DIRS.INFO The most relevant business & tech news

Stripped of her bodyguard last week by the government, she traversed the streets unprotected. As she climbed onto the windshield of her battered car — her makeshift stage — supporters jostled to touch her. Inside the frameless image, María Corina Machado was shielded by the Venezuelan flag and the arms of Jesus Christ. “María!” yelled one supporter, “help us!”Ms. Machado, 56, the newest leader of Venezuela’s opposition, has struck fear into the hearts of the country’s ruling party. She is not the one running for president, but she is the driving force behind the main opposition candidate, a little-known diplomat named Edmundo González.

Persons: jostled, María Corina Machado, Jesus Christ, “, ”, Ms, Machado, Edmundo González Locations: Venezuelan

☆ How Venezuela’s election could upend the geopolitics of the Americas
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-23 | by ( Stefano Pozzebon | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

Caracas CNN —It would be easy to dismiss this Sunday’s presidential election in Venezuela as a fait accompli. The opposition campaign has re-energized its bases, and the candidature of Edmundo González has attracted widespread support in Venezuela and abroad. A chance to rebuild Venezuela’s economic power“On the ballot is how long it’ll take to fix Venezuela’s economy,” said Asdrubal Oliveros, founder of Caracas firm Ecoanalitica, in his weekly podcast on July 8. Once the fifth-largest economy in Latin America, today Venezuela’s economy has shrunk to the equivalent of a medium-sized city, smaller than say, Milwaukee, according to data from the IMF. As Venezuela’s economy has crumbled, around eight million Venezuelans have already fled their country, many of them scattered across South America.

Persons: Nicolas Maduro, ”, –, Laboratorio de Paz, Edmundo González, Asdrubal Oliveros, Andres, Maduro, Edmundo Gonzalez, Maria Corina Machado, Gabriela Oraa, Gonzalez, Consultores, Putin, Xi Jinping, who’s, “, Donald Trump Organizations: Caracas CNN —, Laboratorio, IMF, Andres Bello Catholic University, Central University of Venezuela, of American, World Bank, Inter, American Development Bank, Supreme, CNN Locations: Caracas, Venezuela, Ecoanalitica, Latin America, Milwaukee, AFP, United States, Americas, South America, Venezuelan, America, China, Iran, Russia, Miami, Cuba, Maduro, of American States, Mercosur, Algiers, Brussels, Buenos Aires, Spanish, Washington, Brexit, neofascism, Europe, India, Turkey, Philippines

☆ What to expect in Venezuela’s presidential election as strongman Maduro faces his biggest test yet
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-21 | by ( David Shortell | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

Venezuelan opposition presidential candidate Edmundo Gonzalez and opposition leader Maria Corina Machado wave to supporters at the Central University of Venezuela UCV in Caracas on July 14, 2024. Analysts see those as the seeds of a pretext that Maduro could use to postpone or cancel the election at the last minute. Some have speculated that Maduro could use the crisis as an excuse to suspend the election. Supporters at a meeting with Venezuelan opposition presidential candidate Edmundo Gonzalez and opposition leader Maria Corina Machado at the Central University of Venezuela UCV in Caracas on July 14, 2024. Maduro currently faces drug trafficking and corruption charges in the US and is under investigation for crimes against humanity by the International Criminal Court.

Persons: Nicolás Maduro, Maduro, Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia –, Hugo Chavez’s, Nicolas Maduro, Flores, Teresa Carreño, Jesus Vargas, “, Edmundo Gonzalez, Maria Corina Machado, Pedro Rances Mattey, Gonzalez, Corina Yoris, Oswaldo Ramírez, ORC Consultores, ”, Juan Barreto, Chávez, Ryan Berg, They’re, Machado, Yoris, –, Jimmy Carter –, Berg, ” Machado Organizations: CNN, of American, Teresa, Teresa Carreño Theater, International Monetary Fund, Central University of Venezuela UCV, Getty, Democratic, Venezuelan, Americas, Center for Strategic, International Studies, US, The Carter, European Union, CSIS, International Criminal, Socialist United Party Locations: Canada, United States, Caracas, Venezuela, Anadolu, “, Agua, Maiz, AFP, Guyana

☆ How the U.S. Has Played a Role in Venezuela’s Presidential Election
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-20 | by ( Frances Robles | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Venezuelans will head to the polls on July 28 to choose a new president, an election that could determine if democracy will be restored to the South American nation. It is also a vote that the United States played a role in helping ensure would take place. Voters will pick between a little-known diplomat named, Edmundo González, and President Nicolás Maduro, the country’s autocratic leader who has been in office since 2013. Here’s what to know about an election important to both countries. The last three American presidents have been united on one policy: hitting the Venezuelan government with tough sanctions in response to corruption, anti-democratic moves and human rights abuses.

