Iran-US war latest: Trump says he could keep Iranian oil ‘like Venezuela’ as Hormuz talks face setback
The US military, which has previously struck Iranian vessels in the region, did not issue an immediate statement
The US military, which has previously struck Iranian vessels in the region, did not issue an immediate statement

Trump said revenue from the Venezuela arrangement has "paid for the war many times."

President Trump on Sunday floated the idea that the U.S. could “stay and keep the oil” in Iran, comparing the notion to the U.S.’s major oil deal with Venezuela. Trump told reporters while in Doonbeg, Ireland, that the conflict with Iran will “end after the midterm” elections and that the Iranian regime “wants to make…

As part of Delcy Rodriguez's 'Venezuela reborn' campaign, murals of leaders like Hugo Chavez are being removed.

From Cheddar Man and the Dead Sea Scrolls to Abbie Hoffman, Kikuchiyo and Peter, test your knowledge with the Saturday quiz 1 Slovenia and Venezuela are the first two countries to lose all their what? 2 Which celebrated rock has 1620 carved on to it? 3 What is the UK’s heaviest and fastest flying duck? 4 Which royal consort was born in the same bedroom as Queen Victoria? 5 Skaldic poetry was written in what language? 6 Which international organisation was dissolved on 19 April 1946? 7 Who has statues in Middlesbrough, Derby and Nottingham? 8 Which irrational number is represented by the Greek letter phi? What links: 9 Cheddar Man; Dead Sea Scrolls; Altamira and Lascaux art; olm salamander? 10 Ash Dykes; Ed Stafford; Ed Talone; Levison Wood? 11 Bat and Ball; Blackrod; Hall i’ th’ Wood; Whatstandwell? 12 US citizen; Stem master’s degree; two years’ professional experience; pass physical test? 13 Ain’t Misbehavin’; Blueberry Hill; Hound Dog (originally); The Twist; Hypnotize? 14 Maia; Peter; Chris Adams; Kikuchiyo; Abbie Hoffman? 15 Profiles in Courage; Brave New World; The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe? Continue reading...

A string of major disasters in 2026 have had devastating consequences. Earthquakes in Venezuela and Colombia and floods and mudslides in Nepal have killed tens of thousands of people and injured many more. Countless people remain missing, and hundreds of thousands of homes are damaged, with some entire neighborhoods destroyed.
Countries: Colombia, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of) Source: Danish Refugee Council Please refer to the attached file. Este informe presenta los hallazgos del Monitoreo de Protección (MP) realizado por DRC en Colombia entre enero y marzo de 2026 en los departamentos de La Guajira, Nariño, Norte de Santander y Bolívar. A través de encuestas a hogares, entrevistas a actores clave, grupos focales y observación directa, el MP busca identificar riesgos de protección, violaciones de derechos humanos, así como comprender las capacidades y estrategias de afrontamiento de la población refugiada, migrante, desplazada interna, retornada y sin movilidad afectada por el conflicto armado. Los hallazgos contribuyen a informar la respuesta humanitaria en curso y futura, permitir la identificación de personas en situación de mayor riesgo para brindar apoyo individualizado y fortalecer la incidencia basada en evidencia para garantizar el cumplimiento de las obligaciones de los titulares de deberes en materia de protección de la población afectada.

