US-Venezuela oil deal angers China, pushes prices down

US-Venezuela oil deal angers China, pushes prices down

My Marina Wide HOUSTON/BEIJING, Jan 7 (Reuters) – Global oil prices fell on Wednesday as China denounced the U.S. as an aggressor after President Donald Trump’s administration said it had persuaded Venezuela to divert supplies from Beijing and import up to $2 billion worth of crude. The deal was in line with Trump’s stated goal … Read more

What Americans think about the situation in Venezuela, according to recent polls

What Americans think about the situation in Venezuela, according to recent polls

WASHINGTON (AP) — There are few signs that President Donald Trump’s supporters wanted the United States to become more involved in foreign conflicts ahead of his military action in Venezuela — even as many Republicans show initial support for his military strike there, according to an Associated Press analysis of recent polling. Most Americans wanted … Read more

US attack on Venezuela to encourage China’s territorial claims, Taiwan attack unlikely, analysts say

US attack on Venezuela to encourage China’s territorial claims, Taiwan attack unlikely, analysts say

By Brenda Goh and Laurie Chen SHANGHAI/BEIJING, Jan 4 (Reuters) – A U.S. attack on Venezuela will encourage China to strengthen its territorial claims over areas such as Taiwan and parts of the South China Sea, but will not hasten any potential invasion of Taiwan, analysts said. Chinese President Xi Jinping’s views on Taiwan and … Read more

Breaking the rumors, Melania was an escort before meeting Trump at Ghislaine Maxwell’s party

Breaking the rumors, Melania was an escort before meeting Trump at Ghislaine Maxwell’s party

In December 2025, social media posts on sites including X and Facebook shared images claiming that US First Lady Melania Trump worked as an escort before meeting her now-husband, President Donald Trump. According to the posts, Melania Trump began escorting under a man named Paolo Zampolli, who was good friends with financier Jeffrey Epstein and … Read more

What to know about the protests now rocking Iran as tensions remain high over its nuclear program

What to know about the protests now rocking Iran as tensions remain high over its nuclear program

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Widening protests in Iran, sparked by the Islamic Republic’s struggling economy, are putting new pressure on its theocracy. Tehran is still reeling from a 12-day war launched by Israel in June, in which the United States bombed nuclear sites in Iran. Economic pressure, intensified in September by the return … Read more

US removes plaques honoring black soldiers from WWII Netherlands cemetery sparks backlash

US removes plaques honoring black soldiers from WWII Netherlands cemetery sparks backlash

MARGRATEN, Netherlands (AP) — Since a U.S. military cemetery in the southern Netherlands removed two displays recognizing black troops who helped liberate Europe from the Nazis, visitors have filled the guest book with objections. Sometime this spring, the American Battle Monuments Commission, the U.S. government agency responsible for maintaining memorial sites outside the United States, … Read more

Ukraine’s Zelensky says progress in US-led peace talks ‘pretty solid’

Ukraine’s Zelensky says progress in US-led peace talks ‘pretty solid’

KIIV, Ukraine (AP) — Initial drafts of U.S. proposals for a peace deal between Ukraine and Russia meet many of Kiev’s demands, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Monday, although he suggested that neither side in the nearly four-year war will get everything they want in talks to reach a deal. “In general, it seems quite … Read more

Oil tanker seized

Oil tanker seized

President Donald Trump last week ordered a “complete blockade” of all sanctioned oil tankers entering or leaving Venezuela — a giant escalation in his pressure campaign against Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro. The idea appears to be to cripple the country’s economy dependent on oil exports, although no official sanctions have been imposed. Over the weekend, … Read more

Here’s what you missed at Turning Point’s chaotic convention

Here’s what you missed at Turning Point’s chaotic convention

PHOENIX (AP) — As Turning Point USA’s annual AmericaFest convention hit the halfway mark, Erika Kirk tried to put a smiley face on things. “Say what you will about AmFest, but it’s definitely not boring,” said Kirk, who has led the influential conservative organization since her husband Charlie was assassinated in September. “It feels like … Read more