Democratic Rep. Jamie Raskin on Saturday urged Americans to demand President-elect Donald Trump justify each Jan. 6 defendant pardon if he issues them on his “first day” in office, as promised. The Maryland congressman, who sat on the Select Committee to Investigate the January 6th Attack on the U.S. Capitol, said it would be an “extraordinary event in the history of the republic to have a president pardon more than…

The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) has announced that it is set to significantly raise the fees it charges deportees for removal from Canada. According to a press statement from CBSA on Friday, beginning in April 2025, foreign nationals facing deportation will be required to pay up to $12,800 for escorted removals and over $3,800 for unescorted removals, a sharp increase from the current flat fee of $1,500. CBSA said…

On Saturday night, southern regions experienced snowfall, which has since transitioned back to rain. However, heavy snow is forecasted to persist in northern areas. Looking ahead, frosty conditions are anticipated to return next week, with forecasters warning of potential ice leading to hazardous travel situations. Snow greeted residents of St Annes on the Sea in Lancashire on Sunday morning There were snowy scenes in Colne, Lancashire as well Heaviest snowfall…

The UK is facing major disruptions due to heavy snow and freezing rain, snowfall of up to 40cm has caused road closures, rail disruptions The UK is reeling from severe weather as heavy snow, freezing rain, and sub-zero temperatures disrupt travel, power supplies, and daily life. The Met Office has issued amber weather warnings for large parts of England and Wales, while yellow warnings for snow, ice, and rain extend…

Russian state newspaper, Izvestia said on Saturday that one of its freelance reporters has been killed in a drone strike near the Russian-occupied city of Donetsk in eastern Ukraine. Moscow has accused Ukraine’s military of deliberately targeting Alexander Martemyanov. Ukraine has not commented. Izvestia said a civilian vehicle carrying Martemyanov was struck as it travelled on a highway in a Russian-occupied zone. Five other media workers were reportedly injured in…

The State Department on Saturday informed Congress of a planned $8 billion weapons sale to Israel, U.S. officials say, as the American ally presses forward with its war against Hamas in Gaza. Some of the arms in the package could be sent through current U.S. stocks but the majority would take a year or several years to deliver, according to two U.S. officials Saturday who spoke on condition of anonymity…

Outgoing US President Joe Biden on Saturday awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom to 19 individuals, bestowing the highest civilian honour in the United States to entertainers, sports stars, politicians, and diplomats. Prominent among the honourees are; Hillary Clinton, the former first lady, senator and US secretary of state, who unsuccessfully ran against Donald Trump for the presidency in 2016, soccer superstar, Lionel Messi, singer and activist, Bono, basketball legend,…

Tomiko Itooka, a Japanese woman, who was the world’s oldest person according to Guinness World Records, has died, an Ashiya city official said Saturday. She was 116. Yoshitsugu Nagata, an official in charge of elderly policies, said Itooka died on Dec. 29 at a care home in Ashiya, Hyogo Prefecture, central Japan. Itooka, who loved bananas and a yogurt-flavored Japanese drink called Calpis, was born on May 23, 1908. She…

Up to 30cm of snowfall is predicted, risking significant disruption to travel, power supplies, and rural communities disruption across UK Large swathes of the UK are preparing for significant disruption this weekend as the Met Office issues amber weather warnings for heavy snow and freezing rain. The severe conditions are expected to bring stranded vehicles, power outages, and delays or cancellations to rail and air travel. Forecasters have warned of…

As the holiday season turns our attention to festive meals like turkey and mince pies, the pressing issue of food security takes center stage. In the UK, an alarming 10 million people face food insecurity, meaning they lack consistent access to affordable, nutritious food. Compounding this crisis, the government recently warned that the climate crisis poses a serious threat to the nation’s food security. At the same time, farmers have…

Incoming US President Donald Trump will be sentenced on 10 January in his hush-money case in New York – less than two weeks before he is set to be sworn in as president, a judge has ordered. On Friday, New York Justice Juan Merchan signalled he would not sentence Trump to jail time, probation or a fine, but instead give him an “unconditional discharge”, and wrote in his order that…

UK mortgage approvals dropped unexpectedly in November, signaling caution among households post-Budget. Consumer credit growth hit a 29-month low as borrowing costs and stamp duty changes impacted the housing market. UK mortgage approvals unexpectedly fell in November, interrupting the gradual recovery in housing market activity. Data released by the Bank of England on Friday revealed a decline in net mortgage approvals — approvals net of cancellations — to 65,700 in…