Polls open in Venezuela on Sunday as Western officials called for a fair election between President Nicolas Maduro and rival Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia. Around 21 million people are registered to vote.

Venezuela elections: Maduro says he will ensure the results are respected

Venezuela is set for an intense political battle between the ruling President Nicolas Maduro and the country's opposition Alliance. Voting will be held in the country on Sunday (July 28) and countries the world over are watching very closely to ensure that the election remains free and fair. Watch in for more details!

Venezuela Elections 2024: All eyes are on Sunday's Venezuela elections

Venezuela is going to polls this July the incumbent government of Nicholas Maduro has come under the scanner for silencing his opposition. In the latest to take notice is the United States the Joe Biden Administration has imposed sanctions on its oil industry.

Venezuela: US to sanction Venezuela's oil industry as Washington wary about free and fair polls

US sanctions on Venezuela make headlines, as Washington threatens embargo over questions of free and fair elections in the country. But Nicolas Maduro is not one to back down, as the president eyes a third term in office.

Venezuela elections under scanner

A major Venezuelan opposition group has registered a candidate for July's presidential election to ensure a spot on the ballot, even though the primary winner and her alternate were unable to sign up, electoral authorities and sources said on Tuesday.

Tense political climate in Venezuela? Nicolas Maduro aiming for third term in polls

The UK has deployed its Royal Navy Patrol vessel HMS Trent near Guyana. Venezuelan President Maduro has slammed this move as a provocation and asked 5,600 troops to launch a defensive exercise near the border. The neighbours are locked in a dispute over the oil-rich Esequibo region. Will this lead to an oil war in South America?

Gravitas | Will there be an oil war in South America?

The United States is preparing to release Colombian businessman Alex Saab, a close ally of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro in exchange for Americans jailed in Venezuelan prisons, according to multiple news reports in the Western media. CBS News reported that a deal has been reached between the two countries and Venezuela will release at least eight Americans from its jails.

Alex Saab has been accused by US prosecutors of stealing USD 350 million from Venezuela via the US, an operation that prosecutors say involved bribing government officials in Venezuela. Saab denies the charges.

In October this year, the United States relaxed some sanctions on Venezuela after the latter agreed to hold fair elections in 2024.

However, the White House has said that it was ready to pause the sanction relief unless there was progress on the issue of prisoners.

Reuters reported that US President Joe Biden was asked about the progress on prisoner exchange by reporters in Wisconsin to which he said the situation "looks good."

"It looks like Maduro, so far, is keeping his commitment on a free election. It ain't done yet. Got a long way to go. But it's good so far," said Biden as quoted by Reuters.

<h2>A major gain</h2>

Although Venezuela is releasing several American prisoners in exchange for one person, the release of Saab is being considered a major gain for Maduro. Saab's return to Venezuela was earlier seen as unlikely. But he has not yet been convicted in the US.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said earlier today that he was looking forward to the release of Americans from Venezuelan custody.

"We want to make sure that our fellow Americans are released. We are also focused on political prisoners in Venezuela and trying to ensure their release," said Antony Blinken.

"We hope to have some good news to share probably later today."

(With inputs from agencies)

The United States is preparing to release Colombian businessman Alex Saab, a close ally of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro in exchange for Americans jailed in Venezuelan prisons, according to multiple news reports in the Western media.

The United States is preparing to release Colombian businessman Alex Saab, a close ally of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro in exchange for Americans jailed in Venezuelan prisons, according to multiple news reports in the Western media. CBS News reported that a deal has been reached between the two countries and Venezuela will release at least eight Americans from its jails. Alex Saab has been accused by US prosecutors of stealing USD 350 million from Venezuela via the US, an operation that prosecutors say involved bribing government officials in Venezuela. Saab denies the charges. In October this year, the United States relaxed some sanctions on Venezuela after the latter agreed to hold fair elections in 2024. However, the White House has said that it was ready to pause the sanction relief unless there was progress on the issue of prisoners. Reuters reported that US President Joe Biden was asked about the progress on prisoner exchange by reporters in Wisconsin to which he said the situation "looks good." "It looks like Maduro, so far, is keeping his commitment on a free election. It ain't done yet. Got a long way to go. But it's good so far," said Biden as quoted by Reuters. A major gain Although Venezuela is releasing several American prisoners in exchange for one person, the release of Saab is being considered a major gain for Maduro. Saab's return to Venezuela was earlier seen as unlikely. But he has not yet been convicted in the US. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said earlier today that he was looking forward to the release of Americans from Venezuelan custody. "We want to make sure that our fellow Americans are released. We are also focused on political prisoners in Venezuela and trying to ensure their release," said Antony Blinken. "We hope to have some good news to share probably later today." (With inputs from agencies)

US to release close ally of Venezuela President Maduro in exchange for US detainees

Guyanese president Mohamed Irfan Ali met his Venezuelan counterpart on Thursday. Fresh tensions erupted after Venezuela released a map on the 8th of December showing the disputed area as a part of its territory. This after Venezuelans voted for the creation of a new state in a referendum defying the international court of justice's jurisdiction.

Venezuela-Guyana dispute: Presidents of Venezuela and Guyana meet amid tensions

Tension is steadily rising between Venezuela and Guyana ever since the former has renewed its claim on Essequibo- an oil-rich region in Guyana. Maduro's government held a referendum in which 95% of the voters backed their country's claim over Essequibo. Guyana called the referendum a threat. This did not stop Maduro from asking his country's oil companies to start issuing licenses for oil extraction in the Guyanese territory. The U.S. has taken a side, and the International Court of Justice has given an order. Is an oil war brewing? Listen in to Vikram Chandra.

