Maduro signals Venezuela ready to restart talks with the United States

Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro on Monday sidestepped a question about an alleged U.S. strike on a dock inside Venezuela but signaled openness to talks with Washington on drug trafficking, oil and migration after weeks of escalating American pressure. “Wherever they want and whenever they want,” Maduro said in a state television interview, describing potential dialogue with the United States. Pressed on whether he could confirm or deny an attack, he replied, “This could be something we talk about in a few days.” His…

2026 promises a spectacular year for Moon enthusiasts and stargazers

Thirteen full moons will light the sky in 2026, a rare cadence in the lunar calendar that coincides with NASA’s renewed push to send humans back to the Moon. For astronomers and skywatchers, it is a year that connects ancient names and stories to a very modern ambition: using the Moon as a springboard for deeper exploration of space. The first full moon of any year is traditionally called the Wolf Moon, a name rooted in midwinter soundscapes. Astronomy expert Danielle Murphy explained that the association traces to the…

Driver for Joshua charged with dangerous driving after fatal crash in Nigeria

Driver charged in crash that injured Anthony Joshua, killed two friends in Nigeria Nigerian police have charged a driver in connection with a crash that injured British former world heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua and killed two of his close friends and team members on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway. Ogun State Police Command said Adeniyi Mobolaji Kayode, 46, appeared before the Sagamu Magistrate Court and was charged on four counts, including causing death by dangerous driving. The case was adjourned to Jan. 20 while…

Finnish police say cable breach investigation is making solid progress

Finland seizes cargo ship in probe of undersea cable damage; two crew arrested HELSINKI — Finnish police said they have made progress in a criminal investigation into damage to an undersea telecommunications cable in the Gulf of Finland, seizing a cargo vessel and arresting two crew members in a case that has heightened concern over the security of critical seabed infrastructure in the Baltic Sea. Authorities on Wednesday detained the “Fitburg,” a freighter sailing from Russia to Israel, on suspicion it damaged a…

Inside FIFA’s Power Corridors: Who Exactly Is Gianni Infantino?

With less than six months to go before the next World Cup, it is not the draw or tactical intrigue that is dominating football’s conversation but FIFA’s so‑called “Peace Prize.” The episode — more symbolic than sporting — has pushed governance, messaging and power to the fore, putting FIFA president Gianni Infantino and his political approach under the spotlight just as the game should be preparing for its showpiece. The discomfort is not simply about optics. As discussed on RTÉ’s Behind the Story with the Independent’s…

Families Escaping DR Congo to Burundi Struggle with Hunger, Cold, and Disrupted Education

Burundi Faces Humanitarian Crisis as Refugees Flood In The ongoing conflict in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has unleashed a humanitarian crisis in nearby Burundi, where over 84,000 refugees have sought shelter since early December. Save the Children reports alarming conditions in overcrowded camps, particularly for vulnerable children. The situation calls for immediate global attention. Over 84,000 people from DRC have crossed into Burundi due to intensified violence. Transit centres are severely…

Swiss authorities race to identify victims after deadly fire

Swiss investigators are working to identify victims following a fire, launching a meticulous forensic process that typically involves DNA analysis, dental records and fingerprint matching. Authorities have not released further details about the incident, but the identification effort signals that officials are now focused on confirming who was caught in the blaze and notifying families. Forensic teams in Switzerland generally coordinate with cantonal police, medical examiners and prosecutors to establish identities and…

Young Italian identified as first casualty in Swiss bar blaze

CRANS-MONTANA, Switzerland — Swiss authorities are working to identify victims after a pre-dawn fire tore through Le Constellation, a popular bar in this Alpine resort town, turning New Year’s celebrations into a national tragedy and leaving more than 100 people injured. The first confirmed victim is 16-year-old Emanuele Galeppini, an Italian international golfer who had been living in Dubai, the Italian Golf Federation said. Galeppini was in Crans-Montana with his family and had gone to the bar with two friends, who escaped…

U.S. warns of consequences if Iran kills protesters over economic woes

WASHINGTON — US President Donald Trump said the United States is “locked and loaded” to respond if Iran kills protesters, issuing a stark warning as cost-of-living demonstrations in the country turned deadly and Iranian authorities cautioned Washington against interference. In a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump wrote that if Iran shoots “and violently kills peaceful protesters, which is their custom, the United States of America will come to their rescue.” His message followed reports of fatal clashes between…

Extreme weather driven by climate change hits low-income communities hardest

Climate change fueled a punishing year of extreme weather in 2025 that fell hardest on poorer communities, even as a cooling La Niña pattern took hold, according to a new assessment by World Weather Attribution, an international group of climate scientists. The annual report found that 2025 ranked among the three hottest years ever recorded, a sign of how far human-caused warming has pushed baseline temperatures. That backdrop turbocharged heatwaves, droughts, storms and wildfires across continents, widening a stark…