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94% ng mga Pinoy, naniniwalang laganap ang korapsyon sa gobyerno

Carlo Juancho Funtanilla
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94% ng mga Pinoy, naniniwalang laganap ang korapsyon sa gobyerno

MAYNILA — Umabot sa 94 percent ng mga Pilipino ang naniniwalang laganap ang korapsyon sa pamahalaan, batay sa latest Pulse Asia survey na isinagawa noong December 2025.

Pinakamataas ang porsiyento ng mga respondent na nagsabing malawak ang korapsyon sa gobyerno sa Metro Manila at Visayas, kapwa may 96 percent, sinundan ng Mindanao na may 94 percent at Balance Luzon na may 93 percent.

Sa parehong survey, 74 percent ng mga adult respondent ang nagsabing patuloy na lumalala ang korapsyon sa pamahalaan sa nakalipas na 12 buwan. Mas mababa ito kumpara sa 85 percent na naitala sa Pulse Asia survey noong September 2025.

Samantala, 43 percent ng mga respondent ang naghayag ng “disagree” sa pahayag na ang korapsyon ay normal na bahagi ng Philippine politics, habang 41 percent naman ang “agree” sa naturang pananaw.

Ipinakita rin ng resulta na 58 percent ng mga residente sa Mindanao at 51 percent ng mga kabilang sa Class C ang hindi naniniwalang normal na bahagi ng Philippine politics ang korapsyon. Gayundin, 50 percent ng mga respondent mula sa Metro Manila at 48 percent sa Visayas ang may kaparehong pananaw.

Mass demonstrations rock Iran, cuts internet access

Venus L Peñaflor
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Mass demonstrations rock Iran, cuts internet access

ISTANBUL / TEHRAN — Iran has imposed a nationwide internet and communications blackout as anti‑government protests escalate across major cities, marking one of the most significant domestic challenges to the Islamic Republic in years. The digital shutdown reported by internet monitoring groups and analysts came as crowds responded to calls for mass demonstrations and voiced deepening discontent over economic hardship and political repression.

The outage began Thursday evening across Tehran and provincial centers such as Mashhad, Isfahan, Kermanshah, Tabriz, and other cities, according to NetBlocks and CloudFlare, which confirmed a near‑total blackout of internet connectivity and disruptions to phone lines. Authorities are believed to have cut services in an effort to limit communication and curb the spread of protest footage.

Before the shutdown, videos circulated showing large crowds chanting slogans such as “Death to the dictator” and “Death to the Islamic Republic,” directly targeting Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and the clerical establishment. The demonstrations some of the largest in recent years also featured chants in support of Reza Pahlavi, the exiled son of Iran’s last monarchy, who had called for nationwide protests in video messages shared before access was cut.

The unrest initially erupted in late December 2025 amid a severe economic crisis, including soaring inflation, a collapsing currency and rising prices for essential goods, fueling public anger over the government’s handling of the crisis and diminishing living standards. What began as economic dissent rapidly morphed into broader political protest challenging the country’s leadership and long‑standing power structures.

Rights groups and local reporting indicate that the protests have been met with violent crackdowns by security forces. Dozens of protesters have reportedly been killed and thousands arrested in clashes across multiple regions, according to the U.S.‑based Human Rights Activists News Agency and other monitoring organizations. Some footage depicts firefighters, burning buildings and confrontations between demonstrators and security units.

In response, Iranian authorities, including judiciary officials, vowed decisive punishments for participants in what they called “illegal gatherings” and accused demonstrators of acting as agents of foreign powers. Supreme Leader Khamenei, in a televised address, blamed external influence for the unrest and pledged that the regime would not tolerate disruption.

The developments have drawn international attention and concern. While state media minimizes the scale of unrest, foreign governments, including the United States and European allies, have called for restraint and respect for peaceful protest. Former U.S. President Donald Trump reiterated warnings that Iran would face consequences if further violence escalates.

Meanwhile, Pahlavi continued to encourage protesters and urged global leaders to help restore communication access, asserting that the blackout and crackdown attempt to stifle the Iranian people’s demands for freedom and reform.

