TOPIC

/ people

Nicolas Maduro

The latest news and top stories on Nicolas Maduro, a Venezuelan politician. Starting as a bus driver and trade union leader, he ascended through government roles, serving as Foreign Minister and Vice President under Hugo Chávez. Assuming leadership in 2013, his administration has prioritised social programmes, including housing and subsidised food. He recently negotiated a deal exchanging detained migrants for Americans and political prisoners. However, his tenure is marked by widespread criticism regarding authoritarian rule, human rights abuses and economic challenges, with his re-elections in 2018 and 2024 being widely disputed.

Sun Lei, China’s deputy permanent representative to the UN, speaks during a Security Council briefing on threats to international peace and security in New York on Tuesday. Venezuela requested a Security Council meeting, citing escalating tensions resulting from “US aggression” against the country. Photo: EPA

China-Latin America relations

China, Russia clash with US at UN over Venezuela oil seizures and naval pressure

Venezuela turns to UN as Trump’s oil crackdown intensifies and Caracas advances a law targeting those in support of naval blockades.

24 Dec 2025 - 7:46AMvideocam

SCMP Highlights

China’s reusable rocket recovery fails, US blacklists DJI: SCMP daily highlights

23 Dec 2025 - 9:15PM

China-Latin America relations

China says US broke international law by seizing oil tankers off Venezuela

23 Dec 2025 - 8:27AMvideocam

Venezuela

US pursues third oil tanker as Trump’s Venezuela ‘blockade’ intensifies

US Coast Guard shadows a sanctioned ‘dark fleet’ supertanker as Washington moves to choke off Venezuela’s oil revenue.

22 Dec 2025 - 10:20AM

A US military helicopter flies over the Panama-flagged Centuries, which was intercepted by the US Coast Guard on Saturday. On Sunday, officials said the US was pursuing a third tanker in waters off Venezuela. Photo: DHS via Reuters

Americas and the Caribbean

Venezuela slams ‘international piracy’ after US seizes another vessel

Trump has ordered a blockade of all sanctioned oil tankers in and out of the area, but the ship is reportedly not one of those blacklisted.

21 Dec 2025 - 9:57AMvideocam

US-China relations

Rubio swaps hawk for diplomat in year-end pivot on China

Top US envoy eschews ‘pacing threat’ label, stressing cooperation and Western hemisphere priorities for 2026.

20 Dec 2025 - 6:53AMvideocam

United States

Trump leaves war with Venezuela on the table, threatens more seizures: NBC

The comments increase pressure on Nicolas Maduro’s regime, but Trump wouldn’t say if ousting the Venezuelan leader was his ultimate goal.

19 Dec 2025 - 7:33PM

US President Donald Trump (left) and Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro. Trump told NBC News he’s keeping the possibility of war with Venezuela on the table. Photo: AFP

Americas and the Caribbean

Trump’s Venezuela ‘blockade’ raises legal questions as US masses forces

With an unusually large US military presence near Venezuela, observers warn of tactics that stretch the bounds of international law.

19 Dec 2025 - 3:18PM

China-Latin America relations

China FM Wang Yi reaffirms Beijing’s backing for Venezuela as US pressure grows

In a call with his Caracas counterpart, the Chinese foreign minister says mutual trust and support are a tradition of bilateral ties.

18 Dec 2025 - 4:11PMvideocam

Americas and the Caribbean

US forces strike another alleged drug boat in eastern Pacific, killing 4

The attack brought the total number of known boat strikes to 26, while at least 99 people have been killed.

18 Dec 2025 - 10:44AM

The US Southern Command released video of a boat moving through water before there was an explosion. Photo: US Southern Command via X

United States

Opinion | For Trump, the only communists to really dislike are those at home

The limited discussion of China in the new US national security document indicates that the US president’s focus is on domestic challenges to his authority.

17 Dec 2025 - 8:30PMvideocam

US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping talk as they leave after a bilateral meeting at Gimhae International Airport, on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in Busan, South Korea, on October 30. Photo: Reuters

Americas and the Caribbean

Trump orders blockade of sanctioned oil tankers going in and out of Venezuela

Venezuelan government condemns blockade as ‘irrational’ after the US president demands it ‘return’ oil, land and assets to the US.

17 Dec 2025 - 4:27PMvideocam

Donald Trump

Trump’s chief of staff pulls back curtains of White House in revealing interviews

Susie Wiles offers her unusually candid opinion of Trump and senior figures in the US president’s orbit.

17 Dec 2025 - 11:18AM

Americas and the Caribbean

US military boat strikes kill 8, adding to drug war death toll

The US military said it targeted ‘designated terrorist organisations’, and posted video of an operation in the eastern Pacific.

