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☆ U.S. reviewing Venezuelan sanctions policy in wake of court decision
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-28 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

It is "an evident and overwhelming victory for the 'Yes' in this consultative referendum," said the president of the National Electoral Council, Elvis Amoroso. "The United States is currently reviewing our Venezuela sanctions policy, based on this development and the recent political targeting of democratic opposition candidates and civil society," State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said in a statement. Miller said the court ruling was a "deeply concerning decision" that ran contrary to the commitments made by Maduro to allow all parties to select candidates. Gerardo Blyde, head of the opposition negotiating team, denied members had been linked to acts of violence and demanded the court ruling be reversed. "We will never hesitate to remain in the talks, to remain in the discussion," said Hector Rodriguez, the ruling party governor for Venezuela's Miranda state.

Persons: Nicolás, Elvis Amoroso, Pedro Rances Mattey, PEDRO RANCES MATTEY, Maria Corina Machado, Machado, Matthew Miller, Nicolas Maduro's, Miller, Maduro, Gerardo Blyde, Hector Rodriguez, Miranda Organizations: Bolivarian, Electoral, Venezuelan, Electoral Council, Getty, U.S . State Department, Venezuela's, Department Locations: Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, Essequibo, Caracas, Guyana, AFP, U.S, Venezuela, United States

☆ How Guyana's big oil boom turned it into the world's fastest-growing economy
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-27 | by ( Anuz Thapa | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Guyana, a tiny South American nation home to more than 800,000 people, made big headlines in December. "What has happened is that it's been exacerbated by the discovery of oil (in Guyana)," said Dr. Terrence Blackman, founder and CEO at Guyana Business Journal. The 2015 oil discovery made Guyana the world's fastest-growing economy, recording the world's highest real GDP growth rate in 2022 and 2023. Venezuela has the world's largest oil reserves, but that hasn't stopped its economy from collapsing since Maduro took power in 2013. Watch the video above to dive deep into Guyana's oil economy, its ongoing escalation with Venezuela, what the country's oil means for the U.S. and more.

Persons: Nicolás Maduro, it's, Terrence Blackman, hasn't, Maduro, Venezuela doesn't, Valerie Marcel, Gregory Brew Organizations: Guyana Business, New Producers Group, Eurasia Group, U.S Locations: Guyana, American, Venezuela, Essequibo, United States, South America

CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) — The U.S. government and nearly 30 conservative world leaders on Saturday condemned the decision of Venezuela’s highest court to block the presidential candidacy of opposition leader María Corina Machado. “The United States is currently reviewing our Venezuela sanctions policy, based on this development and the recent political targeting of democratic opposition candidates and civil society,” U.S. State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said in a statement. Machado insisted throughout the campaign that she never received official notification of the ban and said voters, not ruling-party loyalists, were the rightful decision-makers of her candidacy. The ruling came more than three months after Maduro and the U.S.-backed opposition reached a deal to work on basic conditions for a fair election. The deal led Washington to ease some economic sanctions on Venezuela's oil, gas and mining sectors.

Persons: María Corina Machado, Biden, Nicolás Maduro, Matthew Miller, Machado, Miller, Justice “, Maduro, ” Gerardo Blyde, Emmanuel Macron, Luis Inácio Lula da Silva, Gustavo Petro —, Blyde, Maduro’s, Hector Rodríguez, ” Rodríguez, Machado “, Iván Duque, Mauricio Macri, Vicente Fox, Felipe Calderón, ” Organizations: Saturday, U.S . State Department, U.S, Justice, Democratic Initiative of Spain Locations: CARACAS, Venezuela, U.S, United States, Washington, Barbados, France, Brazil, Colombia, Americas, Venezuelan, Spain, Latin America, Iván Duque of Colombia, Argentina, Mexico, Venezuela's

☆ US Reviewing Venezuelan Sanctions Policy in Wake of Court Decision - State Dept
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-27 | by ( Jan. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +1 min

(Reuters) - The United States is reviewing its sanctions policy against Venezuela after a court upheld a ban which prevents presidential candidate Maria Corina Machado from holding office, the State Department said on Saturday. The ruling by Venezuela's Supreme Justice Tribunal on Friday means Machado, a 56-year-old industrial engineer, cannot register her candidacy for presidential elections scheduled for the second half of 2024. "The United States is currently reviewing our Venezuela sanctions policy, based on this development and the recent political targeting of democratic opposition candidates and civil society," State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said in a statement. Miller said the court ruling was a "deeply concerning decision" that ran contrary to the commitments made by Maduro to allow all parties to select their candidates for the presidential election. Maduro on Thursday said the deal with his opponents was in danger of collapse after what he has described as "conspiracies" against him.