Iran has resorted to internet shutdowns during periods of unrest before, including widespread blackouts in 2019 and 2022 amid nationwide protests. Analysts note that such tactics have historically been paired with heavy force to quell dissent, often leading to significant human rights concerns.

The current wave of protests, driven by economic despair and widening frustration with political leadership, represents a significant development in Iran’s recent history. With communication channels restricted, independent reporting remains limited, but the scale of unrest and government response signal a critical juncture for Iranian society and its governance.

Mahigit 686,000 deboto, lumahok sa Traslacion 2026

Venus L Peñaflor
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Mahigit 686,000 deboto, lumahok sa Traslacion 2026

Maynila — Umabot sa humigit-kumulang 686,600 deboto ang lumahok sa Traslacion 2026 ng Poong Hesus Nazareno nitong Biyernes, ayon sa tala ng Quiapo Church Command Post bandang hapon.

Batay sa ulat ng simbahan, 556,600 deboto ang naitala sa Ayala Boulevard, habang tinatayang 130,000 naman ang nasa Quiapo hanggang ala una ng hapon. Pagsapit ng 4:23 ng hapon, umabot na ang prusisyon sa Arlegui Street, senyales ng patuloy ngunit mabagal na pag-usad ng andas.

Ayon sa mga opisyal ng Quiapo Church, mas bumagal ang takbo ng Traslacion ngayong taon dahil sa patuloy na pagdagsa ng mga deboto sa unahan ng andas, kung saan nagsisikap dahil sa pagpipilit na makalapit at makahipo sa imahe ng Poong Nazareno. Dahil dito, nagkaroon ng matinding siksikan sa ilang bahagi ng ruta.

Sa unang yugto ng prusisyon, mabilis ang galaw nito, katulad ng bilis noong Traslacion 2024, na tinatayang isang kilometro kada oras mula Quirino Grandstand patungong National Museum. Subalit ang humigit-kumulang isang kilometrong bahagi mula Finance Road, Ayala Boulevard, at pagtawid sa Ayala Bridge ay inabot ng mahigit anim na oras, dahilan upang maging mas mabagal ito kumpara sa itinakdang rekord noong Traslacion 2025.

Samantala, iniulat ng Philippine Red Cross (PRC) na mahigit 100 deboto na ang kanilang naasistehan dahil sa panghihina, pagkahilo, minor injuries, at dehydration. May ilang deboto ang dinala sa mga kalapit na ospital bilang pag-iingat. Nag-deploy ang PRC ng mga first aid station, ambulansya, at libo-libong volunteer sa buong ruta ng prusisyon.

Ang Traslacion, na ginaganap tuwing ika-9 ng Enero, ay isa sa pinakamalaking relihiyosong pagtitipon sa Pilipinas at sa buong mundo, bilang paggunita sa paglipat ng imahe ng Poong Hesus Nazareno mula sa Luneta patungong Quiapo Church noong 1787. Taun-taon, milyon-milyong deboto ang dumadalo upang ipahayag ang kanilang pananampalataya, panata, at panalangin.

Larawan ni Miko Noveno/FB

From Truman to Trump: America’s failed quest to buy Greenland

EDGARDO HERNAL
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From Truman to Trump: America’s failed quest to buy Greenland

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Following the recent capture of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro, President Donald Trump has intensified his push to acquire Greenland, raising concerns of potential military action and drawing criticism from European allies.

While American interest in Greenland has regained visibility under Trump, the notion of U.S. control over the self-governing Danish territory is not a new concept. Greenland, a vast island covering 836,000 square miles, occupies a strategic position between the U.S. and Europe, controlling the so-called GIUK gap, a critical maritime passage linking the Arctic to the Atlantic. The island also boasts significant natural resources, including oil, gas, and rare earth minerals.

