Page 7 - Venezuela

Reliance renews bid for US licence to import Venezuelan oil: Report

French oil producer Maurel & Prom separately on Monday said the US on Friday granted it a licence to conduct oil and gas operations in Venezuela for the next two years

US reimposes oil sanctions on Venezuela amid no fair presidential polls

The Biden administration on Wednesday reimposed crushing oil sanctions on Venezuela, admonishing President Nicols Maduro's attempts to consolidate his rule just six months after the U.S. eased restrictions in a bid to support now fading hopes for a democratic opening in the OPEC nation. A senior U.S. official, discussing the decision with reporters, said any U.S. company investing in Venezuela would have 45 days to wind down operations to avoid adding uncertainty to global energy markets. The official spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss U.S. policy deliberations. In October, the U.S. granted Maduro's government relief from sanctions on its state-run oil, gas and mining sectors after it agreed to work with members of the opposition to hold a free and competitive presidential election this year. While Maduro went on to schedule an election for July and invite international observers to monitor voting, his inner circle has used the ruling party's total control over Venezuela

Ships in Iran, Venezuela shadow trade supplied Russian oil to India

Supplies of Russian oil to India are arriving on vessels that were earlier used to ply crude oil produced by Iran and Venezuela, both of which have been under US sanctions for years

Russia, Venezuela flows stay strong as cheaper crude evades US curbs

India may receive 4 million barrels of Venezuelan crude, the cheapest among all crude sources, in April, lower from 4.78 million barrels in March

Venezuela electoral outcry: Oppn coalition registers provisional candidate

Venezuela's main opposition coalition said Tuesday afternoon that the country's government allowed them to register a provisional candidate for the upcoming presidential election, amid a wave of criticisms after opposition leaders said they were blocked from registering their candidate of choice the night before. The coalition, the Unitary Democratic Platform, said they temporarily enlisted former diplomat Edmundo Gonzlez Urrutia as their candidate as a way to "preserve the exercise of the political rights that correspond to our political organisation" until they are able to register another candidate. In a post on X, formerly Twitter, the coalition said it was not allowed to access the registration system, but was later granted an extension. It is the latest in a chaotic electoral process surrounding Venezuela's July 28 election as the government of President Nicols Maduro has cracked down on the opposition despite promises to pave the way to democratic elections in exchange for ...

Venezuela's main oppn coalition unable to register presidential candidate

The main Venezuelan opposition coalition said early Tuesday that electoral authorities didn't let it register its presidential candidate as the deadline ended, in what it called the latest violation to the citizens' right to vote for change in the South American country. The candidate, Corina Yoris, could not be registered by midnight Monday, which was the time limit for registering for the election set for July 28, said Omar Barboza, representative of the US-backed Unitary Platform coalition. On a video posted on the Unitary Platform X account, Barboza said this was a violation of the right of the majority of Venezuelans who want to vote for change, and he demanded the registry be reopened. Yoris, an 80-year-old unknown newcomer, was named Friday the substitute to opposition leader Mara Corina Machado, who faces a government ban on her running for office. Hours before the opposition coalition couldn't register Yoris, President Nicols Maduro got the support of thousands as he made

Jindal Steel & Power takes on ops at Venezuela's largest iron-ore mill

Jindal officials are carrying out inspections at iron-ore plants of CVG Ferrominera Orinoco, according to two people familiar with the process, who asked not to be named as information isn't public

Venezuela govt keeps arresting opponents allegedly tied to criminal plots

As Venezuela's government would have it, President Nicolas Maduro and members of his inner circle have been the target of several conspiracies since last year that could have left them injured or worse. Few details have been released about the alleged plots. But the government has cited them in the arrests of more than 30 people since January including a prominent human rights attorney and staffers of the leading opposition presidential candidate. Local and international nongovernment groups, the United Nations and foreign governments have described the crackdown as a pretext to stifle political opposition ahead of the July 28 president election in which Maduro, in power since 2013, will seek a new six-year term. The latest arrests took place on Wednesday shortly before the country's top prosecutor announced arrest warrants for nine people working with Machado's campaign whom he accused of participating in one plot. Oscar Murillo, general coordinator for the Venezuelan human rights

Venezuela ruling party makes Maduro its candidate in upcoming prez election

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro on Saturday became his party's official nominee for July's highly anticipated presidential election, which would allow him to stroll into a third consecutive term with no real competition on the horizon. Not unusual to Venezuela, the election has been plagued with controversy since Maduro's main opponent, Mara Corina Machado who swept an opposition coalition's primary election with more than 90 per cent of votes was disqualified by Venezuelan authorities to hold public office for 15 years. Maduro accepted the nomination as the ruling United Socialist Party's candidate for the July 28 presidential election during a party gathering in Caracas, saying he has the support of the people. According to the party, its decision was backed by over 4 million members who chose their candidate last week. A man alone would not be here. I am here for the people," Maduro said. Here, the candidate is not Maduro. Here, the candidate is the people. Maduro became .

Venezuela sets prez election for July 28 as Oppn candidate remains barred

Venezuela's highly anticipated presidential election will take place July 28 the birthday of the country's late fiery leader Hugo Chvez officials announced Tuesday, plowing ahead with a tight campaign season that deepens doubts over the participation of the opposition's leading candidate as well as of international observers. President Nicols Maduro is widely expected to run for reelection. His government initially negotiated details of the election with a faction of the opposition backed by the United States government, but differences between the sides have grown over the past two months. The date announced by National Electoral Council President Elvis Amoroso did, however, meet at least one opposition demand that the election be held in the second half of the year. When that broad timeframe was agreed upon by Maduro and his adversaries in October, the intervening months were meant to allow campaigns to mobilize, officials to update voter rolls, and international electoral ...