Persons: Maria Corina Machado, Machado, Matthew Miller, Nicolas Maduro's, Miller, Maduro, David Ljunggren, Diane Craft Organizations: Reuters, State Department, Venezuela's, Department Locations: United States, Venezuela, Caracas

WASHINGTON (AP) — By any standard, the past 18 months have been remarkable for getting wrongfully detained Americans home. For all the releases of wrongly detained Americans, several dozen remain imprisoned or held hostage, often by a hostile government. In some instances, there have been few signs of progress, and families have sometimes seen the foreign countries that are holding their loved ones release other detainees — but not yet their relatives. In September, five Americans jailed for years in Iran walked free in a deal that saw the release of nearly $6 billion in frozen Iranian assets. Despite the administration’s recent spate of success with other detainees, he said he was pragmatic about the absence of an obvious solution.

Persons: Brittney Griner, Harrison Li, Kai, Li, ”, he’s, “, ” Li, Roger Carstens, ” “ There’s, ” Carstens, Biden, Leonard ”, Nicolas Maduro, Paul Rusesabagina, Joe Biden, Kai Li, Xi Jinping, you’re, Maryam Kamalmaz, Majd Kamalmaz, Austin Tice, Carstens, there’s, He’s, Paul Whelan, we’re, Whelan’s, David, Whelan, don’t Organizations: WASHINGTON, Stanford, Biden, ., U.S, U.S ., FBI, United, Michigan Locations: Iran, Russia, Venezuela, China, Rwanda, ”, Israel, Gaza, U.S, Shanghai, United Nations, Washington, Beijing, Texas, Syria, United States, America, Kremlin

☆ Venezuela's Maduro Says Election Deal With Opposition Could Collapse
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-25 | by ( Jan. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

CARACAS (Reuters) - Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro warned on Thursday that a deal with the political opposition for elections to be held later this year was in danger of collapse, after what he has described as "conspiracies" against him. Later, U.S. officials said they were "concerned" about the arrests, which included members of the political opposition. KEY QUOTES"Today the Barbados agreements are mortally wounded, they're in intensive care, they were stabbed, kicked," Maduro said in a televised state broadcast. "Hopefully we can save the Barbados agreements and, through dialogue, reach real overarching agreements through national consensus," he added. WHAT'S NEXTThe government's arrest of opposition members could put the agreements at risk, and cause the sanctions to snap back.

Persons: Nicolas Maduro, Maduro's, Maria Corina Machado, Maduro, Deisy Buitrago, Kylie Madry, Clarence Fernandez Locations: CARACAS, Barbados, United States, Caracas, Venezuela

CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) — Dueling political factions took to the streets of Venezuela's capital on Tuesday for the first competing rallies of the presidential election year, showcasing their ability to draw people en masse, as voters grapple with political disappointments and uncertainty over the candidate who ultimately will challenge President Nicolás Maduro. Political Cartoons View All 253 Images“They talk about elections, but they are terrified of elections,” Machado said, referring to Maduro and his allies. Let them know clearly, no one takes us out of this electoral route.”Maduro and the opposition faction behind the primary agreed last year to hold a presidential election in the second half of 2024. His challenger's participation in the election remains in doubt even though she won the primary with more than 90% of support. “And not only her, any other candidate who has expressed their intention to participate in a presidential election must participate.”____Follow AP’s coverage of Latin America and the Caribbean at https://apnews.com/hub/latin-america

Persons: Nicolás Maduro, María Corina Machado, Maduro, —, Hugo Chávez —, Machado, ” Machado, Tarek William Saab, Yeickson Ramos, Ramos, “ Will, ”, Maduro’s, Chavistas —, Chávez, Leonard Suarez, Suarez Organizations: American, Authorities, Digital Locations: CARACAS, Venezuela, Caracas, U.S, Guyana, America, Caribbean

☆ China defies sanctions to make Russia its biggest oil supplier in 2023
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-21 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Seen here is an oil pumping unit at Huabei oil field on the outskirts of Hejian city, Hebei province, China. Russia leapfrogged Saudi Arabia to become China's top crude oil supplier in 2023, data showed on Saturday, as the world's biggest crude importer defied Western sanctions to purchase vast quantities of discounted oil for its processing plants. To support prices, Saudi Arabia and Russia, two of the world's top three oil producers, announced output and export cuts last year. Chinese refiners use intermediary traders to handle the shipping and insurance of Russian crude to avoid violating the Western sanctions. China's overall crude imports for 2023 rose to a record of 563.99 million metric tons, equivalent to 11.28 million bpd.

