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Venezuela bans six international airlines as tensions with US escalate

Venezuela has banned six international airlines, accusing them of “state terrorism” after the carriers suspended flights to the country following a warning from the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Venezuela’s civil aviation authority announced late on Wednesday that Spain’s Iberia, Portugal’s Tap, Colombia’s Avianca, Chile and Brazil’s Latam, Brazil’s Gol and Turkish Airlines would have their operational permits revoked for “joining the actions of state terrorism promoted by the United States government and unilaterally suspending air commercial operations”. Last week, the FAA warned airlines of a “potentially hazardous situation” when flying over Venezuela due to a “worsening security situation and heightened military activity in or around” the country. Caracas said the FAA had no jurisdiction over its airspace. The Portuguese foreign affairs minister, Paulo Rangel, on Thursday called Venezuela’s decision to revoke the airlines’ operating rights “totally disproportionate”. He said Portugal, where the airline Tap has its headquarters, had tried through its embassy in Caracas to persuade Venezuelan authorities to reinstate operating rights, adding Portugal had “no intention of canceling our routes to Venezuela, and that, obviously, we only did so for security reasons”. The US has made its largest military deployment to the Caribbean in decades amid worsening relations with Venezuela to combat, it has claimed, the role of the president, Nicolás Maduro, in supplying illegal drugs that have killed Americans. Maduro has denied the accusations and said Donald Trump was seeking to oust him. In a statement on Monday, the International Air Transport Association said Venezuelan authorities had given international airlines a 48-hour deadline to resume flights or risk losing their rights to fly to the country. Several international airlines had cancelled flights to Venezuela in recent days, ignoring the deadline. Iberia said it wished to restart flights to Venezuela as soon as full safety conditions were met. Avianca announced its intention to reschedule cancelled flights to Caracas for 5 December in a statement on Wednesday. The company declined to comment on the restrictions imposed by Venezuela. Air Europa and Plus Ultra had suspended flights but did not have their permits revoked. The international airline Copa and its low-cost Wingo unit continue to operate in Venezuela, and domestic airlines flying to Colombia, Panama and Curaçao are still in operation.

Putin says US peace plan could form basis for end to Ukraine war – as it happened

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Putin insists Ukraine has to surrender territory for any deal to be possible

Vladimir Putin has said that the outline of a draft peace plan discussed by the US and Ukraine could serve as a basis for future negotiations to end the war – but insisted Ukraine would have to surrender territory for any deal to be possible. “In general, we agree that this can be the basis for future agreements,” Putin said, noting that the version of the plan discussed by Washington and Kyiv in Geneva had been shared with Moscow. “We see that the American side takes our position into account in some areas,” he added. “But in other points, we clearly need to sit down and talk.” The Russian president’s uncompromising remarks – in which he again described Volodymyr Zelenskyy as “illegitimate” – suggested that, despite White House optimism, there is little sign of movement on the core sticking points needed to end the war. Speaking to reporters during a working visit to Kyrgyzstan, Putin said Russia would halt its offensive only if Ukrainian forces withdrew from unspecified areas currently under Kyiv’s control. “If Ukrainian troops leave the territories they occupy, then we will stop fighting,” he said. “If they don’t, we will achieve our aims militarily.” He also repeated his claim that Ukraine’s leadership was “illegitimate”, arguing that this made it legally impossible to sign a binding agreement with Kyiv and that any future settlement would require broader international recognition. Putin confirmed that the US special envoy, Steve Witkoff, would travel to Russia early next week, and dismissed accusations that Witkoff had shown bias towards Moscow during peace discussions, calling them “nonsense”. Witkoff, a longtime Trump business associate and property developer, has faced criticism in Europe and the US after a leaked phone call revealed him advising a senior Kremlin aide on how Putin should handle negotiations with Trump. Russia’s recent negotiating tactics echo those it has used since Trump’s re-election: the Kremlin signals a willingness to explore potential peace deals, while showing no inclination to retreat from its maximalist demands – most of which are viewed in Kyiv as unacceptable and tantamount to capitulation. Tatiana Stanovaya, an independent Russian political analyst, wrote on X: “I see nothing at the moment that would force Putin to recalculate his goals or abandon his core demands. “Putin feels more confident than ever about the battlefield situation and is convinced that he can wait until Kyiv finally accepts that it cannot win and must negotiate on Russia’s well-known terms,” she added. Several of those terms appeared in the original 28-point plan developed by US and Russian officials and leaked last week. They would require Ukraine to voluntarily cede territory that Moscow has failed to seize militarily. Kyiv would also be expected to accept reductions or a halt to US military assistance, while any future deployment of western troops to Ukraine – including those envisioned under the Franco-British “coalition of the willing” – would be explicitly banned.