India's oil imports hit record high in Jan on Red Sea delays, shows data

India's oil imports hit 5.24 million barrels per day (bpd) in January, up 17% from December and 3.5% higher than in the corresponding month a year earlier, according to the data

Illegal border crossings from Mexico plunge after record-high December

Arrests for illegal crossings on the US border with Mexico fell by half in January from record highs in December to the third lowest month of Joe Biden's presidency, authorities said on Tuesday. The sharp drop is welcome news for the White House, even if it proves temporary, as immigration becomes one of the biggest issues in this year's presidential election, with exit polls showing it is the top concern among many Republican voters in early primaries. House Republicans are waging a campaign to impeach US Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas for his oversight of the border. Seasonal declines and heightened enforcement by the US and its allies led to the sharp decline, said Troy Miller, acting commissioner of US Customs and Border Protection. US authorities have repeatedly praised Mexico for a crackdown launched in late December. Border Patrol arrests totalled 124,220 in January, down 50 per cent from 249,735 in December, the highest monthly tally on record. Arrests of ...

ONGC in talks to restart Libya operations, expand in Venezuela: Report

ONGC is also in talks to increase production in Venezuela, Rawat told reporters on the sidelines of India Energy Week event in Goa

Highlights of the day: 2 killed in clash between ethnic groups in Manipur

Catch all the latest updates from across the globe here

US pulls some of Venezuela's sanctions relief as court blocks oppn leader

The US government on Monday pulled back part of the sanctions relief it granted Venezuela last year, following through on its threat after the South American country's highest court blocked the presidential candidacy of an opposition leader. The Department of the Treasury gave companies transacting with Venezuela's state-owned mining company until February 13 to wind down operations. The department had allowed transactions with the mining company in October after the government of President Nicols Maduro reached an agreement with the US-backed opposition faction to work toward levelling the playing field ahead of the presidential election. On Friday, however, the prospect of a free presidential election was dealt a heavy blow when the country's highest court upheld a ban on the candidacy of Mara Corina Machado, a longtime government foe and winner of the primary held by the opposition. Machado, a former lawmaker, won the opposition's independently run presidential primary with more

US, 30 world leaders condemn ban on Venezuelan Oppn leader's candidacy

The US 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 Mara Corina Machado. The Biden administration, however, remained noncommittal about reimposing economic sanctions on Venezuela, which it has threatened to do if the government of President Nicols Maduro failed to ensure a level playing field for the country's presidential election this year. "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," US State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said in a statement. Machado won a presidential primary held in October by the faction of the opposition backed by the US. She secured more than 90 per cent of the vote despite the Venezuelan government announcing a 15-year ban on her running for office just days after she formally enter

Mexico and Venezuela restart repatriation flights to curb migration to US

Mexico and Venezuela announced Saturday that they have restarted repatriation flights of Venezuelan migrants in Mexico, the latest move by countries in the region to take on a flood of people travelling north to the United States. The move comes as authorities say at least 10,000 migrants a day have been arriving at the US-Mexico border, many of them asylum seekers. It also comes as a migrant caravan of thousands of people from across the region largely Venezuelans has trekked through southern Mexico this week. The repatriation flights are part of an agreement made between regional leaders during a summit in Mexico in October that aimed to seek solutions for migration levels that show few signs of slowing down. Mexico's Ministry of Foreign Relations said the two countries began repatriations with a flight on Friday and a second on Saturday in an effort to strengthen their cooperation on migration issues. The statement also said the two countries plan to implement social and work .

Billionaire Gustavo Cisneros, who defined Venezuela business, dies at 78

His death was confirmed by the Cisneros Group, without providing additional details

Brazil expresses concern over border dispute between Venezuela and Guyana

Brazil's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Friday it was concerned about a border dispute between Venezuela and Guyana that intensified this week following Britain's decision to send a warship to Guyana's shores. Brazil's foreign ministry urged the South American neighbours to return to dialogue and said third countries should avoid "military activities" that support either side. Brazil's statement calls on both countries to stay true to the Argyle Declaration, an agreement signed by Guyana and Venezuela two weeks ago in which their leaders said they would solve the border dispute through nonviolent means. The dispute is over Essequibo, a sparsely populated region of Guyana that is the size of Florida and is rich in oil and minerals. Venezuela on Thursday began military exercises involving 5,000 troops in the eastern Caribbean near the border with Guyana in response to Britain's decision to send the patrol ship HMS Trent. In a nationally televised speech, Venezuelan President Nicol

US government injects confusion into Venezuela's 2024 presidential election

The US government injected confusion into next year's presidential election in Venezuela on Friday by incorrectly suggesting opposition leader Maria Corina Machado had filed an appeal to reverse her ban on running for office. Machado subsequently sidestepped questions about whether she had been pressured by the Biden administration to appear before Venezuela's highest court, but she made a veiled criticism of the US comment, saying she wished she had been able to announce her actions herself. A tweet from the US government's unit that oversees Venezuelan affairs praised Machado's courage and willingness to appeal the ban. But as she left the country's highest court Friday evening, she told reporters she did not file an appeal because she has not been officially notified of the ban announced against her in June. I am not going to resort to that procedure, she said of the appeal process. Instead, Machado, a longtime foe of the ruling party and winner of an opposition presidential ...