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Trump threatens 'friendly takeover' of Cuba
United States President Donald Trump has said the U.S. could seek a “friendly takeover” of Cuba, as it continues to push for regime change in the country. Trump claimed that Secretary of State Marco Rubio had been in high-level talks with Cuban officials, though Cuba has denied this. The U.S. reportedly hopes to oust Cuba’s government before the end of the year. “The Cuban government is talking with us, and they're in a big deal of trouble," said Trump. “They have no money. They have no anything right now, but they're talking with us, and maybe we'll have a friendly takeover of Cuba.” The U.S. has imposed an oil blockade on Cuba in recent months, which has worsened since the U.S. seized Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. Venezuela is Cuba’s largest oil supplier. U.S. companies will be permitted to sell oil to private businesses in Cuba as the country's supplies rapidly deplete, the U.S. said over the weekend. The Trump administration plans to topple Cuba’s government by the end of 2026, the Wall Street Journal reported last month, and has been looking for government insiders in Havana who would cooperate. Cuba also said on Wednesday that its forces had killed four armed Cuban-American expatriates on a Florid
Americas
US holds nuclear talks with Russia, China, official says
The United States has held talks with Russian officials in Geneva and is set to meet a Chinese delegation as Washington seeks to lay the groundwork for a potential multilateral nuclear arms control agreement, a senior State Department official told Reuters on Monday (Tuesday AEDT). According to the official, U.S. representatives met a Russian delegation on Monday and will hold discussions with Chinese counterparts on Tuesday in the Swiss city, as part of efforts to explore a broader framework to curb nuclear weapons development. The push follows the expiration of New START on 5 February. The accord had been the sole remaining treaty limiting the deployment of nuclear warheads by the United States and Russia. Its lapse has left the world’s two largest nuclear powers without formal constraints on their strategic arsenals. President Donald Trump has called for a new agreement that would extend beyond Moscow to include Beijing, arguing that any future framework must reflect China’s growing military capabilities. Washington has long advocated for a more comprehensive arms control arrangement incorporating China alongside Russia. However, Beijing’s nuclear arsenal remains significantly smaller than those of the United
Americas
Airlines will no longer be able to refuel in Cuba
Cuba has confirmed that airlines will no longer be able to refuel at airports on the island, as the nation's energy crisis continues. This is the latest series of rationing measures implemented, as the United States continues to place heavy pressure on Cuba's fuel resources and access. At the end of January, President Donald Trump signed an executive order that would see tariffs placed on any nation that provides or sells oil to Cuba. Combined with the fact that Cuba typically relies on the Venezuelan oil market, which is currently under the seized control of the Trump administration, the result has been crippling for the Caribbean nation. Banks are reporting having to cut operating hours due to lack of electricity, buses stopping their usual routes for the foreseeable future and major events suspended. Now, the latest impact is the planes. On Sunday night, the Cuban government issued notices to airlines that they would not be able refuel at any of the nine airports across the country, starting Tuesday until March 11. Air Canada has already cancelled all flights to and from Cuba as a result.
Americas
Russian-flagged ship linked to Venezuela seized by U.S.
An oil tanker flying a Russian flag has been seized by the U.S., reportedly due to links to Venezuela. The Marinera was chased by the States over the course of a week, which was documented in real time by analysts, before being seized on Thursday in the North Atlantic. "The vessel was seized in the North Atlantic pursuant to a warrant issued by a U.S. federal court after being tracked by USCGC Munro,” U.S. European Command confirmed on X. Last month the ship fled the U.S. blockade around Venezuela, where it carried out seizures of other oil tankers, and changed her name from the Bella 1 to the Marinera. Over the last week the Trump administration's tension with Venezuela reached a fever pitch, after American forces seized Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and took him back to U.S. soil for trial. Russia, a supporter of Maduro, has now accused the administration of violating maritime law by seizing the oil tanker with their flag. Speaking to reporters, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the seizure was part of three phase plan of "stabilization" efforts for Venezuela.
