The move in euro/sterling was particularly notable as British and euro zone interest rates have largely moved in unison – relative changes in interest rates are often major factors in currency moves
International News via Reuters:
Sterling hit its highest in nearly four months against both the dollar and euro on Tuesday, buoyed by improved global investor sentiment, easing worries about Britain’s fiscal position and hints of Britain pursuing a closer relationship with Europe.
The pound hit its highest since mid-September on the dollar, and was last flat on the day at $1.3536, while the euro dropped as low as 86.44 pence again, its lowest in nearly four months, extending the previous day’s 0.57% fall.
The move in euro/sterling was particularly notable as British and euro zone interest rates have largely moved in unison – relative changes in interest rates are often major factors in currency moves.
Instead, analysts pointed to a melange of factors behind sterling’s strength.
Lee Hardman, senior currency analyst at MUFG, noted the pound typically outperforms when investor sentiment is positive – world stocks are at record highs – and that as the pound had now recovered all its losses in the run-up to last year’s budget, it seemed to be benefiting “from the reduction in UK fiscal and political risks in the near-term.”
British finance minister Rachel Reeves, in November, raised taxes to a post-war high, giving her greater room to meet her deficit-reduction targets.
On top of that, currency volatility is fairly low, making carry trades attractive – these see investors borrow in low-yielding currencies to buy higher-yielding ones, and British rates remain higher than many peers.
As well, Hardman said, “the stronger pound could have been encouraged by recent comments from government officials indicating a desire to return to a closer trading relationship with the EU.”
Britain should seek closer alignment with the European single market on an “issue-by-issue” basis when it is in the national interest, Prime Minister Keir Starmer said on Sunday.
Also in the mix, but having little effect on the pound, was data showing Britain’s dominant services sector ended 2025 on a weaker footing than previously thought.
The airlines are free to choose which flights they cancel so long as they reduce takeoffs and landings, a spokesperson told Reuters
International News via Reuters:
France’s civil aviation authority on Monday asked airlines to cancel 15% of flights until later in the evening at Orly and Charles de Gaulle airports following heavy snowfalls in the French capital Paris.
The airlines are free to choose which flights they cancel so long as they reduce takeoffs and landings, a spokesperson told Reuters.
Airlines were asked to reduce flights until 2000 CET (1900 GMT) at Paris-Charles de Gaulle airport, and until 2330 CET (2230 GMT) at Paris-Orly.
The French transport ministry urged travellers to check if their flight was taking off before leaving home, and to go to the airport by public transportation rather than by car.
Meanwhile, Amsterdam Schiphol airport, one of Europe’s busiest hubs, cancelled almost 500 flights on Monday morning and was closed to incoming traffic until 1200 GMT also because of snowfalls, news agency ANP reported.
Reporting by Inti Landauro and Louise Rasmussen, Editing by Charlotte Van Campenhout
The 15-member Security Council met at U.N. headquarters in New York just hours before Maduro was due to appear in a Manhattan federal court on drug charges including narco-terrorism conspiracy
International News via Reuters:
United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres raised concerns on Monday about a possible intensification of instability in Venezuela after the U.S. capture of the Latin American country’s president Nicolas Maduro.
The 15-member Security Council met at U.N. headquarters in New York just hours before Maduro was due to appear in a Manhattan federal court on drug charges including narco-terrorism conspiracy. Maduro has denied any criminal involvement.
“I am deeply concerned about the possible intensification of instability in the country, the potential impact on the region, and the precedent it may set for how relations between and among states are conducted,” Guterres said in a statement delivered to the council by U.N. political affairs chief Rosemary DiCarlo.
Guterres called on all Venezuelan actors to engage in an inclusive and democratic dialogue, adding: “I welcome and am ready to support all efforts aimed at assisting Venezuelans in finding a peaceful way forward.”
He also expressed concern that the U.S. operation to capture Maduro in Caracas on Saturday did not respect the rules of international law.
‘ACT OF AGGRESSION’
Colombia, which requested Monday’s meeting, condemned the U.S. operation as a clear violation of the sovereignty, political independence and territorial integrity of Venezuela.
“There is no justification whatsoever, under any circumstances, for the unilateral use of force to commit an act of aggression,” Colombian U.N. Ambassador Leonor Zalabata Torres told the council. “Such actions constitute a serious violation of international law and the United Nations Charter.”
