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Category: World

Donald Trump Declares Himself Acting President of Venezuela After Maduro’s Capture

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Donald Trump has declared himself “Acting President of Venezuela, Incumbent January 2026” in a social media post styled like an edited Wikipedia page. The post included his official portrait and listed him as both the 45th and 47th President of the United States, the statement was said. The claim is not reflected on Wikipedia and has not been recognized by any international organization, the report was said. The announcement followed a United States military operation that captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, who were flown to New York to face federal drug trafficking and narcoterrorism charges. The operation came after months of US pressure, sanctions, and military activity targeting Venezuela, the report was said. Maduro has described his removal as a “kidnapping,” while countries including China, Russia, Colombia, and Spain condemned the action as a violation of international law, analysts said. Hours after Maduro’s ouster, Trump announced that the United States would temporarily govern Venezuela, citing security concerns and the need for a controlled transition, the statement was said. He added that the US would oversee Venezuelan oil production and sales to global markets during this period, the statement was said. Inside Venezuela, Vice President Delcy Rodríguez was sworn in as interim President by the Supreme Tribunal of Justice. Rodríguez rejected US authority, demanded Maduro’s release, and reaffirmed him as the nation’s rightful leader, the report was said. Trump warned that Rodríguez could “pay a very big price” if she did not cooperate, suggesting the consequences could be even more severe than those facing Maduro, who remains in US custody, the statement was said. Trump also took credit after Venezuelan authorities announced the release of political prisoners as a gesture toward peace. On Truth Social, he said the releases had occurred “in a big way” following US action and warned the freed prisoners to “never forget it,” the statement was said. The US President further called on major American oil companies to invest up to $100 billion in Venezuela to expand the country’s oil production. He said the US would determine which companies could operate in Venezuela and assist in rebuilding its oil sector, the statement was said. He also praised an agreement with Venezuela’s interim leadership to supply 50 million barrels of crude oil to the United States, adding that deliveries could continue indefinitely and help lower US energy prices, the statement was said.

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Donald Trump Denies Sean “Diddy” Combs Pardon Request

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Donald Trump has rejected Sean “Diddy” Combs’ request for a presidential pardon, saying he has no intention of granting clemency to the music mogul. Combs, 56, is serving a four-year prison sentence after being convicted last July on two counts of transporting people across state lines for prostitution. He was acquitted of the more serious charges of sex trafficking and racketeering. Trump confirmed that Combs had sent him a letter seeking a pardon but added that he was not inclined to act on it. In an interview with The New York Times published Thursday, Trump also made it clear he does not plan to pardon several other high-profile figures, including deposed Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro, disgraced crypto tycoon Sam Bankman-Fried, and former Democratic senator Robert Menendez. When asked about Derek Chauvin, the ex-Minneapolis officer convicted of murdering George Floyd, Trump said he had not been approached regarding a pardon. Trump has granted clemency to a number of individuals in the past, including over 1,500 people involved in the January 6, 2021 US Capitol attack and Honduran ex-president Juan Orlando Hernandez, who was serving a 45-year sentence for drug trafficking. The former president’s comments underscore his selective approach to pardons, favoring political allies and loyalists while denying requests from celebrities and other controversial figures.

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Trump Moves To Pull US Out Of 66 UN And Global Bodies

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United States President Donald Trump has unveiled plans to withdraw the country from 66 United Nations and international organisations, a decision that would significantly scale back US involvement in global efforts on climate change, democracy, and peacebuilding. The move was announced in a presidential memorandum released by the White House on Wednesday night. Trump said the decision followed a review of international bodies, conventions, and treaties considered to be at odds with US national interests. He added that Washington would end its participation in the affected organisations and halt all financial contributions to them. The list issued by the White House shows that 35 of the organisations are outside the UN system, including the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance, and the International Union for Conservation of Nature. While classified as a non-UN body in the document, the IPCC is a UN-backed organisation that brings together leading scientists to evaluate climate data and provide assessments used by governments worldwide. The withdrawal plan also covers 31 UN bodies, among them the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, the UN Democracy Fund, and the UN Population Fund, which focuses on maternal and child health. Several of the targeted agencies are involved in protecting vulnerable populations during armed conflicts, including the Office of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children in Armed Conflict. Responding to the announcement, UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said the organisation was expected to issue an official response by Thursday morning. Although Trump has consistently argued for reduced US participation in UN forums, he has continued to play an active role in shaping decisions on the international stage.