Americas
Maduro pleads not guilty, Rodriguez sworn in
Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has pleaded not guilty to United States narcotics charges as his Vice President was sworn in as interim head of the nation. Maduro made his not guilty plea in a federal court in Manhattan, New York, alongside his lawyer Barry Pollack, a Washington-based attorney, who represented Wikileaks founder Julian Assange and negotiated his release from custody. "I am innocent. I am not guilty. I am a decent man. I am still president of my country," Maduro, began to say through an interpreter, before being cut off by U.S. District Judge Alvin Hellerstein. His wife, who was also abducted by U.S. forces in the Trump administration military-led raid over the weekend, pleaded not guilty as well, and their next court date is set for 17 March . Meanwhile, Vice President and Oil Minister Delcy Rodriguez was sworn in as interim President of Venezuela. Rodriguez, who served as a labor lawyer before stepping into the realm of politics, addressed Venezuela’s National Assembly as she came to take her oath. “I come with pain over the kidnapping of two heroes who are being held hostage: President Nicolás Maduro and First Lady Cilia Flores,” she said. “I swear to work tirelessly to guarantee the peac

Americas
U.S. seizes control of Venezuela after capturing President
United States forces captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and took control of the oil-rich South American nation on Saturday after launching a large-scale military strike. The seizure of Maduro, who was flown to the United States with his wife Cilia Flores to face criminal charges, followed months of pressure from U.S. President Donald Trump. It was condemned by many nations and raised questions about the legality of the operation. Trump said on Saturday he was putting Venezuela under temporary American control in the wake of the operation, which included strikes on the capital Caracas. "We will run the country until such time as we can do a safe, proper and judicious transition," he was quoted as saying during a press conference at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida. "We can't take a chance that someone else takes over Venezuela who doesn't have the interests of Venezuelans in mind." At least seven explosions were heard at about 2am on Saturday while witnesses reported seeing smoke at two key military installations in Caracas. U.S. authorities said the attack was part of a law enforcement operation to apprehend Maduro on charges including terrorism, drugs and weapons offences. The United States had cons
Americas
Trump: US 'hit all the boats' in latest Venezuela strike
United States President Donald Trump has confirmed a strike on a Venezuelan dock, saying they had “hit all the boats”. He said that the boats in question were being used to load drugs, but it is not yet clear what the target of the strike was or who it was carried it out. Trump declined to confirm if the CIA had carried out the attack, but he has previously authorised them to carry out covert operations in Venezuela as his campaign against President Nicolas Maduro has increased. “I don't want to say that,” he told the press. "I know exactly who it was, but I don't want to say who it was." This marks the first time that the U.S. has carried out land operations in Venezuela, after recent sea strikes. “We hit all the boats, and now we hit the area,” Trump said to press. “It's the implementation area. That's where they implement, and that is no longer around.”
Americas
Trump to keep seized Venezuelan oil, unveils warships
United States President Donald Trump said on Monday (Tuesday AEDT) that the United States will keep crude oil and tankers seized near Venezuela, as he steps up pressure on President Nicolas Maduro and signals a tougher U.S. stance in the Caribbean. “We’re going to keep it,” Trump told reporters in Palm Beach, Florida, after unveiling a new class of battleships, named after himself. “Maybe we’ll sell it, maybe we’ll keep it, maybe we’ll use it in the strategic reserve,” Trump said of the seized oil. “We’re keeping the ships also.” Trump has ordered a blockade of sanctioned oil tankers entering or leaving Venezuela as part of an escalating campaign against the Maduro government. The U.S. seized a large tanker on 10 December carrying more than one million barrels of oil, according to energy consulting firm Kpler. A second vessel was intercepted over the weekend, and Trump confirmed that U.S. authorities are pursuing a third tanker. “It’s moving along. We’ll end up getting it,” Trump said of the tanker. “It came from the wrong location. It came out of Venezuela, and it was sanctioned.” Asked whether his ultimate aim was to remove Maduro from power, Trump said “it would be smart” for the Venezuelan president to ste
Americas
US pursuing third oil tanker near Venezuela in a week
The United States is pursuing its third oil tanker in international waters near Venezuela in less than a week. “The United States Guard is in active pursuit of a sanctioned dark fleet vessel that is part of Venezuela’s illegal sanctions evasion,” a U.S. official told Reuters. “It is flying a false flag and under a judicial seizure order.” The official did not give a specific location for the operation or the name of the vessel being pursued. Director of the White House’s National Economic Council, Kevin Hassett, said the first two oil tankers seized were operating on the black market and providing oil to countries under sanctions. “And so I don’t think that people need to be worried here in the U.S. that the prices are going to go up because of these seizures of these ships,” Hassett said on CBS’s “Face the Nation” program. “There’s just a couple of them, and they were black market ships.” However, an oil trader told Reuters that the seizures could lead to slightly higher oil prices when Asian trading resumes on Monday. “We might see prices increasing modestly at the opening, considering market participants could see this as an escalation with more Venezuelan barrels at risk as the tanker was not on a U.S.