Dec 18 Watch 6:06 Venezuela oil blockade could have 'chilling effect' on Maduro, ex-ambassador says By Geoff Bennett, Dan Sagalyn For weeks, the Trump administration has been escalating pressure on Venezuela and the government of Nicolás Maduro. Wednesday night, we heard from a critic of the approach. For a different perspective, Geoff Bennett spoke with Jimmy Story. He spent 25… Continue watching
Dec 18 EU delays massive free-trade deal with South American bloc Mercosur amid farmer protests By Sam McNeil, Associated Press The European Union is delaying a massive free-trade deal with South American countries after fiery protests by farmers and last-minute opposition by France and Italy threatened to derail the pact, seen by its backers as an important geopolitical move for both continents. Continue reading
Dec 18 Israel launches airstrikes in Lebanon as deadline to disarm Hezbollah looms By Bassem Mroue, Associated Press Israel has carried out airstrikes on southern and northeastern Lebanon. Thursday's strikes come as the deadline to disarm Hezbollah looms. Continue reading
Dec 18 Kremlin envoy will visit Miami for latest talks on ending Russia's war in Ukraine, U.S. official says By Matthew Lee, Associated Press A U.S. official says a Kremlin envoy will travel to Florida to discuss a U.S.-proposed plan to end the war in Ukraine. Continue reading
Dec 18 State Department announces $10 billion-plus arms sales package to Taiwan, angering China By Matthew Lee, Associated Press President Donald Trump's administration has announced a massive package of arms sales to Taiwan valued at more than $10 billion that includes medium-range missiles, howitzers and drones, drawing an angry response from China. Continue reading
Dec 18 Bishop Ronald Hicks named new archbishop of New York By Nicole Winfield, Associated Press Pope Leo XIV on Thursday made his most important U.S. appointment to date, naming a fellow Chicagoan as the next archbishop of New York to lead one of the biggest U.S. archdioceses as it navigates relations with the Trump administration… Continue reading
Dec 17 Russia will seek to extend its gains in Ukraine if peace talks fail, Putin warns By Associated Press Speaking at an annual meeting with top military officers, Putin said Moscow would prefer to achieve its goals and “eliminate the root causes of the conflict” by diplomatic means, but he added that “if the opposing side and its foreign… Continue reading
Dec 17 Watch 5:36 News Wrap: Bondi Beach shooting suspect charged with 15 counts of murder In our news wrap Wednesday, the surviving suspect in the shooting at Australia's Bondi Beach has been charged with 15 counts of murder, former special counsel Jack Smith testified privately to lawmakers that investigators found proof that President Trump criminally… Continue watching
Dec 17 Watch 8:57 Trump escalates Maduro confrontation with blockade on Venezuelan oil tankers By Nick Schifrin, Geoff Bennett, Sonia Kopelev, Dan Sagalyn President Trump continued his rhetorical campaign against Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro, as a large American Naval force sits in the waters off the coast. The U.S. will actively blockade and seize vessels it had already sanctioned, a move some critics… Continue watching
Dec 17 WATCH: 'We want it back': Trump demands Venezuela return 'land, oil rights' to U.S. By Associated Press Under Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro’s predecessor, Hugo Chavez, the Venezuelan government seized assets from some American oil companies after the country nationalized oil fields in 2007. Trump on Wednesday stated that his intention is “getting land, oil rights, whatever we… Continue reading