Entertainment
US seeks long-term control of Venezuelan oil sales
- US needs to control Venezuela oil sales, says Energy Sec Wright.
- Controlling Venezuela’s oil meant controlling country: US VP Vance.
- Democrats slam Trump admin strategy as akin to stealing oil.
The US needs to control Venezuela’s oil sales and revenue indefinitely to stabilise that country’s economy, rebuild its oil sector and ensure it acts in America’s interests, top US officials said on Wednesday.
The comments reflect the importance of crude oil to President Donald Trump’s strategy in Venezuela after US forces ousted the country’s leader, Nicolas Maduro, in a raid on the capital, Caracas, on Saturday.
“We need to have that leverage and that control of those oil sales to drive the changes that simply must happen in Venezuela,” US Energy Secretary Chris Wright said at the Goldman Sachs Energy, CleanTech & Utilities Conference in Miami.
He said the revenues would be used to stabilise Venezuela’s economy and eventually to repay oil majors Exxon Mobil and ConocoPhillips for losses when their assets were nationalised by former President Hugo Chavez nearly two decades ago.
US Vice President JD Vance said that controlling Venezuela’s oil meant controlling the country.
“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; you’re not allowed to sell it if you can’t serve America’s national interest,’” he told the Fox News “Jesse Watters Primetime” programme.
“And that’s how we exert incredible pressure on that country without wasting a single American life, without endangering a single American citizen,” he said.
Democratic lawmakers criticised this approach, which Connecticut Senator Chris Murphy equated to stealing Venezuela’s oil at gunpoint, while industry analysts warned about political instability as the country treads a fine line between denouncing Maduro’s capture and appeasing the US.
The OPEC member nation sits atop the world’s largest oil reserves but accounts for only about 1% of global supply after decades of underinvestment eroded production.
Stored oil moving to market first
Energy Secretary Wright said the US would market stored Venezuelan oil first and then sell ongoing future production indefinitely, with revenues deposited into accounts controlled by the US government.
Such sales have already begun and the US has engaged “the world’s leading commodity marketers and key banks” to execute and provide financial support for them, according to a statement from the US Department of Energy.
Wright added he was speaking to US oil companies to learn what conditions would enable them to enter Venezuela to help boost the country’s production in the longer term.
“The resources are immense. This should be a wealthy, prosperous, peaceful energy powerhouse,” he said.
On Tuesday, Washington announced a deal with Caracas to initially export up to $2 billion worth of Venezuelan crude to the United States, a sign the government of interim Venezuelan President Delcy Rodriguez is responding to Trump’s demand that it open up to US oil companies or risk more military intervention.
Trump said on Wednesday in a post on Truth Social that Venezuela has agreed to use the proceeds from the sale of its oil to purchase American-made goods.
“A wise choice, and a very good thing for the people of Venezuela, and the United States,” he wrote.
Venezuela’s state-run oil company PDVSA said it was progressing in negotiations with the United States for oil sales. PDVSA board member Wills Rangel told Reuters the US will need to buy cargoes at fair market prices.
Shares of US refiners Marathon Petroleum, Phillips 66 and Valero Energy were up between 2.5% and 5%.
White House meetings
Trump is scheduled to meet with the heads of major oil companies at the White House on Friday to discuss ways of raising Venezuela’s oil production.
Representatives from Exxon Mobil, ConocoPhillips and Chevron – the top three US oil companies – would be present, according to a source familiar with the planning.
Chevron Vice Chairman Mark Nelson will represent the company at the meeting, another source said.
The companies, all of which have experience in Venezuela, have declined to comment.
Wright said in an interview with CNBC on Wednesday afternoon that he spoke with the chief executives of all three companies immediately after Maduro was seized, and expected them to be engaged in rehabilitating Venezuela’s oil sector.
“Are they going to put billions of dollars into building new infrastructure in Venezuela next week? Of course not,” he said. “But they want to be productive advisers and helpers in that process.”
Wright also told CNBC that some of the proceeds from Venezuelan oil sales could eventually be used to repay ConocoPhillips and Exxon Mobil for losses when they exited the country, but only after Venezuela’s economy is stabilised.
Chevron is the only US oil major still operating in Venezuela’s oil fields.
Venezuela was producing as much as 3.5 million barrels per day in the 1970s. But mismanagement and limited foreign investment have since led to a sharp drop in annual production, which averaged about 1.1 million bpd last year.
Wright said he believed Venezuelan production could be increased within a short period with an infusion of equipment and technology, but that a broader recovery to past production levels would take years.
Entertainment
Two people shot by US federal agents in Portland
Two people were taken to hospital after being shot by US federal agents in Portland, Oregon, police said on Friday.
The incident has added to growing tension in the area, with officers urging residents to stay calm while investigators work to find out what happened following a separate shooting a day earlier in Minneapolis.
“Two people are in the hospital following a shooting involving federal agents,” Portland police said in a statement.
“We understand the heightened emotion and tension many are feeling in the wake of the shooting in Minneapolis, but I am asking the community to remain calm as we work to learn more,” police chief Bob Day said.