16 Dec 2025 - 4:42PM

One of the three boats hit by the latest US strikes in the eastern Pacific. Photo: US Southern Command via X

Americas and the Caribbean

Tensions rise as US prepares to seize more tankers with Venezuelan oil

Seizure off Venezuela signals a crackdown on a shadow fleet of tankers and financially squeezing the Maduro government.

12 Dec 2025 - 4:14PMvideocam

A satellite image shows the Skipper tanker and another vessel off Port Jose, Venezuela, on November 18, 2025. Photo: Planet Labs PBC via Reuters

Americas and the Caribbean

Tanker seized off Venezuela to be taken to US port, as threat of war grows

White House justifies targeting ‘black-market oil’ as Russia expresses support for its ally, Nicolas Maduro.

12 Dec 2025 - 10:12AMvideocam

Americas and the Caribbean

Explainer | US-Venezuela tensions: how far will Trump go?

As tensions escalate in the Caribbean, the world waits for Washington’s next move.

11 Dec 2025 - 2:06PMvideocam

Americas and the Caribbean

Fugitive Nobel laureate Machado details secret US help to reach Norway

Nobel laureate breaks silence on months in hiding, detailing essential US support for her clandestine exit to Oslo to receive Peace Prize.

11 Dec 2025 - 10:03PM

Nobel peace laureate Maria Corina Machado addresses a press conference at the Grand Hotel in Oslo, Norway, on Thursday. Photo: AFP

Americas and the Caribbean

‘We keep it’: Trump says US seized oil tanker off Venezuela coast

Venezuela accuses the US of ‘blatant theft’ and ‘international piracy’ after US forces stormed a sanctioned oil tanker in the Caribbean.

11 Dec 2025 - 4:02PMvideocam

Nordic nations

Venezuela’s Machado urges global fight for democracy after Nobel win

The Nobel laureate, barred from travel and forced into hiding by her home country, missed the ceremony in Oslo to receive the Peace Prize.

10 Dec 2025 - 9:14PM

Americas and the Caribbean

Venezuela’s Machado will not receive Nobel Peace Prize in person

The Venezuelan opposition figure, who has been in hiding for over a year, will have her daughter accept the award in Norway.

10 Dec 2025 - 4:03PM

Opposition leader Maria Corina Machado during a protest in Caracas, Venezuela, in August 2024. Photo: AP

Americas and the Caribbean

Venezuela’s Machado defies warning, vows to attend Nobel Peace Prize ceremony

Caracas has said Maria Corina Machado will be considered a ‘fugitive’ if she travels to Norway to accept the prize.

6 Dec 2025 - 11:40PM

Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado gestures as she addresses her supporters during a protest on January 9. Machado lives in hiding in her country. Photo: AFP

China-Latin America relations

Trump’s national security blueprint aims to combat China’s rise in Latin America

Framework pledges to stop competitors from threatening the stability and political alignment of neighbouring countries in the region.

6 Dec 2025 - 7:37AMvideocam

China-Latin America relations

China says it is working ‘with all parties’ to prevent escalation in Venezuela

Beijing’s outreach comes amid a US naval build-up and a rare phone call between Trump and Maduro.

5 Dec 2025 - 5:12AM

Americas and the Caribbean

With US warships near, Venezuela’s Maduro describes call with Trump

Phone call occurred amid a massive US military build-up in the region and deadly strikes on alleged drug vessels.

4 Dec 2025 - 3:13PM

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro looks through binoculars during a rally in Caracas on Monday. Photo EPA

China-Latin America relations

China unlikely to aid Maduro if US acts, but may benefit from fallout: analysts

Beijing condemns US pressure on Caracas but offers limited support, prioritising its economic interests and long-term gains.

4 Dec 2025 - 7:01AMvideocam

Chinese President Xi Jinping (right) meets with Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro in Moscow on the sidelines of the celebration marking the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Soviet Union’s Great Patriotic War in May. Photo: Xinhua

Donald Trump

Trump says any country trafficking drugs into US could be attacked

In response to the threat, Colombia’s Petro says his nation destroys drug labs ‘without missiles’ and warns Trump not to ‘awake the Jaguar’.

3 Dec 2025 - 9:36AM

Americas and the Caribbean

Pope Leo urges Trump not to attempt military ousting of Venezuela’s Maduro

The first US pontiff spent long years as a cleric in Peru and is familiar with Latin America.

3 Dec 2025 - 2:02AM

Help preserve 120 years of quality journalism.

SUPPORT NOW

Nicolas Maduro

China, Russia clash with US at UN over Venezuela oil seizures and naval pressure

Venezuela turns to UN as Trump’s oil crackdown intensifies and Caracas advances a law targeting those in support of naval blockades.