Legal experts have said the U.S. operation was illegal because it lacked U.N. Security Council authorization, did not have Venezuelan consent and did not constitute self-defense against an armed attack.
But the United States cannot be held accountable for any violation by the U.N. Security Council, which is charged with maintaining international peace and security. The United States wields a veto – along with Russia, China, Britain and France – so it can block any action.
The founding U.N. Charter states that members “shall refrain in their international relations from the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any state.” There are currently 193 members of the United Nations.
U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Mike Waltz on Sunday cited Article 51 of the U.N. Charter, which says that nothing “shall impair the inherent right of individual or collective self-defense if an armed attack occurs against a member of the United Nations.”
Trump has threatened another strike if Venezuela does not cooperate with opening its oil industry and stopping the flow of drugs. Trump also threatened Colombia and Mexico, and said Cuba’s communist government “looks like it’s ready to fall.”
Reporting by Michelle Nichols; Editing by Katharine Jackson and Will Dunham
Grok said on Friday lapses in safeguards had resulted in “images depicting minors in minimal clothing” on X, saying it was urgently fixing them
International News via Reuters:
Britain has demanded Elon Musk’s social media site X explain how its AI chatbot Grok was able to produce undressed images of people and sexualised images of children, and whether it was failing in its legal duty to protect users.
Grok said on Friday lapses in safeguards had resulted in “images depicting minors in minimal clothing” on X, saying it was urgently fixing them.
British media regulator Ofcom said it was aware of “serious concerns” raised about the feature.
“We have made urgent contact with X and xAI to understand what steps they have taken to comply with their legal duties to protect users in the UK,” a spokesperson said.
Grok said on Friday: “xAI has safeguards, but improvements are ongoing to block such requests entirely.”
Creating or sharing non-consensual intimate images or child sexual abuse material, including sexual deepfakes created by artificial intelligence, is illegal in Britain.
In addition, tech platforms have a duty to take steps to stop British users encountering illegal content and take it down when they become aware of it.
The request comes after ministers in France reported X to prosecutors and regulators over the disturbing images, saying in a statement on Friday the “sexual and sexist” content was “manifestly illegal”.
Reporting by Paul Sandle;Editing by Alison Williams
Caribbean Transport Organisation will gather tourism ministers from the region in a meeting Tuesday morning to discuss potential industry impacts by US-Venezueula intervention
Seismic events in Venezuela are creating a ripple effect across the region, and travellers have been feeling the impact.
The Trump administration’s capture of President Maduro has triggered various aftershocks, and air travel has been disrupted.
Bermuda will be represented at an urgent meeting with the Caribbean Tourism Organization tomorrow.
A spokesperson for the Bermuda Airport Authority said it will continue to monitor the situation with its strategic partners, including other airlines, the FAA, and Skyport.
U.N. Chief Antonio Guterres raised concerns about instability in Venezuela and the legality of Trump’s strike, the most dramatic U.S. intervention in Latin America since the 1989 Panama invasion
International News via Reuters:
Toppled Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro arrived at a New York court on Monday to face U.S. drug trafficking charges after President Donald Trump’s stunning capture of him rattled world leaders and left officials in Caracas scrambling to respond.
U.N. Chief Antonio Guterres raised concerns about instability in Venezuela and the legality of Trump’s strike, the most dramatic U.S. intervention in Latin America since the 1989 Panama invasion. U.S. Special Forces swooped into Caracas by helicopter on Saturday, shattered his security cordon and dragged him from the threshold of a safe room.
On Monday morning, Maduro – his hands zip-tied – and his wife Cilia Flores were escorted by armed guards in tactical gear from a Brooklyn detention center to a helicopter bound for Manhattan federal court where they faced a noon (1700 GMT) hearing.
Maduro is accused of overseeing a cocaine-trafficking network that partnered with violent groups including Mexico’s Sinaloa and Zetas cartels, Colombian FARC rebels and Venezuela’s Tren de Aragua gang.
Maduro, 63, has long denied the allegations, saying they were a mask for imperialist designs on Venezuela’s oil.
While world leaders and U.S. politicians grappled with the extraordinary seizure of a head of state, an emergency order in Venezuela, published in full on Monday, orders police to search and capture anyone who supported the U.S. attack.Amid global consternation at Trump’s seizure of a foreign head of state – albeit an unpopular one – the U.N. Security Council was due to debate its legality and implications. Russia, China and leftist allies of Venezuela have condemned the raid.