Police said they were not involved in Thursday’s shooting.
The FBI said it was probing the shooting in which US Customs and Border Protection agents were involved.
“Their conditions are unknown. Officers have determined the two people were injured in the shooting involving federal agents,” Portland police said in their statement.
Portland City Council president Elana Pirtle-Guiney was cited by an ABC News affiliate as saying that, as far as she knew, they were still alive.
“FBI Portland is investigating an agent-involved shooting that happened at approximately 2:15 pm near the 10000 block of Main St. in Portland,” FBI Portland said on social media.
Further details on the circumstances of the shooting in Portland were not immediately clear.
On Wednesday, a US Immigration agent’s fatal shooting of a 37-year-old mother of three in Minneapolis drew condemnation from local officials and sparked widespread protests in Minnesota and beyond.
Entertainment
Tina Knowles wishes granddaughter Blue Ivy on 14th birthday
Tina Knowles is marking a very special milestone for her granddaughter Blue Ivy, and she did it in a way that felt deeply personal and full of love.
On Wednesday, Jan. 7, Knowles celebrated Blue Ivy’s 14th birthday by sharing a heartfelt Instagram post that quickly caught the attention of fans.
The 72-year-old author posted a collage featuring 14 photos of Blue Ivy taken across different stages of her life, a clear nod to the birthday being celebrated.
Alongside the snaps, Knowles wrote an emotional message that reflected on Blue Ivy’s journey from before she was even born to the young teenager she is today.
She affectionately described her granddaughter as her “manager, makeup artist, fashion adviser, and my love,” setting the tone for the tribute.
In her caption, Knowles looked back on the moment the family first learned Beyoncé was expecting.
“I remember the day that we found out about you being in your mom‘s womb. We could not have been more excited! We were told that you were the size of a blueberry and that is where your name came from!” she wrote.
She also shared how the family came together in prayer during those early weeks.
“We all prayed together for you every single day till you were 12 weeks old in your moms belly! Then we prayed individually until you arrived months later.”
Knowles went on to describe Blue Ivy as strong and sharp from the very beginning, noting that it was clear she was “a fighter from the beginning.”
She fondly recalled their time playing Princess and Barbie dolls, praising Blue Ivy’s imagination and early intelligence.
The message ended on a proud and loving note.
“To say that I’m a proud grandmother is an understatement!” Knowles wrote, adding that despite Blue Ivy’s many accomplishments, she remains “a very sweet, kind humble human being.”
Knowles is a grandmother to four grandchildren in total, including Blue Ivy, her younger siblings Rumi and Sir, and Solange Knowles’ son Julez.
Still, this birthday post made it clear that Blue Ivy’s 14th birthday was one Tina Knowles wanted the world to celebrate right along with her.
Entertainment
‘Jackass’ franchise to return with a 5th movie in 2026
The Jackass franchise is set to return to theaters in 2026 with its fifth big-screen installment, much to the delight of fans who have long awaited more of its wild, outrageous stunts and pranks.
The news was confirmed as the next chapter in the long-running series continues to come together after years of speculation.
The upcoming movie, simply known as Jackass 5, marks another major addition to the beloved comedy franchise that first debuted in the early 2000s.
Johnny Knoxville, the star of the franchise, shared in a post on Instagram, “Well a wang dang and hot damn doodle, we are starting the year off with a bang.”
“We wanted to let you know that this summer Jackass is back!! We will see you in theatres June 26th. More to come but wanted you to hear it from us first!!”
Audiences can expect the same blend of fearless physical comedy, unexpected antics and laugh-out-loud moments that have defined the series through its theatrical run and multiple television seasons.
While specific plot details and cast confirmations are still under wraps, the announcement has already generated buzz among longtime supporters of the series.
Jackass has built a loyal following by pushing boundaries with its unique brand of slapstick humour and unpredictable stunts, often involving elaborate setups and daring physical feats performed by the cast.
The franchise’s return comes more than a decade after the release of Jackass Forever, which brought back many familiar faces and reenergised interest in the series.
Producers and fans alike have spoken in recent years about the desire to revisit the format that made Jackass a cultural touchstone, and Jackass 5 appears to be the next step in that evolution.
Releasing another theatrical entry also highlights the franchise’s lasting appeal, especially as audiences continue to seek out comedy that feels immediate and communal, the kind that hits hardest on the big screen surrounded by fellow viewers.
The decision to bring Jackass back to cinemas confirms that studios still see value in high-profile comedy releases that can draw audiences out of their homes and into shared viewing experiences.
Fans of the series will be watching closely for news about trailers, the returning cast and the kinds of absurd challenges that have made Jackass a defining example of dare-devil comedy for more than 20 years.
With its 2026 return, Jackass 5 aims to remind audiences why the franchise became a phenomenon, blending chaotic humour with the unexpected and delivering a theatrical experience that’s as irreverent as ever.
Stay tuned for updates as the project moves forward.
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