Venezuelan government, allies and other groups propose more than 20 dates for presidential election
A proposal meant to guide electoral authorities in setting the date for Venezuelaโs presidential election includes more than 20 potential options ranging from as soon as mid-April through early December.
US government pulls some of Venezuela's sanctions relief after court blocks opposition candidate
The U.S. government has pulled back part of the sanctions relief it granted Venezuela last year, following through on its threat after the South American countryโs highest court blocked the presidential candidacy of an opposition leader.
Colombian judge orders prison for 2 suspects in the kidnapping of parents of Liverpool soccer player
Two suspects in the kidnapping of the parents of Liverpool soccer player Luis Dรญaz were ordered sent to prison by a judge, according to Colombiaโs Prosecutorโs Office, which accused one of the men of being the link to a person close to the family who provided information about the victims.
Federal judge orders immigration agents to stop removing Texasโ concertina wire on the border
Border Patrol agents have cut through the stateโs wire to free migrants or take them into custody. Judge Alia Moses will hear arguments from Texas and the Biden administration next week to determine whether her temporary order will continue past Nov. 13.
Migrants pass quickly through once impenetrable Darien jungle as governments scramble for answers
Rain-swollen rivers only briefly slowed the otherwise uninterrupted flow of migrants through this jungle-covered border of Colombia and Panama and by midweek another 2,000 bedraggled migrants stumbled out of the Darien jungle.
Pollution in Venezuela's Lake Maracaibo threatens life in one of the world's oldest lakes
The fishermen of Lake Maracaibo say they face their worst nightmare everyday as fish stocks decline and pollution degrades the health of this great freshwater lake, one of the oldest โ and largest โ in the world.
'Risk it all': Migrant surge as US prepares for Title 42 end
A recent surge of migrants in the Brownsville, Texas, area of the U.S.-Mexico border is highlighting immigration challenges as the U.S. prepares for the end of a policy linked to the coronavirus pandemic that allowed it to quickly expel many migrants.
Cuba beats Australia, reaches 1st WBC semifinal since 2006
Cuba advanced to the World Baseball Classic semifinals for the first time since 2006 with a 4-3 win over Australia as Alfredo Despaigne hit a tiebreaking sacrifice fly and Yoelkis Guibert followed with a two-run single in three-run fifth inning.
Border Patrol reports 2.4 million migrant arrests at southwest border this year, the most ever
The historic pace of migrants crossing the U.S.-Mexico border has fueled Republicansโ focus on the crisis, but despite the efforts of Gov. Greg Abbottโs Operation Lone Star, encounters in Texas have increased.
US migrant policy 'bucket of cold water' to some Venezuelans
Venezuelan Gilbert Fernรกndez still plans to cross the dangerous Dariรฉn jungle into Panama headed over land toward the U.S. despite Washington's announcement that it will grant conditional humanitarian permits only to 24,000 Venezuelan migrants arriving by air.
Bexar County sheriff launches investigation into Florida flying migrants to Marthaโs Vineyard
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis chartered two flights to send migrants recruited in San Antonio to the tony Massachusetts vacation spot, a move that drew outrage after some migrants later said they were misled into getting on the planes.
Caribbean storm likely to gain force, hit Central America
The U.S. National Hurricane Center says a storm that has hurled rain on the southern Caribbean and the northern shoulder of South America is expected to hit Central America as a tropical storm over the weekend and eventually develop into a hurricane over the Pacific.
Daughter of imprisoned Citgo executive feels renewed hope for her father after his colleaguesโ release
The daughter of an imprisoned Citgo executive feels a renewed hope her father and his colleagues will soon be released. On Monday, one member of the so-called โCitgo 6โฒ was released from a Venezuelan prison following negotiations between the U.S. government and President Nicolas Maduroโs regime.
Pariahs no more? US reaches out to oil states as prices rise
Three checkered oil regimes that President Joe Biden and past U.S. leaders have spectacularly snubbed โ Venezuela, Saudi Arabia and Iran โ are the targets of U.S. outreach as global fuel prices hit dizzying highs during the Ukraine crisis.
Possible Russia oil embargo drives US outreach to Venezuela
Senior U.S. officials secretly traveled to Venezuela over the weekend in a risky bid to unfreeze hostile relations with Vladimir Putinโs top ally in Latin America, a top oil exporter whose re-entry into U.S. energy markets could mitigate the fallout at the pump from a possible oil embargo on Russia.
Opposition candidate wins in Venezuela's cradle of Chavismo
Voters in the home state of Venezuelaโs late President Hugo Chรกvez have picked an opposition candidate for governor in a closely watched special election called after the contender representing that faction in Novemberโs regular contest was retroactively disqualified as he was ahead in the vote count.
Venezuela gives US oilmen house arrest in gesture to Biden
Six American oil executives jailed in Venezuela more than three years ago on corruption charges have been granted house arrest in a gesture of goodwill toward the Biden administration as it reviews its policy toward the politically turbulent South American country.
Venezuelan children pick through garbage for food, valuables
(AP Photo/Ariana Cubillos)BARQUISIMETO โ For some children in Venezuela, garbage is the main source of their livelihood. AdWaste has been drastically reduced during the pandemic, particularly food from homes, restaurants and wholesale markets. That was trash was coveted by garbage pickers in Barquisimeto, once a thriving agro-industrial city where food waste was notable. But for many who stayed โ adults and children alike โ rummaging through garbage in search of food scraps or valuable items has become an increasingly common activity. Longtime garbage pickers are finding โequal or lessโ usable garbage because more people are competing for it, Garcรญa said.
