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☆ Midwives check on pregnant migrants traveling through Mexico
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-20 | by ( Jose Cortes | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/5] Midwives Leticia Serrano and Maria Abascal talk to a migrant woman carrying her son, at a makeshift migrant shelter where Serrano checks on pregnant women, in San Sebastian Tutla, Oaxaca, October 19, 2023. As record numbers of migrants looking to reach the United States trek the perilous Darien Gap jungles between Colombia and Panama, many have reported rapes. The makeshift midwives' station in the camp in Oaxaca state, where families sleep in small tents with little protection from sun and rain, is part of a network of midwives helping migrants that operates across Mexico. Melanie Gonzalez, 22, has been traveling for two months since leaving Venezuela with her husband to seek work in the United States and send money back to her mother and two kids. At six-months pregnant, she, like many other women making the journey across Mexico faces numerous risks, including infections that can cause miscarriage and rough conditions.

Persons: Leticia Serrano, Maria Abascal, Serrano, Jorge Luis Plata, SEBASTIAN, Luzmar Rodriguez, I've, Rodriguez, Melanie Gonzalez, Gonzalez, Jose Cortes, Sarah Morland, Rod Nickel Organizations: REUTERS, Thomson Locations: San Sebastian, Oaxaca, Mexico, United States, Colombia, Panama, Venezuelan, Chile, Texas, Mexico City, Venezuela

☆ U.S. Lifts Broad Sanctions Against Venezuela for Six Months
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-19 | by ( Kejal Vyas | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

The U.S. lifted sanctions against Venezuela’s oil and gas sectors for six months on Wednesday. Photo: Betty Laura Zapata/Bloomberg NewsThe Biden administration late Wednesday announced the removal of a broad array of sanctions against Venezuela’s oil and gas sector in response to a deal between President Nicolás Maduro ’s authoritarian government and his political opponents that could lead to a presidential election next year. The U.S. Treasury Department suspended for six months measures against Venezuela that had prohibited financial transactions in the country’s energy sector and gold mining industry. The measure also ended a ban on trading Venezuelan government bonds.

Persons: Betty Laura Zapata, Nicolás Maduro Organizations: U.S, Bloomberg, Biden, Wednesday, U.S . Treasury Locations: U.S, Venezuela

☆ Five Prisoners Released in Venezuela After Opposition Deal, US Demands
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-19 | by ( Oct. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +3 min

CARACAS (Reuters) - Five people jailed in Venezuela, including well-known opposition figures, have been released, the opposition said around midnight on Thursday following an electoral deal with the government of President Nicolas Maduro and Washington's demand certain prisoners be freed. U.S. President Joe Biden's administration on Wednesday eased Trump-era sanctions on the Venezuelan oil and gas industry, in response to an election deal reached between the Venezuelan government and the opposition. A senior State Department official, speaking to Reuters on condition of anonymity, has threatened to reverse sanctions relief measures unless Maduro lifts the bans and frees prisoners. A U.S. State Department official said on Wednesday he expects movement in the near term on releases of wrongfully detained Americans. There are believed to be more than half a dozen American prisoners, several belonging to that category.

Persons: Nicolas Maduro, Joe Biden's, Washington, Antony Blinken, Gerardo Blyde, Roland Carreno, Will, Juan Requesens, Blyde, Carreno, Maria Corina Machado, Requesens, Mayela Armas, Vivian Sequera, Matt Spetalnick, Natalia Siniawski, Julia Symmes Cobb, Inti Landauro, Deborah Kyvrikosaios, Barbara Lewis, Jonathan Oatis Organizations: Trump, Venezuelan, U.S, U.S . State Department, First, State Department, Reuters, Popular, Maduro, Foro Penal, Organization of American Locations: CARACAS, Venezuela, Caracas, Maduro's, Foro, U.S