The president’s chaotic schemes of aggrandizement, from Venezuela to Iran, have no larger rationale Trumpism is the lowest stage of imperialism. “We’re not going to invade Greenland. We’re going to buy it,” Donald Trump reportedly told the annual black-tie dinner on 1 February of the private Alfalfa Club, an assemblage of prominent Washington figures, a number of whom he had publicly humiliated, and others he was investigating or suing. “It’s never been my intention to make Greenland the 51st state. I want to make Canada the 51st state. Greenland will be the 52nd state. Venezuela can be 53rd.” The room greeted several of his remarks with dead silence. His cosplay as the Pirate King was not received as a good-humored takeoff from a Gilbert and Sullivan opera. He went on. “So many people in the room I hate,” he said in a display of honesty. “Most of you I like,” he claimed. Then, at his peak euphoria, he flew off to Mar-a-Lago to plan his attack on Iran, which took place 27 days later. Trump’s imperialism of piracy and plunder is less of a system even than that of the earliest imperialism of 17th-century privateers raiding the Spanish Main, the divine right of kings, and monarchs dividing up the spoils as favors to create their lords and earls. His schemes of aggrandizement operating by threat and force are justified by no larger rationale, nothing as exalted as “the white man’s burden”, marauding wherever and however he can to seize resources. Continue reading...
Countries: Brazil, Argentina, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, French Guiana (France), Grenada, Honduras, Mexico, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, United States Virgin Islands, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of) Source: Pan American Health Organization Please refer to the attached file. In the epidemiological week (EW) 32 of 2026, a total of 1,567,004 suspected cases of dengue were reported, resulting in a cumulative incidence of 150 cases por 100,000 population. This represents a decrease of 58% compared to the same period in 2025 and 65% compared to the average of the last 5 years. Figure 1 shows the trend of suspected dengue cases as of EW 32.
Country: Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of) Source: International Organization for Migration Please refer to the attached file. El Reporte de Situación No. 28 proporciona una actualización sobre la respuesta de la OIM a los terremotos del 24 de junio en la República Bolivariana de Venezuela, cubriendo el período del 3 al 9 de septiembre de 2026. Aspectos destacados Entre el 3 y el 9 de septiembre, la OIM continuó su respuesta multisectorial en campamentos transitorios y comunidades afectadas mediante intervenciones en Coordinación y Gestión de Campamentos (CCCM), alojamiento, salud, salud mental y apoyo psicológico, protección, Agua, Saneamiento e Higiene (WASH), gestión de información y Prevención de la Explotación y el Abuso Sexual (PEAS). La OIM mantuvo la gestión y cogestión de campamentos en La Guaira, fortaleció la coordinación interagencial y apoyó procesos relacionados con soluciones habitacionales, retorno y reubicación. La OIM fortaleció la asistencia de protección en La Guaira y Distrito Capital mediante orientación legal, gestión de casos, apoyo psicológico y derivaciones especializadas, en un contexto marcado por restricciones de acceso humanitario, barreras de documentación civil e incertidumbre asociada a procesos de reubicación y cierre de campamentos. La OIM apoyó mejoras prioritarias de agua, saneamiento e higiene, incluida la puesta en funcionamiento de la lavandería comunitaria de Mare Abajo II y la rehabilitación de infraestructura sanitaria en César Nieves, donde se restableció el acceso diferenciado a duchas para mujeres tras la identificación de una brecha de protección durante el período. La OIM también fortaleció la coordinación interagencial y comunitaria mediante iniciativas de medios de vida, la ampliación de mesas técnicas de protección, salud y WASH, y la articulación con autoridades y socios para apoyar procesos de documentación, preparación para el inicio escolar y soluciones duraderas para las familias afectadas. Actividades de la OIM La OIM mantuvo la coordinación y gestión del campamento transitorio Polideportivo José María Vargas y continuó la cogestión de César Nieves, Campo de Golf y Mare Abajo II junto con el Consejo Noruego para Refugiados (NRC). Las actividades se centraron en la continuidad de servicios, mejoras de infraestructura, participación comunitaria y apoyo a procesos de recuperación temprana y soluciones habitacionales. En César Nieves, la OIM coordinó el inicio de las obras de cerramiento perimetral del área de salud y promovió actividades de recuperación temprana mediante formación técnica en confección y reparación de calzado en alianza con Calzapyme. En Mare Abajo II, fortaleció los mecanismos de coordinación comunitaria y acompañó mejoras en infraestructura, gestión ambiental y organización de servicios. En Campo de Golf, facilitó la coordinación entre autoridades, organizaciones humanitarias y representantes comunitarios, además de apoyar mecanismos comunitarios para la gestión de espacios comunes. En el Polideportivo José María Vargas, continuó coordinando servicios y actividades educativas y recreativas mientras acompañaba la adaptación progresiva de la infraestructura y los servicios disponibles. La OIM continuó distribuyendo artículos domésticos esenciales en campamentos y comunidades afectadas. Durante el período entregó 309 bidones plegables, 267 lonas plásticas, 32 sets de cocina, 310 kits de herramientas, 341 insumos de higiene y 69 lámparas solares . A la fecha, la OIM ha distribuido más de 10.996 lonas plásticas, 7.957 bidones plegables, 6.720 sets de cocina, 5.600 kits de herramientas, 4.594 lámparas solares y 4.982 insumos de higiene . Asimismo, 710 familias en Carabobo recibieron kits integrados de alojamiento y necesidades básicas. La OIM también entregó 130 literas en el campamento espontáneo Ezequiel Zamora, beneficiando directamente a 260 personas . En WASH, la OIM continuó coordinando y monitoreando los servicios de agua, saneamiento e higiene. En Mare Abajo II apoyó la culminación y puesta en funcionamiento de la lavandería comunitaria y mejoras en sistemas de drenaje y manejo de aguas grises. En César Nieves fortaleció el monitoreo de infraestructura sanitaria, amplió puntos de lavado de manos y reforzó el control de calidad del agua distribuida. En Campo de Golf acompañó la rehabilitación de drenajes, promovió actividades de higiene y apoyó la conformación de comités comunitarios. Durante el período se produjeron 20.000 litros de agua clorada , alcanzando un acumulado de 120.000 litros para consumo en el campamento. La OIM continuó prestando servicios móviles de salud en César Nieves y el Polideportivo José María Vargas. Durante el período se reportaron 577 consultas brindadas por equipos de la OIM y Ven Da Tu Mano. Las principales atenciones estuvieron relacionadas con hipertensión arterial y otras enfermedades crónicas no transmisibles, infecciones respiratorias agudas, síndromes febriles y enfermedades diarreicas. La OIM mantuvo además el seguimiento en salud materna, orientación en planificación familiar y referencias para atención especializada. Asimismo, fortaleció la coordinación epidemiológica con el Ministerio del Poder Popular para la Salud y otros actores sanitarios y amplió las actividades del equipo móvil de salud en comunidades de Mare Abajo. En protección, la OIM continuó brindando orientación legal, gestión de casos, derivaciones y coordinación de servicios especializados. A través de su socio implementador HIAS, los servicios de protección alcanzaron a 142 personas el 3 de septiembre y a 116 personas el 8 de septiembre en La Guaira y Distrito Capital. La OIM también fortaleció la coordinación con autoridades, socios especializados y organizaciones comunitarias para facilitar el acceso a documentación civil, servicios de protección infantil y asistencia especializada para personas en situación de vulnerabilidad. La OIM continuó liderando espacios de coordinación sectorial e interagencial con autoridades, organizaciones humanitarias y representantes comunitarios. Entre las actividades destacaron iniciativas relacionadas con medios de vida vinculados al oficio del calzado, documentación civil, protección infantil y preparación para el inicio del año escolar. Asimismo, representantes de ECHO visitaron Campo de Golf y Mare Abajo II para conocer los avances de la respuesta. En PEAS, la OIM continuó integrando los principios de Prevención de la Explotación y el Abuso Sexual en la gestión de campamentos y actividades comunitarias. Durante el período capacitó a 20 personas facilitadoras y cofacilitadoras de grupos focales de salud mental sobre principios PEAS, mecanismos de reporte y respuesta a revelaciones. También incorporó un indicador específico para monitorear la entrega de información sobre PEAS durante distribuciones de artículos no alimentarios y realizó una evaluación de capacidades con Equilibrium. Respuesta prevista de la OIM La OIM continuará monitoreando las condiciones de alojamiento y apoyando procesos de retorno, reubicación y otras modalidades de alojamiento temporal, manteniendo mecanismos de participación comunitaria e información actualizada para fortalecer la planificación de la respuesta. La OIM continuará fortaleciendo la infraestructura y los servicios en los campamentos transitorios, incluyendo la culminación del cerramiento del área de salud en César Nieves, el fortalecimiento de mecanismos comunitarios de convivencia y la promoción de iniciativas de medios de vida para contribuir a la autosuficiencia de las familias afectadas. En WASH, la OIM continuará monitoreando sistemas de drenaje y aguas grises, fortaleciendo las actividades de promoción de higiene, el monitoreo de la calidad del agua y el seguimiento a necesidades de infraestructura sanitaria, control vectorial y gestión de residuos sólidos. La OIM mantendrá las jornadas móviles de salud, fortalecerá las rutas de referencia para atención especializada, continuará la coordinación epidemiológica con las autoridades sanitarias y reforzará las actividades preventivas relacionadas con enfermedades transmitidas por el agua, enfermedades respiratorias y otras condiciones prioritarias. La OIM también continuará brindando servicios de protección, incluyendo orientación legal, gestión de casos, derivaciones, prevención de la violencia contra mujeres y niñas, protección infantil y acciones para facilitar el acceso a documentación civil y servicios especializados. Asimismo, mantendrá las actividades de gestión de información, monitoreo poblacional y coordinación interagencial para apoyar la planificación basada en evidencia de procesos de retorno, reubicación y soluciones duraderas.