China’s reusable rocket recovery fails, US blacklists DJI: SCMP daily highlights

China says US broke international law by seizing oil tankers off Venezuela

US pursues third oil tanker as Trump’s Venezuela ‘blockade’ intensifies

US Coast Guard shadows a sanctioned ‘dark fleet’ supertanker as Washington moves to choke off Venezuela’s oil revenue.

Venezuela slams ‘international piracy’ after US seizes another vessel

Trump has ordered a blockade of all sanctioned oil tankers in and out of the area, but the ship is reportedly not one of those blacklisted.

Rubio swaps hawk for diplomat in year-end pivot on China

Top US envoy eschews ‘pacing threat’ label, stressing cooperation and Western hemisphere priorities for 2026.

Trump leaves war with Venezuela on the table, threatens more seizures: NBC

The comments increase pressure on Nicolas Maduro’s regime, but Trump wouldn’t say if ousting the Venezuelan leader was his ultimate goal.

Trump’s Venezuela ‘blockade’ raises legal questions as US masses forces

With an unusually large US military presence near Venezuela, observers warn of tactics that stretch the bounds of international law.

China FM Wang Yi reaffirms Beijing’s backing for Venezuela as US pressure grows

In a call with his Caracas counterpart, the Chinese foreign minister says mutual trust and support are a tradition of bilateral ties.

US forces strike another alleged drug boat in eastern Pacific, killing 4

The attack brought the total number of known boat strikes to 26, while at least 99 people have been killed.

.css-1m2rp1p{color:#34b8b5;}Opinion | For Trump, the only communists to really dislike are those at home

The limited discussion of China in the new US national security document indicates that the US president’s focus is on domestic challenges to his authority.

Trump orders blockade of sanctioned oil tankers going in and out of Venezuela

Venezuelan government condemns blockade as ‘irrational’ after the US president demands it ‘return’ oil, land and assets to the US.

Trump’s chief of staff pulls back curtains of White House in revealing interviews

Susie Wiles offers her unusually candid opinion of Trump and senior figures in the US president’s orbit.

US military boat strikes kill 8, adding to drug war death toll

The US military said it targeted ‘designated terrorist organisations’, and posted video of an operation in the eastern Pacific.

Tensions rise as US prepares to seize more tankers with Venezuelan oil

Seizure off Venezuela signals a crackdown on a shadow fleet of tankers and financially squeezing the Maduro government.

Tanker seized off Venezuela to be taken to US port, as threat of war grows

White House justifies targeting ‘black-market oil’ as Russia expresses support for its ally, Nicolas Maduro.

.css-sioo19{color:#c79a00;}Explainer | US-Venezuela tensions: how far will Trump go?

As tensions escalate in the Caribbean, the world waits for Washington’s next move.

Fugitive Nobel laureate Machado details secret US help to reach Norway

Nobel laureate breaks silence on months in hiding, detailing essential US support for her clandestine exit to Oslo to receive Peace Prize.

‘We keep it’: Trump says US seized oil tanker off Venezuela coast

Venezuela accuses the US of ‘blatant theft’ and ‘international piracy’ after US forces stormed a sanctioned oil tanker in the Caribbean.

Venezuela’s Machado urges global fight for democracy after Nobel win

The Nobel laureate, barred from travel and forced into hiding by her home country, missed the ceremony in Oslo to receive the Peace Prize.

Venezuela’s Machado will not receive Nobel Peace Prize in person

The Venezuelan opposition figure, who has been in hiding for over a year, will have her daughter accept the award in Norway.

Venezuela’s Machado defies warning, vows to attend Nobel Peace Prize ceremony

Caracas has said Maria Corina Machado will be considered a ‘fugitive’ if she travels to Norway to accept the prize.

Trump’s national security blueprint aims to combat China’s rise in Latin America

Framework pledges to stop competitors from threatening the stability and political alignment of neighbouring countries in the region.

China says it is working ‘with all parties’ to prevent escalation in Venezuela

Beijing’s outreach comes amid a US naval build-up and a rare phone call between Trump and Maduro.

With US warships near, Venezuela’s Maduro describes call with Trump

Phone call occurred amid a massive US military build-up in the region and deadly strikes on alleged drug vessels.

China unlikely to aid Maduro if US acts, but may benefit from fallout: analysts

Beijing condemns US pressure on Caracas but offers limited support, prioritising its economic interests and long-term gains.

Trump says any country trafficking drugs into US could be attacked

In response to the threat, Colombia’s Petro says his nation destroys drug labs ‘without missiles’ and warns Trump not to ‘awake the Jaguar’.

Pope Leo urges Trump not to attempt military ousting of Venezuela’s Maduro

The first US pontiff spent long years as a cleric in Peru and is familiar with Latin America.

Opinion | For Trump, the only communists to really dislike are those at home

Explainer | US-Venezuela tensions: how far will Trump go?