Persons: Buyers, Nicolas Maduro's Organizations: ICE, U.S Locations: Russia, Hejian, Hebei province, China, Russia leapfrogged Saudi Arabia, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Ukraine, Russian, Malaysia, Iran, Venezuela, Caracas, Beijing, Washington, U.S

☆ Venezuela Economy Grew 5% in 2023, Will Reach 8% This Year-Maduro
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-15 | by ( Jan. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

By Mayela ArmasCARACAS (Reuters) - Venezuela's economy grew more than 5% in 2023 and growth will reach 8% this year, President Nicolas Maduro said on Monday during his annual address to the government-allied legislature. Inflation reached just under 190% last year, according to the central bank, marking an easing from 234% the year before. "In 2024 we will continue the policy of stoking national production, of recovering national income, of recovering income for workers," Maduro told lawmakers. Oil income has previously been battered by low production due to deteriorated infrastructure and lack of investment. A date for the election has not been set, but it is expected in the second half of the year.

Persons: Mayela Armas, Nicolas Maduro, Maduro, PDVSA, Joe Biden, Julia Symmes Cobb, Deisy Buitrago Organizations: Mayela Armas CARACAS, Reuters, United Locations: State, U.S, United States

☆ Brazil reinforces border with Venezuela and Guyana over Esequibo tensions
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-05 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

BRASILIA, Dec 5 (Reuters) - Brazil's military is reinforcing its northern border due to rising tensions between its neighbors Venezuela and Guyana over Venezuela's claim to the Esequibo region, the Ministry of Defense said on Tuesday. Venezuela reactivated its claim over the Esequibo in recent years after the discovery of offshore oil and gas. In Sunday's referendum, Venezuelan voters rejected the jurisdiction of the International Court of Justice over their country's territorial dispute with Guyana and supported the creation of a new Venezuelan state in the potentially oil-rich Esequibo region. Brazil did not ask Venezuela to cancel the vote, but President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva's government is expected to criticize the stepped up Venezuelan campaign for the Esequibo. An international tribunal in Paris in 1899 settled the issue, but Venezuela says the ruling was rigged.

Persons: Gisela Padovan, Nicolas Maduro's, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva's, Ricardo Brito, Rodrigo Viga Gaier, Anthony Boadle, Bill Berkrot Organizations: Ministry of Defense, Mechanized Cavalry Regiment, Reuters, International Court of Justice, Thomson Locations: BRASILIA, Venezuela, Guyana, Boa Vista, Roraima, Ireland, America, Caribbean, Venezuelan, Brazil, British, Paris, Brasilia, Rio de Janeiro

☆ Guyana will stay alert after Venezuela vote on territorial dispute -VP
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-04 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

The U.S. State Department said on Monday it supports a peaceful resolution of the dispute and that the issue could not be solved by a referendum. Venezuelans on Sunday backed the rejection of ICJ jurisdiction over the dispute and the creation of a new state in Esequibo. Analysts have said the vote was an attempt by President Nicolas Maduro to gauge his government's support ahead of a 2024 presidential election. Maduro has assured Caribbean countries that he will not invade the region, Jagdeo said, but Guyana will not let its guard down. "A new era in the fight for our Guayana Esequiba has begun," he added, using the proposed name for the new Venezuelan state.