Essequibo: Is Venezuela's Maduro starting an oil war in South America?

In a territorial dispute with neighbouring Guyana, Venezuela's voters has rejected International Court of Justice Jurisdiction. They also back the creation of a new state.

Venezuela referendum over new state passed with 95% approval

Voters in Venezuela rejected the International Court of Justice's (ICJ) jurisdiction over the country's territorial dispute with Guyana and backed the creation of a new state in the potential oil-rich Esequibo region in a Sunday referendum.Some political and security analysts have called the referendum a show of strength by Maduro and a test of support for his government ahead of a planned 2024 presidential election.

Referendum a show of strength for Venezuelan President Maduro before polls

In response to an electoral agreement between the Venezuelan government and opposition parties for the 2024 election, the Biden administration has taken a significant step by broadly easing sanctions on Venezuela's oil sector. The move marks the most extensive rollback of Trump-era sanctions on Caracas. The U.S. Treasury Department has issued a new general license, allowing OPEC member Venezuela, which has been under strict sanctions since 2019, to produce and export oil to its selected markets for the next six months without limitations.&nbsp;

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken has welcomed President Nicolas Maduro's electoral concessions but urged him to begin lifting bans on opposition presidential candidates and releasing political prisoners and detained Americans by the end of November. A senior State Department official cautioned that sanctions relief measures might be reversed if Maduro fails to take such actions. These changes follow months of negotiations between the U.S. and Venezuela aimed at encouraging democratic elections.&nbsp;

While this easing of sanctions represents a significant shift from the Trump administration's "maximum pressure" campaign against Venezuela's socialist government, it also reflects President Joe Biden's administration's increased engagement with President Maduro on various issues, including energy and migration.&nbsp;

Venezuela's ruling party official, Jorge Rodriguez, stated that the sanctions relief applies to all oil activities and opens the doors to investment opportunities in the country.&nbsp;

The recent agreement between Maduro's government and the opposition focused on electoral guarantees for an internationally monitored vote in the second half of 2024. However, it did not address the reinstatement of opposition candidates previously barred from public office. The U.S. sanctions relief is in line with Washington's commitment to rewarding concrete steps toward competitive elections and respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms.&nbsp;

Although these measures have eased some of Venezuela's toughest sanctions, other restrictions remain in place. Still, they offer the possibility of reopening Venezuela to numerous oil companies that had limited operations in the country.&nbsp;

The U.S. had initially imposed harsh sanctions on Venezuela following President Maduro's disputed 2018 re-election. Since 2019, these sanctions have prevented the state-run oil company PDVSA from exporting to its chosen markets.&nbsp;

The changes announced on Wednesday include a six-month general license for the production, sale, and export of Venezuela's crude and gas without limitations on customers or destinations. A general license has also been issued to allow dealings with Minerven, the Venezuelan state-owned gold mining company. However, the U.S. Treasury Department emphasized that it could revoke these authorizations if Maduro's representatives fail to follow through on their commitments.&nbsp;

Although the easing of sanctions could help boost global oil flows amid high prices due to sanctions on Russia and OPEC+ output reductions, experts believe Venezuela's exports are unlikely to offset these cuts without significant investment in its oil sector. Two decades of mismanagement and insufficient investment, combined with U.S. oil sanctions since 2019, have weakened PDVSA's ability to recover quickly and offer its crude at fair prices.&nbsp;

Talks between the government and the opposition on resolving Venezuela's political and economic crisis were held for the first time in nearly a year, resulting in the recent electoral agreement. While the deal allows each side to choose its 2024 candidate, it does not reverse bans on certain opposition figures.&nbsp;

(With inputs from Reuters)&nbsp;

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In response to an electoral agreement between the Venezuelan government and opposition parties for the 2024 election, the Biden administration has taken a significant step by broadly easing sanctions on Venezuela's oil sector.

