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Starmer says Trump should apologize for ‘insulting’ claim NATO allies stayed off Afghanistan front lines LONDON — British Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Friday said President Donald Trump should apologize for claiming European allies stayed “a little off the front lines” in the war in Afghanistan, a rare public rebuke that underscored fresh strain across the Atlantic. Calling the remarks “insulting and frankly appalling,” Starmer said that if he had “misspoken in that way or said those words, I would certainly apologise.” He…

Venezuela’s interim president, Delcy Rodriguez, will soon visit the United States, a senior U.S. official said, signaling President Donald Trump’s willingness to engage with the oil-rich country’s new leader despite years of hostility. Excluding United Nations gatherings, it would be the first bilateral visit by a sitting Venezuelan president in more than a quarter-century. The White House official, who was not authorized to discuss details publicly, said no date has been set. Caracas has not confirmed the trip. Rodriguez…

Machado says Venezuela entering ‘true transition to democracy’ as U.S. backs Rodriguez; Nobel medal gesture to Trump draws scrutiny Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado said the country is beginning a “true transition to democracy” and called for free and fair elections “as soon as possible,” using a Washington appearance to press her case for broad participation at the polls. “We are definitely now into the first steps of a true transition to democracy,” Machado said, adding that the shift would have “an…

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump said he held a “long call” with Venezuela’s interim leader Delcy Rodriguez, the first known direct contact between the two since the ouster of Nicolas Maduro, signaling a new phase in U.S.-Venezuela relations that blends cautious engagement with continuing pressure over human rights. “We just had a great conversation today, and she’s a terrific person,” Trump told reporters in the Oval Office. In posts on social media, he said the pair discussed “many topics,” including oil, minerals,…

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump said he held a “long call” with Venezuela’s interim leader Delcy Rodriguez, the first known direct contact between the two since the ouster of Nicolas Maduro, as Caracas continued a cautious release of prisoners detained during years of political repression. “We just had a great conversation today, and she’s a terrific person,” Trump told reporters in the Oval Office. He later said on social media the pair discussed “many topics,” including oil, minerals, trade and national security, and…

Sunday January 11, 2026 OSLO, Norway (AX) — The Norwegian Nobel Institute said Friday that the Nobel Peace Prize cannot be transferred, shared or revoked, addressing comments by Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado suggesting she might give or share her 2025 award with former U.S. President Donald Trump. In a brief statement citing the statutes of the Nobel Foundation, the institute said the prize decision, once announced, is irrevocable and cannot be altered in any way. “The decision is final and stands for all…

Greenland opposition leader Pele Broberg said he does not believe the United States will invade the Arctic territory, urging calm and diplomacy after President Donald Trump suggested Washington could take control of the island “the easy way or the hard way.” In an interview with RTÉ Radio’s This Week, Broberg, who leads the Naleraq party, said an invasion “would not make any sense from anyone’s logical point of view, be they from the US, Russia, China or Denmark.” He added: “I believe that diplomacy and dialogue will win in…

Thursday, Jan. 8, 2026 MOGADISHU, Somalia — Somalia’s federal government has opened an urgent investigation into allegations that its airspace and airports were used without authorization to move Aidarous al-Zubaidi, the UAE-backed leader of Yemen’s Southern Transitional Council, amid rising regional tensions involving Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. The Immigration and Citizenship Agency said Thursday it is examining claims that al-Zubaidi transited through Somali territory after skipping planned peace talks in…

Somalia probes alleged illegal use of airspace for flights linked to Yemeni leader, Israeli foreign minister MOGADISHU, Somalia — Somalia’s federal government says it has opened an investigation into reports that the country’s airspace was used unlawfully by a flight carrying South Yemen leader Aidarous al-Zubaidi, who is said to be traveling on behalf of the United Arab Emirates. In a statement, the immigration agency said that if the allegations are confirmed, the incident would amount to a serious violation of Somali law…

MOGADISHU — A Saudi Arabia-led military coalition fighting in Yemen said Thursday that Aidarous al-Zubaidi, the head of the United Arab Emirates-backed Southern Transitional Council, slipped out of the country via North Western State of Somalia after skipping planned peace talks in Riyadh — a development that could deepen a widening rift between the coalition’s two most powerful members. In a statement, the coalition said al-Zubaidi departed the southern port city of Aden late Wednesday aboard a vessel bound for Berbera in…