Persons: Nicolas Maduro, Jorge Rodriguez, Elvis Hidrobo Amoroso, Bharrat Jagdeo, Maduro, Jagdeo, Esequiba, Mayela Armas, Deisy, Julia Symmes Cobb, Richard Chang Organizations: Venezuelan National, Electoral Council, National Electoral Council, Justice's, International Court of Justice, U.S . State Department, Sunday, ICJ, Conference of, Guyanese, Thomson Locations: Venezuelan, CARACAS, Guyana, Esequibo, Venezuela, Dubai, Caracas, Bogota

☆ Guyana Will Stay Alert After Venezuela Vote on Territorial Dispute -VP
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-04 | by ( Dec. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +3 min

CARACAS (Reuters) - Guyana will remain vigilant after a Venezuelan referendum rejected an international court's jurisdiction over a territorial dispute between the neighboring countries, Vice-President Bharrat Jagdeo said on Monday. Bilateral tensions over the potentially oil-rich Esequibo region rose in recent weeks ahead of the five-question referendum, which Guyana unsuccessfully asked the International Court of Justice (ICJ) to bar. Venezuelans on Sunday backed the rejection of ICJ jurisdiction over the dispute and the creation of a new state in Esequibo. Maduro has assured Caribbean countries that he will not invade the region, Jagdeo said, but Guyana will not let its guard down. "A new era in the fight for our Guayana Esequiba has begun," he added, using the proposed name for the new Venezuelan state.

Persons: Bharrat Jagdeo, Nicolas Maduro, Maduro, Jagdeo, Esequiba, Mayela Armas, Deisy, Julia Symmes Cobb, Richard Chang Organizations: International Court of Justice, U.S . State Department, Sunday, ICJ, Conference of, Guyanese Locations: CARACAS, Guyana, Esequibo, Venezuela, Dubai, Venezuelan, Caracas, Bogota

☆ Listen now: Red Sea tensions and US pressure on Israel
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-04 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

A U.S. Navy destroyer shoots down three drones during an attack on commercial vessels in the Red Sea. The United States issues increasingly stark warnings to Israel as it expands its offensive in Gaza. Venezuelans vote in favour of President Nicolas Maduro’s claim over a large part of neighbouring Guyana. Plus, the latest on deadly, weekend attacks in Paris and the Philippines. Visit the Thomson Reuters Privacy Statement for information on our privacy and data protection practices.

Persons: Nicolas Maduro’s, Gazans, Khan Younis Organizations: Apple, Google, Reuters, U.S . Navy, United, Thomson, Paris Locations: U.S, Red, United States, Israel, Gaza, Guyana, South Korea, Paris, Philippines, israel, gaza, americas, guyana, paris

☆ Venezuelans vote to claim sovereignty over a part of oil-rich nation Guyana
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-04 | by ( Lee Ying Shan | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Venezuelan electoral authorities on December 3 claimed that 95 percent of voters in a nonbinding referendum approved of the nation's territorial claim on a huge chunk of neighboring oil-rich Guyana. The 61,600 square-mile Essequibo region makes up two-thirds of Guyana, and holds enormous oil reserves off its coast. Venezuela believes that Guyana has no right to grant oil concessions in the maritime areas off the disputed territory. In 1899, an international arbitral tribunal awarded the territory to Britain, when Guyana was still under its colonial rule. Maduro in November accused Guyana, the U.S. and oil firms of robbing Venezuela of its territory through "legal colonialism."

Persons: Nicolás, Elvis Amoroso, Pedro Rances Mattey, PEDRO RANCES MATTEY, Nicolas Maduro's Organizations: Bolivarian, Electoral, Venezuelan, Electoral Council, Getty Images, Voters, Associated Press, ExxonMobil, Court of Locations: Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, Essequibo, Caracas, Guyana, AFP, Venezuela's, Venezuela, Venezuelan, Britain, U.S

☆ Venezuelans approve takeover of oil-rich region of Guyana in referendum
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-04 | by ( David Shortell | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

CNN —Venezuelans voted by a wide margin Sunday to approve the takeover of an oil-rich region in neighboring Guyana – the latest escalation in a long-running territorial dispute between the two countries, fueled by the recent discovery of vast offshore energy resources. The area in question, the densely forested Essequibo region, amounts to about two-thirds of Guyana’s national territory and is roughly the size of Florida. Venezuela has long claimed the land, which it argues was within its borders during the Spanish colonial period. It dismisses an 1899 ruling by international arbitrators that set the current boundaries when Guyana was still a British colony, and Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has cast the referendum in anti-imperialist sentiment on social media. Still, the escalating rhetoric has prompted troop movements in the region and saber-rattling in both countries, drawing comparisons from Guyanese leaders to the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Persons: Nicolas Maduro, Irfaan Ali, Robert Persaud, Maria Corina Machado, Maduro, ”, Phil Gunson Organizations: CNN, Guyana –, Venezuelan, Electoral Council, Guyanese, Court of Justice, International Crisis Locations: Guyana, Essequibo, Florida, Venezuelan, Venezuela, British, The Hague, Ukraine, Guyanese, Caracas

