US forces stop oil tanker off the coast of Venezuela as Trump follows up on promise to seize tankers
U.S. forces have stopped a second oil tanker off the coast of Venezuela in international waters. That action Saturday has been confirmed by Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem. A U.S. official, who was not authorized to comment publicly and spoke on the condition of anonymity, said the tanker stopped voluntarily and allowed U.S. forces to board it. The move comes days after President Donald Trump announced a “blockade” of all sanctioned oil tankers coming in and out of the South American country. And it follows the Dec. 10 seizure by American forces of an oil tanker off Venezuela’s coast.
The Australian state of New South Wales is proposing a ban on public displays of Islamic State group flags and extremist symbols. This follows a mass shooting at Sydney's Bondi Beach that killed 15 people. The draft laws, to be debated Monday, include penalties of up to two years in prison and fines. Premier Chris Minns says chants like “globalize the intifada” will also be banned. Police will have more power to demand protesters remove face coverings. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has pledged to curb radicalization and hate, including broadening hate speech definitions and toughening punishments. Albanese said “Australia will not allow these evil antisemitic terrorists to divide us."
The Trump administration has launched military strikes in Syria to “eliminate” Islamic State group fighters and weapons sites in retaliation for an ambush attack that killed two U.S. troops and an American interpreter almost a week ago. A U.S. official described it as “a large-scale” strike that hit 70 targets in areas across central Syria that had IS infrastructure and weapons. Another U.S. official said more strikes should be expected. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive operations. President Donald Trump had pledged “very serious retaliation” after the shooting in the Syrian desert. In a social media post on Friday, he said the strikes were targeting IS “strongholds.”
Federal prosecutors say about half of the roughly $18 billion in federal funds that supported 14 Minnesota-run programs since 2018 may have been stolen. First Assistant U.S. Attorney Joe Thompson said Thursday that the scale of fraud in Minnesota puts services at risk for people who really need them. While prosecutors typically see fraud manifest as providers overbilling, Thompson says companies have been created to provide zero services while pocketing federal funds for international travel, luxury vehicles and lavish lifestyles. He says the “magnitude cannot be overstated,” and that the fraud is ”staggering."
The Justice Department has embarked on a months-long effort to prosecute people accused of assaulting federal officers while protesting President Donald Trump’s immigration policies. Attorney General Pam Bondi has vowed such offenders will face “severe consequences.” But a review by The Associated Press finds that prosecutors have struggled to deliver on that commitment. An analysis of 166 federal criminal cases brought since May against people in four Democratic-led cities at the epicenter of demonstrations found that aggressive charging decisions and rhetoric painting defendants as domestic terrorists have frequently failed to hold up in court.
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. The moves comes after U.S. forces last week seized an oil tanker off Venezuela’s coast, an unusual move that followed a buildup of military forces in the region. In a post on social media Tuesday night announcing the blockade, Trump alleged Venezuela was using oil to fund drug trafficking and other crimes. Venezuela’s government accused Trump of “violating international law, free trade, and the principle of free navigation” with “a reckless and grave threat.”
The Trump administration has announced an expansion of travel restrictions to include 20 more countries. This move doubles the number of nations affected by previous limits on travel and immigration to the U.S. The administration cites national security concerns, including the arrest of an Afghan national suspect, as reasons for the expansion, among others. Critics argue it unfairly targets a broad range of countries. The restrictions exempt those with visas, lawful permanent residents and certain visa categories. It's unclear when these new restrictions will take effect. The expansion includes full bans and partial restrictions on various countries.
Australia is preparing for the funerals of some of the victims of an antisemitic mass shooting during a Hanukkah celebration at Sydney’s Bondi Beach. The first funerals were to be held on Wednesday. Authorities say the attack was inspired by the Islamic State group. The suspects are a father, who was killed, and his son, who is in a hospital. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese plans to tighten gun laws following the attack. Many Australians are donating blood and paying respects at the scene of the massacre. Stories of heroism have emerged, including those of Ahmed al Ahmed, who tackled one shooter, and Bondi Beach lifeguards who helped during the chaos.
The victims of a mass shooting at Sydney's Bondi Beach range from a 10-year-old girl with a gentle soul to an 87-year-old Holocaust survivor. They are among the 15 people who were killed Sunday by two armed gunmen during a Hanukkah celebration at Sydney’s iconic Bondi Beach. Australia’s federal police commissioner says the shooting was a terrorist attack inspired by the Islamic State group. Family and friends say the other victims included two respected rabbis, an 82-year-old grandmother, a 78-year-old grandfather, a 27-year-old French national, a retired police officer and a bystander who tried to stop the violence.
Pope Leo XIV has denounced the antisemitic violence behind the Sydney Hanukkah massacre. On Monday, he prayed for the victims and called for peace and fraternity during the holiday season. At least 15 people died in the attack on Sydney’s Bondi Beach, where hundreds had gathered for a Hanukkah event. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese called it an act of antisemitic terrorism. Leo also issued a strong anti-abortion message, highlighting a Nativity scene with 28,000 ribbons representing embryos not aborted. He thanked the artist for promoting the protection of life from conception.