4 h. ago Asian shares are mixed and oil prices jump as Trump orders a blockade of oil tankers to Venezuela

Asian shares are mixed, with strong buying of technology shares helping to lift some benchmarks, while oil prices surged more than 1% after President Donald Trump ordered a blockade of all “sanctioned oil tankers” into Venezuela

Politics

7 h. ago Trump orders blockade of sanctioned oil tankers entering and leaving Venezuela

Move against all sanctioned vessels comes amid escalating campaign against authoritarian leader Nicolás MaduroDonald Trump has ordered “a total and complete” blockade of all sanctioned oil tankers entering and leaving Venezuela, ramping up pressure on the country’s authoritarian leader Nicolás Maduro.The move comes amid an escalating campaign by the Trump administration against Maduro that has included a ramped-up military presence in the region and more than two dozen military strikes on vessels in the Pacific Ocean and Caribbean Sea near Venezuela, which have killed dozens of people. Continue reading...

Politics

7 h. ago Donald Trump orders complete blockade of Venezuela oil tankers with 'largest armada ever'

Donald Trump has announced a total blockade of sanctioned oil tankers entering and exiting Venezuela, accusing the Maduro regime of stealing US assets and designating it a terrorist organisation

Politics

7 h. ago Trump orders total blockade of oil tankers into Venezuela as he makes 'completely surrounded' claim

Trump announced his order to block "sanctioned oil tankers" into Venezuela in a post on his social media platform as he alleges the country use oil to fund crimes

Politics

7 h. ago Trump orders 'total and complete' blockade of all oil tankers bound for Venezuela while warning Maduro with 'largest Armada ever assembled'

Donald Trump has declared Venezuelan leadership a foreign terrorist organization and ordered 'a total and complete blockade' of oil tankers headed to and from the country.

Events

8 h. ago Trump orders blockade of oil tankers entering and leaving Venezuela

Move against all sanctioned vessels comes amid escalating campaign against authoritarian leader Nicolás MaduroDonald Trump has ordered “a total and complete” blockade of all sanctioned oil tankers entering and leaving Venezuela, ramping up pressure on the country’s authoritarian leader Nicolás Maduro.The move comes amid an escalating campaign by the Trump administration against Maduro that has included a ramped-up military presence in the region and more than two dozen military strikes on vessels in the Pacific Ocean and Caribbean Sea near Venezuela, which have killed dozens of people. Continue reading...

Politics

9 h. ago Trump calls for ‘total and complete blockade’ of sanctioned oil tankers from Venezuela in escalation of tensions

The Trump administration has placed hundreds of American troops and ships near Venezuela’s coastline

Events

9 h. ago Trump orders ‘complete’ blockade of ALL sanctioned oil tankers in and out of Venezuela – piling pressure on Maduro

DONALD Trump has ordered a "total and complete" blockade of all sanctioned oil tankers going in and out of Venezuela - as the US president continues to pile pressure on Nicolas Maduro's regime. Trump's latest power play comes as Washington and Caracas teeter on the brink of all-out war - with tyrant Maduro seemingly running...

Events

9 h. ago Trump orders blockade of 'sanctioned oil tankers' into Venezuela, ramping up pressure on Maduro

President Donald Trump says he is ordering a blockade of all “sanctioned oil tankers” into Venezuela, ramping up pressure on the country’s authoritarian leader Nicolás Maduro

Events

37 h. ago Venezuela accuses Trinidad and Tobago of taking part in US seizure of oil tanker

Maduro regime accuses Caribbean nation of participating in ‘theft of Venezuelan oil’ as tensions mount in regionVenezuela has accused the government of Trinidad and Tobago of taking part in the US seizure of an oil tanker off Venezuela’s coast last week, as Donald Trump’s four-month pressure campaign against Nicolás Maduro continues to reverberate across the region.In a statement on Monday, the Maduro regime accused Trinidad and Tobago of participating in “the theft of Venezuelan oil, committed by the US administration on 10 December with the assault on a vessel transporting this strategic Venezuelan product”. Continue reading...

Events

57 h. ago Venezuela’s allies condemn Trump administration’s oil tanker seizure: ‘They are thieves’

This show of solidarity comes amidst an escalating U.S. military buildup in the southern Caribbean.

Politics

3 d. ago Trump news at a glance: US seizure of Venezuela oil tanker an act of ‘maritime terrorism’, says Cuba

Cuban officials denounce the US seizure of the Skipper oil tanker off Venezuela’s coast. Key US politics stories from 13 December 2025Cuban officials have denounced the US seizure of the Skipper oil tanker off Venezuela’s coast on Wednesday, calling it an “act of piracy and maritime terrorism”, as well as a “serious violation of international law” that hurts the Caribbean island nation and its people.The tanker, which was reported now to be heading for Galveston, Texas, was believed to loaded with nearly 2m barrels of Venezuela’s heavy crude, according to internal data from the Venezuelan state oil company PDVSA, as reported by the New York Times. Continue reading...