Country: Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of) Source: International Organization for Migration Please refer to the attached file. Situation Report No. 28 provides an update on IOM’s response to the 24 June earthquakes in the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, covering the period from 3 to 9 September 2026. Highlights Between 3 and 9 September, IOM continued its multisectoral response in planned camps and affected communities through interventions in Camp Coordination and Camp Management (CCCM), shelter, health, mental health and psychological support, protection, Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH), information management and Prevention of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (PSEA). IOM maintained management and co-management of planned camps in La Guaira, strengthened inter-agency coordination and supported housing solutions, return and relocation processes. IOM strengthened protection assistance in La Guaira and the Capital District through legal counselling, case management, psychological support and referrals. Activities took place amid persistent humanitarian access constraints, civil documentation barriers and uncertainty linked to relocation and camp closure processes. IOM supported priority WASH improvements across planned camps, including the operationalization of the community laundry facility in Mare Abajo II and rehabilitation of sanitation infrastructure in Cesar Nieves, where access to separate shower facilities for women was restored following the identification of a protection concern during the reporting period. IOM also strengthened inter-agency and community coordination through livelihoods initiatives, expansion of technical working groups on protection, health and WASH, and engagement with authorities and partners to support civil documentation, school preparedness activities and durable solutions for affected families. IOM Activities IOM maintained coordination and management of the planned camp at Jose Maria Vargas Sports Complex and continued co-management of Cesar Nieves, Campo de Golf and Mare Abajo II together with the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC). Activities focused on service continuity, infrastructure improvements, community participation, livelihoods and support for housing recovery processes. In Cesar Nieves, IOM coordinated the start of perimeter fencing works around the health area and supported an early recovery initiative through technical training on footwear production and repair in partnership with Calzapyme. In Mare Abajo II, IOM strengthened community coordination mechanisms and supported infrastructure improvements, environmental management activities and community participation initiatives. In Campo de Golf, IOM facilitated coordination among authorities, humanitarian organizations and community representatives while supporting population monitoring and community-based management structures. At Jose Maria Vargas Sports Complex, IOM continued coordinating services and supporting educational and recreational activities while monitoring the gradual adaptation of infrastructure and services to evolving needs. IOM continued distributing essential household items in camps and affected communities. During the reporting period, IOM distributed 309 collapsible jerry cans, 267 plastic tarpaulins, 32 kitchen sets, 310 tool kits, 341 hygiene items and 69 solar lamps . To date, IOM has distributed more than 10,996 plastic tarpaulins, 7,957 collapsible jerry cans, 6,720 kitchen sets, 5,600 tool kits, 4,594 solar lamps and 4,982 hygiene items . Additionally, 710 families in Carabobo received integrated shelter and basic needs kits. IOM also provided 130 bunk beds in the Ezequiel Zamora spontaneous settlement in Miranda State, directly benefiting 260 people . In WASH, IOM continued coordinating and monitoring water supply, sanitation and hygiene services across planned camps. In Mare Abajo II, IOM supported the completion and operationalization of the community laundry facility and improvements to drainage and greywater management systems. In Cesar Nieves, IOM monitored sanitation infrastructure, expanded handwashing facilities and strengthened water-quality monitoring. In Campo de Golf, IOM accompanied drainage rehabilitation works, promoted hygiene activities and supported the establishment of community hygiene committees. During the reporting period, 20,000 litres of chlorinated water were produced , bringing cumulative production to 120,000 litres in the camp. IOM continued providing mobile health services in Cesar Nieves and Jose Maria Vargas Sports Complex. During the reporting period, 577 consultations were delivered by IOM and Ven Da Tu Mano teams. Consultations primarily addressed hypertension and other chronic non-communicable diseases, acute respiratory infections, febrile illnesses and diarrhoeal diseases. IOM also maintained maternal health follow-up, family planning counselling and referrals for specialized care. In Jose Maria Vargas Sports Complex, referrals included nephrology services and follow-up of high-risk pregnancies through the Maternal Pathway mechanism. IOM further strengthened epidemiological coordination with the Ministry of Health and other health actors and expanded mobile health services to Mare Abajo communities. In protection, IOM continued providing legal counselling, case management, referrals and coordination of protection services. Through its implementing partner HIAS, protection services reached 142 people on 3 September and 116 people on 8 September in La Guaira and the Capital District. IOM strengthened coordination with authorities, community actors and specialized organizations to facilitate access to protection services, civil documentation and child protection mechanisms. Coordination with FUNDANA, IDENNA, NRC and UNICEF supported child protection services, family-based care arrangements and access to specialized assistance for vulnerable populations. IOM continued coordinating sectoral and inter-agency platforms with authorities, humanitarian organizations and community representatives. Key activities included support to livelihoods initiatives linked to footwear production, civil documentation efforts, child protection interventions and school preparedness activities. Representatives from ECHO visited Campo de Golf and Mare Abajo II to observe response activities implemented by IOM and partners. In PSEA, IOM continued integrating Prevention of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse principles into camp management and community activities. During the reporting period, IOM trained 20 facilitators and co-facilitators involved in mental health focus groups implemented by IOM and UCAB on PSEA principles, reporting mechanisms and response to disclosures. IOM also introduced a specific indicator to monitor the provision of PSEA information during non-food item distributions, carried out a PSEA capacity assessment with Equilibrium and continued promoting prevention and reporting messages through community activities and coordination platforms. IOM Planned Response IOM will continue monitoring accommodation conditions and supporting return, relocation and other temporary accommodation processes while maintaining community engagement activities and updated population information to inform operational planning. IOM will continue strengthening camp infrastructure and services, including completion of the health-area perimeter fencing in Cesar Nieves, support for community participation mechanisms and promotion of livelihoods initiatives aimed at enhancing self-reliance among affected families. In WASH, IOM will maintain monitoring of drainage and greywater systems, strengthen hygiene-promotion activities, continue water-quality monitoring and follow up on sanitation infrastructure, vector-control and solid-waste management needs. IOM will continue providing mobile health services, strengthening referral pathways for specialized care, maintaining epidemiological coordination with health authorities and reinforcing prevention activities related to waterborne diseases, respiratory illnesses and other priority health concerns. IOM will also continue supporting protection services, including legal counselling, case management, referrals, prevention of violence against women and girls, child protection activities and efforts to facilitate access to civil documentation and specialized protection services. In parallel, IOM will maintain information management, population-monitoring and inter-agency coordination activities to support evidence-based planning for returns, relocations and durable solutions.