In response to an electoral agreement between the Venezuelan government and opposition parties for the 2024 election, the Biden administration has taken a significant step by broadly easing sanctions on Venezuela's oil sector. The move marks the most extensive rollback of Trump-era sanctions on Caracas. The U.S. Treasury Department has issued a new general license, allowing OPEC member Venezuela, which has been under strict sanctions since 2019, to produce and export oil to its selected markets for the next six months without limitations. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken has welcomed President Nicolas Maduro's electoral concessions but urged him to begin lifting bans on opposition presidential candidates and releasing political prisoners and detained Americans by the end of November. A senior State Department official cautioned that sanctions relief measures might be reversed if Maduro fails to take such actions. These changes follow months of negotiations between the U.S. and Venezuela aimed at encouraging democratic elections. While this easing of sanctions represents a significant shift from the Trump administration's "maximum pressure" campaign against Venezuela's socialist government, it also reflects President Joe Biden's administration's increased engagement with President Maduro on various issues, including energy and migration. Venezuela's ruling party official, Jorge Rodriguez, stated that the sanctions relief applies to all oil activities and opens the doors to investment opportunities in the country. The recent agreement between Maduro's government and the opposition focused on electoral guarantees for an internationally monitored vote in the second half of 2024. However, it did not address the reinstatement of opposition candidates previously barred from public office. The U.S. sanctions relief is in line with Washington's commitment to rewarding concrete steps toward competitive elections and respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms. Although these measures have eased some of Venezuela's toughest sanctions, other restrictions remain in place. Still, they offer the possibility of reopening Venezuela to numerous oil companies that had limited operations in the country. The U.S. had initially imposed harsh sanctions on Venezuela following President Maduro's disputed 2018 re-election. Since 2019, these sanctions have prevented the state-run oil company PDVSA from exporting to its chosen markets. The changes announced on Wednesday include a six-month general license for the production, sale, and export of Venezuela's crude and gas without limitations on customers or destinations. A general license has also been issued to allow dealings with Minerven, the Venezuelan state-owned gold mining company. However, the U.S. Treasury Department emphasized that it could revoke these authorizations if Maduro's representatives fail to follow through on their commitments. Although the easing of sanctions could help boost global oil flows amid high prices due to sanctions on Russia and OPEC+ output reductions, experts believe Venezuela's exports are unlikely to offset these cuts without significant investment in its oil sector. Two decades of mismanagement and insufficient investment, combined with U.S. oil sanctions since 2019, have weakened PDVSA's ability to recover quickly and offer its crude at fair prices. Talks between the government and the opposition on resolving Venezuela's political and economic crisis were held for the first time in nearly a year, resulting in the recent electoral agreement. While the deal allows each side to choose its 2024 candidate, it does not reverse bans on certain opposition figures. (With inputs from Reuters) WATCH WION LIVE HERE

US eases sanctions on Venezuelan oil after Maduro's 2024 poll agreement

Massive paradigm shifts are afoot in South American politics Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro is visiting Brazil for the first time since he was banned by the former far-right president of Brazil Jair Bolsonaro in 2019. President Lula de Silva of Brazil urged Maduro to build a new narrative.

New era opening between Brazil & Venezuela as Lula calls out US sanctions on Venezuela

Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro has visited Brazil for the first time since he was prohibited from entering in 2019 by former far-right President Jair Bolsonaro.&nbsp;Maduro was warmly welcomed by the new president, fellow leftist Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, ahead of a Latin American leaders' conference in Brasilia.

"What's important about Maduro coming here is that it's the beginning of Maduro's return," Lula said, as reported by the BBC.

A number of nations have questioned&nbsp;Maduro's legitimacy, labelling him a dictator.&nbsp;

Lula stated in a greeting to his visitor in the Brazilian capital on Monday (May 29) that his own comeback had arrived five months earlier, referring to the period when he reclaimed power after defeating Bolsonaro in close presidential elections.

Maduro stated that Venezuela is open to Brazilian investment and that the two nations "must be united, from now on and always."&nbsp;

Maduro last visited Brazil in 2015. Jair Bolsonaro was primarily opposed to Venezuela's socialist president and was unlikely to accept an invitation.

However, Lula previously had cordial relations with both Nicolás Maduro and his political mentor, the late Hugo Chávez.

Lula slammed the United States' "extremely exaggerated" sanctions against Venezuela, saying it was illogical that the US would "impose 900 sanctions because they don't get on."&nbsp;

He urged&nbsp;his South American ally to develop a new "narrative" about authoritarianism, claiming that an unfair and "constructed" one had been formed around Venezuela's status of democracy.

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<h2>What does the visit mean for Maduro?</h2>

Maduro used his visit to reiterate his appeal for the US sanctions to be repealed, saying he would rally South American states to reject them as a regional bloc.

Several South American countries, including Argentina, Bolivia, and Colombia, as well as Brazil, are presently headed by left-wing politicians and may offer their support to such a viewpoint, reported The BBC.

However, it is questionable if such a demand would have any actual impact on the Biden administration's actions towards Venezuela.

ALSO WATCH |&nbsp;Amazon city of Belem set to host COP30 in 2025, says Brazil's Lula

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<h2>Maduro now&nbsp;increasingly authoritarian?</h2>

Maduro has been more dictatorial since his election in 2013.

His attack on opposition activists eventually led to the US putting sanctions on his administration and recognised opposition leader Juan Guaidó as short-term president in 2019 following a contentious election.

Last December, Venezuela's opposition National Assembly decided to dissolve its parallel government and depose Guaidó.

Many Western countries, including the United States, acknowledged him, but he failed to depose the left-wing president.

The vote demonstrated how many opposition lawmakers in Venezuela had lost trust in Guaidó.

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Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro has visited Brazil for the first time since he was prohibited from entering in 2019 by former far-right President Jair Bolsonaro.

Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro has visited Brazil for the first time since he was prohibited from entering in 2019 by former far-right President Jair Bolsonaro. Maduro was warmly welcomed by the new president, fellow leftist Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, ahead of a Latin American leaders' conference in Brasilia. "What's important about Maduro coming here is that it's the beginning of Maduro's return," Lula said, as reported by the BBC. A number of nations have questioned Maduro's legitimacy, labelling him a dictator. Lula stated in a greeting to his visitor in the Brazilian capital on Monday (May 29) that his own comeback had arrived five months earlier, referring to the period when he reclaimed power after defeating Bolsonaro in close presidential elections. Maduro stated that Venezuela is open to Brazilian investment and that the two nations "must be united, from now on and always." Maduro last visited Brazil in 2015. Jair Bolsonaro was primarily opposed to Venezuela's socialist president and was unlikely to accept an invitation. However, Lula previously had cordial relations with both Nicolás Maduro and his political mentor, the late Hugo Chávez. Lula slammed the United States' "extremely exaggerated" sanctions against Venezuela, saying it was illogical that the US would "impose 900 sanctions because they don't get on." He urged his South American ally to develop a new "narrative" about authoritarianism, claiming that an unfair and "constructed" one had been formed around Venezuela's status of democracy. ALSO READ | Missing Brazilian actor’s body found buried 6 feet underground in wooden trunk What does the visit mean for Maduro? Maduro used his visit to reiterate his appeal for the US sanctions to be repealed, saying he would rally South American states to reject them as a regional bloc. Several South American countries, including Argentina, Bolivia, and Colombia, as well as Brazil, are presently headed by left-wing politicians and may offer their support to such a viewpoint, reported The BBC. However, it is questionable if such a demand would have any actual impact on the Biden administration's actions towards Venezuela. ALSO WATCH | Amazon city of Belem set to host COP30 in 2025, says Brazil's Lula Maduro now increasingly authoritarian? Maduro has been more dictatorial since his election in 2013. His attack on opposition activists eventually led to the US putting sanctions on his administration and recognised opposition leader Juan Guaidó as short-term president in 2019 following a contentious election. Last December, Venezuela's opposition National Assembly decided to dissolve its parallel government and depose Guaidó. Many Western countries, including the United States, acknowledged him, but he failed to depose the left-wing president. The vote demonstrated how many opposition lawmakers in Venezuela had lost trust in Guaidó. WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Lula welcomes back banned leader Maduro, both hit out at US sanctions against Venezuela

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro on Monday said his government was ready to normalise diplomatic and political connections with the United States. "Venezuela is ready, fully ready to take steps towards a process of normalisation and regulation of diplomatic, consular, and political relations with this US government and with the government that may come," he said.&nbsp;

In 2019, Venezuela cut ties with the US when the latter started identifying opposition leader Juan Guaido as the interim president instead of re-elected Maduro. Washington targeted Venezuela's oil and financial enterprises and slapped sanctions on Caracas.

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However, the two countries renewed communication&nbsp;in March 2022 when President Joe Biden sent a US delegation to Caracas. The objective was to negotiate with the Maduro regime about oil supply problems amid the Ukraine war, energy crisis heightened by cutting of ties with Russia, prisoner exchanges, and other topics.&nbsp;

Tensions between the US and Venezuela also eased when the Venezuelan opposition was keen to oust Guaido, and the United States agreed not to interfere with the country's affairs.

Watch|&nbsp;Iran Protests: Two teenagers face death penalty, capital charge over involvement in 'riots'

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In a second hearing, the Venezuelan opposition supported the elimination of the self-proclaimed 'interim government' led by Guaido since 2019. 
 
Nicolas Maduro's government and the opposition are currently in a power battle. The South American country has been in a downward spiral of growing political discontent for years. While some nations recognise Maduro as the legal president, many people have backed Guaido.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

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Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro on Monday said his government was ready to normalise diplomatic and political connections with the United States. "Venezuela is ready, fully ready to take steps towards a process of normalisation and regulation of diplomatic, consular, and political relations with this US government and with the government that may come," he said.

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro on Monday said his government was ready to normalise diplomatic and political connections with the United States. "Venezuela is ready, fully ready to take steps towards a process of normalisation and regulation of diplomatic, consular, and political relations with this US government and with the government that may come," he said. In 2019, Venezuela cut ties with the US when the latter started identifying opposition leader Juan Guaido as the interim president instead of re-elected Maduro. Washington targeted Venezuela's oil and financial enterprises and slapped sanctions on Caracas. Also Read| Ben-Gvir visits Al-Aqsa mosque in Jerusalem, enraging Palestinians, Jordan condemns move However, the two countries renewed communication in March 2022 when President Joe Biden sent a US delegation to Caracas. The objective was to negotiate with the Maduro regime about oil supply problems amid the Ukraine war, energy crisis heightened by cutting of ties with Russia, prisoner exchanges, and other topics. Tensions between the US and Venezuela also eased when the Venezuelan opposition was keen to oust Guaido, and the United States agreed not to interfere with the country's affairs. Watch| Iran Protests: Two teenagers face death penalty, capital charge over involvement in 'riots' In a second hearing, the Venezuelan opposition supported the elimination of the self-proclaimed 'interim government' led by Guaido since 2019. Nicolas Maduro's government and the opposition are currently in a power battle. The South American country has been in a downward spiral of growing political discontent for years. While some nations recognise Maduro as the legal president, many people have backed Guaido. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Venezuelan leader Maduro says ready to normalise ties with US

Britain's High Court rejected Nicolas Maduro's latest efforts on Friday to gain control of more than $1 billion of Venezuela's gold reserves stored in the Bank of England's underground vaults in London.

The court ruled that recent decisions by the Maduro-backed Venezuelan Supreme Court aimed at reducing opposition leader Juan Guaido's say over the gold, should be disregarded.

It marked the latest victory for Guaido, who has won a series of legal clashes over the gold after the British government recognised him rather than Maduro as the Latin American country's president.

"I have ... concluded that the Guaido Board succeeds: that the STJ (Venezuelan supreme court) judgements are not capable of being recognised," the judge in the case said.

The Maduro and Guaido camps have each appointed a different board to the Central Bank of Venezuela (BCV) and the two have issued conflicting instructions concerning the gold reserves.

Lawyers for the Maduro-backed BCV board said the central bank was considering an appeal after Friday's ruling.