☆ Oil falls as Israel embargo concerns fade, Venezuela sanctions to ease
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-19 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Oil prices fell on Thursday, reversing gains in the previous session, after OPEC showed no signs of supporting Iran's call for an oil embargo on Israel and as the United States plans to ease Venezuela sanctions to allow more oil to flow globally. Oil prices climbed about 2% in the previous session on concerns about disruptions to global supplies after Iran called for an oil embargo on Israel over the conflict in Gaza and after the U.S., the world's biggest oil consumer, reported a larger-than-expected inventory draw, adding to already tight supplies. Venezuela's oil flows could help to ease global oil prices, up amid the Israel-Hamas conflict, sanctions on Russia and OPEC+ decisions to reduce output, but Venezuela needs investments to boost output following years of sanctions. Distillate fuel stockpiles fell by 3.2 million barrels in the week to Oct. 13 to 113.8 million barrels, EIA data showed. Crude inventories fell by 4.5 million barrels to 419.7 million barrels, while gasoline fell by 2.4 million barrels to 223.3 million barrels.

Persons: WTI Organizations: OPEC, Brent, . West Texas, of, Petroleum, Iran's, RBC Capital Markets, Citi, United, Venezuelan, Energy Information Administration, Reuters Locations: Cushing , Oklahoma, Israel, United States, Venezuela, Iran, Gaza, U.S, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Iraq, Russia, OPEC

[1/2] Venezuelan journalist Roland Carreno of the opposition party Popular Will is being greeted by family members and colleagues after he was released from prison, in Caracas, Venezuela October 19, 2023. REUTERS/Luis Gonzalo Perez Acquire Licensing RightsCARACAS, Oct 19 (Reuters) - Five people jailed in Venezuela, including well-known opposition figures, have been released, the opposition said around midnight on Thursday, following a deal with the government of President Nicolas Maduro and Washington's demand that certain prisoners be freed. Three U.S. citizens are still wrongfully detained in Venezuela, United States Assistant Secretary of State for Western Hemisphere Affairs Brian A. Nichols said on Thursday. A U.S. State Department official said on Wednesday he expects movement in the near term on releases of wrongfully detained Americans. For years the opposition has urged the government to free over 200 people that human rights organization Foro Penal considers political prisoners.

Persons: Roland Carreno, Luis Gonzalo Perez, Nicolas Maduro, Joe Biden's, Washington, Antony Blinken, Venezuela's, Gerardo Blyde, Juan Gonzalez, Jorge Rodriguez, Will, Juan Requesens, Blyde, Carreno, Maria Corina Machado, Western Hemisphere Affairs Brian A, Nichols, Eyvin Hernandez, Jerrel Kenemore, Joseph Ryan Cristella, Hernandez, Cristella, Requesens, Mayela Armas, Vivian Sequera, Matt Spetalnick, Marianna Parraga, Natalia Siniawski, Julia Symmes Cobb, Inti Landauro, Deborah Kyvrikosaios, Barbara Lewis, Jonathan Oatis, Richard Chang, Rod Nickel Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Trump, Venezuelan, U.S, First, State Department, Reuters, United States, State, Western Hemisphere Affairs, U.S . State Department, Foro Penal, Maduro, Thomson Locations: Venezuelan, Caracas, Venezuela, Rights CARACAS, Bolivarian Republic, Maduro's, Three U.S, Los Angeles, Texas, Colombia, U.S

A state oil company PDVSA's logo is seen at a gas station in Caracas, Venezuela May 17, 2019. The United States on Wednesday lifted for six months most restrictions on Venezuela for producing, selling and exporting oil to its chosen markets. Not all sanctions on PDVSA were lifted by the United States. Before sanctions, India and the United States were other top destinations. PDVSA and Venezuela's oil ministry did not immediately reply to requests for comment.