Mark Carney reaches deal with Alberta for oil pipeline opposed by First Nations

Mark Carney has agreed an energy deal with Alberta centred on plans for a new heavy oil pipeline reaching from the province’s oil sands to the Pacific coast, a politically volatile project that is expected to face stiff opposition. “It’s a great day for Alberta and a great day for Canada,” the prime minister said on Thursday as he met the Alberta premier, Danielle Smith. He said the agreement “sets the state for an industrial transformation” and involved not just a pipeline, but nuclear power and datacentres. “This is Canada working,” he said. The agreement was praised by Smith for its potential to “unleash” investment in the province. Carney and Smith made the announcement after weeks of negotiations, which mark a dramatic shift in relations between the federal government and Alberta. The two have sparred in recent years amid accusations from Alberta that Ottawa is harming its economic potential by restricting carbon emissions. The premise of the agreement is to increase oil and gas exports while attempting to meet the federal government’s climate targets. Carney’s government will exempt a possible pipeline project from the existing coastal oil tanker moratorium and emissions cap. In exchange, Alberta must raise its industrial carbon pricing and invest in a multibillion-dollar carbon capture project. Critically, however, no company has expressed an interest in backing the project, which would probably face stiff opposition from the province of British Columbia and First Nations communities on the Pacific coast. The move also reflects a political shift by Carney, who, before entering politics, developed credentials as an economist guiding capital markets towards a net zero future. Now, he must sell a plan that appears at odds with those values. The agreement has already prompted grumbles from lawmakers within Carney’s Liberal party. The cabinet minister Gregor Robertson, for example, argued against the controversial Trans Mountain pipeline expansion when he was the mayor of Vancouver, calling it environmentally irresponsible. Carney must also convince the former environment minister Steven Guilbeault, a longtime environmental activist who now serves as minister of Canadian identity and culture. Talks between Alberta and the federal government notably excluded neighbouring British Columbia, whose premier has voiced strong opposition to a new pipeline passing through his province. David Eby has said he opposes a pipeline and the prospect of allowing tanker traffic through the narrow, tempestuous waters of the north coast. Instead, his government offered to expand the capacity of the existing Trans Mountain pipeline. But Alberta’s government is adamant it wants a new pipeline, not just expanded capacity, and has repeatedly pledged to submit a proposal by spring. Before passing a bill in June that gave his government the power to override environmental regulations and fast-track projects in the national interest, Carney said any new pipeline would have to have the support of First Nations whose territory is unceded to provincial or federal governments. Even before Carney and Smith made their announcement, however, First Nations said any new pipeline was effectively dead on arrival. “We are here to remind the Alberta government, the federal government, and any potential private proponent that we will never allow oil tankers on our coast, and that this pipeline project will never happen,” said Marilyn Slett, the president of the Coastal First Nations (CFN), a group that represents eight First Nations along the coast. Slett, the elected chief of the Heiltsuk Tribal Council, has previously warned about the risks of an oil spill in a sparsely populated region with little rapid-response infrastructure, having witnessed a 100,000-litre diesel spillage near her community in 2016. She said no deal could “override our inherent and constitutional Rights and Title, or deter our deep interconnection of mutual respect for the ocean”.

Anger swelling in Hong Kong over deadliest fire in more than 70 years

The inferno that engulfed Wang Fuk Court residential compound in Hong Kong is still burning, but questions are already being asked about what the deadliest fire in more than 70 years means for Beijing’s grip on power in the city. The death toll from the blaze, which tore apart seven of the eight high-rise apartment buildings in Wang Fuk Court, a residential compound home to 4,800 people, is still rising. Hundreds of people are still missing. But as firefighters work to bring the fire under control and make progress with rescue efforts, anger is already swelling among Hongkongers about the causes of the fire. The fire has also tapped into the social anxiety in Hong Kong around affordable housing, where sky-high property prices mean that many people live in tightly packed high-rise apartments that can become death traps when disaster strikes. At a press conference on Thursday, Hong Kong’s leader, John Lee, said the government would set up a HK$300m (£29.2m) fund to help residents and that the city’s development bureau had discussed replacing bamboo scaffolding with metal alternatives. He also said that contractors across the Asian financial hub would be given seven days to submit documents proving their use of fire-retardant materials. But some Hongkongers are angry about the focus that has been put on bamboo as a potential accelerant of the fire. On Thursday afternoon, much of the bamboo scaffolding remained standing, with the green mesh between the poles having been incinerated. The angry people think that blaming bamboo – which the government has already pledged to phase out from public construction works – deflects responsibility from the actual cause of the fire, which is still unknown. Bamboo scaffolding is treasured as an important part of the local heritage, and is something that distinguishes Hong Kong from mainland China, where steel scaffolds are widely used in construction. Residents of Wang Fuk Court had complained for months about shoddy behaviour from the construction company, said Michael Mo, a former Hong Kong district councillor who now lives in the UK. He was born in the Tai Po area where Wang Fuk Court is located. Last year, the text of an email purportedly from the Hong Kong labour department was posted on a Wang Fuk Court residents group. Responding to inquiries about the maintenance works, the email said that because the works didn’t involve open flames, “the risk of fire from the scaffolding is relatively low”. It said that the Labour Department’s regulations did not cover flame-retardant standards for scaffolding. The department has been contacted for comment. On Thursday, police in Hong Kong arrested three people connected with the building maintenance company responsible for the estate. Hong Kong’s corruption watchdog also said it would launch a criminal investigation into the renovation works. Traditionally, Hong Kong has held open inquiries into major tragedies, often headed by an independent judge. But many legal experts say that Hong Kong’s judiciary is no longer independent, especially on matters which are critical of the government. “I don’t think the government will launch an independent committee on this,” said Mo. “They didn’t do it for Covid. If they are going to do it, John Lee would be cooked.” Since Beijing’s sweeping crackdown on the pro-democracy movement in Hong Kong, which included many violent clashes between police and demonstrators, trust in the authorities is low. “Ever since the wipeout of the pro-democratic camp and civil society, there is no opposition to voice out alarm bells effectively,” said Mo. He said that before 2019, there were guardrails, albeit imperfect ones, on the authorities. “In the absence of these … there is no way we can make the government more effective or accountable.” Beijing’s response to the fire has been swift. China’s president, Xi Jinping, called for an “all-out effort” to extinguish the fire and minimise casualties and losses. Chinese companies including BYD, Geely and Alibaba have pledged tens of millions of Hong Kong dollars in aid donations. The People’s Liberation Army stands ready to “safeguard” the city, a defence ministry spokesperson said. Lee also hinted on Thursday that the upcoming Legislative Council elections, scheduled for 7 December, could be postponed because of the disaster. The elections were last postponed in 2020, ostensibly because of Covid, but it also served as a way to silence the pro-democratic camp. In the years since, that camp has been destroyed, by a combination of imprisoning legislators or forcing them into exile, or by disbarring candidates who are seen as disloyal to Beijing. This year’s election will be a “patriots only” vote. Additional reporting by Helen Davidson and Reuters

