Venezuela

Venezuelan lawmakers approve mining reform to lure foreign investors

Venezuelan lawmakers on Thursday approved a bill to regulate the country's mining as it seeks to attract leery foreign investors to a once-private industry that has long been exploited by criminal groups with ties to the government. It is the latest legislative initiative by acting President Delcy Rodriguez since the self-proclaimed socialist government that has ruled Venezuela for 26 years came under pressure from the Trump administration in January, when the U.S. military deposed then-President Nicolas Maduro. The lengthy bill will now undergo a review by the country's high court to determine if it is constitutional. The bill regulates mineral rights, establishes small, medium and large-scale mining categories, and allows for independent arbitration of disputes, which foreign investors view as key to guard against the government seizing their assets. It also bans the president, vice president, ministers, governors and others from holding mining titles. The bill is a "vehicle for

West Asia war: Indian refiners turn to Venezuela, Russia for oil supply

India has also ramped up oil purchases from alternate sources such as Nigeria and Angola

India returns to buying Venezuelan oil to ease supply crunch amid Iran war

India is set to import the most oil from Venezuela in almost six years as over 12 million barrels head to its west coast, reflecting a strategic shift amid West Asia supply disruptions

Venezuela's Rodríguez still in power beyond her initial 90-day appointment

Delcy Rodriguez remained Venezuela's acting president on Monday, exceeding the 90-day limit on her temporary role set by the country's high court following the US capture of Nicolas Maduro in January. However, it's unclear how much longer she will keep the post as lawmakers have not taken a public vote to extend her term past last Friday's deadline. According to the court order, Maduro is still officially Venezuela's president and his "forced" absence resulting from a "kidnapping" makes it temporarily impossible for him to fulfill his duties. Under Venezuela's constitution, according to an article referenced by the court, temporary absences are to be filled by the vice president - which was Rodriguez's former role - for up to 90 days. These interim appointments can be extended by the national assembly for an additional 90 days. The National Assembly, controlled by Rodriguez's party, can trigger a snap election if lawmakers declare the post permanently vacant. The government's pres

'May run for Venezuelan president', jokes Trump, claims strong popularity

Donald Trump claimed he was popular in Venezuela, where he might consider running for president after completing his US term. In light-hearted remarks during a press conference on Monday, Trump said he would poll higher than anybody ever has in Venezuela, where US forces captured President Nicolas Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores in January to face drug trafficking trials in the US. "The people of Venezuela, they say, if I ran for president of Venezuela, I'm polling higher than anybody has ever polled in Venezuela, so after I'm finished with this, I can go to Venezuela," Trump said. "I will quickly learn Spanish. It won't take too long. I'm good at language, and I will go to Venezuela. I'm going to run for president. But we're very happy with the president-elect that we have right now," the US president said. Venezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodriguez took over as acting president after Nicolas Maduro's capture by US forces on January 3 this year. During the press conference, Trump

Venezuelan crude exports surge to 6-year high as India fills China gap

Indian refiners, including Reliance Industries Ltd, Hindustan Petroleum Corp and Indian Oil Corp have purchased a combined 343,000 barrels a day for loading in March

Venezuela's acting Prez names new defence chief to replace Maduro loyalist

Venezuela's acting President Delcy Rodriguez announced a major Cabinet shake-up Wednesday with the appointment of a new defense minister to replace Gen. Vladimir Padrino Lopez, who had been a cornerstone of the military's long-standing support for former President Nicolas Maduro. Rodriguez announced the transition on her Telegram channel, saying the appointment of Gen. Gustavo Gonzalez Lopez to the role was effective immediately. She also thanked Padrino Lopez for his "loyalty to the Homeland" and expressed confidence in his future roles. The announcement comes more than ten weeks after Rodriguez became acting head of state following the Jan. 3 U.S. military operation that captured Maduro to put him on trial in the U.S. on drug trafficking charges. The Trump administration has since ramped up pressure on the Maduro loyalists currently governing the oil-rich nation. Padrino Lopez was one of the longest-serving Cabinet ministers after Maduro took office in 2013 and one the country's

American flag raised at US Embassy in Venezuela for 1st time since 2019

The US flag was raised Saturday over its embassy in Venezuela for the first time since 2019, a move that highlighted the recent shift in relations between the two countries since former President Nicolas Maduro was captured by American troops in January. The reopening of the American embassy comes after several statements from US President Donald Trump in support of Maduro's successor, acting President Delcy Rodriguez, who has tried to keep negotiations open with the American government. The flag was raised "exactly seven years after it was taken down," the US Embassy team said in a statement published on its social media channels. The reopening drew immediate attention from local residents. "It's a good thing, really, what a joy," said Caracas resident Luz Veronica Lopez. "Other countries must come back too because that's what we need; progress, to move forward with good relations with the rest of the world, as it should be." Alessandro Di Benedetto, another Caracas resident, not