U.S. interest in Greenland dates back to the 19th century. After purchasing Alaska from Russia in 1867, Secretary of State William H. Seward proposed acquiring Greenland and Iceland from Denmark. Though no formal offer was made, the idea persisted, resurfacing multiple times in history, including proposals to swap Greenland for U.S. territory in the Philippines.

In 1946, during the post-World War II period, President Harry Truman formally offered Denmark $100 million in gold for Greenland. Denmark rejected the bid but allowed the U.S. to operate military bases on the island, including what is now the Pituffik Space Base (formerly Thule Air Base).

“Acquiring Greenland would give the United States valuable bases from which to launch an air counteroffensive over the Arctic area in the event of attack,” a U.S. State Department official noted at the time.

Under the Trump administration, the push for Greenland has resurfaced. Trump first expressed interest in 2019, framing it as a “large real estate deal,” but Greenlandic and Danish authorities firmly rejected the idea. After winning the 2024 election, Trump revived the proposal and hinted at military options during public addresses, including a speech to Congress where he stated, “I think we’re going to get it. One way or the other, we’re going to get it.”

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt emphasized on Tuesday that Trump considers acquiring Greenland a “national security priority” essential to deterring adversaries in the Arctic region. “The President and his team are discussing a range of options to pursue this important foreign policy goal, and of course, utilizing the U.S. Military is always an option at the Commander in Chief’s disposal,” Leavitt said.

Greenland’s history as a strategic U.S. interest underscores the island’s geopolitical importance, reflecting centuries of American ambition to expand influence in the Arctic. Despite repeated overtures, Greenland remains firmly under Danish sovereignty for the time being.

Coco Festival 2026: Bagong ayos, bagong saya para sa lahat

Venus L Peñaflor
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Coco Festival 2026: Bagong ayos, bagong saya para sa lahat

SAN PABLO CITY, Laguna — Mas organisado, mas inklusibo, at mas sensitibo sa iba’t ibang sektor ng komunidad ang inaasahang magiging Bagong San Pablo Coco Festival of Performing Arts 2026, ayon sa inilabas na opisyal na iskedyul ng apat na gabing selebrasyon mula Enero 12 hanggang 15, 2026.

Ayon sa pamahalaang lungsod, ang mga pagbabagong ipinatupad ngayong taon ay bunga ng mga aral mula sa mga nakaraang pista at ng patuloy na konsultasyon sa mga residente, negosyante, at religious sectors.

Isa sa mga kapansin-pansing pagbabago ay ang paglilipat ng mga aktibidad na may kaugnayan sa beer drinking mula sa Rizal Avenue Plaza sa harap ng Katedral patungo sa Regidor Street, sa tapat ng San Pablo City Public Market, bilang bahagi ng City Night Market. Matatandaang dati nang ipinahayag ng ilang grupo mula sa sektor panrelihiyon ang kanilang pagkabahala sa pagsasagawa ng mga ganitong aktibidad sa harap ng simbahan.

Ayon sa mga opisyal, ang hakbang na ito ay naglalayong igalang ang sagradong espasyo ng simbahan, habang patuloy na binibigyan ng pagkakataon ang kasiyahan, kabuhayan, at night-time economy ng lungsod.

“Mas malinaw na ang delineation ng mga venue may espasyo para sa sining, may espasyo para sa kasiyahan, at may paggalang sa pananampalataya,” pahayag ng isang city event organizer.

Bukod sa mga pagtatanghal ng sining at talento, itinatampok din ng Coco Festival 2026 ang mga gabi na iaalay ng mga lokal na pinuno bilang pagkilala sa kanilang suporta sa kultura at kaunlaran ng lungsod:

  • Day 2 (Enero 13) – Cong. Amben Amante’s Night, kasabay ng The Voice San Pablo City Season 1 at Rotarock XXX.2
  • Day 3 (Enero 14) – Gov. Sol Aragones’ Night, tampok ang Mr. & Ms. San Pablo Star 2026 at San Miguel Beer Night: RakRakan sa Regidor
  • Day 4 (Enero 15) – Mayor Najie Gapangada’s Night, na susundan ng COCO Foam Rave Party

Ayon sa city government, ang paglalaan ng mga tematikong gabi ay hindi lamang para sa entertainment kundi para rin sa pagpapalakas ng ugnayan sa pagitan ng pamahalaan at mamamayan.