Persons: Ivan Alvarado, PDVSA, Francisco Monaldi, Rice, Nicolas Maduro's, Monaldi, Maduro, Spain's, Joe Biden's, Marianna Parraga, Will Dunham Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, U.S, Treasury's, Foreign Assets Control, Washington, Chevron, Baker Institute, Venezuelan, Citgo Petroleum, Valero Energy, PBF Energy, India's Reliance Industries, Nayara Energy, Italy's Eni, United, Thomson Locations: Caracas, Venezuela, Venezuelan, United States, U.S, Asia, PDVSA, American, CHINA, EUROPE, China, India, PetroChina, Maduro, Washington

A state oil company PDVSA's logo is seen at a gas station in Caracas, Venezuela May 17, 2019. The U.S. on Wednesday lifted most restrictions on Venezuela for six months for producing, selling and exporting oil to its chosen markets. But it is not expected to significantly boost Venezuela's deteriorated oil production or immediately lead to stronger exports. Venezuela can now receive direct payments for goods or services under the license issued by OFAC, which oversees American sanctions. PDVSA and Venezuela's oil ministry did not immediately reply to requests for comment.

Persons: Ivan Alvarado, PDVSA, Washington, Pedro Tellechea, Francisco Monaldi, Rice, Nicolas Maduro's, Monaldi, Maduro, Spain's, Joe Biden's, Marianna Parraga, Will Dunham, Marguerita Choy Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, U.S, Treasury's, Foreign Assets, Oil, OFAC, Washington, Chevron, Baker Institute, Venezuelan, Citgo Petroleum, Valero Energy, PBF Energy, India's Reliance Industries, Nayara Energy, Eni, Thomson Locations: Caracas, Venezuela, Venezuelan, U.S, Asia, PDVSA, United States, American, CHINA, EUROPE, China, India, PetroChina, Houston, Maduro, Washington

REUTERS/Leonardo Fernandez Viloria/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsNEW YORK/CARACAS, Oct 19 (Reuters) - Venezuela's sovereign bonds rallied on Thursday, a day after the United States lifted its ban on secondary market trading of some of the country's eurobonds, with investors eyeing a debt restructuring on some $60 billion of defaulted debt. "Prices have almost doubled in the past 24 hours but are still well below the pre-sanctioned levels," said Edward Cowen, CEO of Winterbrook Capital, who has co-invested in a fund to buy Venezuelan debt. Cowen added that a return to Venezuela's regular weighting on global indexes like JPMorgan's would give the prices further support. "I think the market was caught by surprise as the ban on secondary trading of bonds was not expected to be removed this early in the negotiation," said Armando Armenta, senior economist for global economic research at AllianceBernstein. Small funds and investors outside the United States had looked to increase their exposure to Venezuelan bonds on the expectation of debt renegotiations.

Persons: Leonardo Fernandez Viloria, PDVSA, Edward Cowen, Cowen, Armando Armenta, Maria Corina Machado, Rodrigo Campos, Mayela, Marc Jones, Corina Rodriguez, Christina Fincher, Will Dunham Organizations: REUTERS, South, Winterbrook, U.S . Treasury Department, Petroleum, Venezuelan, U.S . State Department, Mayela Armas, Thomson Locations: Bolivar, Caracas, Venezuela, CARACAS, United States, South American, U.S, Venezuela's, Venezuelan, New York, London, Madrid

WASHINGTON (AP) — In response to Venezuela’s government and a faction of its opposition formally agreeing to work together to reach a series of basic conditions for the next presidential election, the U.S. agreed Wednesday to temporarily suspend some sanctions on the country's oil, gas and gold sectors. Tuesday's agreement between President Nicolás Maduro’s administration and the Unitary Platform came just days before the opposition holds a primary to pick its candidate for the 2024 presidential election. The ban on trading in the primary Venezuelan bond market remains in place, Treasury says. We stand with the Venezuelan people and support Venezuelan democracy,” he said. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the U.S. and the international community “will closely follow implementation of the electoral roadmap, and the U.S. government will take action if commitments under the electoral roadmap and with respect to political prisoners are not met.”