☆ Venezuelans to vote in referendum on disputed territory with Guyana
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-03 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

[1/4] Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro shows his ballot during a referendum over Venezuela's rights to the potentially oil-rich region of Esequiba in Guyana, in Caracas, Venezuela, December 3, 2023. REUTERS/Leonardo Fernandez Viloria Acquire Licensing RightsCARACAS/GEORGETOWN, Dec 3 (Reuters) - Venezuelans will vote on Sunday in a referendum backed by President Nicolas Maduro's government over a potentially oil-rich territory that is the subject of a long-running border dispute with Guyana. The five-question referendum includes a question rejecting International Court of Justice (ICJ) jurisdiction to decide to which country the territory around the Esequibo river belongs. On Friday, the court responded to a request from Guyana to halt the referendum, ordering Venezuela to refrain from taking any action that would alter the status quo, without expressly forbidding the vote. The Sunday vote has caused anxiety in Guyana, with the government urging citizens to keep calm.

Persons: Nicolas Maduro, Leonardo Fernandez Viloria, Nicolas Maduro's, Maduro, Ricardo Sucre, Benigno Alarcon, Andres, Rocio San, Kim Rampersaud, Vivian Sequera, Julia Symmes Cobb, Will Dunham Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, of Justice, Central University of Venezuela, Center for Political Studies, Andres Bello Catholic University, Kiana, Thomson Locations: Esequiba, Guyana, Caracas, Venezuela, Rights CARACAS, GEORGETOWN, Sucre, Rocio San Miguel, Georgetown, Brazil

☆ A Venezuelan vote on an oil-rich region of Guyana raises concerns of a South American military conflict
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-01 | by ( David Shortell | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

The area in question, the densely forested Essequibo region, amounts to about two-thirds of Guyana’s national territory and is roughly the size of Florida. The recent discovery of vast offshore oil fields in the region has heightened the stakes of the dispute. Venezuelans in Caracas take part in a rally during the closing of the campaign for the Essequibo referendum, on December 1. It owns the congress of Guyana,” Maduro told supporters last week. Matias Delacroix/APOn Wednesday, Brazil announced that it was increasing its military presence with “defensive actions” along its northern border with Venezuela and Guyana.

Persons: Nicolas Maduro, Miguel Gutierrez, Shutterstock, Robert Persaud, Venezuela doesn’t, Matias Delacroix, ” Maduro, Maria Corina Machado, Maduro, ”, Phil Gunson, Irfaan Ali, Paul J, Angelo, Wazim Mowla, Adrienne Arsht, Vladmir Putin’s, Bharrat Jagdeo, “, ” Jagdeo, ” Gunson Organizations: CNN, Quarterly, Court of Justice, UN, International Court of Justice, ExxonMobil, AP, International Crisis, Venezuelan, Foreign Relations, Caribbean Initiative, Atlantic, America, Crisis Locations: Guyana, Essequibo, Florida, Venezuela, British, Venezuelan, Caracas, Ukraine, Guyanese, The Hague, Guyana's, Paris, Guiana, Georgetown, AP Venezuela, ”, Demerara, Brazil, Crimea, that’s

[1/2] A couple who bought a television on sale had their motorcycle towed while shopping in a store during Black Friday sales, in Caracas, Venezuela November 25, 2022. The government allows banks to lend only 27% of their total cashflow, rendering credit cards largely useless as prices balloon on annual inflation of more than 300%. "Consumer credit has died in Venezuela," said Luis Vicente Leon, director of consulting firm Datanalisis, calling credit limits "ridiculous." "The economy needs consumption to be more dynamic," said Gustavo Valecillos, president of the Consecomercio retailers guild, adding layaway helps move inventory. I paid half and the rest in two installments," said construction worker Juan Vegas as he left a shoe store in Caracas.