The US president seized a nation’s natural wealth in a modern-day version of gunboat diplomacy to feed his ego – not to lower Americans’ fuel bills Imperialism does not require a flag to be planted or a governor dispatched. It can be a powerful nation deciding who governs a smaller, weaker country, and on what terms and for whose benefit its resources will be developed. Donald Trump’s kidnapping of Venezuela’s Nicolás Maduro, putting his deputy – Delcy Rodríguez – in his place as president, and then her signing a deal handing a fifth of the country’s proven oil reserves to the US , amount to a modern version of 19th-century gunboat diplomacy. Regime change supplied America’s commercial concession. This won’t bother Mr Trump. But it should. The US president has oversold his neocolonial spoils. The additional production Venezuela is supposed to bring online might bring down oil prices eventually, but not anytime soon. Crucially, what Mr Trump calls “t he biggest oil deal in history ” won’t cause the price at the pump to fall before November’s midterms. When so many American voters are struggling to pay energy bills , it’s hard to see how unrealised Orinoco Belt riches are going to help Republican candidates. Do you have an opinion on the issues raised in this article? If you would like to submit a response of up to 300 words by email to be considered for publication in our letters section, please click here . Continue reading...

Venezuela’s main international airport is beginning to welcome commercial flights again, nearly 10 weeks after two earthquakes forced it to shut down. Simón Bolívar International Airport (CCS), located near Caracas, has partially resumed operations, but travelers returning to the airport will find something very different from the terminal they left behind; part of the airport’s temporary […]
Secretary of State Marco Rubio will visit friendly governments in Colombia, Ecuador and Peru. But his support for the Venezuela oil deal is rankling some in the region.

