66 m. ago Venezuela cooperating fully and US will control its oil for years, claims Trump

US president says Delcy Rodríguez’s interim administration is doing ‘everything that we feel is necessary’ The US is receiving full cooperation from Venezuela’s regime and will control the country and its vast oil reserves for years, Donald Trump has claimed.Caracas was giving Washington “everything that we feel is necessary” and the US would remain a political overlord there for an indefinite period, the US president said. Continue reading...

Politics

73 m. ago Dense, sticky and heavy: why Venezuela’s oil is valuable to Trump – video explainer

The Venezuelan oil industry is ‘a total bust’ according to Donald Trump, something he has promised to ‘fix’ after attacking Caracas and seizing the country’s leader. But with analysts estimating it could take up to 14 years and billions to fix, what is in it for the US president? Jillian Ambrose, the Guardian’s energy correspondent, explains why Venezuela’s dense, sticky oil is so valuable to Trump Continue reading...

Politics

1 hour ago With Venezuela, Trump has achieved his dream of making his own 80s action movie

Given his rise during the ego joyride of the 1980s, it’s no shock that Trump’s foreign policy is to emulate that decade’s belligerent cinemaThe box office barnstormer of 2026 arrived early this year. A sleazy banana-republic dictator flooding the American streets with blow. The over-the-border Delta Force extraction squad sent to pluck this schmo out of his impregnable fortress. The bronzed tough-talker who’s firing an RPG up the tailpipe of the international rules-based order – but who gets the job done. Call it: Caracas Thunder.Sounds like a bit of a throwback, you might be thinking. But, judging by his press conference after the US military’s abduction of Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro, Donald Trump seemed to have finally achieved his dream of directing his own 80s action movie. Continue reading...

Politics

1 hour ago Minneapolis shooting latest: demonstrations and vigils across US after Minnesota woman fatally shot by ICE agent

Governor Tim Walz said he was prepared to deploy the National Guard and expressed outrage over the shootingWhen a federal agent shot and killed a woman during a large-scale immigration enforcement operation in Minneapolis on Wednesday, the Guardian was nearby, shadowing observers who have trained for months to monitor and respond to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) activity in the state.ICE vehicles, unmarked, lined the street, and yellow police tape cordoned off the area in the immediate aftermath of the shooting. Dozens of protesters and community members were seen on the snowy street, shouting at ICE agents and at the local police. More agents arrived amid the chaos. Continue reading...

Events

4 h. ago The Traitors fans gobsmacked as Reece forgets HUGE moment he spotted Traitors plotting just minutes before portrait task

THE Traitors fans have been left gobsmacked after one show star appeared to FORGET a pivotal moment that could have changed the course of the game. The identity of the Secret Traitor was finally revealed as Fiona after fans were left on the edges of their seats all week guessing who was donning the red...

Politics

4 h. ago Cristian Romero takes apparent swipe at Spurs board for staying silent as team struggle

Reference to ‘lies’ deleted from his social media post‘It should be other people coming out to speak,’ he writesCristian Romero has taken an apparent swipe at Tottenham’s board for staying silent amid the team’s struggles. The captain posted a strongly worded message after Wednesday’s 3-2 defeat at Bournemouth that initially appeared to accuse the hierarchy of telling “lies” before being edited to remove that incendiary reference.What remained on Romero’s Instagram post, though, was what an apparent call for the Spurs directors to speak up. The players were again subjected to abuse by some of their fans after a latest loss that leaves Tottenham with five points from their past six matches, three of which have ended in defeat. Continue reading...

Politics

6 h. ago Minneapolis on edge after fatal shooting of woman by ICE officer

Minneapolis is on edge following the fatal shooting of a woman by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer taking part in the Trump administration’s latest immigration crackdown

Events

8 h. ago Two weeks on, questions linger over targeting and impact of US airstrikes in Nigeria

Very little information has been shared about strikes in Sokoto stateTwo weeks after the US carried out Christmas Day airstrikes in north-west Nigeria on what it described as Islamic State fighters, questions remain over the specific group that was targeted and the operation’s impact.In the aftermath of the strikes, Donald Trump said in a post on his Truth Social platform that “ISIS Terrorist Scum in Northwest Nigeria, who have been targeting and viciously killing, primarily, innocent Christians” were hit with “numerous perfect strikes”. Continue reading...

Events

12 h. ago Photos show Venezuelans mourning loved ones killed during US operation to capture Nicolás Maduro

Venezuelans gathered in mourning as the country’s military held a mass funeral in Caracas for dozens of soldiers killed during a U.S. operation to capture former President Nicolás Maduro.

