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Nicolas Maduro is in a jail housing America's 'most unwanted' - and it's far from presidential
The capture of Nicolas Maduro was quite the show, but it was a one-day spectacle.

To look at Brooklyn's Metropolitan Detention Centre (MDC), you would hardly know it housed America's "most unwanted" if it wasn't for the add-ons across the street - the media and protesters out in their numbers.

The only outward sign of high security was a trio of armed officers, in military fatigues, on shuttle patrol between the flyover at one end of the building and the refuse tip at the other.

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This is an industrial corner of Brooklyn and the MDC deals in the justice business, top end.

Previous inmates include Sean Diddy Combs, Ghislaine Maxwell and Sam Bankman-Fried, the crypto fraudster.

They were afforded accommodation arrangements that ensured degrees of separation from the general population, as much for their safety as anything else.

It's to be assumed Nicolas Maduro will be subject to similar. At the MDC, they call it "special administrative measures", which is more as in 'measures' than 'special'. The tight security and isolation would test any man.

And that's before you get to the conditions inside, commonly criticised as unsafe and insanitary. Presidential, it's not.

If the operation to get Maduro to the US was one logistical adventure, his journey from Brooklyn to a Manhattan courthouse will be another.

Today, he faces an arraignment hearing at midday local time (5pm UK time) - at which charges are typically read to the accused and they are invited to enter a plea.

It is a landmark case and it is box office.

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A number of professional "line sitters" have been hired to reserve places for media organisations wanting a space in court 26A for USA v Maduro Moros.

They typically charge $25 (£18.60) an hour and are more used to queuing for Broadway shows.

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Trump in Venezuela is the reality performance everyone wants to see and, despite mixed reviews, it's one he may yet take on tour.

Cuba, Colombia and Greenland have all attracted the attention of the belligerent president in the hours since he captured Maduro.

There is much more to this developing story than what happens inside a New York courtroom.

Nicolas Maduro's court appearance may be the hottest ticket in town but it's almost, already, starting to feel like a sideshow.


Denmark's PM urges Donald Trump to stop threats to take over Greenland
Denmark's leader has urged Donald Trump to stop threatening to take over Greenland after the US president reiterated his wish to do so in a new interview.

Mr Trump has long advocated for the mineral-rich island, a self-governing Danish territory, to become part of the United States.

Speaking a day after the US captured Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro, Mr Trump told The Atlantic: "We do need Greenland, absolutely. We need it for defence."

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In a statement issued on Sunday, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said: "It makes absolutely no sense to ⁠talk about the US needing to take over Greenland.

"The US has no right to annex any of the three countries in ​the Danish Kingdom."

Ms Frederiksen continued: "I would therefore strongly urge the ‌US to stop the threats against a historically close ally and against another country and another people, who have very clearly ​said that they are not for sale."

Trump comments 'disrespectful'

Greenland's Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen has also criticised Mr Trump's latest comments, labelling them "disrespectful".

He said in a statement: "When the President of the United States says ‍that 'we need Greenland' and links us to Venezuela and military intervention, it's not just wrong. It's disrespectful."

Mr Trump's latest comments came a day after he said Washington will temporarily "run" Venezuela following the detention of its hard-left president, which has heightened concerns that something similar could happen to Greenland.

After the raid, a former Trump administration official turned podcaster, Katie Miller, posted an illustrated map of Greenland in the colours of the US stars and stripes with the caption: "SOON."

Responding to Ms Miller, who is married to Mr Trump's influential deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller, Danish ambassador to the US, Jesper Moller Sorensen, said: "And yes, we expect full respect for the territorial integrity of the Kingdom of Denmark."

France also reiterated its support for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Greenland and Denmark, with foreign ministry spokesperson Pascal Confavreux ‍telling TF1 TV: "It is solidarity with Denmark...Greenland belongs to Greenland's people ‌and to Denmark's people. It is up ‌to them to decide what they wish to do. Borders cannot be changed by force."

UK government minister Mike Tapp refused to say if it would be wrong for Mr Trump to invade Greenland during an interview on Sky News' Mornings with Ridge and Frost.

After dodging the question from Sophy Ridge three times, he said: "This isn't for me to sit here and talk about hypotheticals. We could go on forever."

Why is Trump interested in Greenland?

The president has long been interested in the US owning Greenland - and once suggested buying it in what would "essentially [be] a large real estate deal".

The Arctic island's strategic position between Europe and the US makes it a key site for a ballistic missile defence system.