Persons: Edmundo González, Nicolás Maduro, Maduro, Biden Organizations: United States, U.S Locations: American, United, Venezuela, Venezuelan

☆ Opinion | This Is Venezuela’s Moment. It Needs the World’s Help.
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-19 | by ( Roberto Patiño | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +2 min

Venezuela could be on the cusp of a historic return to democracy, a shift that would reshape Latin America and pave the way for millions of Venezuelans who have fled repression and economic collapse to return home. But the same roadblock stands in the way of a free and fair election that has been there for the past decade: President Nicolás Maduro. The nation’s democracy has withered on his watch, along with its economy. It is an opportunity that won’t come around again anytime soon, and the window to seize it is rapidly closing. Without it, the likely outcome of this month’s vote will be more repression, more forced migration and more suffering.

Persons: Edmundo González, Nicolás Maduro, Maduro, won’t Organizations: U.S . Justice Department, . State Department Locations: Venezuela, America, United States

☆ Venezuela’s Maduro says he needs to win reelection to avoid possible ‘bloodbath’
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-17 | by ( Mauricio Torres | Sahar Akbarzai | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

Only a win for his party would ensure “peace” in the country, Maduro said, adding that he expects “irreversible results” in his favor. Supporters of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro attend a rally in Caracas on July 16, 2024. Two days after Laboratorio’s report came out, the barred opposition leader Machado said in a post on X that her security chief had also been arrested. CNN has reached out to Venezuela’s Attorney General’s Office for comment on Ávila’s arrest and to determine whether he has legal representation. Maduro is one of 10 candidates vying for the presidency, however, several of them have minimal support and are viewed by the main opposition as government allies.

Persons: Nicolas Maduro, Maduro, Hugo Chavez, Federico Parra, – Maria Corina Machado, Corina, Laboratorio de Paz, Edmundo González Urrutia, Laboratorio’s, Machado, Milciades Ávila, “, ”, González Urrutia, ” Machado Organizations: CNN, Organization of American, United, Venezuelan, Getty, Laboratorio, Democratic, Alliance for Development, Democracy, Venezuelan Foreign Ministry Locations: Venezuela, Caracas, Venezuelan, Canada, United States, Organization of American States, AFP, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Dominican Republic, Panama

☆ Why a fair election in Venezuela could influence the fate of millions of migrants – and Joe Biden
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-14 | by ( Stefano Pozzebon | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

A 27-year-old single mother from Valencia, Alvarez left Venezuela in 2017 when her son Gabriel was only one. We are all abroad: uncles, aunts, cousins… only my mom and my dad, and one of my brothers remain in Venezuela,” Alvarez told CNN. Alvarez and many other migrants in Bogota, think similarly: “Maduro can only win the election if he steals it. Gaby Oraa/ReutersWhat it means for AmericaIt’s the fate of migrants like Alvarez and millions of others like her that are making this such a closely watched election. Dib estimates that up to two million more migrants could be on the move by next year.

Persons: Barrio Hugo Chavez, Maria Alvarez, Alvarez, Gabriel, haven’t, … I’ve, …, ” Alvarez, “, ”, Christian Monterrosa, Nicolas Maduro, Edmundo Gonzalez, Maduro, Maria Corina Machado, Gonzalez, Laura Dib, I’d, Endel Gonzalez, Gaby Oraa, Joe Biden, Jose Raul Mulino, Brandon Bell, Biden, Jorge Rodriguez, Washington, ” Dib, there’s Organizations: CNN, Barrio, United Nations, Venezuela –, Getty, US State Department, Venezuelan, Carter Center, UN, Washington Office, Latin America, US Customs, Border Patrol, Democratic, Migrants, State Department Locations: Venezuela, Bogota, Colombia, Municipal, Valencia, Brazil, Ecuador, Chile, El Paso , Texas, Ciudad Juarez , Chihuahua, Mexico, AFP, Washington, Caracas, Maduro, Maracaibo, Carabobo State, United States, Panama, Central America, Northern Mexico, Peru, Rio Grande, China, Russia, Iran, Trump