Culture

12 h. ago Eddie Howe pays tribute to Kevin Keegan after Newcastle edge seven

The Magpies snatched a 4-3 win at home to Leeds.

Events

13 h. ago Carrick running Solskjær close in race to become Manchester United’s interim manager

Solskjær remains the slight favourite for roleDarren Fletcher will oversee Sunday’s FA Cup tieMichael Carrick has edged closer to Ole Gunnar Solskjær in the bid to become Manchester United interim manager, though the Norwegian is still the slight favourite, the Guardian understands.Omar Berrada, the chief ­executive, and Jason Wilcox, the ­director of ­football, will not make an ­appointment until interviewing both men face-to-face. With the ­current interim, Darren Fletcher, leading United to a 2-2 draw at Burnley on Wednesday, the interviews are expected to take place on Thursday and possibly ­Friday, if required. Continue reading...

Sport

13 h. ago US seizes two tankers as Trump widens oil grab and says Venezuela will buy American goods with proceeds from oil sale – live

US takes over two tankers, one Russian-flagged in the North Atlantic and the other Venezuela-linked in the Caribbean; Trump says Caracas will be ‘purchasing only American Made Products’Explainer: why so much interest in a rusty tanker in the Atlantic?Meanwhile, in the UK, Nigel Farage has offered his take on Trump’s plans to control Greenland, saying it would be “outrageous” for the US to seize it from Denmark.Farage says he agrees with Starmer that the fate of Greenland must be decided by Greenland and Denmark, not the US – but sided with Trump on “some genuine security concerns” that require further presence there.“What I will say is this. There are some genuine security concerns around Greenland and that becomes ever more relevant with a retraction of the ice caps as we head towards the North Pole. There is a strong feeling in British intelligence circles, and many in Nato, that there needs to be a significant Nato base located directly on the north of Greenland.At the moment, it...

Politics

13 h. ago Oil giant in talks with Trump administration to expand Venezuela operating license

These talks unfold as Washington and Caracas advance negotiations to supply up to 50 million barrels of Venezuelan oil to the United States

Politics

15 h. ago Antoine Semenyo’s parting gift gives Bournemouth victory over shaky Spurs

For 95 minutes, Antoine Semenyo had done nothing other than receive a yellow card for his 26th birthday. Then came the farewell moment he had dreamed of.Delivered the ball on the edge of the Tottenham penalty area, he struck the sweetest of shots past a helpless Guglielmo Vicario to end Bournemouth’s longest barren run of their Premier League era and sign off in the most perfect fashion. With a move to Manchester City imminent, he can depart the south coast with the blessing of everyone at the club where he has developed into one of English football’s most dangerous players. After 11 winless games, Bournemouth again know what it feels like to win. Continue reading...

Politics

16 h. ago Protest erupts in Minneapolis after ICE agent fatally shoots woman amid immigration crackdown: Live updates

Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey told ICE agents to ‘get the f*** out’ of the city in the aftermath

Events

17 h. ago Swiss ski bar owners ‘destroyed evidence as NYE fire raged’ killing 40 – ‘why were they thinking about this’?

THE couple who ran the Swiss resort bar where 40 people were killed have been accused of destroying evidence by blocking social media accounts in the aftermath of the devastating blaze. Jacques, 49, and Jessica Moretti, 40, are suspected of manslaughter by negligence after allegations of insufficient safety standards emerged following the fatal New Year's...

Events

17 h. ago Secret Traitor finally unmasked as show’s biggest ever mystery revealed

THE SECRET Traitor was finally unmasked tonight as fans were left on the edge of their seat following the big reveal. Both viewers and the show’s traitors discovered who has been acting as an undercover traitor, pulling the strings of everyone in the castle. And it has now been revealed that the Secret Traitor is none other...

Politics

17 h. ago Trump administration funding threats set child care providers and parents on edge

The Trump administration’s crackdown on the $12 billion Child Care and Development Fund, which subsidizes care for 1.4 million children from low-income households, has rattled child care providers and families that rely on the aid money

Politics

17 h. ago Venezuela's military buries soldiers slain in US operation to capture Maduro

Venezuela’s military held a mass funeral in Caracas as it began to bury dozens of soldiers slain during the United States' weekend operation to capture former President Nicolás Maduro

Events

18 h. ago Trump is ‘dictating’ policy to interim leadership of Venezuela after Maduro capture

Venezuela’s interim president maintains she is in charge of the government in Caracas

Politics