Maduro's legal team has said he would like to sell some of the 31 tonnes of gold to finance Venezuela's response to the coronavirus pandemic and bolster a health system gutted by years of economic crisis.

Guaido's opposition has alleged that Maduro's cash-strapped administration wants to use the money to pay off his foreign allies, which his lawyers deny.

The British government in early 2019 joined dozens of nations in backing Guaido, after he declared an interim presidency and denounced Maduro for rigging 2018 elections.

Guaido at that time asked the Bank of England to prevent Maduro's government from accessing the gold. Maduro's central bank then sued the Bank of England to recover control, saying it was depriving the BCV of funds needed to finance Venezuela's coronavirus response.

Legal experts have said the latest case has been unprecedented as it has seen one country's highest court interpreting the constitution of another.

"This is an unfortunate ruling," said Sarosh Zaiwalla at Zaiwalla &amp; Co, which represented the Maduro-backed central bank, adding that it would continue to pursue the case despite Friday's decision.

"The BCV remains concerned that the cumulative effect of the judgments of the English Court appears to accord a simple statement by the UK Government recognising as a head of state a person with no effective control or power over any part of that state," Zaiwalla added.

Law firm Arnold &amp; Porter, which represented the Guaido side in the case, did not comment. 
&nbsp;

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Britain's High Court rejected Nicolas Maduro's latest efforts on Friday to gain control of more than $1 billion of Venezuela's gold reserves stored in the Bank of England's underground vaults in London.

Britain's High Court rejected Nicolas Maduro's latest efforts on Friday to gain control of more than $1 billion of Venezuela's gold reserves stored in the Bank of England's underground vaults in London. The court ruled that recent decisions by the Maduro-backed Venezuelan Supreme Court aimed at reducing opposition leader Juan Guaido's say over the gold, should be disregarded. It marked the latest victory for Guaido, who has won a series of legal clashes over the gold after the British government recognised him rather than Maduro as the Latin American country's president. "I have ... concluded that the Guaido Board succeeds: that the STJ (Venezuelan supreme court) judgements are not capable of being recognised," the judge in the case said. The Maduro and Guaido camps have each appointed a different board to the Central Bank of Venezuela (BCV) and the two have issued conflicting instructions concerning the gold reserves. Lawyers for the Maduro-backed BCV board said the central bank was considering an appeal after Friday's ruling. Maduro's legal team has said he would like to sell some of the 31 tonnes of gold to finance Venezuela's response to the coronavirus pandemic and bolster a health system gutted by years of economic crisis. Guaido's opposition has alleged that Maduro's cash-strapped administration wants to use the money to pay off his foreign allies, which his lawyers deny. The British government in early 2019 joined dozens of nations in backing Guaido, after he declared an interim presidency and denounced Maduro for rigging 2018 elections. Guaido at that time asked the Bank of England to prevent Maduro's government from accessing the gold. Maduro's central bank then sued the Bank of England to recover control, saying it was depriving the BCV of funds needed to finance Venezuela's coronavirus response. Legal experts have said the latest case has been unprecedented as it has seen one country's highest court interpreting the constitution of another. "This is an unfortunate ruling," said Sarosh Zaiwalla at Zaiwalla & Co, which represented the Maduro-backed central bank, adding that it would continue to pursue the case despite Friday's decision. "The BCV remains concerned that the cumulative effect of the judgments of the English Court appears to accord a simple statement by the UK Government recognising as a head of state a person with no effective control or power over any part of that state," Zaiwalla added. Law firm Arnold & Porter, which represented the Guaido side in the case, did not comment.

Britain's High Court rules against Venezuela's Maduro in latest gold battle

Two US citizens jailed in Venezuela were released following high-level talks with the US delegation in Caracas.

One of those freed on Tuesday is Gustavo Cárdenas, an executive with Citgo, a US refining company once controlled by Venezuela's state oil firm.

He was arrested in 2017 and convicted on charges of corruption that the US government said were fabricated.

The other is Jorge Alberto Fernández who was detained on unrelated charges.

“Tonight, two Americans who were wrongfully detained in Venezuela will be able to hug their families once more,” US President Joe Biden said in a statement.

Their release is being seen as a goodwill gesture by the experts following a rare visit to Caracas by a high-level US delegation.

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The release of two men came hours after Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro expressed an interest in improving relations with the US.

The US seeks to improve&nbsp;ties with Venezuela considering that it has banned imports of Russian oil and is seeking to plug the shortfall with the Venezuelan oil to temper rising gas prices.

Biden ramped up the pressure campaign on Moscow on Tuesday with his announcement of a US ban on Russian oil and other energy imports. The ban could further increase prices at the pump for American consumers, adding to inflationary pressure.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/europe-paying-285mn-every-day-in-oil-payments-to-fund-putins-war-in-ukraine-report-460592" hreflang="en">Europe paying $285mn every day in oil payments to fund Putin’s war in Ukraine: Report</a>

The South American country has huge oil reserves but the US imposed sanctions on Venezuela's oil sector in 2019 after President Maduro was sworn in to a second term in office following elections widely dismissed as neither free nor fair.

With oil expected to become scarcer following President Biden's announcement, the US has been looking for potential sources to make up the shortfall.

(With inputs from agencies)

Two US citizens jailed in Venezuela were released following high-level talks with the US delegation in Caracas. One of those freed on Tuesday is Gustavo Cárdenas, an executive with Citgo, a US refining company once controlled by Venezuela's state oil firm.