Mas Maayos na Daloy, Mas Malawak na Partisipasyon

Isasagawa ang mga pangunahing programa sa Main Stage Plaza sa Rizal Avenue, habang ang City Night Market at RakRakan sa Regidor ay nakatalaga sa Regidor Street, isang hakbang na inaasahang magpapagaan sa daloy ng tao at trapiko.

Sa kabuuan, ang Coco Festival 2026 ay inilalarawan ng mga opisyal bilang isang mas balanseng pista, mas disiplinado, mas may malasakit sa kultura at pananampalataya, at mas bukas sa partisipasyon ng iba’t ibang sektor ng San Pablo City.

Ito ay hindi lamang pagdiriwang, kundi patunay kung paano pinapabuti ng lungsod ang pag-oorganisa ng mga pampublikong okasyon,” ayon sa pamahalaang lungsod.

Walang Street Dancing

Sa consultation meeting na isinagawa sa Mayor’s Office ng San Pablo noong Nobyembre 2025, sinabi ni Schools Division Superintendent Gilie Ilagan na hindi makakalahok ang mga pampublikong paaralan sa street dancing.

Ayon sa kanya, isang buwan nang hindi nakapasok ang mga bata bilang pag-iingat sa “The Big One,” at kung mag-eensayo pa sila para sa street dancing, masyado na silang maiiwanan sa kanilang mga leksyon.

Trump’s idea and the paths God’s people need to take

DC Alviar
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Trump’s idea and the paths God’s people need to take

We’re not trying to be religious, but January 2026 has to be themed — depending on whatever your faith leads you — to anything about vision, awakening, commitment, setting spiritual goals, and desires. (Credit goes to prayer partners led by my spiritual father Emer.) Maduro, the ousted leader of the Venezuelan people, may not see it coming, but some are smarter than others, including the leader worse than Maduro. And we don’t have trumped-up charges here. The neighboring people’s president appears so confident in his worst military assault that nobody can deny: In his flesh in an instant, Maduro will appear before the U.S. courts of justice.

Kidnapped? Well, Trump didn’t kid him. 

They both warned each other and it seemed that the not-so-American had the last laugh. Imagine him laughing the morning after? (We pause, too, for their seven days of mourning.) The scenes of the crime, of atrocities, of deathbeds for civilian people on the streets in Venezuela make us worry more of the future, with the right motive. Russia, China, and North Korea counterparts have been given the idea that it’s very much okay to violate international law; you’re a superpower anyway.

Kids cry before they die. Adults surrender their lives. They may also cry before God. Where is He in all this, though, some may ask. When all the words that come out of fascists are merely secondary to their corrupt, atrocious ways of leading, and some of them say, “saving” people.

How ironic to claim more Venezuelans are made happier, and Trump is their hero! 

Which leads us to go back to where we are and where we should be: to focus on our own territory.

To say that the Philippines is like Taiwan is not without wisdom. The two neighboring countries need to beef up militarily and/or increase their power, resources, capabilities, minus the trolls and treacherous politicians. It is because China will continue to knock and later bang on the very doorsteps of our homeland and the privacy of our own homes. Can we believe Trump’s assertion that he has a good relationship with President Xi?

As the United States and the Philippines are treaty allies on paper, that is the 1951 Mutual Defense Treaty, along with EDCA and other defense agreements, Filipinos and their patriotic leaders (inside or outside government) need to do some re-envisioning and re-awakening, with genuine interests to serve the country and its people. Their patriotism goes beyond motherhood statements but more of strong words, more concrete, more clarified action meant for our territorial integrity.

The WPS is no sea dispute anymore. Clarity can best be seen in the UNCLOS ruling; it so happened that Duterte the former leader helped make things murkier to the delight of Chinese ambassadors, their coast guard, their generals, and Xi himself. We’re paying the price, yet we’re doing some no-nonsense defensive postures, position papers, patrols, and more importantly, our DND and PCG leaderships are not backing down on defense amidst China’s massive disinformation campaign at the WPS.