Persons: Nicolás, Minerven, Brian E, Nelson, ”, Antony Blinken Organizations: WASHINGTON, U.S . Treasury, U.S Locations: U.S, Treasury's, United States, Venezuela, Venezuelan

☆ US easing Venezuela oil sanctions after election deal
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-18 | by ( Matt Spetalnick | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro speaks during a meeting with Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi at the Miraflores Palace, in Caracas, Venezuela June 12, 2023. REUTERS/Leonardo Fernandez Viloria/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsWASHINGTON, Oct 18 (Reuters) - The Biden administration on Wednesday broadly eased sanctions on Venezuela's oil and gas sector in response to a 2024 election deal reached between the Venezuelan government and the country's opposition. Treasury is prepared to amend or revoke the authorizations at any time if representatives of President Nicolas Maduro fail to follow through on their commitments in the deal with the opposition, it added. The changes include the issuance of a six-month general license for the oil and gas sector in Venezuela and another general license authorizing dealings with Minerven – the Venezuelan state-owned gold mining company. The frontrunner in an opposition primary scheduled for Sunday, Maria Corina Machado, is barred from office for 15 years as of June.

Persons: Nicolas Maduro, Ebrahim Raisi, Leonardo Fernandez Viloria, Biden, Minerven, Maria Corina Machado, Donald Trump, Maduro, Matt Spetalnick, Marianna Parraga, Mayela Armas, Vivian Sequera, Josie Kao, Lisa Shumaker Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Venezuelan, U.S . Department of, Treasury, Treasury Department, U.S . State Department, Reuters, Washington, Biden, Thomson Locations: Miraflores, Caracas, Venezuela, Venezuelan, U.S

[1/5] A Venezuelan migrant boards a repatriation flight as a part of an immigration enforcement process, at the Valley International Airport, in Harlingen, Texas, U.S. October 18, 2023. Corey Price, a senior ICE official, said that the agency aimed to send several deportation flights to Venezuela per week. Reuters reported on Wednesday that the Biden administration plans to provide some sanctions relief for Venezuela's oil and gas sector in response. Jennifer Piper, a Colorado program director with the American Friends Service Committee, called it "deeply cruel and deadly" and urged the Biden administration "to end deportations to dangerous locations immediately." Reporting by Liliana Salgado and Daniel Becerril in Harlingen, Texas; Writing by Ted Hesson in Washington; Editing by Mary Milliken and Aurora EllisOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Daniel Becerril, Joe Biden, Biden, Jason Owens, Owens, Corey Price, Jennifer Piper, Liliana Salgado, Ted Hesson, Mary Milliken, Aurora Ellis Organizations: International, REUTERS, Rights, Biden, . Immigration, Customs Enforcement, U.S, Border Patrol, ICE, Reuters, American Friends Service Committee, Thomson Locations: Venezuelan, Harlingen , Texas, U.S, Rights HARLINGEN , Texas, Venezuela, Caracas, Mexico, United States, Texas, Colorado, Washington

☆ Exclusive: US easing Venezuela oil sanctions after election deal -official
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-18 | by ( Matt Spetalnick | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro speaks during a meeting with Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi at the Miraflores Palace, in Caracas, Venezuela June 12, 2023. The U.S. imposed tough sanctions on Venezuela to punish President Nicolas Maduro's government following his 2018 re-election, which the U.S. and other Western governments rejected as a sham. Since 2019, U.S. sanctions have banned state-run oil company PDVSA from exporting to its chosen markets. The official warned, however, that U.S. decisions on relaxed sanctions would depend on Maduro complying with the latest agreement and working toward free and fair elections. Some opposition figures told Reuters on Monday they doubt Maduro's administration will follow through on the election pledges.

