Last foreign carriers halt flights to Venezuela after Trump’s airspace ban

Colombian airline flights to Venezuela have been suspended after Colombia’s airspace was declared closed by President Trump days earlier.

Flights to Caracas will be suspended on December 4 and 5, according to Panamanian carrier Copa and its Colombian-based budget subsidiary Wingo, while Boliviana de Aviacion and state airline Satena and Boliviana de Aviacion also canceled on Thursday.

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Copa and Wingo made the prudent decision to temporarily suspend flights to and from this city in response to intermittent issues with one of the navigation signals on board its flight from Caracas, according to Copa and Wingo in statements.

The companies added that “operational safety” was never compromised by the interruptions, with a company spokesman claiming that both carriers’ aircraft had been impacted by the signal issues.

Boliviana also canceled its flight to Caracas on Thursday, while Colombian government airline Satena suspended its route to Valencia&nbsp, Venezuela’s third-largest city. At the time of publication, neither has made a public statement.

No international airlines are flying to Venezuela now that the suspensions have been lifted, but several national airlines continue to fly internationally.

The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued the suspensions on November 21 in response to several major carriers’ 90-day warnings about risks to commercial aircraft flying in Venezuelan airspace.

In addition to the extensive US forces deployment in the Southern Caribbean, the FAA cited “the worsening security situation and heightened military activity in Venezuela.”

There is “so much uncertainty.”

Trump declared Venezuelan airspace “closed in its entirety” on Saturday. Only four other international carriers followed these warnings and continued to fly to Venezuela: Copa, Wingo, Satena, and Boliviana.

Members of Venezuela’s diaspora who had already experienced travel difficulties were now in for a new set of challenges as a result of the cancellations. People who have already been to the country are now having to make their own travel arrangements.

Juan Carlos Viloria Doria, vice president of Venezuelans in Colombia’s Barranquilla, said, “Many people have expressed their concerns about the cancellation of these flights.” People want to reunite with their loved ones and friends for Christmas especially at this time of year. Venezuelans must endure such a high level of uncertainty due to the political climate, which is unfortunate.

Travel plans are hampered by the cancellations, especially for those who are traveling through Venezuela and who may need to take dangerous overland trips.

Viloria urged Venezuelans to organize travels in collaboration with their families, friends, and migrant networks, as well as to consult official government sources.

What is at stake in French presidential visit to China?

talks to include Russia’s support and trade imbalances.

At a delicate time in their relations, French President Emmanuel Macron makes a three-day state visit to China.

There are significant differences between the two nations in terms of trade and the conflict in Ukraine.

What divisions exist and what is at stake?

Presenter: Tom McRae

Guests:

Andy Mok, Senior Researcher at Beijing’s Center for China and Globalization

Remi Bourgeot is an associate fellow at Paris’ French Institute for International and Strategic Affairs.

Four countries to boycott Eurovision 2026 over Israel’s inclusion

Qatar keep alive FIFA Arab Cup hopes with Syria draw as Palestine top group

Qatar, hosts of the FIFA Arab Cup 2025, stayed alive after drawing 1-1 with Syria in Group A at the Khalifa International Stadium in Al Rayyan to prevent a shock early elimination.

The AFC Asian Cup winners must win their opening game against Palestine to maintain their chances of progressing to the knockout stages on Thursday.

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Qatar’s nerves grew even as they dominated the game, with 18 goals attempted in the 77th minute while Syria only managed two.

Before Omar Kharbin’s 90th-minute strike denied the hosts, Ahmed Alaaeldin converted Edmilson Junior’s assist and appeared to hand his side the victory.

Palestine, who are now in the group, also came from behind to draw 2-2 with Tunisia earlier in the day.

Qatar will play Tunisia at Al Bayt Stadium in Al Khor, while Syria will face Palestine at Al Rayyan on Sunday.

Ikram Rami Hamadeh, a teammate from Palestine, celebrates after drawing with Tunisia [Reuters/Ibraheem Abu Mustafa/Reuters]

Palestine only needs to draw their final match in order to advance to the knockout stages, but they must also win it in order to finish in contention.

Qatar and Tunisia will have a winner-takes-all chance of qualifying for the next round if Syria loses the match.

After Amor Layouni turned in Ismael Gharbi’s 16th-minute corner in the opening kickoff against Palestine, Tunisia had taken the lead.

Six minutes into the second period, Firas Chaouat scored from a square ball laid on by Mohamed Ali Ben Romdhane for the conversion.

US authorities arrest suspect in 2021 Capitol Hill pipe bombs

Authorities in the United States have detained a suspect who they claim worked in Washington, DC, where pipe bombs were left overnight before the Capitol riot on January 6, 2021.

In a joint press conference on Thursday, the FBI and the DOJ named the suspect Brian Cole Jr.

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“I am aware that some people have failed to catch the killer.” But not the FBI, or our partners, according to FBI deputy assistant director Darren Cox.

He explained that “3 million lines of data” were being sorted as part of the investigation.

“We do not forget, give up, or give in,” he said. Our team continued to churn through large amounts of data and tips that we used to identify this suspect, even though it had been nearly five years, Cox said.

Officials under Donald Trump’s presidency also praised the arrest as a victory for the current Republican administration and a sign of how incompetent his predecessor, Democrat Joe Biden, was.

FBI Director Kash Patel stated on Thursday that “we did not discover any new information.”

A new team of investigators and experts was mobilized following a review led by the deputy director and the AIC [agent in charge] of our Washington field office, who reexamined every piece of evidence and looked through all the data, something the previous administration refused and disregarded.

Attorney General Pam Bondi, who was present at the news conference, stated that Cole would face charges for using an explosive device without permission.

She continued, noting that further allegations could be made at a later time.

A thorough investigation.

The arrest could bring an almost five-year mystery to light that highlighted the growing threat of US political violence.

According to law enforcement, the bombs, which did not detonate, were still effective and “could have seriously injured or killed innocent bystanders.”

Officials demanded $500,000 in additional information about the suspect, stating that he “may still pose a threat to the public.”

Authorities initially released shaky photos of the bomber’s location. The suspect, who was long thought to be a man, was seen wearing a mask, gloves, and a gray hoodie when he was captured on surveillance cameras.

The perpetrator placed the pipe bombs near the offices of the Democratic and Republican Parties as they passed through the densely populated Capitol Hill neighborhood.

The FBI reported last year that its analysts, agents, and law enforcement partners “worked thousands of hours” conducting interviews, reviewing physical and digital evidence, and weighing public suggestions about who might have planted pipe bombs on Capitol Hill.

President Trump’s supporters stormed and ransacked the US Capitol the day after the bombs were left, preventing Biden’s election victory being declared a success.

Trump continues to make false accusations that there was widespread voter fraud in the year that he lost.

More than 1, 500 people are accused or convicted of criminal offences related to the riot, and Trump granted a presidential pardon in one of his first decrees following his return to the White House in early 2025.

Right-wing conspiracy theories that the Capitol riot was an “inside job” have been fueled by the mystery surrounding the pipe bombs. Unconfirmed, some online celebrities have claimed that the potential bomber was an “deep state” government agent who sought to discredit Trump’s supporters.

Even some Trump officials, like Dan Bongino, who have previously assisted in spreading such theories, have since spoken out fiercely against them.