Defence secretary robustly defends attack on alleged gunboat, as Democrats lambast ‘unserious and unqualified individual’

In the News podcast: US says attacks on boats is part of war on drugs

Term 'sex industry' camouflages the reality of young women holed up in apartments and lonely houses, being transported in vans, being used and abused by Irish men

Prime minister faces accusations of secrecy after confirming presence of US marines

Finglas community rallies around popular food outlet, with GoFundMe raising thousands

US president spoke to Maduro and demanded he resign immediately but Venezuelan leader refused, the Miami Herald reports

Across the US, a growing number of Venezuelan children whose parents were deported back to their home country have been left behind

Move follows warning from US aviation regulator of ‘potentially hazardous situation’ when flying over Venezuela

Terror designation may expand legal case for more aggressive action as US masses military in Caribbean after months of deadly boat strikes

Toppling Panama’s leader more than 30 years ago looks easier than ousting Nicolás Maduro today

USS Gerald R Ford’s arrival is largest US military presence in region since 1989 Panama invasion

Regime forces focus not on defence but on quashing dissent, analysts and opposition figures say

Concern over military build-up that Venezuela fear may lead to an invasion

Build-up of troops has raised speculation Trump could try to topple Venezuelan president

Previous attacks on vessels in Caribbean have killed at least 32 people

Venezuelan foreign minister says experts ‘corroborate what we have been denouncing’

Alvin Holsey just took over the US southern command late last year for a position that normally lasts three years

Attack was on vessel ‘associated with illicit narcoterrorist networks’, says US president, without giving evidence

Worldview: The US president has been rapidly intensifying domestic military operations during his second term

Venezuelan opposition leader is in hiding and banned from holding public office