Persons: Nicolas Maduro, Ebrahim Raisi, Leonardo Fernandez Viloria, Joe Biden's, Nicolas Maduro's, Biden, Donald Trump's, We're, Maria Corina Machado, Maduro, Matt Spetalnick, Marianna Parraga, Mayela Armas, Josie Kao Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Venezuelan, U.S . State Department, Reuters, U.S, EIA, Biden, Thomson Locations: Miraflores, Caracas, Venezuela, U.S, Maduro, Caribbean, OPEC, The U.S, Barbados, BARBADOS

Rolling back Trump-era sanctions, U.S. officials issued general licenses for Venezuela's oil, gas and mining sectors in response to a deal between Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and the county's opposition on the 2024 presidential election. SLOW RECOVERYThe sanctions relief authorizes the production, sale and export of Venezuela's crude and gas, while keeping a ban on business with Russia. Since the U.S. imposed secondary oil sanctions on Venezuela in 2020, PDVSA had been unable to fulfill its supply contracts to clients in regions from Europe to Asia. An individual authorization to Chevron Corp (CVX.N) allowed the return of Venezuela's crude to the United States this year. Area chart shows data from U.S. EIA showing Venezuela crude oil production.

Persons: Leonardo Fernandez Viloria, Francisco Monaldi, Rice University's, Nicolas Maduro, Joe Biden, Monaldi, PDVSA, Baker Hughes, Maduro, Marianna Parraga, Julia Symmes Cobb, David Gregorio, William Mallard Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, South, Rice University's Baker Institute ., Trump, Venezuelan, OPEC, U.S, Chevron Corp, U.S Chevron, Eni, EIA, Thomson Locations: Jusepin, Venezuela, South American, U.S, American, Russia, Iran, Europe, Asia, United States, Trinidad and Tobago, China, Caribbean

Maria Corina Machado, candidate of the Vente Venezuela party for the opposition primaries, meets with her supporters after a press conference, in Caracas, Venezuela September 6, 2023. REUTERS/Leonardo Fernandez Viloria/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsCARACAS, Oct 18 (Reuters) - Venezuela's opposition will hold a primary on Sunday to pick its candidate for 2024 presidential elections, despite the front-runner being barred from holding office. The primary is the first the opposition has held in 11 years. It has not backed a presidential candidate in a general election since 2013. Officials who are found guilty of corruption are banned from holding public office for up to 15 years.

Persons: Maria Corina Machado, Leonardo Fernandez Viloria, Nicolas Maduro, Juan Guaido, Machado, Vivian Sequera, Oliver Griffin, Sonali Paul Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Electoral, Thomson Locations: Venezuela, Caracas, Rights CARACAS, U.S, Washington

☆ Asia stocks rise on earnings hopes; keep wary eye on Mideast tensions
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-17 | by ( Selena Li | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

A man looks at an electric board displaying the Nikkei stock average outside a brokerage in Tokyo, Japan June 14, 2023. Overnight the S&P 500 (.SPX) had climbed 1%, while oil prices and the U.S. dollar had fallen. Benchmark 10-year Treasury yields are about 15 basis points off 16-year highs, though they crept higher in Asia trade Tuesday to 4.7331%. The euro traded at $1.0549 and the yen hovered just short of the 150-per-dollar mark at 149.53. If investors don't receive the coupon payment, all of Country Garden's offshore debts will be deemed in default.

Persons: Kim Kyung, Kerry Craig, Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley, Johnson, Craig, Joe Biden, Israel, Israel's shekel, Bitcoin, Selena Li, Shri Navaratnam Organizations: Nikkei, REUTERS, Tokyo's Nikkei, U.S ., Morgan Asset Management, Bank of America, Johnson, Netflix, Federal Reserve, Israel, Hamas, Iran's, HK, Brent, BlackRock, Thomson Locations: Tokyo, Japan, HONG KONG, U.S, Asia, Pacific, Gaza, Iran, Zealand, Brent

☆ Mexico logs sharp uptick in Venezuelan migrants amid latest surge
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-17 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