Despite guilty verdict, families continue to fight for the release of imprisoned oil executives
A Venezuelan judge recently found six oil executives guilty of corruption charges in a case that began in November 2017. Family members of the former Citgo executives were stunned by the verdict and vowed to continue fighting for the menโs release. In the letter, Zambrano appeared optimistic the trial would show none of the men did anything wrong. (KPRC)Forseth said a single judge rendered verdict and punishment at the conclusion of a trial where access was tightly controlled. We continue to pray for them and their families and hope for a resolution that will lead to their prompt release.
US to use Iranian fuel sale proceeds to aid terror victims
The Trump administration plans to use proceeds from the sale of fuel confiscated from Iranian tankers to benefit victims of terrorism, officials announced Thursday. The U.S. government in August seized 1.1 million barrels of fuel from four Iranian tankers that were en route to Venezuela. The fuel has since been sold, and officials say the proceeds will go to a special fund for victims of state-sponsored terrorism. The Trump administration has had a decidedly contentious relationship with Iran, announcing last month that it had restored all United Nations sanctions that had been eased under the 2015 nuclear deal. Last week, officials accused Iran of election interference through the distribution of threatening emails to Democratic voters in multiple states.
The Latest: UMass to play football this fall, reversing call
(AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)The Latest on the effects of the coronavirus outbreak on sports around the world:___UMass says it will play football this fall, reversing an August decision to postpone the season until the spring. One of few independents in the Football Bowl Subdivision, the school says it will start in mid-October. Games still need to be scheduled, which could be a challenge because most leagues are playing a limited number of nonconference games, if any. UMass was an occasional power in Division I-AA, now known as the Football Championship Subdivision, winning it all in 1998 and returning to the title game eight years later. Results show that โa number of our first-team squad have tested positive for COVID-19.โThose who tested positive will follow government self-isolation guidelines.
Member of Citgo 6 oil executives jailed in Venezuela is feared to be sick with coronavirus
MIAMI An American oil executive jailed in Venezuela has been out of contact with relatives and attorneys for nearly a week and his family fears he could be suffering from the coronavirus. Since then, his lawyers and family have been unable to obtain information about his whereabouts, said John Pereira. His fellow cellmates who worked under Pereira at Citgo told loved ones that guards on Wednesday removed Pereira's clothes and medicine from the Caracas prison where the men are being held. The other men who remain jailed in Caracas' famed Helicoide prison are Tomeu Vadell and brothers Alirio and Jose Luis Zambrano. The Maduro government in June released photos and video of the men in orange prison garb exercising and appearing in otherwise good health.
The Latest: India reports another 67,000 coronavirus cases
(AP Photo/Ariana Cubillos)NEW DELHI India has reported more than 67,000 new coronavirus cases in the past 24 hours, raising the countrys number of reported infections to 3.2 million with 1.5 million reported infections coming this month alone. New reported infections dropped to around 61,000 on Monday and Tuesday, but picked up again in the past 24 hours. ___BEIJING China has suspended a flight from Abu Dhabi to Shanghai for a week after passengers on board tested positive for coronavirus. Oahu has seen a surge in daily positive cases. ___MELBOURNE, Australia Australias hard-hit Victoria state on Wednesday recorded one of its deadliest days of the pandemic despite new COVID-19 infections continuing to trend down.
Virus hits Venezuelan city, raising fears of broader crisis
Health authorities tested people arriving at the market as a preventive measure to help curb the spread of the new coronavirus. In two other hospitals, the Chiquinquir and Adolfo Pons, beds for virus patients have been set up in outpatient examination areas, a nurse said. Dr. William Barrientos, a surgeon and opposition legislator, said 20 small and midsized hotels in Maracaibo are being used as quarantine centers for suspected virus patients. Health workers told AP she had been infected by a virus patient. Health experts and human rights groups have been called for more international aid for Venezuela's health system because of the virus.
Video shows 6 American oil executives jailed in Venezuela as family implores release amid pandemic
CARACAS, Venezuala Venezuela has released a video showing six American oil executives jailed in Caracas as relatives appealed for international help in securing their release over fears about the men's health amid the coronavirus pandemic. Seeing these images has made me sick to my stomach, said Gabriela Zambrano, daughter of detained Alirio Zambrano. While in the US hundreds of detainees have lost their lives to #Covid_19, in Venezuela we've taken precautions to avoid it. The US intends to continue justifying its aggressions with lies about the 6 former Citgo Venezuelans today under trial by the Venezuelan justice. The men Tomeu Vadell, Jos Luis Zambrano, Alirio Zambrano, Jorge Toledo, Gustavo Cardenas and Jos Pereira worked as executives at Houston-based CITGO.
Socialist hardliner aims gun on Guaidรณ march in Venezuela
CARACAS โ Socialist hardliners in Venezuela opened fire during a march headed by Juan Guaidรณ, injuring a 16-year-old demonstrator and adding to tensions in the country as the opposition leader seeks to revive his campaign to oust Nicolรกs Maduro. โWe're going to achieve freedom for our country.โLater, the opposition leader reiterated a call for supporters to take to the streets on March 10. Dimitris Pantoulas, a Caracas-based political analyst, said the incident underscores the forceful role being played in Venezuela by the colectivos. Guaidรณ was met by rowdy Maduro supporters when he returned to Venezuela. His uncle who returned on the same flight was jailed on suspicion of bringing explosives into the country, charges Guaidรณ calls a threat against him.