France to introduce voluntary military service amid threat from Russia

France is to introduce voluntary military service of 10 months aimed mainly at young people aged 18 and 19, as concern grows in Europe about the threat from Russia. In a speech to troops in Varces-Allières-et-Risset in the French Alps, the French president, Emmanuel Macron, said the service would begin by mid-2026 and help France respond to “accelerating threats” on the global stage. Almost 30 years after France scrapped conscription, Macron said he would not go back on that decision, but added: “We need mobilisation.” “France cannot remain idle,” Macron said. He believed French youth had a “thirst for engagement”, saying there was a young generation “ready to stand up” for their nation. Under the new military service, men and women, mostly aged 18 and 19, could volunteer to sign up for 10 months. They would be paid a minimum of €800 (£700) per month and receive food and accommodation, as well as a 75% discount on rail travel. They would be deployed “only on national soil”, Macron said. A minority with specific qualifications, for example in engineering or medical skills, could be aged up to 25. There is so far no suggestion that military service in France could again be compulsory, as it was before the then president, Jacques Chirac, abolished conscription in 1997. “We cannot return to the time of conscription,” Macron said. “This hybrid army model corresponds to the threats and risks ahead, bringing together national service youth, reservists, and the active army.” The plan will cost €2bn, which Macron called “a significant and necessary effort”. The scheme aims to bring in 3,000 volunteers in 2026, rising to 10,000 by 2030. “My ambition for France is to reach 50,000 youth by 2036, depending on evolving threats,” Macron said. After the programme, participants could integrate into civilian life, become a reservist, or stay in the armed forces, he said. He said the plan was “inspired by practices of our European partners ... at a time when all our European allies advance in response to a threat that weighs on us all”. The move is part of a broader shift across Europe, where nations who have long enjoyed the decades-long tranquillity of US security guarantees are concerned about Donald Trump’s shifting priorities and Russia’s aggressive posturing. Macron’s announcement brings France in line with nearly a dozen other European nations such as Germany and Denmark who have launched similar projects. Military service is seen as a way of bolstering armies with recruits, but also of providing a large pool of potential reservists, who could be called up in the case of a future war. The French armed forces have approximately 200,000 active military personnel and 47,000 reservists, numbers expected to increase to 210,000 and 80,000 respectively by 2030. Macron’s office said polling data suggested high support for the armed forces among 18- to 25-year-olds. The president’s announcement comes after controversy over comments from Gen Fabien Mandon, France’s armed forces chief, who last week caused uproar when he said France needed to steel itself for possible future losses against Russian aggression. “What we lack ... is the strength of character to accept suffering in order to protect who we are,” he said, adding France must “accept losing its children”. Macron has sought to play down Mandon’s comments. “We must absolutely, immediately, dispel any confused idea suggesting we are going to send our young people to Ukraine,” Macron told RTL radio on Tuesday, alluding to Russia’s 2022 full-scale invasion of the country. Cédric Perrin, the president of the French senate’s foreign affairs, defence and armed forces committee, defended Mandon. Perrin told Reuters: “His remarks were taken out of context ... but if being a bit blunt is necessary to make the French understand the situation we are in, then he was right to do it.” Clémence Guetté, of the leftwing party La France Insoumise, said of the new voluntary military service on RTL radio: “France isn’t at war and this can’t be the priority for young people.” Sébastien Chenu, an MP for Marine Le Pen’s far-right National Rally party, said the new voluntary military service was “going in the right direction”. Reuters and Agence France-Presse contributed to this report.