Events

3 d. ago Cuba denounces US seizure of oil tanker off Venezuela’s coast as ‘piracy’

Cuban foreign ministry called US military action ‘maritime terrorism’ under a policy of ‘economic suffocation’Cuban officials have denounced the US seizure of the Skipper oil tanker off Venezuela’s coast on Wednesday, calling it an “act of piracy and maritime terrorism” as well as a “serious violation of international law” that hurts the Caribbean island nation and its people.“This action is part of the US escalation aimed at hampering Venezuela’s legitimate right to freely use and trade its natural resources with other nations, including the supplies of hydrocarbons to Cuba,” the Cuban foreign ministry statement said. Continue reading...

Events

4 d. ago Venezuela oil exports reportedly fall sharply after US seizure of tanker

The seizure of the Skipper on Wednesday marked the first US capture of Venezuelan oil cargo since sanctions were imposed in 2019Venezuelan oil exports have reportedly fallen sharply since the US seized a tanker this week and imposed fresh sanctions on shipping companies and vessels doing business with Caracas, according to shipping data, documents and maritime sources.The US seizure of the Skipper tanker off Venezuela’s coast on Wednesday was the first US capture of Venezuelan oil cargo since sanctions were imposed in 2019 and marked a sharp escalation in rising tensions between the Trump administration and the government of Nicolás Maduro. Continue reading...

Events

4 d. ago Federal transportation officials reportedly sharing names of all US airport travelers with ICE

The report, based on documents obtained by the New York Times, says it’s unclear how many arrests have been made due to this data sharingThe admiral in charge of US military forces in Latin America will retire two years early, AP reports, amid rising tensions with Venezuela that include Wednesday’s seizure of an oil tanker and more than 20 deadly strikes on suspected drug-smuggling boats.Three US officials and two people familiar with the matter told Reuters that Admiral Alvin Holsey was pushed out by defense secretary Pete Hegseth. Two officials said Hegseth had grown frustrated with Southern Command as he sought to flex US military operations and planning in the region. Continue reading...

Politics

4 d. ago Trump shocked the world when he seized a Venezuela oil tanker. He might do it again

The White House press secretary has declined to comment on future plans, but said the U.S. is ‘not going to stand by and watch sanctioned vessels sail the seas with black market oil’

Events

4 d. ago The Guardian view on Trump and Venezuela: a return to seeking regime change | Editorial

The US is ramping up the pressure on Nicolás Maduro with a tanker seizure and expanded sanctions following threats and boat strikesEarly in his first term, Donald Trump mooted a “military option” for Venezuela to dislodge its president, Nicolás Maduro. Reports suggest that he eagerly discussed the prospect of an invasion behind closed doors. Advisers eventually talked him down. Instead, the US pursued a “maximum pressure” strategy of sanctions and threats.But Mr Maduro is still in place. And Mr Trump’s attempts to remove him are ramping up again. The US has amassed its largest military presence in the Caribbean since the 1989 invasion of Panama. It has carried out more than 20 shocking strikes on alleged drug boats. Mr Trump reportedly delivered an ultimatum late last month, telling the Venezuelan leader that he could have safe passage from his country if he left immediately. There was already a $50m bounty on his head. This week came expanded sanctions and the seizure of a tanker.D...

Politics

4 d. ago Democrats release more photos from Jeffrey Epstein estate as congressman says new batch ‘raises even more questions’ – live

Release includes photos of Donald Trump, Bill Clinton and Richard Branson as top Democrat says images raise questions about financier’s relationship with high-profile figuresThe admiral in charge of US military forces in Latin America will retire two years early, AP reports, amid rising tensions with Venezuela that include Wednesday’s seizure of an oil tanker and more than 20 deadly strikes on suspected drug-smuggling boats.Three US officials and two people familiar with the matter told Reuters that Admiral Alvin Holsey was pushed out by defense secretary Pete Hegseth. Two officials said Hegseth had grown frustrated with Southern Command as he sought to flex US military operations and planning in the region. Continue reading...

Politics

4 d. ago Democrats publish more photos from Jeffrey Epstein estate, including of Donald Trump, Bill Clinton and former prince Andrew – live

House oversight committee publishes 19 photos from 95,000 they have received from the disgraced financier’s estate todayThe admiral in charge of US military forces in Latin America will retire two years early, AP reports, amid rising tensions with Venezuela that include Wednesday’s seizure of an oil tanker and more than 20 deadly strikes on suspected drug-smuggling boats.Three US officials and two people familiar with the matter told Reuters that Admiral Alvin Holsey was pushed out by defense secretary Pete Hegseth. Two officials said Hegseth had grown frustrated with Southern Command as he sought to flex US military operations and planning in the region. Continue reading...

Politics

4 d. ago Trump sanctions Maduro’s nephews after White House confirms oil tanker crew will be released: Latest

President Donald Trump’s administration ratchets up pressure on Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro

Events