☆ They Fled Oppression at Home, but It Followed Them Abroad
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-10 | by ( Genevieve Glatsky | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

The line outside the Venezuelan Consulate in Madrid stretched down the block. Pregnant women, families with small children, older people and those with disabilities arrived as early as 4 a.m. — five hours before the office opened — trying to register to vote in Venezuela’s highly anticipated presidential election. Adriana Rodríguez, 47, who left Venezuela in 2018, showed up at 8 a.m., two days in a row. Both times, she waited four hours before reaching the front of the line, only to be turned away, she said, always with the same explanation: “They could not register any more people.”With Venezuela’s authoritarian president, Nicolás Maduro, trailing badly in polls ahead of the July 28 vote, the government has imposed stringent rules making registering to vote nearly impossible for millions of Venezuelans living abroad, including in the United States, Spain and Latin American countries.

Persons: Venezuela’s, Adriana Rodríguez, Nicolás Locations: Venezuelan, Madrid, Venezuela, United States, Spain

☆ 5,000 Miles, 8 Countries: The Path to the U.S. Through One Family’s Eyes
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-08 | by ( Luis Ferré-Sadurní | Juan Arredondo | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +21 min

With three children and a dog, the Aguilar Ortega family trekked through the jungle, hopped freight trains and toured Times Square. Millions of Venezuelans like the Aguilar Ortega family have fled economic misery and political repression in their homeland as it descended into turmoil. “The kids want to go to New York,” Mr. Aguilar said in Spanish as he stood by his tent in Mexico City. Mr. Aguilar created hiding places for their cash, using toenail clippers to cut small openings into Hayli’s jacket and Josué’s pants. She called Ms. Ortega to check in, and learned of the family’s setup.

Persons: Aguilar Ortega, trekked, Miles, — Hayli, Samuel, Henry Aguilar, Leivy Ortega, Eric Adams, Biden, Aguilar, Ms, Ortega, Donna, ” Mr, ”, COLOMBIA Samuel, Hayli, Nicolás Maduro, It’s, Mr, selfies, “, Josué, Donna meandered, patted, Aguilar Ortegas, Aguilar’s, weren’t, “ It’s, Rafael García, “ Papi, Ortega’s, Floyd Bennett, Simón, Floyd Bennett Field, “ I’ve, I’m, Maria Cardona, ” Ms, Cardona, Amy Swan, Ray Swan, Swan Organizations: New York Times, U.S ., The Times, GAP, MEXICO CITY, Mexico City, Central America, CIUDAD, Times, United, Venezuela’s, Roman Catholic Church, New York, La Guardia Airport, Delta, Roosevelt, Queens, Honda, Facebook Locations: Mexico City, Latin America, Venezuelan, New York City, New York, U.S, United States, Venezuela, “, COLOMBIA, Colombia, Chile, Ecuador, Peru, Panama, la, ”, ” PANAMA, MEXICO, Guatemala, Mexico, earshot, Central, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Honduras, CIUDAD JUÁREZ, Ciudad Juárez, Texas, Juárez, Mexican, Rio Grande . Texas, Rio Grande, Cuba, Haiti, El Paso , Texas, El Paso, PASO , TEXAS, York, La, Michigan, Santa Claus, Manhattan, Spanish, MANHATTAN, BROOKLYN, Brooklyn, Simón Bolivar, Spain, Jamaica, MIDDLETOWN, CONN, Middletown, Conn, Connecticut

☆ Canada survives penalty shootout against Venezuela to make surprise Copa América semifinals
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-06 | by ( Patrick Sung | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —Canada continued its surprising debut run at the Copa América, defeating Venezuela 4-3 in a penalty shootout to make the semifinals of the competition for the first time ever. As the teams stepped up to take their spot-kicks, the shootout ended 3-3 after five attempts each. “This is amazing to be in the semifinals of Copa América. Venezuela forward Salomón Rondón scored a wondergoal to equalize. Despite Canada’s best efforts to earn the winner in regulation – the Copa América features no extra-time with shootouts after 90 minutes until the final – the match ended with dreaded penalties and a deflated Venezuela.