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China Condemns US Over Planned Intervention In Venezuela’s Oil Sector

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China has strongly condemned the United States’ planned intervention in Venezuela’s oil sector, sharply criticising President Donald Trump’s actions as a violation of international law. Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning described the US move as an “outrageous use of force” and said Washington’s insistence that Venezuela manage its oil resources according to an “America First” agenda amounts to harassment and undermines the rights of the Venezuelan people. “Venezuela has full sovereignty over its natural resources and economic activities,” Mao said, adding that China’s own rights and interests in the country must also be protected. The criticism follows Trump’s announcement on his Truth Social platform that Venezuela’s interim government would transfer 30 million to 50 million barrels of “sanctioned oil” to the United States, with the proceeds intended to benefit both Venezuelans and Americans. China, a key ally and the largest buyer of Venezuelan oil, has consistently opposed foreign interventions in the South American country. The condemnation also comes in the wake of a US military operation that led to the removal of Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, which Beijing and other global powers have denounced as a breach of Venezuela’s sovereignty. Mao’s statement reflects growing international concern over the US actions, highlighting tensions surrounding Venezuela’s oil resources and the broader geopolitical implications of unilateral interventions.

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Trump Announces Venezuela to Hand Over 30–50 Million Barrels of Oil to U.S.

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President Donald Trump has announced that Venezuela will hand over 30 to 50 million barrels of sanctioned oil to the United States. The crude, which has been held in storage due to Washington’s embargo on Venezuelan exports, will be sold at market prices, with Trump saying he will personally oversee the revenues to ensure they benefit both Americans and Venezuelans. Trump said he has instructed Energy Secretary Chris Wright to carry out the plan “immediately”, adding on Truth Social that the oil “will be taken by storage ships and brought directly to unloading docks in the United States.” The move follows Trump’s push to reclaim Venezuela’s oil reserves and revive its struggling energy sector after U.S. forces removed President Nicolás Maduro. He also indicated that American oil companies are ready to invest billions to rebuild Venezuela’s infrastructure and tap into its reserves, which he claims were “stolen” from the United States. Under international law, the U.S. does not have a claim to Venezuelan oil, though Venezuela’s oil sector was nationalized under Hugo Chávez, who seized assets belonging to American companies. Major U.S. oil firms—including Chevron, ExxonMobil, and ConocoPhillips—have yet to comment publicly on the plan, though meetings with the president are reportedly scheduled. Experts caution that the effect on global oil markets is likely to be limited. Even 50 million barrels would represent a small boost to supply, given global consumption exceeds 100 million barrels per day, with the U.S. producing about 14 million barrels daily. Energy analyst Mark Finley of the Baker Institute noted that the significance of Trump’s plan depends on the delivery schedule. “Thirty to 50 million barrels over what time frame? That will be key. In a month, it’s essentially all Venezuelan output; in a year, it’s small,” he said. Scott Montgomery, a global energy expert at the University of Washington, expressed uncertainty over Trump’s claim to control the proceeds. “I have no idea how Trump might distribute the cash. There’s little precedent for this in the U.S.,” he said. Analysts warn that restoring Venezuela’s production to its 1990s peak of over three million barrels per day would require massive investment and years of work. Norwegian consultancy Rystad Energy estimates it would take around $110 billion to reach roughly two million barrels per day. Montgomery added that extensive engineering studies would be needed to assess the condition of Venezuela’s reservoirs, which have deteriorated over time.