Persons: Leonardo Fernandez Viloria, Nicolas Maduro, Ernesto Urdaneta, Urdaneta, Betsy Perez, Luis Vicente Leon, Pedro Vallenilla, Ecoanalitica, Gustavo Valecillos, Juan Vegas, Mayela Armas, Mariela Nava, Tibisay Romero, Julia Symmes Cobb, Emelia Sithole Organizations: Black, REUTERS, Thomson Locations: Caracas, Venezuela, CARACAS, Latin America, Maracaibo, Valencia, Banks

☆ World Court orders Venezuela to refrain from action in border dispute with Guyana
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-01 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The court did not expressly forbid Venezuela to hold a planned Dec. 3 referendum over its rights to the region around the Esequibo river, the subject of the long-running border dispute, as Guyana has requested. However, judges at the International Court of Justice - as the World Court is formally known - made clear that any concrete action to alter the status quo should be stopped. "The court observes that the situation that currently prevails in the territory in dispute is that Guyana administers and exercises control over that area," presiding judge Joan Donoghue said. "Venezuela must refrain from taking any action which would modify that situation," she added. Venezuela reactivated its claim over the area in recent years after the discovery of offshore oil and gas.

Persons: Joan Donoghue, Nicolas Maduro, Irfaan Ali, Stephanie van den Berg, Bart Meijer, Kiana Wilburg, Alex Richardson Organizations: HAGUE, International Court of Justice, Thomson Locations: Essequibo, Esequiba, Guyana, Caracas, Venezuela, Georgetown

WASHINGTON, Dec 1 (Reuters) - The White House said on Friday it was prepared to "pause" sanctions relief for OPEC member Venezuela in coming days unless there is further progress on the release of Venezuelan political prisoners and "wrongfully detained" Americans. Any “snapback” of partially lifted U.S. sanctions would mark a major shift from President Joe Biden's new approach toward Venezuela. In the most significant lifting of tough Trump-era sanctions, Washington issued a six-month general license authorizing U.S. transactions with Venezuela’s vital oil and gas sector and a second license authorizing operations of state gold mining company Minerven. Washington had vowed to reverse that sanctions relief unless the Venezuela's Socialist government took steps by the end of November to release political prisoners and three Americans it considers unlawfully jailed, and also lift public-office bans on opposition candidates. The Venezuelan government released five political prisoners in October but there have been no releases since.

Persons: Nicolas Maduro, John Kirby, Joe Biden's, Washington, “, ” Kirby, ”, we're, Kirby, Maria Corina Machado, Matt Spetalnick, Steve Holland, Mayela Armas, Daniel Wallis Organizations: Venezuelan, White House, Trump, Socialist, Thomson Locations: Venezuela, Venezuelan, Maduro, Washington, U.S, Israel, Gaza, Ukraine, Caracas

☆ US Threatening to Reimpose Venezuelan Sanctions if Commitments Not Kept
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-30 | by ( Nov. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +3 min

The Biden administration reiterated that it has told the Venezuelan government it must, by the end of November, lay out steps for lifting election bans on opposition candidates and begin releasing Venezuelan political prisoners and "wrongfully detained" Americans, the spokesperson said. If the U.S. deems Maduro's actions insufficient, it was not immediately clear how extensively or quickly it would roll back sanctions relief. "We haven’t seen any progress yet," White House national security spokesperson John Kirby told reporters earlier on Thursday when asked whether Maduro was meeting his commitments and if the U.S. was prepared to reimpose sanctions. The Venezuelan government may allow appeals from banned politicians to progress in court as a way to partially comply with U.S. demands, sources told Reuters this week. The Venezuelan government released five political prisoners in October but there have been no releases since.

Persons: Matt Spetalnick WASHINGTON, Nicolas Maduro, Joe Biden's, Biden, Antony Blinken, Maduro, November's, Jorge Rodriguez, John Kirby, Maria Corina Machado, Matt Spetalnick, Vivian Sequera, Chris Reese, Josie Kao Organizations: State Department, Venezuelan, The State Department, U.S, House Locations: U.S, Venezuela, Venezuelan, Washington, Caracas

Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro speaks during a meeting with Colombia's President Gustavo Petro at the Miraflores Palace in Caracas, Venezuela, November 18, 2023. "The Political Administrative Court of the Supreme Justice Tribunal will rule on the admission of the suit and the protection requested," the statement said. Those taking their cases to the tribunal must abstain from disrespect toward the state and respect the country's constitution, the statement added. Reuters reported this week that the government could allow appeals to advance as a way to partially comply with U.S. demands. The State Department did not immediately reply to a request for comment after the statement was published.