REUTERS/Jose... Acquire Licensing Rights Read moreMEXICO CITY, Oct 17 (Reuters) - More migrants crossed into Mexico last month, led by a sharp increase from Venezuela but also significant numbers from Guatemala and Honduras, Mexico's top diplomat told lawmakers on Tuesday. In testimony to Mexican senators, Foreign Minister Alicia Barcena said that in the month of September alone, 60,000 Venezuelan migrants, 35,000 Guatemalan migrants and 27,000 Honduran migrants arrived in Mexico. The September data comes ahead of Sunday's migration summit in the southern Mexican town of Palenque hosted by President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador where regional leaders will discuss rising U.S.-bound migration in Latin America. After U.S. authorities authorized in May more legal pathways to enter the United States, the numbers of migrants crossing Mexican territory fell abruptly. Barcena also noted that some 1.13 million migrants have so far this year reached Mexico's southern border with Guatemala, and that 1.75 million had reached the U.S.-Mexico border.

Persons: Cheila Gonzalez, Alicia Barcena, Andres Manuel Lopez, Gustavo Petro, Venezuela's Nicolas Maduro, Barcena, Raul Cortes, Isabel Woodford, Sandra Maler Organizations: REUTERS, MEXICO CITY, U.S, Thomson Locations: Guatemala, United States, Ciudad Juarez, Villa Ahumada, Chihuahua, Mexico, Jose, MEXICO, Venezuela, Honduras, Mexico's, Palenque, America

[1/2] Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro speaks during a meeting with Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi at the Miraflores Palace, in Caracas, Venezuela June 12, 2023. It was not immediately known how soon the U.S. might act or how far it could go with sanctions relief. U.S. sources have also said any relaxation of sanctions would be reversible if Maduro fails to meet his election commitments. Maduro, president since 2013, is expected to run for re-election but has not yet formalized his candidacy. The U.S. imposed sanctions on Venezuela to punish Maduro's government following a 2018 election that Washington considered a sham.

Persons: Nicolas Maduro, Ebrahim Raisi, Leonardo Fernandez Viloria, Joe Biden's, Maduro, Maria Corina Machado, Jorge Rodriguez, Rodriguez, Gerardo Blyde, Machado, Maduro's, Washington, Deisy Buitrago, Vivian Sequera, Matt Spetalnick, Julia Symmes Cobb, Will Dunham, Josie Kao Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, European Union and United Nations, Reuters, U.S, Petroleum, Thomson Locations: Miraflores, Caracas, Venezuela, Rights CARACAS, WASHINGTON, U.S, Washington, Maduro, Barbados, Qatar, Houston

☆ Oil falls below $90 a barrel on report of US-Venezuela deal
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-16 | by ( Erwin Seba | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude fell by 0.29 cents, or 0.37%, to $87.30 a barrel. Easing sanctions on Venezuela's oil industry could result in increased oil supply. "It's more of the same on Monday in terms of the conflict in the Middle East being contained from affecting crude oil supplies," said John Kilduff, partner with Again Capital LLC. Both oil benchmarks had climbed nearly 6% on Friday, taking Brent 7.5% higher on the week and WTI up 5.9%. Crude oil storage tanks are seen in an aerial photograph at the Cushing oil hub in Cushing, Oklahoma, U.S. April 21, 2020.

Persons: Israel, Brent, John Kilduff, Antony Blinken, Benjamin Netanyahu, Vladimir Putin, Putin, John Evans, Robert Harvey, Yuka Obayashi, Emily Chow, Susan Fenton, David Evans, Deepa Babington, David Gregorio Our Organizations: Monday HOUSTON, . West Texas, Traders, Brent, REUTERS, U.S, Israeli, United, US, Thomson Locations: Venezuela, Gaza, Israel, U.S, Barbados, Palestinian, Cushing , Oklahoma, Rafah, Egypt, Israel's, Russia, Iran, Syria, United States, Moscow, Russian, Saudi, London, Tokyo