MADURO, WIFE TO FACE U.S. DRUG CHARGES
Maduro was expected to hear the charges against him and enter a plea during the arraignment hearing before U.S. District Judge Alvin Hellerstein. He faces decades to life in prison on each count if convicted.
Prosecutors say Maduro has been involved in drug trafficking from the time he began serving in Venezuela’s National Assembly in 2000 to his tenure as foreign minister and subsequent 2013 election as the late president Hugo Chavez’s successor.
Federal prosecutors in New York first indicted him in 2020 as part of a long-running narcotics trafficking case against current and former Venezuelan officials and Colombian guerrillas. An updated indictment made public on Saturday added some new details and co-defendants, including Cilia Flores.
The U.S. has considered Maduro an illegitimate dictator since he declared victory in a 2018 election marred by allegations of massive irregularities.
Experts in international law have questioned the legality of the raid, with some condemning Trump’s actions as a repudiation of a rules-based international order.
TRUMP ASSERTS OIL ASPIRATIONS
In Caracas, senior officials from Maduro’s 13-year-old government remain in charge of the South American oil producer of 30 million people, first spitting defiance then pivoting to possible cooperation with the Trump administration.
U.S. oil companies’ shares jumped on Monday, fueled by the prospect of access to Venezuela’s vast oil reserves.
Trump has made no secret of wanting to share in Venezuela’s oil riches.
American oil companies will return to Venezuela and rebuild the sector’s infrastructure, Trump told reporters on Air Force One on Sunday.
“We’re taking back what they stole,” Trump said. “We’re in charge.”
Venezuela has the world’s largest reserves – about 303 billion barrels – but the sector has long been in decline from mismanagement, under-investment and U.S. sanctions, averaging 1.1 million bpd output last year, a third of its 1970s heyday.
After first denouncing Maduro’s capture as a colonial oil-grab and “kidnapping,” Venezuela’s acting president, Delcy Rodriguez, softened her stance on Sunday, saying it was a priority to have respectful relations with Washington.
“We invite the U.S. government to work together on an agenda of cooperation,” Rodriguez said. “President Donald Trump, our peoples and our region deserve peace and dialogue, not war.”
Trump has threatened another strike if Venezuela does not cooperate with opening its oil industry and stopping drugs. Trump also threatened Colombia and Mexico on Sunday and said Cuba’s communist government “looks like it’s ready to fall”.
Just how the U.S. would work with a post-Maduro government, full of sworn ideological enemies, is unclear. Trump appears to have sidelined for now the Venezuelan opposition, where many anti-Maduro activists had assumed this would be their moment.
Rodriguez, daughter of a leftist guerrilla who has been praised as a “tigress” by Maduro, is also known as a pragmatist with good connections in the private sector and a belief in economic orthodoxy.
GLOBAL CONSTERNATION
Washington’s allies, most of whom did not recognize Maduro as president due to vote-rigging allegations, have been more muted, stressing the need for dialogue and adherence to law.
Trump’s raid has created a political storm in the U.S., with opposition Democrats saying they were misled. Secretary of State Marco Rubio was due to brief top lawmakers later on Monday.
While a handful of conservative figures have criticized the Venezuela operation as a betrayal of Trump’s “America First” pledge to avoid foreign entanglements, most supporters have largely praised it as a swift, painless win.
Inside Venezuela, Maduro opponents have kept celebrations on hold as his allies remain in power and there is no sign of the military turning against them, even though many suspect some insiders helped in Saturday’s operation.
Reporting by Reuters bureaux worldwide; writing by Lincoln Feast, Andrew Cawthorne and Doina Chiacu; editing by Steve Coates, Neil Fullick, William Maclean, Mark Heinrich and Howard Goller
The victim is in stable condition after sustaining multiple stab wounds
The Bermuda Police Service is investigating a stabbing incident that occurred in the early hours of the morning, Sunday 4 January 2026, outside the Front Yard Night Club.
At approximately 3:08 a.m., police officers were in the area of the Front Yard Night Club when a fight broke out inside the establishment involving approximately four unidentified patrons. Officers observed a male, leaving the club wearing a white T-shirt that appeared to be covered in blood. The injured male mounted a motorcycle and rode away. Police officers made enquiries at Front Yard Night Club and attempted to speak with patrons that were present , however the officers were unable to obtain any information of evidential value regarding the incident or those involved.
