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Five Spanish Citizens Freed in Venezuelan Prisoner Release

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Spain confirmed that Venezuela has freed five Spanish citizens, including Venezuelan-Spanish human rights activist Rocío San Miguel, in a move amid Caracas’s ongoing political upheaval. Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares said the group — also comprising Andrés Martínez, José María Basoa, Ernesto Gorbe and Miguel Moreno — is set to return to Spain with embassy support, a decision Madrid called a “positive step.” San Miguel, a lawyer and prominent critic of the Venezuelan government, had been detained since February 2024, drawing international condemnation.

The releases came after Venezuela’s National Assembly President Jorge Rodríguez announced that a “significant number” of foreign and Venezuelan prisoners would be freed, framing the gesture as part of efforts to seek peace following recent turmoil. Yet rights groups and families of detainees reported that many Venezuelan political prisoners remain behind bars despite the announcement, with continued uncertainty outside detention centers.

The broader context involves heightened tensions after U.S. forces captured former President Nicolás Maduro in a military operation, prompting political shifts in Caracas. Opposition figures have long demanded the release of political detainees, while human rights organizations estimate hundreds remain imprisoned for their activism or dissent.

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Spain’s Catholic Church Signs Deal to Compensate Abuse Victims

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Spain’s Roman Catholic Church has reached an agreement with the government to compensate victims of sexual abuse by clergy members. The new accord allows the government to manage compensation for cases where legal action is no longer possible due to the statute of limitations or the death of the accused, expanding access for victims. Justice Minister Félix Bolaños described the move as addressing a “historic, moral debt” to survivors.

Under the agreement, victims can submit their cases to a new agency within the justice ministry, which will coordinate with the ombudsman’s office to propose reparations. The Church must approve these proposals, which can be symbolic, psychological, or financial, with the institution responsible for execution. The arrangement ensures greater oversight and transparency compared to the Church’s previous internal reparation scheme, which faced criticism from victims and advocacy groups.

The move follows widespread complaints and research suggesting that hundreds of thousands of Spaniards have suffered abuse by Church figures, with cases documented as far back as the 1940s. Similar redress programs in European countries offer financial compensation ranging from €6,000 to €63,000 per victim, providing a reference for potential payouts under Spain’s new system.

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Pope Leo Urges Cardinals to Foster a More Inclusive Church

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Pope Leo XIV convened a two-day summit with 170 of the world’s 245 Catholic cardinals on Thursday, calling on senior clerics to avoid divisions and focus on attracting new believers to the 1.4-billion-member Church. He emphasized that the Church’s growth depends on spreading a message of God’s love for all and warned that division scatters while unity attracts.

The pope signaled continuity with the reforms of his predecessor, Pope Francis, who faced resistance from conservative cardinals while seeking to make Catholicism more inclusive, including welcoming LGBTQ Catholics and exploring women’s ordination. Leo encouraged the cardinals to work collectively to respond to the needs and desires of the Catholic faithful worldwide.

Opening his first full year as Church leader, Leo asked the cardinals for advice on priorities for the next two years, while urging them to keep discussions private for candid dialogue. British Cardinal Timothy Radcliffe highlighted the importance of unity, stressing that internal quarrels render the cardinals ineffective in supporting the Pope’s mission.

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French Farmers Block Paris Over Mercosur Trade Deal

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French farmers staged a pre-dawn blockade of roads and landmarks in Paris to protest the European Union’s proposed trade agreement with South American Mercosur nations. Members of the Coordination Rurale union, joined later by FNSEA and young farmers’ groups, drove tractors along the Champs Élysées and around the Arc de Triomphe, causing traffic jams stretching up to 150 km, while police maintained a calm presence.

Protesters voiced concerns that the Mercosur deal would flood Europe with cheap food imports, undermining domestic agriculture, and criticized the government’s handling of the lumpy skin disease outbreak, advocating vaccination instead of culling. Senior union member Stephane Pelletier described farmers as feeling abandoned and betrayed by the trade accord.

The demonstration adds pressure on President Emmanuel Macron ahead of an EU member vote expected Friday. While Paris secured some concessions, the deal remains politically sensitive, with municipal elections approaching and strong opposition from the far right. France has vowed to continue opposing the agreement in the European Parliament if it is approved.

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Meloni Condemns Political Violence After Attack on Party Activists

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Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni called for an end to political violence after four activists from her party’s youth wing, Gioventù Nazionale, were attacked in Rome on the 48th anniversary of the 1978 killings of three neofascist militants in Via Acca Larentia. Witnesses said the activists were assaulted while putting up commemorative posters, and their car windscreen was smashed, though none were seriously hurt.

Meloni described the 1978 deaths as “a painful page in the history of our nation,” referring to a period of terrorism and political hatred in which much innocent blood was shed. She emphasized that political violence, in all its forms, is never justifiable and must never be repeated, urging Italians to choose respect, dialogue, and civil coexistence.

The Via Acca Larentia commemoration has historically drawn far-right participants performing Roman salutes, a practice linked to Meloni’s Brothers of Italy party roots in the neofascist Italian Social Movement (MSI). While her party denies ties to fascism, Meloni has repeatedly condemned those idolizing Italy’s fascist past and stressed that such actions threaten democracy.

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Berlin Blackout Sparks Fresh Fears Over Germany’s Vulnerability to Sabotage

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Power is being restored to the last homes affected by a five-day blackout in Berlin, believed to have been caused by an arson attack during sub-zero temperatures. The outage, reportedly the longest in the capital’s post-war history, left an estimated 100,000 people without electricity in south-west districts including Steglitz-Zehlendorf. Schools, hospitals and care homes were among the facilities impacted, with hospitals forced to rely on emergency generators and some schools closing temporarily.