Two US citizens jailed in Venezuela were released following high-level talks with the US delegation in Caracas. One of those freed on Tuesday is Gustavo Cárdenas, an executive with Citgo, a US refining company once controlled by Venezuela's state oil firm. He was arrested in 2017 and convicted on charges of corruption that the US government said were fabricated. The other is Jorge Alberto Fernández who was detained on unrelated charges. “Tonight, two Americans who were wrongfully detained in Venezuela will be able to hug their families once more,” US President Joe Biden said in a statement. Their release is being seen as a goodwill gesture by the experts following a rare visit to Caracas by a high-level US delegation. Also read | European Union adds 160 Russian oligarchs, senators to sanctions blacklist The release of two men came hours after Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro expressed an interest in improving relations with the US. The US seeks to improve ties with Venezuela considering that it has banned imports of Russian oil and is seeking to plug the shortfall with the Venezuelan oil to temper rising gas prices. Biden ramped up the pressure campaign on Moscow on Tuesday with his announcement of a US ban on Russian oil and other energy imports. The ban could further increase prices at the pump for American consumers, adding to inflationary pressure. Also read | Europe paying $285mn every day in oil payments to fund Putin’s war in Ukraine: Report The South American country has huge oil reserves but the US imposed sanctions on Venezuela's oil sector in 2019 after President Maduro was sworn in to a second term in office following elections widely dismissed as neither free nor fair. With oil expected to become scarcer following President Biden's announcement, the US has been looking for potential sources to make up the shortfall. (With inputs from agencies)

Venezuela releases two US citizens as Maduro & Biden attempt to bridge gap amid Russia crisis

The ICC is opening an investigation into possible crimes against humanity in Venezuela. The crimes were allegedly committed under president Maduro's rule.

ICC to probe crimes against humanity in Venezuela, Maduro's government under scanner

Venezuela will receive 6.2 million doses of coronavirus vaccines through the COVAX initiative "in the coming days," President Nicolas Maduro said on Sunday, potentially speeding up an inoculation campaign well behind regional peers. 
 
The announcement comes after the GAVI alliance, which co-runs the facility along with the World Health Organization (WHO), said in early July that COVAX had received payments from the South American country after Venezuelan officials said some payments were blocked by a bank due to US&nbsp;sanctions. 
 
Maduro had given COVAX an "ultimatum" to send the doses or return the funds Venezuela has already paid. 
 
Venezuela will receive doses of China's Sinopharm and Sinovac vaccines through the initiative, according to the Pan-American Health Organization (PAHO), the regional arm of the WHO. The country has so far been administering Sinopharm, Russia's Sputnik-V, and Cuba's Abdala vaccines. 
 
The country of some 28 million inhabitants has reported 305,766 cases and 3,591 deaths, official data show. It had administered some 2.2 million doses as of July 14, according to PAHO. Reuters data show Venezuela has fully vaccinated 3.9% of the population, among the lowest rates in Latin America.

Venezuela will receive 6.2 million doses of coronavirus vaccines through the COVAX initiative "in the coming days," President Nicolas Maduro said on Sunday, potentially speeding up an inoculation campaign well behind regional peers.

Venezuela will receive 6.2 million doses of coronavirus vaccines through the COVAX initiative "in the coming days," President Nicolas Maduro said on Sunday, potentially speeding up an inoculation campaign well behind regional peers. The announcement comes after the GAVI alliance, which co-runs the facility along with the World Health Organization (WHO), said in early July that COVAX had received payments from the South American country after Venezuelan officials said some payments were blocked by a bank due to US sanctions. Maduro had given COVAX an "ultimatum" to send the doses or return the funds Venezuela has already paid. Venezuela will receive doses of China's Sinopharm and Sinovac vaccines through the initiative, according to the Pan-American Health Organization (PAHO), the regional arm of the WHO. The country has so far been administering Sinopharm, Russia's Sputnik-V, and Cuba's Abdala vaccines. The country of some 28 million inhabitants has reported 305,766 cases and 3,591 deaths, official data show. It had administered some 2.2 million doses as of July 14, according to PAHO. Reuters data show Venezuela has fully vaccinated 3.9% of the population, among the lowest rates in Latin America.

Venezuela to receive COVAX vaccines in coming days, Maduro says

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro announced on Sunday that the COVAX system will be given an ultimatum this week to provide the country's portion of coronavirus vaccines, even though all outstanding payments to the global vaccine-sharing plan have been made. 
 
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/facebook-freezes-venezuela-presidents-page-over-covid-misinformation-373606">Also read | Facebook freezes Venezuela president's page over Covid misinformation</a> 
 
Venezuelan officials had been directed to "give the COVAX system an ultimatum: they give us the vaccines or they give us the money back, period," Maduro said in a live interview on state television.

"The COVAX system has failed Venezuela," the president said. "They don't answer us."

COVID-19 Vaccines Global Access (COVAX) is a worldwide initiative aimed at equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines directed by Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance (formerly the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization), the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI), and the World Health Organization (WHO). 
 
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/almost-2000-venezuelan-refugees-murdered-in-colombia-in-five-years-ngo-says-393564">Also read | Almost 2,000 Venezuelan refugees murdered in Colombia in five years, NGO says</a> 
 
In June, COVAX informed Venezuela that UBS had blocked the previous four payments. He stated that the payments for the $120 million fees had already been made.

In February, Venezuela launched its first vaccination campaign, focusing on the health, law enforcement, and education sectors.