Persons: Wilker Ángel, Maxime Crépeau, Ismaël Koné, ” Crépeau, Canada’s, “, ” Jacob Shaffelburg, Jonathan David, Yordan Osorio, Jesse Marsch, Shaffelburg, Tajon Buchanan, Salomón Rondón, Juan Mabromata, Alphonso Davies, David, Richie Laryea, Jon Aramburu, Crépeau, Lionel Messi, La Albiceleste Organizations: CNN — Canada, Copa América, Canucks, Canada’s TSN, Canadians, Getty, Lille, Copa, Argentina Locations: Venezuela, Canada, AFP, New Jersey

On the final night of Copa America Group C play, the U.S. men’s national team had to match or better Panama’s result against Bolivia. The challenge was that the U.S. would have to do it against unbeaten group leaders Uruguay. AdvertisementPanama beat Bolivia 3-1 and the U.S. lost 1-0 to Uruguay, ending their Copa America after one win and two losses in a disappointing group stage. Then, when giving Chris Richards a yellow card in the 32nd minute, Uruguay looked to play a quick free kick. Greg O’KeeffeWhat was the deal with the camera angle?

Persons: Gregg Berhalter’s, Paul Tenorio, Greg O’Keeffe, Jeff Rueter, Gregg Berhalter, Tim Weah’s, John Dorton, Kevin Ortega, Ortega, Tyler Adams, Chris Richards, Richards, —, Tim Ream, Christian Pulisic, Shaun Clark, Mathias Olivera, Darwin Nuñez, Matt Turner, Olivera, Paul Tenorio Joy, Pulisic, Bruno Miranda’s, Michael Reaves, tim, lev Organizations: Copa America Group, men’s, Uruguay, U.S, Copa America, Copa, Getty, USSF, Soccer, Peruvian, Ecuador, Iran, Napoli, Panama, Fox, CONMEBOL, Inter Miami, Sporting Kansas City, pla, eac Locations: U.S, Bolivia, The U.S, Uruguay, Panama, United States, Mexico, Canada, Qatar, Orlando, Kansas City, Bruno Miranda’s Bolivia, uHolden sh

☆ How Venezuela’s Leader Could Stay in Power, No Matter What Voters Want
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-25 | by ( Julie Turkewitz | Anatoly Kurmanaev | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: 1 min

Venezuela’s authoritarian president, Nicolás Maduro, faces a watershed moment that will determine the fate of his rule and the course of his troubled country. On July 28, the leader of the nation that holds the world’s largest oil reserves — and yet has seen millions of residents flee amid a crushing economic crisis — will confront his toughest electoral challenge since taking office in 2013. Polls show that his main opponent, a low-key former diplomat named Edmundo González, is far ahead. Mr. González is backed by a fiery opposition leader, María Corina Machado, who has captivated voters as she crisscrosses the country, campaigning for him on a promise to re-establish democracy and reunite families separated by migration.

Persons: Nicolás, Edmundo González, González, María Corina Machado

A car pulled up recently outside a modest restaurant in the state of Guárico in Venezuela’s sprawling savanna. The driver shouted from behind the wheel: “Are you the ones whose business was closed by the government? I want a picture with you!”Bounding out of the car, the man pulled close to Corina Hernández, 44, one of the owners of the restaurant. “We are all outraged,” he told her. Corina and her sister Elys Hernández have emerged as unlikely political folk heroes just as Venezuela is heading into its most competitive election in years.

Persons: Corina Hernández, ”, Corina, Elys Hernández Locations: Guárico, Venezuela

☆ Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia: Meet the quiet, bird-loving grandfather taking on strongman Maduro in Venezuela’s election
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-08 | by ( Stefano Pozzebon | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +10 min

But most analysts agree Gonzalez represents the best chance that Venezuela’s political opposition has had to dislodge Maduro from power since 2013. But amnesty for outgoing officials could be on the table, Gonzalez told CNN en Español. “Edmundo is a public servant, he knows there cannot be any revenge [against the government],” Eickhoff told CNN. Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia, Venezuela's new opposition candidate, feeds birds at his home in Caracas on Wednesday, April 24. “It’s time for the big Venezuelan family to come together once more,” he told CNN en Español.

