The Norwegian Nobel Institute said Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado cannot transfer or share her Nobel Peace Prize with the 47th U.S. president, emphasizing that Nobel decisions are final and permanent. The clarification followed Machado’s public gesture of presenting her medal to the U.S. leader as thanks for his role in the capture of Nicolás Maduro, a move the institute said has no legal standing under Nobel rules.
Author Archives: Associated Press
Posted inNational News
Poor communities threatened by aging sewers see crucial aid slashed under 47th president
Poor and mostly Black communities across the U.S. face serious health risks from failing sewer and wastewater systems, but federal aid meant to address these long-standing problems has been cut or eliminated under the 47th president. Advocates warn that slashing environmental justice and infrastructure funding leaves vulnerable residents exposed to sewage, flooding and disease, with few resources to fix systems they cannot afford on their own.
Posted inPOLITICS
47th president can’t block child care money for 5 Democratic-led states for now, judge says
A federal judge has temporarily blocked the 47th president’s administration from freezing billions of dollars in child care and family support funding to five Democratic-led states, ruling that the states met the legal standard to preserve the status quo while the dispute plays out in court. The decision comes as the administration claims—without providing evidence—that the states improperly provided benefits to undocumented immigrants, a move the states argue is unconstitutional and politically motivated, with immediate consequences for low-income families and child care providers.
Posted inPOLITICS
Hoyer laments House ‘is not living up to the Founders’ goals’ as he tells colleagues he’s retiring
Rep. Steny Hoyer, the longest-serving Democrat in Congress, announced he will retire at the end of his term, using a House floor speech to warn that today’s Congress is falling short of the Founders’ vision. The 86-year-old Maryland lawmaker reflected on decades of bipartisan work, urged colleagues to renew their commitment to democratic norms, and said he will spend his final year seeking bipartisanship and avoiding a government shutdown.
Posted inNational News
ICE officer kills a Minneapolis driver in a deadly start to White House’s latest immigration operation
An ICE officer fatally shot a 37-year-old woman in Minneapolis during a federal immigration enforcement operation, an incident federal officials described as self-defense but city and state leaders condemned as reckless and avoidable. The shooting, captured on video, sparked protests and vigils, intensified criticism of large-scale ICE deployments in the Twin Cities, and prompted state and federal investigations amid growing tension over immigration crackdowns.
Posted inSports
Anthony Joshua posts his first public update since the car crash that killed two of his friends
Anthony Joshua shared his first public message since surviving a car crash in Nigeria that killed two of his close friends and team members, posting a photo with his mother and others alongside a tribute caption. The former heavyweight champion sustained minor injuries in the Dec. 29 crash near Lagos, while his strength coach Sina Ghami and trainer Latif “Latz” Ayodele were killed; the driver has since been charged as investigations continue.
Posted inINTERNATIONAL
Gunmen kill at least 30 villagers and abduct others during raid in northern Nigeria
Gunmen killed at least 30 villagers and abducted several others during a Jan. 3 raid on Kasuwan-Daji village in Nigeria’s Niger state, according to police and local residents. Survivors and church officials say the death toll could exceed 40, with bodies still unrecovered amid delayed security response, highlighting ongoing insecurity in the region.
Posted inU.S. Government
How the Monroe Doctrine factors into US arrest of Venezuela’s Nicolás Maduro
The White House cited the Monroe Doctrine as justification for U.S. military action that led to the arrest of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, reviving a two-century-old policy long used to rationalize American intervention in Latin America. Scholars say the 47th president’s framing follows a historical pattern of invoking the doctrine to advance U.S. strategic and commercial interests, particularly energy, while raising questions about prolonged U.S. involvement in Venezuela and tensions within the “America First” movement.
Posted inINTERNATIONAL
Dozens missing after boat carrying more than 200 migrants capsized off the coast of Gambia
Dozens of migrants are missing after an overcrowded boat carrying more than 200 people capsized off the coast of Gambia on New Year’s Eve, prompting an urgent search-and-rescue operation involving emergency services and local fishermen. The tragedy underscores the deadly risks faced by African migrants attempting the perilous Atlantic route to Europe in search of better opportunities.
Posted inINTERNATIONAL
U.S. strikes Venezuela, says its leader has been ‘captured’ and flown out of the country
Legal experts are examining military action taken by the United States in Venezuela on Jan. 3 to determine if the “capture” of the country’s president and first lady can be legally justified. The two are said to be in U.S. custody to face charges of narco-terrorism conspiracy, cocaine importation conspiracy and weapons charges in New York.
Posted inINTERNATIONAL
Central African Republic’s incumbent president, a Russian ally, eyes a third term in key elections
Voters in the Central African Republic went to the polls Dec. 28 in wide-ranging national elections, with incumbent President Faustin Archange Touadéra favored to secure a third term after consolidating power and relying on Russian-backed security forces. Analysts say his likely victory would further entrench Russia’s political, security and economic influence in the conflict-scarred country amid a weakened and divided opposition.
Posted inINTERNATIONAL
Guineans vote in first election since 2021 coup with junta leader likely to win
Guineans cast ballots on Dec. 28 in the country’s first presidential election since the 2021 coup, with junta leader Gen. Mamadi Doumbouya widely expected to win amid a weakened and sidelined opposition. The vote follows a controversial transition that expanded presidential terms and allowed military leaders to run, even as poverty, food insecurity and concerns over civil liberties persist.