☆ Barred From Office by Maduro, This Venezuelan Politician Thinks She Can Still Beat Him
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-16 | by ( Kejal Vyas | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

This copy is for your personal, non-commercial use only. Distribution and use of this material are governed by our Subscriber Agreement and by copyright law. For non-personal use or to order multiple copies, please contact Dow Jones Reprints at 1-800-843-0008 or visit www.djreprints.com. https://www.wsj.com/world/americas/venezuelan-presidential-hopeful-fights-for-free-elections-2d8dfefd

Persons: Dow Jones Locations: americas

☆ Oil falls more that $1 a barrel on Venezuela deal hopes
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-16 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

"The reported deal ... would help to raise the country's oil output from very depressed levels," said William Jackson, chief emerging markets economist for Capital Economics. Monday's falling prices appeared to "a breather to take in events in the Middle East" as opposed to expected production increases in Venezuela, said Andrew Lipow, president of Lipow Oil Associates. "Negotiations with Venezuela could lead to a surge in exports of crude oil that is already in inventory," Lipow said. "It's more of the same on Monday in terms of the conflict in the Middle East being contained from affecting crude oil supplies," said John Kilduff, partner with Again Capital LLC. Heightened tensions in the Middle East may have compounded other risk factors to push prices higher last week, market sources said.

Persons: William Jackson, Jackson, Andrew Lipow, Lipow, John Kilduff, Vladimir Putin, Putin, John Evans Organizations: U.S . West Texas, Capital Economics, Brent, Lipow Oil Associates, Traders, Hamas, LLC, U.S Locations: U.S, Venezuela, Israel, Venezuelan, Gaza, Russia, Iran, Syria, Egypt, Moscow, Russian, Saudi

The opposition considers the bans unlawful, and Washington has rejected any roadblocks to opposition candidates' race to the presidency. The agreement to be signed on Tuesday would lift all public office bans, one opposition source told Reuters, but its wording is too vague to inspire confidence that Maduro will honor the deal. Four other opposition sources agreed, with one saying the deal was largely negotiated by the United States. "We all have our doubts, but we're exhausting our options," said another opposition source. The U.S., which is expected to loosen some sanctions in recognition of the government-opposition deal, will act only once the deal has been signed, sources told Reuters on Monday.

Persons: Nicolas Maduro, Venezuela Milton Rengifo, Leonardo Fernandez Viloria, Maria Corina Machado, There's, Maduro, What's, Benigno Alarcon, Andres, Alarcon, it's, Marianna Parraga, Mayela, Deisy Buitrago, Julia Symmes Cobb, David Gregorio Our Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Reuters, Maduro's, United, Andres Bello Catholic University, Mayela Armas, Thomson Locations: Venezuela, Miraflores, Caracas, Rights CARACAS, HOUSTON, Barbados, Washington, United States, U.S, Doha, Houston

The negotiations, meant to provide a way out of Venezuela's long-running political and economic crisis, will take place in Barbados. The U.S. State Department celebrated the announcement of the return to talks but did not mention sanctions relief. Some members of the opposition said on Monday that they doubted Maduro would follow through on his promises. But with no substantial investment in Venezuela's oil sector for over a decade, any real oil output increase will take time, according to analysts. The return to talks between Maduro's government and the opposition was announced in a statement published by Norway, an observer.