Its mineral wealth is also attractive as the US hopes to reduce its reliance on Chinese exports.

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Greenland, a former Danish colony, depends heavily ​on Danish subsidies but has the right to declare independence under a 2009 agreement.

Denmark has sought to repair strained ties with Greenland over the past year, while also investing in Arctic defence as part of efforts to ease tensions with the Trump administration.


'A 14-year-old girl is with a man in this hotel': How police are stepping up to protect children
"There's a 14-year-old girl with a man in the hotel and we need the police to come," says the caller.

Within minutes of the 999 call, police are knocking at the hotel door - the man is arrested on drug offences and attempting to have sex with a minor.

This scene, captured on police bodyworn camera, has been shared with Sky News as an example of a new initiative to safeguard children.

Greater Manchester Police (GMP) is seeking to win back public confidence after a series of independent reviews found historical failings over the force's response to group-based child sexual exploitation cases in towns such as Rochdale and Oldham.

Launched two years ago, Operation Luka has resulted in rape charges, hundreds of potential crimes disrupted, and about 270 children protected under the new scheme.

In an office just off St Peter's Square in central Manchester, specialist child protection officers sit alongside social workers and health workers - combining their skills and contacts to do something they are often criticised for not doing: working together.

At the Complex Safeguarding Hub, specialists from these different professions have combined briefings and they go on patrol together in the city centre - looking out for vulnerable children and those who would seek to exploit them.

As we join the team, social worker Anthony Green stops to talk to several children out at night in Piccadilly Gardens, which has been identified as an area where young people are at risk.

"What time you're going home?" he asks one 15-year-old girl who he also knows has been skipping school.

"I don't know," she replies.

"How are you getting home?"

"I don't know."

It's past dinnertime. The evening market stalls are closing for the night and the square emptying of shoppers.

Clusters of young people gather in the dark outside McDonald's.

Several of the children we meet are known to social services, some of them living in care.

Anthony might be the nearest thing they have to a trusted adult.

Out at night, the children are rubbing shoulders with criminals.

Drug dealers and shoplifters frequent the area - but more importantly, GMP says 40 people have been identified as a child exploitation threat operating within the Piccadilly Gardens area.

Mr Green told Sky News: "With traditional social work we're usually seeing them at home or in their schools but seeing them in these environments is really important for us, as social workers, to really understand the harms and the risks that they may encounter."

Anthony's presence gives police an edge in gathering intelligence and identifying potential concerns, building up a picture of those at risk.

While we were on patrol, one of the children Anthony meets later sees someone carrying a knife in McDonald's, and has the confidence to report it to the police.

"It's all about trust," says Detective Inspector Chris Chadderton from Operation Luka.

"Obviously, they're happy to speak to their social workers. Us working together, being in the same office, that information passes on a lot quicker."

The other arm to this safeguarding drive is Operation Makesafe, which gives hotel receptionists guidance on when to call in suspicions to the police, for example if they see a man checking in with an underage girl.

GMP has given Sky News examples of recent 999 calls.

In one, the receptionist calls in his concern about a girl who looks 15.

He tells the operator: "When the guy was distracted, I mouthed to the girl 'do you need any assistance, do you need any help'.

"She was looking a bit scared, she said 'no' but she was looking frightened ... the man was acting like he was controlling the girl."

The operator feeds back information while they talk - and before the call has ended, police have arrived on the scene.

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Over the past two years, Operations Luka and Makesafe have resulted in two men being charged with rape and 363 criminal disruptions.

Most cases are individual offenders, but they also investigate group-based child exploitation.

DI Chadderton added: "It's not always about whether we get that successful prosecution at the end, it's sometimes about making sure we can get that young person out of that situation where they feel that they're trapped."

As for social services, it is easy to point at failures, harder to quantify success.

Mr Green said: "I think the successes for us are the relationships we build with children. And I think if they can turn to us or talk to us, and we can see them develop, grow, and get really good outcomes, then that's a win for us."

The scandals of the past still hang over authorities in this city.

Three independent reviews in the last five years exposed how child sexual exploitation had been a blind spot in Greater Manchester.

GMP insists it isn't anymore.


British teenager confirmed dead after Swiss bar fire - as all 40 victims are identified
A teenager with British citizenship has been confirmed dead after a fire at a bar in Switzerland - as officials say all 40 victims have been identified.

Charlotte Niddam previously attended Immanuel College, a private school in Hertfordshire.

The 15-year-old is a joint British, Israeli and French national.