Persons: Nicolas Maduro, Gustavo Petro, Leonardo Fernandez Viloria, Jorge Rodriguez, Gerardo Blyde, Maria Corina Machado, Maduro, Biden, Matt Spetalnick, Vivian Sequera, Mayela, Lincoln, Stephen Coates Organizations: REUTERS, United, Reuters, State Department, The State Department, Mayela Armas, Thomson Locations: Miraflores, Caracas, Venezuela, WASHINGTON, CARACAS, United States, Norway, U.S, Venezuelan

☆ Colombia's Petro says he proposed U.S. pay bonuses to Venezuelan migrants
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-19 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Colombia's President Gustavo Petro speaks during a meeting with Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro at the Miraflores Palace in Caracas, Venezuela November 18, 2023. Petro did not provide details about the bonuses nor did he say when he made the proposal. "I believe that this exodus ... should reroute toward their country of origin because, for the most part, they are Venezuelans," Petro added, emphasizing that migrants could choose to return to Venezuela or stay in Colombia. The Maduro government claims that around two million people have left Venezuela, and the Venezuelan president made no further reference to Petro's proposal. On other topics, Petro said it was "very likely" Colombia's majority state-owned oil firm Ecopetrol will partner with Venezuelan state-run oil company PDVSA in the exploration of gas and oil.

Persons: Gustavo Petro, Nicolas Maduro, Leonardo Fernandez Viloria, Petro, Vivian Sequera, Cynthia Osterman Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Venezuelan, OPEC, Thomson Locations: Miraflores, Caracas, Venezuela, Rights CARACAS, United States, Colombia, Venezuelan

But all Wright's family wants is for the 38-year-old businessman to be returned home. That position was reaffirmed Friday by the U.S. State Department in response to questions about Wright’s arrest. Some former Trump administration officials say Wright’s arrest is just the latest example of Maduro acting in bad faith. “He loved the nomadic lifestyle,” said Stewart, who didn't know her son was in Venezuela until she learned of his arrest. Wright’s family is speaking out because they feel the U.S. government hasn’t done enough to free him.

Persons: Biden, Savoi Wright’s, Nicolás, hasn’t, “, ”, Erin Stewart, Wright, Joe Biden, Maduro, Maria Corina Machado, Machado, Matthew Miller, Donald Trump's, Juan Guaidó, Kimberly Breier, Trump’s, Elliott Abrams, Maduro’s, Stewart, ” Stewart, Venezuela’s, Tarek William Saab didn’t, Luke Denman, Airan Berry —, — Eyvin Hernandez, Jerrel Kenemore, Joseph Cristella —, Moizeé Stewart, Wright’s, ” ___ Goodman, Tucker Organizations: U.S, Venezuelan, Associated Press, Oakland, U.S . State Department, Trump, Maduro, State Department, Loyola Marymount University, Green, FBI, U.S . Embassy, The State Department Locations: California, Venezuela, OPEC, Barbados, United States, Latin America, Washington, Colombia, Houston, Berkeley , California, Oakland, Miami, South America, U.S, Investigative@ap.org

☆ Venezuela parliament chief rejects 'ultimatums' as US threatens sanctions review
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-17 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Venezuela's National Assembly President Jorge Rodriguez addresses the media at the Federal Legislative Palace, in Caracas, Venezuela October 24, 2023. Washington eased some oil sanctions last month after an electoral deal between President Nicolas Maduro's government and the political opposition was signed in October. The easing of U.S. sanctions is also conditional on release of political prisoners and "unjustly detained" U.S. citizens. But Rodriguez, who also heads the government delegation in the opposition negotiations, told a press conference on Friday that Venezuela would not accept ultimatums. "Venezuela does not accept ultimatums from anyone, by now everybody should know that, we don't care", he said.

Persons: Jorge Rodriguez, Gaby Oraa, Nicolas Maduro's, Maria Corina Machado, Rodriguez, PDVSA, Deisy Buitrago, Mayela Armas, Sarah Morland, David Gregorio Our Organizations: Federal, REUTERS, Rights, National, U.S, Thomson Locations: Caracas, Venezuela, Rights CARACAS, Washington, U.S, Venezuelan, State

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