37 m. ago US ‘prepares to board more Venezuela oil tankers’ as White House ‘won’t watch them sail the seas’ & sanctions 6 more

US officials are reportedly preparing to storm and seize more tankers transporting Venezuelan oil to put pressure on dictator Nicolás Maduro. Tensions between Washington and Caracas escalated when rifle-wielding US troops rappelled from helicopters to raid an oil tanker off the coast of Venezuela. Stunning footage showed commandos sweeping through the ship as they executed...

Events

2 h. ago Sanctions and seizures: Trump turns up the heat on Venezuela

Washington shifts its campaign against Nicolás Maduro as its attacks on alleged drug smugglers come under legal scrutiny

Politics

2 h. ago Did Noem really have to rush out of a Congressional hearing for a FEMA meeting? Or was it canceled?

Noem’s office said she did not learn her afternoon meeting had been canceled until 25 minutes after she left the House committee meeting

Politics

2 h. ago Kilmar Ábrego García released from ICE custody in fight over Trump immigration

Ábrego plans return to Maryland as DHS pledges to appeal judge’s decision, calling ruling ‘naked judicial activism’Kilmar Ábrego García has been freed from an immigration detention facility in Pennsylvania after a federal judge in Maryland ordered his release on Thursday.Ábrego was released shortly before 5pm ET, his attorney told the Associated Press. He plans to return to Maryland, where he has lived for many years with his US citizen wife and child after first entering the country illegally as a teenager. Continue reading...

Politics

3 h. ago Christantus Uche sparks stroll for Crystal Palace against Shelbourne

This might be Crystal Palace’s first-ever European campaign but they are learning very quickly. Having arrived in Dublin missing some of their big-hitters including the star striker Jean-Philippe Mateta and the marauding wing-back Daniel Muñoz, they left with a comfortable victory that means they are virtually assured of a place in the Conference League playoffs.Another three points against the Finnish side KuPS as part of their ­marathon December in which Oliver Glasners’s side play eight matches in three separate competitions should be enough to secure entry directly into the knockout stages after ­slipping up against Strasbourg on their last outing. Continue reading...

Politics

3 h. ago Crystal Palace climb Conference League table as Uche sparks Shelbourne stroll

This might be Crystal Palace’s first European campaign but they are learning very quickly. Having arrived in Dublin missing some of their big-hitters including star striker Jean-Philippe Mateta and the marauding wing-back Daniel Muñoz, they left with a comfortable victory that virtually assured them of a place in the Conference League playoffs.Oliver Glasner has already said that he will play a weakened team against Finnish side KuPS in their final group stage match next week despite slipping up against Strasbourg on their last outing as Palace are in the middle of a marathon December in which they will play eight times. So it was heartening for him to see some of his fringe players shine, as Christantus Uche capped only his second start since joining on an initial loan from Getafe in the summer with a well-taken goal and Eddie Nketiah scored for the second game in succession. Continue reading...

Politics

3 h. ago Have we learned NOTHING from Covid? Illegal pangolin meat seized in Deptford

Officials from the Food Standards Agency (FSA) found the wild animals at a site in Deptford, south east London on December 5.

Events

4 h. ago Last meal request for Georgia killer set for execution includes meat lovers pan pizza and cornbread

Stacey Humphreys is set to be executed next Wednesday

Events

4 h. ago US seizure of rogue oil tanker off Venezuela signals new crackdown on shadow fleet

The recent seizure of an oil tanker known as Skipper by the U.S. off the coast of Venezuela marks a dramatic escalation of President Donald Trump’s campaign to choke off Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro’s access to oil revenues

Events

5 h. ago Celebrity Race Across The World stars quit show for heartbreaking reason

One set of Celebrity Race Across The World stars have decided to quit the show for a sad reason, with the rest of the teams devastated to learn of their exit

Politics

5 h. ago Scientists discover how Covid shots cause deadly heart damage... as officials launch probe into vaccine

Scientists at Stanford University have revealed how the mRNA Covid vaccines can cause damage to heart cells.

Events

6 h. ago White House intends to seize oil from stormed Venezuelan tanker it claims is Iran ‘shadow vessel’: Live updates

White House will also conduct an investigation of the vessel, including by interviewing those aboard

Events

7 h. ago Noem links the seizure of an oil tanker off Venezuela to US antidrug efforts

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem has linked the seizure of an oil tanker off the coast of Venezuela to the Trump administration's counterdrug efforts

Events

7 h. ago England ticket prices for World Cup in full as FIFA accused of 'monumental betrayal'

England fans heading to the 2026 World Cup in North America have learned how much it will cost them to watch Thomas Tuchel's side in the group stages and later rounds

Politics

7 h. ago MPs warned Russian hackers are trying to gain access to their WhatsApp accounts and could even seize control of messaging apps

Sir Lindsay Hoyle , the Speaker of the House of Commons, has issued a fresh security alert in response to recent targeting of messaging apps used by parliamentarians.

Events

8 h. ago Noem defends seizure of Venezuelan oil tanker and gets combative with Democrats during Congressional hearing: Live updates

Noem’s testimony comes a day after the US escalated tensions with Venezuela by seizing an oil tanker off the country’s coast

Politics

8 h. ago Huge illegal waste site that keeps growing on beauty spot landscape is probed by the Environment Agency

Basser Hill, near Sittingbourne in Kent, has joined a growing number of massive illegal dumping grounds harming nature and the countryside.

Events

8 h. ago Leo Cullen will use lessons he learned at Leicester to help dismantle Tigers

Leinster head coach admits his stint at Welford Road helped ‘shape’ him and could be key in Champions Cup clashLeicester v Leinster fixtures have become common recently – the fifth since 2022 takes place on Friday night – but the history between the sides runs far deeper. Leo Cullen, head coach of the Dublin-based province, spent a couple of seasons at Welford Road in the mid-2000s, winning the Premiership in 2006-07 and losing a Heineken Cup final against Wasps in the same year.Since 2022 the former second-row has overseen four Champions Cup victories against his former club, including two in 2023-24. Three and a half years ago, there was a masterful quarter-final dismantling of what was then Steve Borthwick’s side. Leinster will now shoot for a hat-trick of Welford Road victories this decade, and the presence of the New Zealand international Rieko Ioane, on full debut, is sure to help. Continue reading...

Politics

8 h. ago Leinster’s Leo Cullen will use lessons learned at Leicester in bid to tame Tigers

Leinster head coach admits his stint at Welford Road helped ‘shape’ him and could be key in Champions Cup clashLeicester v Leinster fixtures have become common recently – the fifth since 2022 takes place on Friday night – but the history between the sides runs far deeper. Leo Cullen, head coach of the Dublin-based province, spent a couple of seasons at Welford Road in the mid-2000s, winning the Premiership in 2006-07 and losing a Heineken Cup final against Wasps in the same season.Since 2022 the former second‑row has overseen four Champions Cup victories against his former club, including two in 2023-24. Three and a half years ago, there was a masterful quarter-final dismantling of what was then Steve Borthwick’s side. Leinster will now shoot for a hat-trick of Welford Road victories this decade, and the presence of the New Zealand international Rieko Ioane, on full debut, is sure to help. Continue reading...

Politics

9 h. ago 'If you've got the flu, stay at home or wear a mask' say Health Chiefs as they urge Britons to get vaccinated

Britons battling coughs and colds were today begged to stay at home, as health chiefs doled out Covid-era advice amid fears the raging superflu could cause Christmas carnage.

Society