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Michael Reagan, Son of Former US President Ronald Reagan, Dies At 80

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Michael Reagan, the eldest son of former President Ronald Reagan and actress Jane Wyman, has died at his Los Angeles home, the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation and Institute confirmed on Sunday. Reagan, 80, spent much of his life preserving his father’s legacy as a conservative author and radio talk show host. He was known for defending and promoting the principles of the Reagan administration, which focused on reducing government intervention and helping bring an end to the Cold War. “Michael Reagan lived a life shaped by conviction, purpose, and an abiding devotion to President Reagan’s ideals,” the foundation said in a statement. Ronald Reagan passed away in 2004 after a long battle with Alzheimer’s disease.

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Colombian President Petro Denounces Trump’s Drug Claims, Warns Against US Military Action

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Colombian President Gustavo Petro has strongly rejected US President Donald Trump’s accusations and warned that any attempt at military intervention in Colombia could spark widespread resistance. Trump had threatened Colombia following a US strike on Venezuela aimed at removing President Nicolás Maduro, accusing Petro of running a cocaine operation. Speaking on Air Force One, Trump said Colombia is “very sick” and called Petro “a sick man who likes making cocaine and selling it to the United States,” adding, “He has cocaine mills and cocaine factories and is not going to be doing it very long.” Petro, a former leftist guerrilla who demobilised in the 1990s, denied the allegations, posting on X: “I am not illegitimate and I am not a narco. Trump speaks without knowledge. Stop slandering me.” He also warned that any US attack would have serious consequences. “If they bomb, the campesinos will become thousands of guerrillas in the mountains. And if they detain the president, which a large part of the country loves and respects, they will unleash the ‘jaguar’ of the people,” Petro said. Petro, who previously belonged to the M-19 guerrilla group, later helped draft Colombia’s 1991 constitution, served as a lawmaker, and became mayor of Bogotá before being elected president. “I swore not to touch a weapon again … but for the homeland I will take up arms again,” he added. In response to the escalating tensions, Colombian Defence Minister Pedro Sánchez announced that the president’s security detail had been reinforced. While some right-wing opposition figures in Colombia have sided with Trump, political leaders across the spectrum have rejected the idea of a US attack. Relations between Colombia and the US have already been strained: the US revoked Petro’s visa in September after he urged American soldiers to disobey illegal orders and imposed financial sanctions on him, his wife, and key aides in October. Meanwhile, the US has bolstered its military presence in the Caribbean and conducted strikes on suspected drug boats near Venezuela and off Colombia’s Pacific coast.

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Paris Court Sentences Ten for Online Harassment of Brigitte Macron

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A Paris court has sentenced ten people for online harassment targeting Brigitte Macron, the wife of French President Emmanuel Macron, after they spread false and abusive claims about her personal life and identity. The group, consisting of eight men and two women, was found to have deliberately posted degrading and insulting content on social media. Their posts included conspiracy theories about Brigitte Macron’s gender and sexuality, as well as critical remarks about the age difference between her and the president. The court ruled that the actions were intended to cause harm. Most of the convicted received suspended prison sentences of up to eight months, along with penalties such as mandatory educational programs and temporary suspensions of their social media accounts. One defendant was taken into custody immediately after failing to appear in court. Some of the harassment reflected earlier claims by internet personalities Natacha Rey and Amandine Roy, who previously alleged that Brigitte Macron did not exist and was in fact the president’s brother living under a false identity. Although they were convicted of slander in 2024, an appeals court later overturned the verdict, ruling that claims about a gender transition do not automatically constitute an attack on someone’s honour. The Macrons have since appealed the decision to France’s highest court. Brigitte Macron’s lawyer, Jean Ennochi, said the most important part of the ruling lies in the preventive measures, including educational programs and account suspensions. During the trial, her daughter, Tiphaine Auzière, testified that the sustained online abuse had affected her mother’s health and daily life, and even led to teasing of her grandchildren at school. She explained that Brigitte Macron had become constantly aware of how her appearance and actions could be targeted by conspiracy theorists.

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