In late May, it broadened the effort to include anybody aged 60 and up.

At least 380,000 doses of the Russian Sputnik V vaccination have arrived in Venezuela since February 13, accounting for 3.8 per cent of the 10 million doses committed upon in December.

In March, the Chinese state-owned Sinopharm provided a batch of 500,000 doses of the Vero Cell vaccine to Venezuela.

Maduro announced the arrival of 1.3 million vaccines from China two months later without providing details.

According to official data, there have been more than 277,635 cases of the new coronavirus in Venezuela, with 3,190 deaths.

Due to a lack of testing and transparency, some experts believe the genuine numbers are greater.

(With inputs from agencies)

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro announced on Sunday that the COVAX system will be given an ultimatum this week to provide the country's portion of coronavirus vaccines, even though all outstanding payments to the global vaccine-sharing plan have been made.

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro announced on Sunday that the COVAX system will be given an ultimatum this week to provide the country's portion of coronavirus vaccines, even though all outstanding payments to the global vaccine-sharing plan have been made. Also read | Facebook freezes Venezuela president's page over Covid misinformation Venezuelan officials had been directed to "give the COVAX system an ultimatum: they give us the vaccines or they give us the money back, period," Maduro said in a live interview on state television. "The COVAX system has failed Venezuela," the president said. "They don't answer us." COVID-19 Vaccines Global Access (COVAX) is a worldwide initiative aimed at equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines directed by Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance (formerly the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization), the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI), and the World Health Organization (WHO). Also read | Almost 2,000 Venezuelan refugees murdered in Colombia in five years, NGO says In June, COVAX informed Venezuela that UBS had blocked the previous four payments. He stated that the payments for the $120 million fees had already been made. In February, Venezuela launched its first vaccination campaign, focusing on the health, law enforcement, and education sectors. In late May, it broadened the effort to include anybody aged 60 and up. At least 380,000 doses of the Russian Sputnik V vaccination have arrived in Venezuela since February 13, accounting for 3.8 per cent of the 10 million doses committed upon in December. In March, the Chinese state-owned Sinopharm provided a batch of 500,000 doses of the Vero Cell vaccine to Venezuela. Maduro announced the arrival of 1.3 million vaccines from China two months later without providing details. According to official data, there have been more than 277,635 cases of the new coronavirus in Venezuela, with 3,190 deaths. Due to a lack of testing and transparency, some experts believe the genuine numbers are greater. (With inputs from agencies)

'Either send us the vaccines or give us our money back': Venezuela to COVAX

Venezuela's supreme court has awarded $13 million to top socialist party official Diosdado Cabello in a defamation case against a newspaper, but the paper’s lawyer said on Saturday, the outlet could not afford to pay. &nbsp;

Cabello, the second-highest ranking official in the United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV) after President Nicolas Maduro, sued the El Nacional newspaper in 2015 after it reprinted a Spanish newspaper article asserting US officials were investigating Cabello for alleged ties to drug trafficking.&nbsp;

Venezuela's Supreme Tribunal of Justice (TSJ) on Friday ruled that El Nacional must pay damages to Cabello worth 237,000 petros, a digital currency launched by Maduro in 2018 tied to the price of oil. The petro's current value is $56, according to Venezuela's central bank. &nbsp;

Juan Garanton, an attorney for El Nacional, said in a telephone interview on Saturday that the paper would ask the court to clarify how it arrived at that figure, a first step toward potentially asking the court to lower the amount.&nbsp;

"It is an astronomical amount," Garanton said.&nbsp;

Cabello denies any links to drug trafficking. &nbsp;

Neither the PSUV, the court nor Venezuela's information ministry responded to requests for comment. &nbsp;

El Nacional is part-owned by prominent Madrid-based Venezuelan journalist Miguel Henrique Otero and other relatives of his late father, Miguel Otero Silva, one of Venezuela's most celebrated writers.&nbsp;

Opponents of Maduro's government accuse it of using the justice system to silence its critics, including in the media. The Caracas chapter of Venezuela's National College of Journalists on Saturday called the ruling 'a further step toward the liquidation of freedom of expression in Venezuela’.&nbsp;

Government officials frequently accuse independent media outlets of publishing false information as part of a campaign backed by the opposition and the United States to destabilise the government. &nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

Venezuela's supreme court has awarded $13 million to top socialist party official Diosdado Cabello in a defamation case against a newspaper, but the paper’s lawyer said on Saturday, the outlet could not afford to pay.

Venezuela's supreme court has awarded $13 million to top socialist party official Diosdado Cabello in a defamation case against a newspaper, but the paper’s lawyer said on Saturday, the outlet could not afford to pay. Cabello, the second-highest ranking official in the United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV) after President Nicolas Maduro, sued the El Nacional newspaper in 2015 after it reprinted a Spanish newspaper article asserting US officials were investigating Cabello for alleged ties to drug trafficking. Venezuela's Supreme Tribunal of Justice (TSJ) on Friday ruled that El Nacional must pay damages to Cabello worth 237,000 petros, a digital currency launched by Maduro in 2018 tied to the price of oil. The petro's current value is $56, according to Venezuela's central bank. Juan Garanton, an attorney for El Nacional, said in a telephone interview on Saturday that the paper would ask the court to clarify how it arrived at that figure, a first step toward potentially asking the court to lower the amount. "It is an astronomical amount," Garanton said. Cabello denies any links to drug trafficking. Neither the PSUV, the court nor Venezuela's information ministry responded to requests for comment. El Nacional is part-owned by prominent Madrid-based Venezuelan journalist Miguel Henrique Otero and other relatives of his late father, Miguel Otero Silva, one of Venezuela's most celebrated writers. Opponents of Maduro's government accuse it of using the justice system to silence its critics, including in the media. The Caracas chapter of Venezuela's National College of Journalists on Saturday called the ruling 'a further step toward the liquidation of freedom of expression in Venezuela’. Government officials frequently accuse independent media outlets of publishing false information as part of a campaign backed by the opposition and the United States to destabilise the government. (With inputs from agencies)

Venezuelan paper ordered to pay $13 million to official in defamation case 

The ruling could not have been more clear.

