Trump promises oil execs ‘total

safety’ if they invest in Venezuela

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump is calling on oil executives to rush to invest in Venezuela as the White House looks to quickly secure $100 billion in private funding to revive the country’s ability to fully tap into its expansive reserves of petroleum.

Since the U.S. military raid to capture former Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro, Trump has quickly pivoted to portraying the move as a newfound economic opportunity for the U.S. Trump, as he opened the meeting Friday with oil industry executives, sought to assure them that they need not be skeptical of quickly investing in and, in some cases, returning to the South American country.

US intercepts fifth tanker as it

exerts control over oil distribution

WASHINGTON — The U.S. military says U.S. forces have boarded another oil tanker in the Caribbean Sea as the Trump administration continues to target sanctioned tankers traveling to and from Venezuela.

The predawn action Friday was carried out by Marines and Navy sailors launched from an aircraft carrier that is part of the extensive force the U.S. has built up in the Caribbean. That’s according to U.S. Southern Command, which declared “there is no safe haven for criminals” as it announced the seizure of the vessel called the Olina.

The Olina is the fifth tanker seized by U.S. forces as part of a broader effort by President Donald Trump’s administration to control the production and global distribution of Venezuela’s oil products.

New video of fatal Minnesota ICE

shooting brings renewed scrutiny

MINNEAPOLIS — A Minnesota prosecutor is calling on the public to share with investigators any recordings and evidence connected to the fatal shooting of Renee Good as new video emerged showing the final moments of her encounter with an immigration officer. It casts doubt on the administration’s version of the events leading to the shooting.

The Minneapolis killing and a separate shooting in Portland, Oregon, a day later by the Border Patrol have set off protests in multiple cities. The Trump administration has defended the officer who shot Good in her car, saying he was protecting himself and fellow agents.

Iran supreme leader signals new

crackdown on protesters in streets

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — Protests in Iran have continued despite threats from the government to crack down. Online videos show demonstrators protesting Friday night, even after authorities shut down the internet and cut phone lines.

The protests, which began over economic issues, have become a significant challenge to the government. Activists say at least 65 people have been killed. Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei criticized U.S. President Donald Trump, who has pledged support for peaceful protesters. Iran’s judiciary chief has vowed harsh punishment for demonstrators. European leaders have condemned the violence and urged Iran to allow free expression.

Sluggish hiring closes frustrating

year for job seekers across US

WASHINGTON — Sluggish hiring last month closed out a year of weak employment gains that have frustrated job seekers even as layoffs and unemployment have also been low.

Employers added 50,000 jobs in December, nearly unchanged from a downwardly revised figure of 56,000 in November, the Labor Department said Friday. The unemployment rate slipped to 4.4%, its first decline since June, from 4.5% in November, a figure also revised lower.

The data suggests that businesses are reluctant to add workers even as economic growth has picked up.

Russia uses its new hypersonic

missile in western Ukraine attack

Russia has used its latest missile against Ukraine for a second time in the nearly 4-year-old war, a forceful signal to Kyiv and its Western allies as peace talks are in a crucial stage.

The strike with the hypersonic Oreshnik intermediate range ballistic missile targeted Ukraine’s western Lviv region close to a military base in neighboring Poland that is a key hub for Western military supplies to Kyiv. Some Moscow commentators said the attack was a warning against any European plans to deploy troops to Ukraine as part of a prospective peace deal. Russia has said it won’t accept that and views such forces as legitimate targets.

Swiss bar owner put in pretrial

detention over fatal fire at bar

MARTIGNY, Switzerland — Switzerland is holding a national day of mourning for the 40 people who died in an Alpine bar fire during a New Year’s Eve celebration.

The memorial on Friday came as prosecutors requested one of the bar’s managers to be placed in pretrial detention.

Valais region’s chief prosecutor, Beatrice Pilloud, said in a statement the detention of the man was needed to avoid a “risk of flight.” The man’s wife and co-manager will remain free under judicial supervision, the statement said. The fire, which broke out at Le Constellation bar, in the ski resort of Crans-Montana, also injured 116 people.

Investigators believe sparkling candles ignited the blaze.

A memorial service and a minute’s silence marked Friday’s homage.

Luigi Mangione’s federal death penalty trial could start before the end of the year

NEW YORK (AP) — Luigi Mangione’s federal death penalty trial in the killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson could begin before the end of the year. U.S. District Judge Margaret Garnett said Friday that she expects Mangione’s trial to begin in December or possibly January 2027 if the death penalty is still on the table. If not, she said, Mangione could stand trial in October. Either way, Garnett said, she expects jury selection to begin around Sept. 8. The judge said she would rule at a later date on the defense’s requests to prevent prosecutors from seeking the death penalty, throw out some charges and exclude certain evidence.