Nicolás Maduro to appear in New York court on drugs and weapons charges 05. January 2026 (10:00) Deposed Venezuelan president was controversially captured over weekend amid US military interventionDeposed Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro is expected to appear in Manhattan federal court on Monday afternoon on drugs and weapons charges after his controversial capture by US Special Forces this weekend.Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, were seized in a shocking pre-dawn raid at a compound on Saturday during an assault on Caracas. At least 40 people, including civilians and Venezuelan military members, died in the attack, the New York Times reported. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Venezuela live updates: interim president offers to ‘collaborate’ with US after Trump warns of further strikes 05. January 2026 (08:33) Delcy Rodríguez adopts conciliatory tone as she stands in for Nicolás Maduro after Venezuelan leader captured by American forces and brought to USTense calm spreads at border with Colombia after Maduro captureAnalysis: European leaders appear torn in face of new world orderProsecutors say Nicolás Maduro is the kingpin of a cartel of Venezuelan political and military officials who have conspired for decades with drug trafficking groups and US-designated terrorist organisations to flood the America with thousands of tonnes of cocaine.As Reuters reports, Maduro was first indicted in 2020 as part of a long-running narcotics trafficking case against current and former Venezuelan officials and Colombian guerrillas. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Drake and livestreamer Adin Ross accused of using online casino money to artificially inflate streams in class action case 05. January 2026 (07:50) US class action alleges Stake’s anonymised design enabled rapper to fund automated streams on music platformsDrake and American livestreamer Adin Ross have been accused in a US civil case of using online casino money to pay for automated streams in a bid to artificially inflate the singer’s royalties and popularity on music streaming platforms. No one has been charged criminally with regard to the allegations in the lawsuit.Two women in the US state Virginia have filed a class action seeking US$5m from e-casino Stake.com, the celebrities and another Australian internet personality for alleged breaches of Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (Rico) and consumer protection laws. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Teenage boy who survived Hillcrest jumping castle tragedy killed in ebike accident in Tasmania 05. January 2026 (07:41) Lucas Reid, 15, remembered for ‘resilience and optimism’ after bike crash near Devonport on New Year’s EveGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastA teenage boy who survived the 2021 Hillcrest jumping castle incident was killed in an ebike accident on New Year’s Eve.Lucas Reid, 15, lost control of the bike and hit a pole outside Devonport, Tasmania, at about 7.30pm on Wednesday. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Parliament to be recalled early as Labor seeks to crack down on ‘hate preachers’ and fund gun buybacks 05. January 2026 (07:28) Coalition gearing up to intensify campaign for royal commission into antisemitism but may be split on tighter gun controlsThe federal parliament will be recalled early as the Albanese government seeks to rush through laws to crack down on “hate preachers” and fund a national gun buyback scheme in the wake of the Bondi beach alleged terrorist attack.But the government is resisting calls for a royal commission into antisemitism, as the Coalition prepares to use parliament’s return to intensify the campaign for an inquiry. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Rise in holiday measles infections sparks health alerts in NSW, SA and Victoria 05. January 2026 (07:21) Cases of the highly contagious virus jumped nearly threefold in 2025 as immunisation rates declinedGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastHealth authorities across Australia are on high alert as measles cases rise across the country, fuelled by summer international travel and a decline in childhood vaccination rates.Data from the National Centre for Immunisation Research and Surveillance (NCIRS) has found that for the first time in 10 years, Australia’s early childhood vaccination coverage has slipped below the critical 95% threshold required for herd immunity. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
NSW residents urged to check if they are owed share of $300m in unclaimed money 05. January 2026 (07:12) Millions of dollars held by Revenue NSW includes uncashed cheques, refunds and other payments owed to individuals who may have died or changed addressGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastNew South Wales residents are being urged to check if they are owed some of the $300m sitting in Revenue NSW’s unclaimed money pool.The pool includes funds from overpayments, uncashed cheques, dividends, refunds, and other amounts owed to individuals the government has not been able to contact. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
GMB union in fresh turmoil over claims by senior female leaders 05. January 2026 (07:00) Exclusive: union facing claim for unfair dismissal from one of two women who complained of bullying and harassmentThe GMB trade union is facing fresh turmoil over claims made by two of its female senior leadership team, as it heads towards a crucial general secretary election this year.The infighting at a senior level comes as Gary Smith, the union’s general secretary, faces a potential battle to retain his job in May. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Mickey Rourke launches fundraiser to pay $60,000 in rent after threat of eviction 05. January 2026 (06:12) The 73-year-old Oscar-nominated actor was issued with an eviction notice in DecemberMickey Rourke has turned to fundraising to pay the US$59,100 (£44,000, A$89,000) he allegedly owes in rent, after being sued by his landlord and facing eviction from his Los Angeles home.The 73-year-old actor, who was nominated for an Academy Award and won a Golden Globe for his performance in the 2008 drama The Wrestler, has approved a GoFundMe page launched by Liya-Joelle Jones, a friend and member of Rourke’s management team. At time of writing, the fundraiser had raised US$33,000 of its US$100,000 goal. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Ban on TV junk food advertising before 9pm comes into force in UK 05. January 2026 (06:00) Watchdog will also monitor online ban for high fat and sugar products as part of wider effort to tackle childhood obesityA ban on junk food advertising on TV before 9pm and a total ban online has come into force as the government attempts to tackle the childhood obesity crisis.Under the rules, which will be enforced by the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) 13 categories of products can no longer be advertised on TV before the watershed or at any time online. The banned products are high in fat, sugar and salt. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