Persons: Elvis Hidrobo Amoroso, Jesus Maria Casal, Venezuela's, Leonardo Fernandez Viloria, Nicolas Maduro, Joe Biden's, Donald Trump's, Maduro, Maria Corina Machado, Maurel, PDVSA, Maduro's, Washington, Biden, John Barrasso, Mayela Armas, Matt Spetalnick, Marianna Parraga, Julia Symmes Cobb, David Gregorio Our Organizations: Electoral Council, Primary Commission, REUTERS, Rights, U.S . State Department, Reuters, U.S, Republican U.S, United Nations, Thomson Locations: Caracas, Venezuela, Rights CARACAS, WASHINGTON, HOUSTON, Washington, U.S, Maduro, Barbados, United States, Venezuelan, The U.S, Qatar, China, Russia, Cuba, Ukraine, OPEC, America, Norway, Houston

☆ US, Venezuela to announce oil sanctions deal on Tuesday -report
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-16 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

WASHINGTON, Oct 16 (Reuters) - The Biden administration and Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro's government are expected to announce a deal on Tuesday that would ease U.S. sanctions on Caracas' oil industry while opening up Venezuela's 2024 presidential election, the Washington Post reported on Monday. The Post, citing two people familiar with the talks, said the sanctions relief was expected to be announced after Venezuela signs onto election commitments at a meeting in Barbados. Venezuela and U.S. envoys have met several times since last year in a renewed effort to solve a long-running political and economic crisis in Venezuela, including discussions on a presidential election, with recent progress indicating fresh oil sanction exemptions, five sources previously told Reuters. Representatives for the White House and the State Department had no immediate comment on the reported Tuesday announcements. Reporting by Katharine Jackson and Susan Heavey; editing by Jasper WardOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Nicolas Maduro's, Katharine Jackson, Susan Heavey, Jasper Ward Organizations: Biden, Washington Post, Reuters, White, State Department, Thomson Locations: Caracas, Venezuela, Barbados, U.S

Any U.S. action would come only after Venezuela's opposition and Maduro's representatives sign an agreement under which he commits to a presidential election date and to the lifting of bans on some opposition candidates, these two sources said. It would also allow participation of opposition figures who are currently barred from holding office, the source added. Reuters reported last week, citing five sources, that Venezuela and the United States had progressed in talks that could allow at least one additional foreign oil firm to take Venezuelan crude oil for debt repayment if Maduro resumed negotiations with the opposition. Two of those sources had named France's Maurel & Prom (MAUP.PA), a joint venture partner with Venezuela state-run oil company PDVSA, as a possible recipient of a comfort letter. The return to talks was announced in a statement published by Norway, an observer of the talks, which are meant to provide a way out of Venezuela's long-running political and economic crisis.

Persons: Elvis Hidrobo Amoroso, Jesus Maria Casal, Venezuela's, Leonardo Fernandez Viloria, Nicolas Maduro, Maduro, Maduro's, Maurel, Maria Corina Machado, Mayela Armas, Matt Spetalnick, Marianna Parraga, Julia Symmes Cobb Organizations: Electoral Council, Primary Commission, REUTERS, Rights, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Caracas, Venezuela, Rights CARACAS, WASHINGTON, United States, Washington, Barbados, U.S, mull, Israel, Norway, Houston

☆ President Abbas says Hamas' actions do not represent Palestinians
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-15 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas addresses the 78th Session of the U.N. General Assembly in New York City, U.S., September 21, 2023. REUTERS/Brendan McDermid Acquire Licensing RightsOct 15 (Reuters) - Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas said the actions and policies of Islamist group Hamas do not represent Palestinian people, according to official news agency WAFA. In a phone call with Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, Abbas also called the Palestine Liberation Organization the "sole legitimate representative of the Palestinian people," WAFA said. "The president affirmed his rejection of the killing of civilians on both sides and called for the release of civilians, prisoners and detainees on both sides," added the news agency. Reporting by Hatem Maher and Ahmed Tolba; Editing by Deepa Babington and Lisa ShumakerOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Mahmoud Abbas, Brendan McDermid, Nicolas Maduro, Abbas, WAFA, Hatem Maher, Ahmed Tolba, Deepa Babington, Lisa Shumaker Organizations: General Assembly, REUTERS, Palestinian, WAFA, Venezuelan, Palestine Liberation Organization, Thomson Locations: New York City, U.S, Palestine

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