One month into President Abelardo de la Espriella’s administration, early alignment with the Trump administration creates an opening to strengthen US-Colombia cooperation on security, trade and investment, regional stability, and Venezuela’s recovery.

The deal reshapes geopolitical dynamics, reducing Chinese and Russian influence in Venezuela while raising legal and strategic concerns for the US.

Avianca has resumed daily flights between Bogotá and Caracas and introduced a new daily service linking Bogotá with Maracaibo, strengthening air connectivity between Colombia and Venezuela. The Bogotá–Caracas route resumed on 1 September following an assessment of operational and security conditions with the relevant authorities. The new Maracaibo service began on 28 August, complementing Avianca’s […]

The US stake in Venezuela's oil reshapes global energy dynamics, challenging China's influence and potentially stabilizing US energy prices.

The deal may stabilize U.S. fuel costs and influence global oil markets, potentially reducing the likelihood of crude oil price spikes.

As Venezuela continues its recovery and reconnection efforts, Avianca, part of Abra Group, announced plans to strengthen connectivity with Colombia through the resumption of key services and the launch of new flights. Resumption of Service Between Caracas and Bogotá: Following a comprehensive assessment of operational and safety conditions conducted in coordination with authorities, Avianca will resume flights between the Venezuelan and Colombian capitals which began Sept. 1.