Dozens were killed and more than 100 people were injured in the fire, which broke out in the early hours of Thursday at the Swiss ski resort of Crans-Montana, as people celebrated the New Year.

In a post on social media, her family said: "It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our beautiful daughter and sister, Charlotte.

"Details regarding the funeral arrangements will follow shortly. It is most likely on Thursday in Paris.

"Thank you for all your support those last few days."

Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper wrote on X: "Terrible news that Charlotte Niddam has been identified as one of those killed in the Crans-Montana fire. My thoughts are with all her family and friends after this devastating loss."

Some of the 40 victims who lost their lives in the fire have been named, but police say no further information will be released at this time.

Those who have been publicly identified include a young boxer named Benjamin Johnson, who "left us a hero, having come to the aid of his friend", a social media post from the Swiss Boxing Federation said on Sunday.

Another teenager, Tristan Pidoux, has also been reported dead by a spokesperson for the family.

Italian 17-year-old Emanuele Galeppini, Italian 16-year-old Chiara Costanzo and Swiss 16-year-old Arthur Brodard have also been named.

Mourners attended a mass this morning at the Chapelle Saint-Christophe before joining the silent march up the hill to the Le Constellation bar, the site of the tragedy.

Emergency service workers were among those who gathered for the service - led by Bishop Jean-Marie Lovey of Sion - and left flowers at a makeshift memorial.

Hundreds of people followed the service on a screen installed outside the church.

During the mass, the Rev Gilles Cavin spoke of the "terrible uncertainty" for families unsure if their loved ones are among the dead or still alive among the injured.

"We pray for their friends hard-hit by misery on this day that was meant to be one of festivities and friendship," he said.

Swiss authorities said the process of identifying victims had been difficult because of the severity of the blaze.

Earlier, Swiss police gave details about more of the victims who had been identified.

Many of them are teenagers - with a 14-year-old among the youngest. Their bodies have been returned to their families.

Read more:
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Witness describes moments after fire broke out

Arthur Brodard, one of the victims, had reportedly joined around 10 of his friends at the bar on New Year's Eve.

"Our Arthur has now left to party in paradise," his mother Laetitia Brodard said in a Facebook story posted on Saturday night.

"We can start our mourning, knowing that he is in peace and in the light."

She and her husband Christophe, who are from the Swiss city of Lausanne, had been among the families searching for their loved ones.

In her social media post, she thanked those who had shown "their compassion, their love" and had shared information as she anxiously searched and waited for news of her son.

Police have said many of the victims were in their teens to mid-20s.

Meanwhile, investigations are continuing into the cause of the fire, focusing on the champagne sparklers lit inside the bar and its ceiling foam, as well as the location and quality of emergency exits.

The two managers of the bar, where the fire broke out, are under criminal investigation.


Junk food advert ban comes into effect with soft drinks, cereal and chocolate included
A new online and TV ban on the advertising of unhealthy food comes into full effect today after voluntary restrictions were introduced in October.

The ban prevents ads for "less healthy" food and drinks that are high in saturated fat, salt and sugar (HFSS) appearing on television between 5.30am and 9pm, and online at any time.

The ban applies to products that fall within 13 categories considered to play the most significant role in childhood obesity.

These include soft drinks, chocolates and sweets, pizzas, cakes and ice creams, but also breakfast cereals and porridges, sandwiches, sweetened bread products and yoghurts.

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Products that belong to these categories will need to be assessed on whether they are considered "less healthy" using a scoring tool that considers their nutrient levels and whether they are high in saturated fat, salt and sugar.

Only products that belong to one of the 13 categories and score outside the acceptable range are included in the advertising restrictions, which will be policed by the Advertising Standards Authority.

Products that are assessed as healthier in both can still be advertised, which the government hopes will lead to changes in recipes by the food industry.

Adverts for plain oats and most porridge, muesli and granola will not be affected, but some less healthy versions with added sugar, chocolate or syrup could face restrictions.

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Rules previously stated that products high in saturated fat, salt and sugar should not be advertised through any media when more than 25% of the audience is under 16 years old.

The government estimates the ad ban will prevent around 20,000 cases of childhood obesity.

Latest figures suggest one in 10 reception-aged children is now obese, while one in five children has tooth decay by the age of five.

It is estimated that obesity costs the NHS more than £11bn every year.

The new plans were first announced by the Conservatives in 2021 but were pushed back twice.

It comes after Health Secretary Wes Streeting announced that milkshakes and lattes will be hit with a sugar tax for the first time in a bid to tackle obesity.


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