Residents described struggling through the freezing conditions, cooking on camping stoves and relying on battery-powered radios for information. Emergency services patrolled neighbourhoods to update residents as electricity was restored gradually. The incident followed the discovery of burning cables near a gas-fired power plant, after which a far-left militant group known as Vulkangruppe appeared to claim responsibility, saying it targeted the fossil fuel industry. A later online statement, however, distanced the group’s founders from the attack.

The blackout has reignited debate over Germany’s vulnerability to sabotage, whether by domestic or foreign actors. Federal prosecutors are investigating the incident as a possible terrorism offence, including charges related to sabotage and disruption of public services. The episode has added urgency to proposed legislation aimed at strengthening protections for critical infrastructure, with a long-delayed “Kritis” bill currently under parliamentary consideration.

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Trump Administration Drops Daily Alcohol Limits in New U.S. Dietary Guidelines

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The Trump administration has removed long-standing limits on daily alcohol consumption from the new 2025–2030 Dietary Guidelines for Americans, no longer advising men to limit intake to two drinks a day and women to one. Instead, the updated guidance broadly encourages Americans to drink less to improve health. The change is part of a wider overhaul of federal nutrition advice that influences healthcare guidance, school meal standards and public policy.

Senior administration officials said the previous limits were not backed by strong scientific evidence. Mehmet Oz, administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, said there was never reliable data to support specific daily drink thresholds and argued that, at best, alcohol should be consumed sparingly and socially. The updated guidelines also emphasize higher protein intake, reduced sugar consumption and avoiding ultra-processed foods, aligning with the administration’s “Make America Healthy Again” agenda.

The move has drawn criticism from public health and advocacy groups, who warn that removing clear benchmarks could encourage heavier drinking. Organizations including the U.S. Alcohol Policy Alliance argue the change could harm public health, while bodies such as the World Health Organization maintain that even low levels of alcohol raise health risks, including cancer. The debate follows years of conflicting research on moderate drinking and comes amid evidence that Americans are already drinking less than in previous decades.

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Western Europe Faces Fresh Snow and Ice as Storm Goretti Disrupts Travel

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Western Europe prepared for another bout of severe winter weather on Wednesday as storm Goretti, the first named storm of the year, swept in from the Atlantic. Heavy snow fell across parts of France, including the Paris region, while cold weather and ice warnings covered large areas of France and Britain. Authorities warned that conditions were likely to worsen in the coming days, particularly in southern Britain.

The storm triggered widespread transport disruptions, with flight cancellations, train delays and blocked roads reported across several countries. Dutch airline KLM cancelled around 600 flights at Amsterdam’s Schiphol airport, marking a sixth consecutive day of disruption, citing heavy snowfall and shortages of aircraft de-icing fluid. In France, bus services in Paris were suspended, and aviation authorities ordered airlines to significantly cut flights at the main Paris airports.

Governments urged caution as conditions affected daily life and supply chains. French officials banned trucks and school buses from roads in many northern regions, while Dutch authorities advised people to work from home if possible. Retailers warned of potential supply disruptions, especially for fresh produce, as snowfall heavier than usual for the region continued to strain transport networks.

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Trump Mocks Macron, Claims Tariff Threat Forced France on Drug Prices

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US President Donald Trump has mocked French President Emmanuel Macron, claiming he pressured France into sharply raising prescription drug prices by threatening steep tariffs on French imports. Addressing Republican lawmakers, Trump recounted a dramatic exchange in which he said France initially resisted his demand to increase drug prices, arguing that Americans were paying far more than consumers in Europe.

Trump alleged that he then issued an ultimatum, warning of a 25% tariff on all French products, including wine and champagne, unless Paris complied. According to Trump, the threat worked swiftly, with Macron purportedly agreeing to raise drug prices significantly to avoid the tariffs. Trump used the episode to argue that the United States has long subsidised global healthcare costs and that his “Most Favoured Nation” policy was designed to reverse that imbalance.

The former president further claimed that similar tariff threats led other countries to agree within minutes to raise drug prices, resulting in lower costs for Americans. He said the policy would tie US prescription prices to the lowest rates charged internationally and promised steep reductions under the plan. Neither Macron nor the French government has responded publicly to Trump’s remarks.

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Gary O’Neil Named Strasbourg Manager After Rosenior Joins Chelsea

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Gary O’Neil has been appointed as the new manager of French Ligue 1 club Strasbourg following Liam Rosenior’s departure to Chelsea. The 42-year-old, who previously managed Premier League sides Bournemouth and Wolves, expressed pride in joining a club with a “high-quality squad and clear, ambitious goals” and praised Strasbourg’s passionate fans and rich history.

Strasbourg, currently seventh in Ligue 1, acted quickly to secure O’Neil, who will make his debut in Saturday’s French Cup tie at Avranches. Club president Marc Keller described O’Neil as a “demanding and respected coach” whose modern approach aligns with Strasbourg’s sporting vision. The French side is part of BlueCo, the multi-club group that also owns Chelsea.

O’Neil began his managerial career with Bournemouth, leading them to Premier League safety, before a stint with Wolves where he guided the club to a 14th-place finish and the FA Cup quarter-finals in 2023-24. However, his second season at Molineux ended in December 2024 with the team in the relegation zone, resulting in his dismissal prior to taking up his new role at Strasbourg.

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