Our strength and resolutions initially had strong showings before China when we disallowed a Duterte have a defense portfolio, though we permitted her to temporarily head the Education department. Imagine the Matatag curriculum totally silent and against us in celebrating our victory at WPS, even small triumphs of coastguard personnel and truth-telling and truth-searching journalists, people in the Church, and civil society.

Let’s say we’re running out of time as intruders and bad elements of Philippine society and the world are already stationed inside our territory. That monster makes us think critically, unafraid of reclaiming a country safer, better for future Filipino generations to live in. (If we can only ban “Goodbye Philippines” and other firecrackers for good as God honors what we do, so we better have better things to say in our prayer for the country and the world; mind you there’s power in declaration.) 

We have to be smarter and look at all peoples and their presidents in the eyes, blinking only when we need to, but are always awakening our sense of commitment to truly sustainable development goals and what our individual hearts desire.

Happy 2026!

German president accuses U.S. of damaging world order

Venus L Peñaflor
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German president accuses U.S. of damaging world order

BERLIN — German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier delivered unusually forceful criticism of U.S. foreign policy under President Donald Trump on Thursday, warning that worldwide democratic norms and the post-World War II rules-based order risk disintegrating if major powers abandon established principles of international conduct.

Speaking at a symposium in Berlin, Steinmeier — whose role as Germany’s head of state is largely ceremonial but carries significant moral authority — sharply criticized what he described as a “breakdown of values” by the United States, a nation that historically helped construct the global order after World War II. He cautioned against allowing the international system to “turn into a den of robbers,” a metaphor for a world in which powerful actors take what they wish at the expense of weaker states.

“It is about preventing the world from turning into a den of robbers, where the most unscrupulous take whatever they want, where regions or entire countries are treated as the property of a few great powers,” Steinmeier said, underscoring growing concerns among European leaders over unilateral actions that bypass international norms.

His remarks appeared to allude to recent high-profile U.S. actions, including the ousting of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, which triggered global debate over legality and sovereignty. The president also placed the current tensions within a broader historical context, describing Russia’s annexation of Crimea and the full-scale invasion of Ukraine as a watershed moment, followed by what he called a second major rupture in global order linked to U.S. behavior.

While steeped in diplomatic symbolism, Steinmeier’s comments signal deeper unease among European allies about Washington’s shifting approach to multilateral engagement and alliance commitments. Analysts say such rhetoric from a close NATO partner highlights transatlantic strains not seen in years.

A recent public broadcaster ARD poll showed that 76% of Germans believe the United States is no longer a reliable partner, a record low in the survey’s history, reflecting mounting public skepticism toward U.S. leadership on the world stage. Trust in European partners such as France and the United Kingdom remains significantly higher by comparison.

Steinmeier also urged the international community to support active intervention in volatile regions and encouraged emerging powers such as Brazil and India to play a role in upholding the world order, emphasizing that multilateral cooperation must be reinforced if democratic principles are to withstand contemporary geopolitical pressures.

The White House has defended its recent foreign policy decisions as lawful and necessary, with U.S. officials rejecting claims that Washington is abandoning international norms.

(Note: subsequent comment from U.S. officials may be added when available.)

Search and rescue operations, tuloy-tuloy sa landfill landslide sa Cebu City

Carlo Juancho Funtanilla
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Search and rescue operations, tuloy-tuloy sa landfill landslide sa Cebu City

CEBU CITY — Patuloy ang search and rescue operations matapos ang pagguho ng lupa sa isang landfill site sa Barangay Binaliw, Cebu City nitong Huwebes ng hapon, ayon kay Cebu City Mayor Nestor Archival.

Batay sa ulat, tinabunan ng landslide ang isang istruktura sa loob ng landfill site, pati na rin ang ilang kagamitan at sasakyan na naroon sa lugar.

