Washington says its actions target drug cartels, not the Venezuelan state, after Nicolás Maduro was detained and taken to New York. He and his wife face federal charges and are due in court, while senior figures in Caracas demand his release.

US forces detained Venezuela’s leader after a military operation. The US president said he intends to oversee a transitional administration. The White House says the detainee will face US charges linked to narcotics and security offences. The PM said the UK was not involved.

Donald Trump said the US is ready to act in support of demonstrators in Iran, pledging assistance if they face lethal crackdowns. Tehran warned Washington not to cross a “red line”. The unrest stems from a worsening economic crisis, with deaths reported.

HS2 spent £37m buying properties along a now-axed section of the route, with acquisitions continuing until October. The purchases, on the Birmingham–Manchester/Leeds corridor, have sparked criticism over waste and oversight, prompting fresh scrutiny of the project’s management and accountability.