Persons: Hugo Chavez, Nicolas Maduro, Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia, Gonzalez, – Maria Corina Machado, Corina Yoris –, “, ”, Maduro, Leonardo Fernandez Viloria, Reuters Gonzalez, he’s, CNN En, Juan Guaido, ” Gonzalez, ” Gonzalez’s, Mariana, –, Jesus Vargas, won’t, Sadio Garavini, Tullio, Chavez, “ Edmundo, he’ll, ” Garavini, George Eickhoff, Konrad Adenauer, ” Eickhoff, Machado, Edmundo, Gaby Oraa, Venezuela's, Gonzalez’s Organizations: CNN, Democratic, Maduro, European Union, Reuters, “, Wednesday, Bloomberg, Getty, Real Madrid football Locations: Venezuela, Venezuela’s, Venezuelan, Algeria, Argentina, United States, Barbados, Washington, Caracas, Hague, German, Spain

☆ Margot Benacerraf, Award-Winning Venezuelan Documentarian, Dies at 97
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-03 | by ( Alex Williams | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Margot Benacerraf, a critically acclaimed Venezuelan documentary filmmaker whose hypnotic “Araya,” a visual tone poem chronicling the daily lives of salt workers on an austere peninsula on her country’s coast, shared the critics’ prize at the 1959 Cannes Film Festival, died on Wednesday in Caracas. Her death was announced by the country’s culture minister. Hailed as a major figure of Latin American cinema, Ms. Benacerraf founded Venezuela’s national cinematheque and in 2018 was given the Order of Francisco de Miranda, honoring outstanding merit in the sciences and humanities, by the country’s president, Nicolás Maduro. But although Ms. Benacerraf was celebrated, she was not prolific. She made only two films in her career: “Reverón” (1952), a 23-minute documentary short about the reclusive later years of the Venezuelan artist Armando Reverón, and “Araya,” her sole feature-length work.

Persons: Margot Benacerraf, Araya, ”, Benacerraf, Francisco de Miranda, Nicolás, “, Armando Reverón, “ Araya Organizations: Venezuela’s, cinematheque Locations: Venezuelan, Caracas

☆ Venezuela’s 2024 Presidential Vote: What to Know
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-16 | by ( Genevieve Glatsky | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

For the past 25 years Venezuela’s government has been controlled by Chavismo, the socialist movement that began with the democratic election of Hugo Chávez in 1998 and has since grown more authoritarian. When Mr. Chávez died in 2013 his protégé Nicolás Maduro narrowly won the presidency. Venezuela’s economy imploded nearly a decade ago, prompting one of the world’s largest displacements in Latin American history. The flow of Venezuelans and other migrants to the United States has become a dominant theme in the U.S. presidential campaign. This is the first Venezuelan election in more than a decade in which an opposition candidate has a reasonable — if slim and improbable — chance at winning.

Persons: Hugo Chávez, Chávez, Nicolás Maduro Organizations: Chavismo, U.S Locations: United States

☆ Venezuela expands military buildup at Guyana border in ‘dangerous game,’ says report
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-14 | by ( Tara John | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

CNN —Venezuela continues to build up military infrastructure and hardware close to the border with Guyana as President Nicolas Maduro and his supporters scale up their threats to annex an oil-rich piece of Guyanese land. Guyana had called the move a step towards annexation and an “existential” threat as the specter of armed conflict loomed over the region. Using satellite imagery and social media, CSIS found that the expansion of Anacoco Island’s military base has continued. Maduro could ‘fall victim to own rhetoric’The threats to Guyana have concerned its partners. “Thus, one of the most concerning possibilities is that Maduro will fall victim to his own rhetoric.