Police later received information that an injured male arrived at KEMH with stab wounds.
Police officers attended the hospital and confirmed that this injured male had been stabbed at the Front Yard Club Night Club. Preliminary information received indicates that the victim sustained multiple stab wounds, and was reported to be in stable condition.
The Bermuda Police Service continues to investigate this matter and is appealing to anyone who may have witnessed the incident, or who has information that could assist, to contact the investigating officer PC Justina Watson on 295-0011 or provide information anonymously through Crime Stoppers at 800-8477.
Assistant Commissioner Antoine Daniels: Police are taking this incident seriously, [but] a single incident does not indicate a broader increase in criminal activity or an ongoing threat to the community.
Assistant Commissioner of Police Antoine Daniels of the Bermuda Police Service issued the following statement.
Following the wide circulation of footage on social media and other platforms relating to a recent home invasion in Hamilton Parish, we recognise that some residents have expressed concerns about both community safety and elements of the police response.
It is important to provide context regarding the excerpts of video/audio being circulated, which include a police control room officer speaking with the individual reporting the incident. Speaking with victims and callers in real time is a critical part of the police response. These conversations are designed to gather as much accurate information as possible, such as descriptions, location details, and immediate risks to ensure responding patrol officers receive the most appropriate and timely information.
In this incident, patrol officers were deployed while the control room officer remained engaged on the call. The ongoing communication did not delay police action; rather, it supported it by enabling officers on patrol to respond with clearer situational awareness.
We understand how incidents particularly when shared widely online can heighten fear and concern. At this time, there is no indication that this was a random act.
Assistant Commissioner of Police Antoine Daniels stated that while the Bermuda Police Service is taking this incident seriously, a single incident does not indicate a broader increase in criminal activity or an ongoing threat to the community.
The Bermuda Police Service remain committed to transparency, effective response, and keeping the community informed. Residents are encouraged to stay informed through reliable sources and to continue working with police to help keep our community safe.
The Bermuda Police Service is encouraging persons with any information regarding this incident to contact Detective Sergeant Foote, a police officer you know, or the Confidential Crime Stoppers Hot-Line at 800-TIPS (8477).
The Houston Red Storm were left reeling both on and off the court following a 155-142 defeat to the top-ranked Austin Bats, in a game completely overshadowed by a serious medical emergency involving veteran guard Gerry Glover.
In a contest defined by elite offensive execution and blistering scoring runs, the final result felt secondary as the Red Storm community rallied around Glover and forward Tré Drye, both of whom were forced from the floor under distressing circumstances.
The arena at Austin was silenced for 26 minutes at the 7:53 mark of the fourth quarter following a harrowing collision. Red Storm staple Gerry Glover and Austin’s Gabriel Drayton collided mid-air during a defensive rotation, resulting in Glover falling heavily and losing consciousness. Paramedics administered immediate treatment on the court before Glover regained consciousness; the veteran, who has been a cornerstone of the franchise since 2019 and holds the single-game scoring record of 72 points, was transported to a local medical facility for further evaluation.
The injury was the second blow of the night for head coach Terence Dill, who had already lost Tré Drye to a shoulder injury in the second quarter. Drye had started the game with an explosive burst, scoring Houston’s first eight points, but he did not return and is set to be evaluated later this week.
Despite the somber conclusion, the game itself was a showcase of high-level basketball. Houston pushed the #1 ranked Bats to their limit, fueled by a record-breaking performance from Cameron Moore. The point guard recorded one of the most statistically dominant games in ABA history, finishing with a triple-double of 24 points, 13 rebounds, and a staggering 28 assists.
Dylan Spriggins was equally irrepressible, exploding for 49 points, including a 24-point outburst in the second quarter alone that helped Houston claw back from an early 20-point deficit. The Red Storm’s perimeter shooting was nothing short of historic, as they connected on 68% (13-19) of their efforts from beyond the arc to keep the league leaders on their heels.
Speaking after the game, a visibly shaken Coach Dill emphasized that his thoughts were entirely with his injured players.
“Basketball feels very small right now,” Dill said. “We played a hell of a game against the #1 team in the country, and Cam and Dylan put up numbers you rarely see at this level. But our hearts are in that ambulance with Gerry, and our thoughts are with Tré as well.”
The loss moves the Red Storm to a 5-5 record on the season, but the focus now shifts entirely to the health and recovery of their veteran leaders as they return to Houston.
