cannabis in a Major Shift in Drug Policy

The United States imposed sanctions on Thursday on 29 vessels and their management firms as Washington targeted Tehran's "shadow fleet", which it says exports Iranian petroleum and petroleum products.


US Piles Pressure on Iran's Sanctions-Evading Shadow Fleet 

The US military has confirmed that five people were killed in strikes targeting two vessels suspected of drug smuggling.


US Military: Five Killed in Strikes on Two Alleged Drug Boats

U.S.-Venezuela: President Donald Trump has reiterated that there is no issue with briefing Congress about any actions taken in Venezuela, as tensions rise over the U.S. military buildup and recent strikes on vessels allegedly linked to drug trafficking. Trump emphasized that the administration will keep Congress updated on all developments, maintaining transparency amid ongoing military operations and diplomatic efforts in the region.

U.S.-Venezuela: "No issue Briefing Congress on Venezuela", Says Trump

Brown Univeristy Shooting: The man suspected in the Brown University shooting, Claudio Neves Valente, has been found dead in a storage facility in Salem, New Hampshire, after a five-day manhunt, according to reports. 

Breaking: Brown University Shooting Suspect Found Dead in New Hampshire, Reports

North Carolina: A business jet crashed while landing at Statesville Regional Airport in North Carolina, resulting in the deaths of all seven people on board, including former NASCAR driver Greg Biffle, his wife, and their children.

North Carolina: Business Jet Crashes in North Carolina, Fatalities Confirmed

A former Nascar driver and his family were among the seven people killed in a plane crash at a regional airport in North Carolina, the car-racing organisation has said.

A highway patrol spokesman said people on the ground confirmed that Greg Biffle was among those who boarded the plane.

US Plane Crash: Ex-Nascar Driver And His Family Among 7 Killed in US Plane Crash 

U.S. Marijuana Rules: President Donald Trump has announced plans to ease U.S. marijuana regulations by reclassifying the drug to a less restrictive category, potentially aligning it with certain prescription painkillers rather than placing it alongside more dangerous substances.

U.S. Marijuana Rules: Trump Moves to Ease U.S. Marijuana Regulations

Bangladesh: Bangladesh's 2024 uprising leader Osman Hadi has died in a Singapore hospital after being critically injured in a shooting attack in Dhaka. Hadi, a key figure in the student-led protests that led to the ouster of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, was rushed to Singapore for treatment but succumbed to his injuries. His death has sparked widespread protests and violence across Bangladesh, with police launching a manhunt for his attackers and releasing photos of suspects.


Bangladesh Uprising Leader Osman Hadi Dies in Singapore, Violence Erupts

Bangladesh: Bangladesh has been plunged into turmoil following the death of 2024 uprising leader Osman Hadi, who succumbed to gunshot injuries in Singapore after being attacked by masked gunmen in Dhaka. The Dhaka Metropolitan Police have released photos of a suspect and are conducting an intensive manhunt, urging the public to come forward with information. Violent protests have broken out in major cities, with demonstrators demanding justice and attacking media offices, while the interim government has called for calm and promised swift action against those responsible. 

Bangladesh: Violence Erupts After Uprising Leader Osman Hadi's Death

Russia-Ukraine Peace Talks: President Donald Trump has declared that the latest round of Russia-Ukraine peace talks are "getting close to something," with U.S. officials and diplomats working to bridge remaining gaps between Kyiv and Moscow. Trump emphasized that both sides have made progress, though territorial disputes and security guarantees remain key sticking points. 


Russia-Ukraine Peace Talks: Trump Says 'Getting Close to Something' 

United States President Donald Trump has ordered “a total and complete” blockade of all US-sanctioned oil tankers entering and leaving Venezuela.


US-Venezuela Tensions: Trump Orders Naval Blockade of Sanctioned Venezuelan Oil Tankers

US President Donald Trump, in a recent address, asserted that he "inherited a mess" from the Biden administration eleven months ago and is now "fixing it." Trump claimed that under his leadership, "zero illegal aliens" have entered the country in the past seven months, contrasting this with an "invasion" of 25 million people under the previous government. 


US President Donald Trump Accuses Joe Biden of Allowing 25 Million 'Illegals' into US 

US Imposes Sanctions on 29 'Shadow Fleet' Tankers Carrying Iranian Oil 

BAFTA 2026: Scottish actor, writer, and presenter Alan Cumming has been announced as the host of the 2026 EE BAFTA Film Awards, succeeding David Tennant who hosted the previous two ceremonies. The event will take place at London's Royal Festival Hall on February 22, 2026, and will be broadcast live on BBC One and BBC iPlayer. 


BAFTA 2026: Alan Cumming Replaces Tennant as BAFTA Film Awards Host 

The rebel group which last week seized the Democratic Republic of Congo city of Uvira say they have begun withdrawing, promising to complete the pullout on Thursday, following pressure from the US.


M23 Rebel Leaders Begin Withdrawal from Border City of Uvira

U.S.-Venezuela: President Donald Trump has confirmed he will inform Congress about any military actions taken in Venezuela, as the U.S. intensifies its pressure campaign against Nicolás Maduro’s government.

U.S.-Venezuela: Trump: Will Inform Congress on Venezuela Military Action 

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