Persons: Nicolas Maduro, “, ” Ryan Berg Organizations: CNN, Strategic, International Studies, Venezuelan, US Navy, Americas, CSIS Locations: Venezuela, Guyana, Washington, Venezuelan, Essequibo, Punta Barima, arm’s, Essequibo ”, Guyanese, Georgetown, Idaho

☆ Can Elections Force Venezuela’s Authoritarian Leader From Power?
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-11 | by ( Julie Turkewitz | Adriana Loureiro Fernandez | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: 1 min

The stakes could hardly be higher. This July, for the first time in more than a decade, Venezuelans will vote in a presidential election with an opposition candidate who has a fighting — if slim and improbable — chance at winning. Amid an economic and democratic crisis that has led more than seven million Venezuelans to abandon the country — considered among the world’s largest displacements — Nicolás Maduro, the country’s authoritarian president, has done something few thought he would: allowed an opposition candidate with widespread support to appear on the ballot. Though largely unknown, the challenger is leading in several polls, underscoring how many Venezuelans are hungry for change.

Persons: Maduro

☆ India’s time zone: Why the world’s most populous country has a unique one
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-09 | by ( Dhruv Tikekar | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

India’s half-hour zone dates back to colonial rule of India and the era when ever-faster steamships and trains were shrinking the world. The start of the 20th century saw some push from scientific associations to calibrate India’s time to GMT. That recommendation was rejected by the colonial government, which opted for a unified time that sat squarely in the middle: five and a half hours ahead of GMT. In 2015, North Korea moved out of sync with South Korea by creating “Pyongyang Time,” putting the country eight and a half hours ahead of GMT instead of nine. India’s colonial-era time zone decision making, however, reflected a chorus of political, scientific and commercial voices both from within the government and outside of it, Gordon says.

Persons: Hulton, ”, Geoff Gordon, Gordon, “, it’s, Wong Maye, Hugo Chávez, Nicolas Maduro, Terry Gilliam, Rube Goldberg, Maulik Jagnani, Jagnani Organizations: CNN, East India Company, Hulton Deutsch, University of Amsterdam, Madras, Washington D.C, Greenwich Meridian, Greenwich Observatory, Meridian, Royal Society, Prime Meridian, Physical Laboratory, Tufts University, NPL Locations: New York, London, Tokyo, Iran, Myanmar, Australia, India, British, Madras, Chennai, “, Bombay, Kolkata, Washington, London ., Greenwich, North Korea, South Korea, Korea, Pyongyang, Brazil, ”, Greenwich , London, China, Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Gujarat

The day Edmundo González was plucked from obscurity and chosen to take on South America’s longest ruling authoritarian leader, technicians were busy making sure his home was not wiretapped. “This was not in our plans,” his wife, Mercedes López de González, said in an interview that day in April in their apartment in Caracas, the capital of Venezuela. Not long ago, Mr. González, 74, was a retired diplomat and grandfather of four with no political aspirations. He kept busy writing academic papers, speaking at conferences and taking his grandchildren to haircuts and music lessons. Now, many Venezuelans have placed their hopes in him to end years of repressive rule as he challenges President Nicolás Maduro, who has held power since 2013, in elections scheduled in late July.

Persons: Edmundo González, ”, Mercedes López de González, González, Nicolás Maduro Locations: Caracas, Venezuela

☆ Oil prices get short-lived boost from attack on Iran
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-19 | by ( Laura He | Olesya Dmitracova | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

Brent crude, the global oil benchmark, was down 0.4% at $86.8 per barrel, having earlier spiked more than 3%. The Israeli military has not commented, and Iran has not identified the source of the attack. Iran launched the attack in retaliation for a suspected Israeli strike on its embassy compound in Syria earlier this month. Iran is a big oil producer but exports most of its crude to China because of long-standing international sanctions. Mexico also said earlier this month that it would cut back oil exports because of strong domestic demand.

Persons: Brent, Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu, ”, ” Neil Shearing, Richard Bronze Organizations: London CNN, CNN, Capital Economics, Organization of, Petroleum, ANZ, United, Nikkei, Kospi, Tel Aviv Stock Exchange Locations: Hong Kong, London, Iranian, Isfahan, East, Iran, Syria, Hormuz, China, United States, Mexico, Asia, Israel, Tel Aviv

☆ Oil prices jump on escalating tensions in the Middle East after strike on Iran
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-19 | by ( Laura He | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

Hong Kong CNN —Oil prices jumped on Friday while Asian markets tumbled, with global investors worrying about an escalation in conflict in the Middle East after explosions were reported near the Iranian city of Isfahan. Iran launched the attack in retaliation for a suspected Israeli strike on its embassy compound in Syria earlier this month. “Israel’s response could determine whether oil supplies are ultimately under threat.”Elsewhere, ongoing oil disruptions remain high, the analysts added. In Hong Kong, PetroChina, Asia’s largest oil and gas supplier, advanced 2.3%. Sinopec, the world’s largest oil refining company by capacity, rose 1.3%.

