As the dust settles in Caracas, Venezuelans are reacting to the news of President Nicolás Maduro's capture by the US with hope, fear, and uncertainty. Supporters of Maduro's government have also been rallying in the streets of Caracas, demanding the US release their leader. Caracas Mayor Carmen Meléndez, a firm government loyalist, joined in the rally to protest against what she called Maduro's "kidnapping". But even for those who are grateful to see Maduro gone, there's still a lot of fear and uncertainty, several Venezuelans told the BBC. "This is only the beginning; we know there is still a long road ahead," Sandra added.

US-Based Kenyan woman Jacinta Wangechi shares an inspiring journey of heartbreak and finding love. Photo: Jacinta Wangechi. In 2022, I walked away from a toxic relationship with my three kids, choosing peace over familiarity even when it terrified me,” she said. Jacinta Wangechi and her husband bought a home in the US a year after getting married. Photo: Jacinta Wangechi.

KUALA LUMPUR: The Education Ministry is focusing on the implementation of a new preschool curriculum and the launch of an Education Development Plan as key priorities for the 2026 school session. Its minister, Fadhlina Sidek, said 2026 marks a critical year, following the return of the school year to a January start. It will also see the preschool curriculum introduced ahead of its original 2027 schedule. Also present were Bandar Tun Razak MP, Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, and the Prime Minister’s political secretary, Datuk Azman Abidin. She said 800 students received assistance at today's event, adding that the total number of recipients in the Bandar Tun Razak constituency is approximately 5,000.

Guardian Angel marked his 36th birthday and 4th wedding anniversary. Photo: Guardian Angel. Here are some of the messages shared online:TUKUZAWARDS:Happy Birthday Guardian Angel Global you are a gifted gospel artist in kenya! Guardian Angel marked his birthday with a special message for his wife. Photo: Guardian Angel.

[AFP]President Donald Trump said on Saturday he would allow American oil companies to go into Venezuela to tap its massive crude reserves after a US military operation seized its leader Nicolas Maduro. Trump also said that "the embargo on all Venezuelan oil remains in full effect." Washington imposed economic sanctions on Venezuela in 2017, followed by oil sanctions two years later. Venezuelan oil is of lower quality and is mostly processed into diesel or byproducts such as asphalt, rather than gasoline. The United States has refineries around the Gulf of Mexico specifically designed to handle it.

President William Ruto has announced plans to overhaul Kenya’s narcotics laws to introduce the death penalty for individuals convicted of trafficking hard drugs. The move marks the most far-reaching policy shift yet in the government’s campaign against alcohol and substance abuse. The government, he said, will move to amend existing legislation to provide for capital punishment upon conviction, warning that drug abuse has spread into schools, residential estates and rural villages across the country. To address the crisis, the President said the government would treat alcohol and drug abuse as a national development and security emergency. “We will establish a strengthened Anti-Narcotics Unit within the Directorate of Criminal Investigations, with operational capacity comparable to the Anti-Terrorism Police Unit,” Ruto said.

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John Cena has commented on Matt Cardona’s return to WWE with his opinions. Cardona had long been associated with the Stamford company from 2006 to 2020, where he even had a plotline with John Cena. He engaged in an on-screen love affair with Eve Torres, who then would go on to John Cena. John Cena commends Cardona’s stability and effortJohn Cena has been active on social media after the retirement from wrestling and has been sharing his opinions frequently on X. He also lavished praise on Cardona’s wife, Chelsea Green, saying they were ‘a tremendous example of making luck through effort.’

The United Opposition has announced that it will delay naming its joint presidential candidate for strategic reasons, according to former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua. We will declare our flagbearer a few months before the election,” Gachagua said. “I make this commitment to you: by the first quarter of 2026, the name of our presidential candidate will be made known to Kenyans. The United Opposition is not just a coalition; it’s your government-in-waiting. During the Murang’a event, Gachagua also defended retired President Uhuru Kenyatta amid criticism from some ODM members.

Leaders around the world have responded with a mix of condemnation and support to the US capture of Venezuela's President Nicolás Maduro. In an initial response, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer said his government would "shed no tears" for the end of Maduro's regime. China said it was "deeply shocked and strongly condemns" the use of force against a sovereign country and its president. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said the legality of the US operation was "complex" and international law in general must apply. UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres said he was "deeply concerned that the rules of international law have not been respected", his spokesperson said.

A CIA source inside the Venezuelan government helped the US track Nicolas Maduro's location in the lead-up to his capture by the US Army's elite Delta Force, CBS News has learned, as first reported by NYT. CIA Director John Ratcliffe has previously said the agency would prioritise the recruitment of human sources. The US government had offered a $50 million reward for information leading to Maduro's arrest. Wearing a military uniform, the mayor said that she and others had taken to the streets to protest against what she described as Maduro's "kidnapping". Thousands of those who protested or expressed their opposition to Maduro's re-election were arrested and sentenced to lengthy jail terms.

President William Ruto during the launch of the Rironi–Mau Summit dual carriageway project at the Total Junction in Mau Summit. [File, Standard]Securing a New IMF ProgrammeDiscussions with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) will dominate the first half of the year. Kenya is actively negotiating for a new funding arrangement. The core sticking points remain, analysts warn, including the treatment of securitised debt (like the road annuity programme), the pace of fiscal consolidation, and tangible progress on structural reforms, particularly privatisation. Failure to secure a credible programme would severely strain public finances and shake market confidence, analysts say.

ODM party leader Oburu Odinga and Homa Bay Governor Gladys Wanga during former Prime Minister Raila Odinga's memorial service at Sony Sugar Green Stadium in Awendo, Migori County, on November 6, 2025. [Anne Atieno, Standard]Is President William Ruto the poisoned chalice in the lap of the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) Party? ODM looks internally ruptured and bleeding, especially after the demise of Raila Odinga. If it is not dying as a political machine, is what it has stood for dying, or perhaps even dead?

The Standard Group Plc is a multi-media organization with investments in media platforms spanning newspaper print operations, television, radio broadcasting, digital and online services. The Standard Group is recognized as a leading multi-media house in Kenya with a key influence in matters of national and international interest.

Hawa Hassan (l) and Hadoma Muhammed (r), whose sons were trapped after South C building collapsed. How tall was South C collapsed building? South C building investigations ongoing“We only want to get the body and bury it according to our Islamic religion. South C building collapse captured on CCTVCCTV footage captured the final seconds before the building, located at Plot No. Source: FacebookJalango speaks after South C building collapseLang’ata Member of Parliament Jalang’o visited the scene to assess the damage and check on the safety of residents.