The Lindsey refinery closed in July last year after previous owner Prax fell into insolvency, putting the 420 jobs at the site at risk
International News via Reuters:
U.S. refiner Phillips 66 said on Monday it had agreed to acquire the assets and infrastructure of Lindsey Oil Refinery in northern England following the site’s liquidation, and will integrate the key facilities into its Humber Refinery.
The Lindsey refinery closed in July last year after previous owner Prax fell into insolvency, putting the 420 jobs at the site at risk.
Phillips 66, which did not disclose a deal value, said that after a detailed review during the bidding process, it had decided not to restart standalone operations at the refinery as the site is unviable in its current form.
Storage and infrastructure assets from Lindsey will be integrated into the Humber Refinery complex, which will improve supply flexibility and support traditional and renewable fuel production, Phillips 66 said.
“In the coming months, we will deepen our understanding of the new assets and develop strategic plans for their integration into the Phillips 66 Limited portfolio following completion of the transaction,” a Phillips 66 spokesperson said.
The announcement follows a bidding process managed by FTI Consulting, which was appointed as special manager of the Lindsey oil refinery assets after the official receiver was named liquidator in June.
None of the bids that were credibly put forward had proposed a return to refining operations at Lindsey in the next few years, the official receiver said.
The remaining 250 staff at the site are guaranteed employment until the end of March, the official receiver said in November, after redundancies began last September.
“We are purchasing the assets of the Prax companies in liquidation and not the companies. While we understand the impact on Prax employees, at this stage we cannot guarantee how many new roles will be created,” the Phillips 66 spokesperson added.
UK Energy Minister Michael Shanks said in a statement: “This will expand the company’s ability to supply fuel to UK customers, boosting domestic energy security and securing jobs – including hundreds of new construction jobs over the next five years.”
The UK Department for Energy Security and Net Zero did not immediately respond to a request for follow-up comment on how the deal might impact UK fuel supply, and the status of the remaining jobs after March.
“Lindsey oil refinery is a critical piece of UK energy infrastructure. Phillips 66 should not be allowed to just mothball the site and turn it into a glorified storage tank,” said Unite union general secretary Sharon Graham.
Reporting by Pranav Mathur in Bengaluru, Robert Harvey, Shadia Nasralla; Editing by Shreya Biswas and Jan Harvey
Hereford FC have confirmed a significant double signing as the club officially welcomes Bermuda internationals Justin Donawa and Keziah Martin to Edgar Street.
The arrival of the pair continues a long-standing tradition of Bermudian talent in the cathedral city, following in the footsteps of 1990s pioneers Kentoine Jennings and Meshach Wade, as well as goalkeeper Dale Eve, who featured for the Bulls in 2022.
Donawa, a versatile winger with a track record of success in the National League, joins permanently from Brackley Town. The 29-year-old was a pivotal figure in the Saints’ 2024-25 title-winning campaign and brings a wealth of experience from previous spells at Solihull Moors and Altrincham.
“Justin Donawa is someone we have tried previously to sign and I’m now pleased we are both in a position to make it happen,” said Hereford manager Paul Caddis. “Justin possesses great athleticism and will be an important addition into our group.”
Accompanying Donawa is central midfielder Keziah Martin, who joins on loan from fellow National League North side Buxton until the end of the season. A former Barnsley academy prospect, Martin has established himself as a reliable operator at this level during stints with Kidderminster Harriers and Boston United. With 20 international caps to his name, he is expected to provide much-needed bite and versatility to the Bulls’ engine room.
While Hereford look to the future, Quorn AFC have moved to secure a blast from the past, confirming the return of Bermudian winger Zhani Burgess.
The homecoming marks a significant boost for Ryan Beswick’s side, who have looked to fill the void left by Burgess following their league-winning campaign last season. A product of the Notts County youth setup, Burgess became a fan favourite at Farley Way for his explosive pace and ability to dismantle defences in one-on-one situations.
The winger’s return is particularly timely given the club’s congested winter fixture list. Having already mastered Beswick’s tactical system, the Quorn boss expects Burgess to integrate “seamlessly” as the club pushes to consolidate its position in the higher division.
The move further cements the Midlands as a primary destination for Bermuda’s elite talent, with Burgess joining a growing list of compatriots using the English non-league system to maintain match sharpness for international duty.
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