China says talks with US vital as Trump targets Beijing's key partners

Failure to engage between the two nations would only lead to misunderstandings and misjudgements, escalating toward confrontation and harming the world," Foreign Minister Wang Yi said

US, Venezuela agree to re-establish diplomatic ties after Maduro's ouster

After months of heightened tensions, the US captured Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro in January, setting off a chain of changes in the country

Opposition leader Machado to return to Venezuela in next few weeks

Venezuelan opposition leader and winner of the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize Maria Corina Machado said on Sunday that she will return to Venezuela in the coming weeks and that elections will be held in the South American country. Machado did not set a date for her return but said that one of the objectives will be to prepare "for a new and gigantic electoral victory." In a message shared on social media, the politician called on her supporters to "strengthen the unity of Venezuelans that began with the primaries," a reference to the 2023 process in which she won the vote aimed at establishing a single candidate to compete at the polls against former President Nicolas Maduro. Acting President Delcy Rodriguez in power since Maduro and his wife were captured in a US military operation in January - has warned that Machado "will have to answer" if she returns to the country. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has said that change in Venezuela must go through phases of stabilisation, economic .

US licences for India's Venezuelan oil purchases mask ground realities

While GL 46A allows financing activities related to transactions, alongside are sanctions on dealings with Venezuelan state oil company PdVSA

Venezuela oil sale proceeds now routed to US Treasury: Chris Wright

The proceeds were initially deposited in an account in Qatar to protect it from seizure

Venezuela releases over 3,200 people since amnesty law took effect

A special commission of Venezuela's National Assembly announced Tuesday that over 3,200 people have been fully released since the amnesty law took effect four days ago. This group includes both former detainees and those previously under house arrest or other restrictive measures. Lawmaker Jorge Arreaza, who leads the commission overseeing the amnesty law, said in a news conference that authorities have already received 4,203 applications for the program. He said that after evaluating these requests, 3,052 people previously under house arrest or other restrictive measures have been granted full freedom. Additionally, another 179 individuals who were in prison have also been released. In the days after the Jan 3 capture of then-President Nicolas Maduro, Rodriguez's government announced it would release a significant number of prisoners. However, relatives and human rights watchdogs have criticised the slow pace of releases and the restrictive conditions under which many have been ...

Chevron sells Venezuelan oil to Reliance for first time since 2023

Chevron negotiated the Boscan crude cargo to Reliance this month, marking ​the first sale of the ‌heavy oil, ​which is ‌used in asphalt making, ‌in about six years

Venezuela approves amnesty bill that could free many political prisoners

Venezuela's legislature on Thursday approved an amnesty bill that could lead to the release of politicians, activists, lawyers and many others, effectively acknowledging that the government has held hundreds of people in prison for political motivations. The approval marks a stark turn for the South American nation, whose authorities have for decades denied holding any political prisoners. It is the latest policy reversal following last month's stunning U.S. military raid in the country's capital, Caracas, to capture then-President Nicolas Maduro. Acting President Delcy Rodriguez, who proposed the bill late last month, is expected to sign the measure, which outlines the eligibility and exclusions for people to be granted amnesty, and therefore, be released after months or years of being in custody. "It's not perfect, but it's a great step forward," opposition lawmaker Nora Bracho said during the debate. "It will alleviate the suffering of many Venezuelans." The measure is expected

Bharat Petroleum, HPCL Mittal buy Venezuelan oil amid crude sourcing shift

The crude was bought in two separate deals and will be co-loaded on a very large crude carrier to cut shipping costs, lifting India's Venezuelan imports to at least 6 million barrels through April

Discount on Venezuelan oil to Indian refiners shrinks to lowest on record

Indian refiners see Venezuelan merey crude discounts shrink to record lows amid high freight costs and tighter supply dynamics

Maduro raid shows 'full might of US military', means 'we are feared': Trump

President Donald Trump celebrated the special forces members who ousted Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, saying last month's audacious raid means "the entire world saw what the full military might" of the US can do and ensured "we are feared" by potential enemies around the world. Addressing soldiers and their families at Fort Bragg, one of the world's largest military bases, Trump declared, "Your commander in chief supports you totally." Then, drawing on one of his own campaign slogans, he implored them, "When needed, you're going to fight, fight, fight. You're going to win, win, win." The president and first lady Melania Trump also met privately with military families. But the visit felt more like a political rally than an official visit to celebrate the US armed forces. Trump's lauding of the raid that toppled Maduro came only after he called to the stage Michael Whatley, a former Republican National Committee chair who has the president's endorsement as he now runs for Senate

Reliance Industries likely to get licence from US for Venezuelan oil

A general licence authorises the purchase, exportation, and sale of Venezuelan-origin oil that has already been extracted, including the refining of such oil