Persons: Brent, Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel, ”, “, Korea’s Kospi, Cosmo Energy Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, CNN, ANZ, United, Stock, Nikkei, China’s, Energy, Eneos Corp, Oil Corp Locations: Hong Kong, Iranian, Isfahan, Israel, Iran, Syria, United States, Mexico, Asia, China’s Shanghai, Tokyo, Seoul

☆ U.S. Restores Oil Sanctions on Venezuela as Hopes Dim for Free Election
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-17 | by ( Genevieve Glatsky | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: 1 min

When the government of President Nicolás Maduro of Venezuela and his country’s opposition signed an agreement in October to work toward free and fair elections this year, it was seen as a glimmer of hope after years of authoritarian rule and economic free fall. The United States, as a sign of good will, temporarily lifted some of the economic sanctions that have crippled the country’s crucial oil industry. But six months later, the Maduro government has made several moves that have dimmed the chances of legitimate elections, and a frustrated Biden administration on Wednesday announced that it was letting the sanctions relief expire. The reinstatement of the penalties could carry significant consequences for the future of Venezuela’s democracy, for its economy and for migration in the region.

Persons: Nicolás Maduro, Biden Organizations: Wednesday Locations: Venezuela, United States

☆ Why America Should Not Give Up on Venezuela - The New York Times
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-17 | by ( Farah Stockman | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +2 min

President Nicolás Maduro of Venezuela isn’t even pretending to play fair anymore. The Maduro regime has even refused to register the candidate that Ms. Machado deputized to run in her stead. The Biden administration essentially offered Mr. Maduro a deal: sanctions relief in exchange for freer and fairer elections. Had Mr. Maduro taken it seriously, Venezuela would have had a path out of its protracted political and economic crisis. But Mr. Maduro won’t risk losing to Ms. Machado.

Persons: Nicolás Maduro, Venezuela isn’t, María Corina Machado, Ms, Machado deputized, Biden, Maduro, Machado, haven’t, Trump Locations: Venezuela, Argentina, U.S, Poland, United States

☆ Ecuador’s raid on Mexico’s embassy shocked Latin America. Here’s why it may still pay off for Daniel Noboa
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-10 | by ( Stefano Pozzebon | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

Ecuador's President Daniel Noboa during his inauguration at the National Assembly in Quito on November 23, 2023. A close ideological ally of Correa, Lopez Obrador had since December allowed Glas to live at the Mexican embassy—territory that is technically off limits for local authorities. Lopez Obrador last week seemed to criticize the election that brought Noboa to power, suggesting the climate of fear created by Villavicencio’s murder had favored Noboa. President of Mexico Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador speaks during a briefing at Palacio Nacional on March 12 in Mexico City. Hector Vivas/Getty ImagesWhile Lopez Obrador is at the sunset of his political career, Noboa is just getting started and seeks a strong platform to run for re-election next year.

Persons: “, ”, Jorge Glas, Ecuador’s, Daniel Noboa, Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, Noboa, Guillermo Lasso, Fernando Villavicencio, Alfredo ‘ Fito ’ Macias, RODRIGO BUENDIA, Glas, Rafael Correa, Lopez Obrador, Evo Morales, Peru’s Pedro Castillo, Correa, Villavicencio’s, Santiago Orbe, ” Orbe, Mexico Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, Hector Vivas, Emilio Lezama, Bukele, Latinobarometro, It’s, it’s Organizations: Bogota CNN —, Colombian, National, Getty, Ecuadorian, CNN, Palacio Nacional, International Court of Justice Locations: Bogota, America, Guyana, Quito, Mexican, Mexico, Latin America, AFP, Ecuador, Glas, Vienna, Ukraine, Mexico City, El, El Salvador

Search resuls for: "Venezuela’s"

25 mentions found