Nasira rin ang administrative office ng landfill dahil sa insidente.

Ayon kay Archival, may mga paunang ulat na nagsasabing may mga taong posibleng na-trap sa ilalim ng gumuhong lupa.

Agad namang rumesponde ang mga medical assistance team at emergency responders upang suportahan ang patuloy na search and rescue operations sa lugar, dagdag ng alkalde.

“I am closely monitoring the situation and will be heading to the Binaliw landfill as soon as possible to personally check the situation and coordinate further actions,” pahayag ni Archival sa halo ng Ingles at Cebuano.

Hinimok din ng alkalde ang publiko na manatiling kalmado at umiwas muna sa apektadong lugar upang hindi maabala ang operasyon ng mga rumespondeng awtoridad.

“We ask the public to remain calm and please avoid the area first so that our responders can respond appropriately,” dagdag pa niya.

Tiniyak ni Archival na ang mga opisyal at beripikadong update hinggil sa insidente ay ilalabas lamang sa pamamagitan ng mga opisyal na channel ng lokal na pamahalaan.

Teacher sa Muntinlupa, namatay habang nasa classroom observation

DC Alviar
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Teacher sa Muntinlupa, namatay habang nasa classroom observation

Muntinlupa City – Nawalan ng malay at namatay ang isang beteranong guro ng Pedro E. Diaz High School sa Alabang, si Ms. Agnes Buenaflor habang isinasagawa ang isang classroom observation noong Enero 7, 2026. Ayon sa Schools Division Office ng Muntinlupa, agad siyang isinugod sa ospital matapos mahimatay sa loob ng silid‑aralan, ngunit hindi nailigtas sa kabila ng agarang medikal na atensiyon.

Nagpaabot ng malalim na pakikiramay ang DepEd sa pamilya, mga mag-aaral at mga kasamahan ni Buenaflor, at inilarawan siya bilang isang “remarkable educator at cherished mentor” na malaki ang naiambag sa buhay ng kanyang mga estudyante at kapwa guro.

Nagpahayag ng lungkot at pag‑alala ang iba’t ibang grupo ng mga guro sa buong bansa kasunod ng trahedya, at muling nanawagan sa Department of Education (DepEd) na repasuhin o suspendihin ang kasalukuyang polisiya ng classroom observation bilang bahagi ng teachers’ performance rating system.

Ayon sa Teachers’ Dignity Coalition (TDC), ang classroom observation ay dapat maging isang suportadong proseso na nakatuon sa pag‑unlad ng pagtuturo, at hindi isang mekanismong nakakadagdag ng sobrang stress at pasanin sa mga guro.

Ang Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT) naman ay nagpahayag na dapat pansamantalang itigil ang mga obserbasyon, lalo na’t karamihan sa mga guro ay kababalik lamang mula sa maikling bakasyon, at hiniling ang mas malalim na pag‑aaral at posibleng pag‑amyenda sa Results‑Based Performance Management System (RPMS) para magkaroon ng makatarungan at mas makataong alternatibo.

Nanawagan si House Deputy Minority Leader at lider ng ACT Teachers Party‑list na si Antonio Tinio na repasuhin ang tinaguriang “oppressive” evaluation system na nagdudulot ng labis na presyon at stress sa mga guro, at inuuna ang kalusugan at kapakanan ng mga manggaguro sa paggawa ng mga polisiya.

Ang malawakang reaksyon ng mga guro ay bunga ng matagal nang pag‑alala sa mabigat na workload, mga mahihigpit na polisiya ng evaluation, at kakulangan ng suporta sa kalusugan at kabutihang‑panlahat ng mga guro. Maraming mga guro ang nakikita ang classroom observation at iba pang administratibong gawain bilang sobrang nakaka‑stress at makakadagdag sa dami ng paperwork at pagbabantay sa trabaho bagay na paulit‑ulit nilang ipinupunto bilang hindi makatuwiran at nakapipinsala sa kanilang pisikal at mental na kalusugan.Dahil dito, ang trahedyang ito ay nag‑udyok ng mas malawak na diskusyon sa kagawaran, mga guro, at mga mambabatas hinggil sa pangangailangan ng mas makatuwirang evaluation system at mga polisiyang tunay na nagpapahalaga sa kapakanan ng mga guro. Marami ring grupo ang nananawagan para sa mas malawak na serbisyong medikal, makatwirang benepisyo, at mas magandang kondisyon sa pagtuturo para maiwasan ang mga ganitong trahedya sa hinaharap.

