The Trump administration announced new sanctions against Venezuela. CBS News' Natalie Brand reports.

The United States has issued new sanctions against Venezuela, targeting three nephews of President Nicolás Maduro and six vessels accused of transporting unsanctioned Venezuelan oil. This action is part of an ongoing economic pressure campaign by the U.S. government against the Maduro regime.

White House Press Secretary Caroline Leavitt stated that the administration is enforcing its sanction policies to prevent black market oil sales, which are alleged to fund illicit activities. The recent seizure of a large oil tanker is under investigation, and Venezuelan President Maduro has condemned the action, calling it naval piracy. U.S. officials have indicated that further vessel seizures are being considered.

White House on new sanctions against Venezuela amid rising tensions

Natalie, I also want to ask you about the U.S. issuing new sanctions on Venezuela. We see a gradual escalation of U.S. pressure on that country. What's happening now? Yeah, CBS News has confirmed that new sanctions have been issued against three of Maduro's nephews and six vessels accused of carrying oil from Venezuela that had not previously been sanctioned. So this definitely marks a continuation of this new economic pressure campaign against the Maduro regime. White House Press Secretary Caroline Leavitt spoke about the decision yesterday. Take a listen. The Trump administration is executing on the president's sanction policies. We're not going to stand by and watch sanctioned vessels sail the seas with black market oil, the proceeds of which will fuel narco-terrorism of rogue and illegitimate regimes around the world. As for that massive oil tanker that was seized on Wednesday, Leavitt said that there's actually an investigative team on board, that they are going through a legal process. President Maduro in Venezuela, for his part, called the seizure, quote, an act of naval piracy and vowed to secure its remaining ships. As we reported yesterday, sources have told CBS News that the administration could be considering additional seizures. All right, we'll keep watching this. I'm Natalie Brand at the White House. Thanks.

For the first time, Amnesty International has accused Hamas and its allies of committing crimes against humanity, following an investigation into the 7 October 2023 attacks on Israel. The organization found that 1,221 people were killed and said the mass killing of civilians amounted to extermination.

Jerusalem

Middle East Conflict

Amnesty accuses Hamas of 'crimes against humanity' for Oct. 7 attack

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Rise of AI

Time magazine names 'Architects of AI' as person of the year for 2025

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Council of the City of Sydney

Reddit sues to overturn Australian social media ban

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Washington

Trump says Venezuela land operations could begin 'pretty soon'

One day after capturing an oil tanker off Venezuela's coast, the U.S. has sanctioned three of Nicolas Maduro's nephews, along with six other oil tankers.

Trump ramps up pressure on Maduro with new sanctions

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Moscow

Ukraine Invasion

EU triggers emergency clause to indefinitely immobilise Russian assets

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Caracas

Nobel peace laureate Machado vows to take award home to Venezuela

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Tokyo

Japan alerts citizens about possible megaquake

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Judge orders Kilmar Abrego Garcia's immediate release from ICE custody

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Samraong

Half a million flee as Thailand-Cambodia border clashes escalate

The U.S. has seized an oil tanker off the coast of Venezuela, President Donald Trump said on Wednesday, ratcheting up tensions with Caracas.

Trump confirms seizing of Venezuelan oil tanker

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U.S. House votes to lift Caesar Act sanctions on Syria

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Rakhine

Air strike in Myanmar killed at least 31 people, dozens injured

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U.S. seizes oil tanker off Venezuela coast

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Oslo

Venezuela's Machado awarded Nobel Peace Prize in absentia

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Kyiv

Zelenskyy prepared to hold elections after Trump questions motive

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Bangkok

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U.S. immigration agents used pepper spray against protesters in Minneapolis on Tuesday as residents blocked the officers’ vehicles and forced them to leave the area.

Minneapolis

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Canberra

Australia's social media ban takes effect for kids under 16

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Pennsylvania

Trump tries to flip the script on affordability

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Tel Aviv-Yafo

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Trump says Maduro’s “days are numbered”

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FBI releases new photo of alleged drug kingpin Ryan Wedding

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Rome

Zelenskyy seeks backing from Pope Leo XIV, Italian PM Meloni

A federal judge said Tuesday (December 9) that the Department of Justice can unseal the Ghislaine Maxwell sex trafficking case records. CBS News' Scott MacFarlane has more details.

Judge says DOJ can unseal Ghislaine Maxwell trafficking case records

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Manhattan

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Brussels

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London

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The International Criminal Court Tuesday handed down a sentence of 20 years to a Sudanese militia leader for war crimes and crimes against humanity committed during the country's civil war two decades ago.

Breakdown