Trump:

Venezuela is completely surrounded by the largest Armada ever assembled in the History of South America. It will only get bigger, and the shock to them will be like nothing they have ever seen before — Until such time as they return to the United States of America all of the Oil, Land, and other Assets that they previously stole from us.

The illegitimate Maduro Regime is using Oil from these stolen Oil Fields to finance themselves, Drug Terrorism, Human Trafficking, Murder, and Kidnapping.

For the theft of our Assets, and many other reasons, including Terrorism, Drug Smuggling, and Human Trafficking, the Venezuelan Regime has been designated a FOREIGN TERRORIST ORGANIZATION. Therefore, today, I am ordering A TOTAL AND COMPLETE BLOCKADE OF ALL SANCTIONED OIL TANKERS going into, and out of, Venezuela.

America will not allow Criminals, Terrorists, or other Countries, to rob, threaten, or harm our Nation and, likewise, will not allow a Hostile Regime to take our Oil, Land, or any other Assets, all of which must be returned to the United States, IMMEDIATELY.

Trump:

It is great to see Andrej Babis appointed again as Prime Minister of the Czech Republic. Together, we will once again achieve Great Success on Defense, Energy, and Illegal Immigration — Just as we have done during our First Terms in Office.

Andrej knows how to get Deals done, and I expected incredible things from him, including on F-35s. Congratulations Andrej!

Mark Levin: Six years ago I was up here, and I said "this is our first Jewish President."

Trump: It's true.

Pakistan’s Army Chief, Field Marshal Asim Munir, is expected to visit Washington in the coming weeks for talks with Trump.

The meeting, which would be their third in six months, is likely to focus on Trump’s proposed Gaza stabilisation force.

Source: Reuters

Trump:

If you go back 10, 12, 15 years ago… the strongest lobby in Washington was the Jewish lobby. It was Israel.

That’s no longer true. You have to be very careful.

You have a Congress in particular which is becoming anti-Semitic.

Miriam Adelson: I met Alan Dershowitz and he said the legal thing about four more years and I say Alan I agree with you. So we can do it. Think about it.

Trump: She said think about it and I will give you another 250 million.

Trump:

I signed the Golan Heights — the rights to the Golan Heights — over to Israel. Nobody thought that was possible to get.

Then I found out the value of it — trillions of dollars. I said, “Yeah, maybe I should have asked him for something.”

Trump:

Miriam Adelson gave my campaign directly and indirectly 250 million. She was number one.

When somebody can give you 250 million, I think we should give her the opportunity to say hello.

Trump says Steve Witkoff “knew nothing” about Russia.

Trump:

We have many countries that want to go in and take out Hezbollah if it happens, if we want to do it.

Not just Israel — many countries would do it.

The United States and Europe have proposed a peace plan to deter future Russian attacks by strengthening Ukraine’s military, deploying European forces inside the country, and expanding U.S. intelligence support.

The plan includes binding security guarantees similar to NATO’s Article 5 and is intended to underpin a cease-fire.

Source: NYT

Colombian President Petro:

Maduro is a dictator for concentrating powers; there is no evidence in Colombia that he is a narco. That is a narrative of the USA.

Kast is the son and believer of the Nazis. He belongs to the German generation that escaped from Germany not to save themselves from Hitler but to save themselves from Hitler's defeat, which is very, very different.

Israel’s Elbit $2.3 Billion Mystery Deal Linked to UAE

Elbit Systems has signed a record $2.3 billion defense contract with an undisclosed buyer, with reports linking the deal to the UAE.

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U.S. Unemployment Hits Four-Year High

U.S. unemployment rose to 4.6% in November 2025, the highest level since 2021, as labor force growth outpaced modest job gains.

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Merz: Western Peacekeepers Can Repel Russian Violations

Chancellor Friedrich Merz said Western peacekeepers could repel Russian forces if Moscow violates a future ceasefire in Ukraine.

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Somalia and Türkiye Sign Blue Economy Deal

Somalia and Türkiye agreed on a new partnership to develop marine production. The deal targets fisheries investment, jobs, and maritime protection.

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Poland Foils Christmas Market Plot

Polish authorities say they detained a 19-year-old student accused of planning a terrorist attack on a Christmas market.

Investigators described the suspect as a first-year law student at the Catholic University of Lublin (KUL), raised in a devout Catholic family in central Poland.

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U.S. Expands Travel Restrictions Across Sahel and Nigeria

Washington widened travel curbs on AES states and Nigeria over security concerns. The move tightens U.S. entry rules for several African nations.

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Trump Orders Blockade of Sanctioned Oil Tankers in Venezuela

President Trump announced a U.S. blockade of sanctioned oil tankers linked to Venezuela, tightening enforcement of existing sanctions on Caracas’s oil exports.

READ MORE

China Leads Nearly 90% of Key Technologies

ASPI’s 2025 Critical Technology Tracker shows China leading in 66 of 74 key technologies, with the U.S. leading in eight.

READ MORE

NEW: The US is preparing new sanctions targeting Russia’s energy trade — including its “shadow fleet” of oil tankers — if Putin refuses a peace agreement with Ukraine.

Measures could be announced as soon as this week, though the final decision rests with Trump.

Source: Bloomberg