U.S. moves to control Venezuelan oil with tanker seizures and global sales

Venus L Peñaflor
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U.S. moves to control Venezuelan oil with tanker seizures and global sales

WASHINGTON — The Trump administration is taking steps to assert control over Venezuela’s oil industry after seizing two sanctioned tankers and announcing plans to partially lift certain sanctions to supervise the sale of Venezuelan petroleum worldwide.

According to the U.S. Energy Department, the only oil entering or leaving Venezuela will now move through approved channels in accordance with U.S. law and national security interests. These measures could give the United States greater influence over global oil supplies and pricing.

Vice President JD Vance said in an interview that the U.S. can “control” Venezuela’s financial resources by dictating where its oil can be sold.

“We control the energy resources, and we tell the regime, you’re allowed to sell the oil so long as you serve America’s national interest,” Vance said in a Fox News Channel interview.
He added, “And that’s how we exert incredible pressure on that country without wasting a single American life.”

Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the oil from the seized tankers in the North Atlantic and Caribbean Sea will be part of a deal announced by Trump, under which Venezuela would provide up to 50 million barrels of oil to the United States.

“They understand that the only way they can move oil and generate revenue and not have economic collapse is if they cooperate and work with the United States,” Rubio told reporters.

The U.S. European Command confirmed that the merchant vessel Bella 1 was seized in the North Atlantic for violating U.S. sanctions. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem also reported that U.S. forces took control of the M Sophia in the Caribbean. These two ships join at least two others seized last month—the Skipper and the Centuries.

The Justice Department is investigating the crew of Bella 1 for failing to comply with Coast Guard orders. Attorney General Pam Bondi said criminal charges would be pursued against all responsible parties. Bella 1 had previously been sanctioned in 2024 for allegedly smuggling cargo for a company linked to Hezbollah, backed by Iran.

Meanwhile, the Trump administration is selectively lifting some sanctions to allow the sale of Venezuelan oil globally. The initial sales, totaling 30 to 50 million barrels, will be deposited into U.S.-controlled accounts at globally recognized banks, with proceeds managed at the discretion of the U.S. government.

Venezuela’s state-owned oil company, PDVSA, said it is negotiating with the U.S. for the sale of crude oil. The company emphasized that the process will follow commercial norms, ensuring legality, transparency, and mutual benefit. Acting President Delcy Rodríguez called the arrangement “neither extraordinary nor irregular” and emphasized that Venezuela should maintain diverse international relations.

The U.S. plans to authorize the importation of oil field equipment and services to increase Venezuela’s oil production, currently around one million barrels per day. Investments in the electricity grid are also planned to improve production and living standards in a country struggling with economic collapse, rising prices, and reduced state subsidies.

In related developments, Trump softened his criticism of Colombian President Gustavo Petro, noting a recent friendly phone call and inviting him to the White House, following earlier accusations against Petro regarding drug trafficking.

Noem noted that the seized ships were part of a shadow fleet smuggling oil for countries under sanctions, including Venezuela, Russia, and Iran. The Marinera (formerly Bella 1) was tracked between Scotland and Iceland, with British military support providing surveillance. U.K. Defense Secretary John Healey described the vessel as part of a “Russian-Iranian axis of sanctions evasion fueling terrorism, conflict, and misery from the Middle East to Ukraine.”

Maritime tracking firm TankerTrackers.com reported at least 16 tankers left Venezuelan waters after Maduro’s ouster. The M Sophia, loaded with roughly 1.8 million barrels of crude oil, carried a cargo worth approximately $108 million at current market prices.

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