One of soccer’s six regional bodies had engaged in discriminatory behavior against a female official by hindering her chances of getting a seat on its board and a leadership position with the sport’s global governing body, FIFA.

The official, Mariyam Mohamed, also convinced judges at sports’ top court that an influential Kuwaiti sheikh had actively interfered in elections held by the Asian Football Confederation in 2019 to achieve his desired outcome.

The full ruling, which has not been published, was obtained by The New York Times. In it, a panel at the Court of Arbitration for Sport in Switzerland concluded that the inaction by Asian soccer officials over several months amounted to a “denial of justice” for Mohamed. Yet two months since the decision was announced, the effect of what appears to be a powerful denunciation of ethics breaches and a disregard for women’s rights has had all the effect of a snowball hitting a tank.

Nothing has happened.

The tainted elections will not be rerun. The men who offered Mohamed inducements to drop out have not been punished. And soccer’s leaders have taken no action.

FIFA said in an email it had no comment, even though it previously insisted it would follow up on the court’s findings with soccer officials in Asia. Asian soccer’s governing body also declined to comment, saying its leaders had nothing to add to a January statement in which they had pledged the organization would review the findings.

For Mohamed, the silence has been maddening.

“It’s just a game for them, justice denial, the same process that I was in,” she said in a phone interview. “They’re waiting for time to pass by, and hoping I get fed up. Now the verdict has come, and it’s just very sad. I don’t know where else to go now.”

Mohamed, who filed her complaints to the Asian federation’s disciplinary department in May 2019, says she initially celebrated the ruling, but came to realize it may amount to a Pyrrhic victory.

She has not been contacted by officials from the AFC, she said. Nor has she heard from ethics investigators from FIFA, even though the organization’s rules state that gender discrimination is “strictly prohibited and punishable by suspension or expulsion.”

The case and its aftermath have highlighted how power works in global sports. It shows how a tainted Gulf royal linked to other cases of corruption has been able to exert significant control over one of soccer’s largest governing bodies even though he has no official role in its affairs. And it shows how a strategy of delay can be its own kind of injustice.

Mohamed’s case had roots in FIFA’s response to its own problems with discrimination: To address a lack of women on its governing board, the organization since 2013 set aside specific seats for women, starting with one voting member in 2013 and now a minimum of one from each of FIFA’s six regional confederations.

Mohamed, a former soccer player and coach from the Maldives, an archipelago in the Indian Ocean, had hoped to win the AFC’s spot in a vote in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, in April 2019. It did not take her long to realize that the power brokers of Asian soccer had already decided the election’s outcome.

She filed her first complaints about the election to the Asian confederation’s disciplinary department a month later. Emails show the organization responded to her inquiries by insisting it had begun an investigation, although it appears little was done. The AFC, citing confidentiality, refused to supply any evidence of its investigation to the court.

At a hearing at the Court of Arbitration for Sport last July, the AFC hardly put up a defense. Its lawyers offered no witnesses to challenge Mohamed’s testimony that a top confederation official and the head of the soccer federation of Qatar had been present in a luxury hotel suite when the Kuwaiti sheikh, Ahmad al-Fahad al-Sabah, told Mohamed he had decided that his preferred candidate, Mahfuza Akhter Kiron of Bangladesh, would be elected as the AFC’s female representative to the FIFA Council.

Mohamed was told she should drop her candidacy, and do so within 24 hours. She later claimed, in testimony that went unchallenged by the AFC, that Sheikh Ahmad attempted to mollify her by saying he had so much sway in international soccer circles that he could obtain for her “any other position of her choosing at the AFC or FIFA” in exchange for her withdrawal.

By this point, Sheikh Ahmad had no official role in soccer, having resigned his position on the FIFA Council in 2017 after allegations emerged in a U.S. federal court that he had bribed Asian officials. But Mohamed’s decision to take her case to court provided a rare public glimpse into his continuing stature as a power broker in global sports through his role as the president of the Olympic Council of Asia, an organization created by his father in 1982.

At a 2013 International Olympic Committee meeting, for example, Sheikh Ahmad’s support helped Thomas Bach secure the IOC presidency and also deliver the 2020 Olympics to Tokyo. Since he was indicted in a forgery case unrelated to sports in 2018, he has “self-suspended” from two prominent Olympic roles. But his opinion still carries weight.

Before the AFC’s 2019 elections, his legal troubles did not seem to be an issue. A list of his favored candidates was distributed to AFC voters on the eve of the elections and, aware of the talks with Mohamed and of Sheikh Ahmad’s preference for a different candidate, the leaders of several federations pressured Mohamed to drop out, she said. She declined to withdraw, and lost the vote, 31-15. Every candidate on Sheikh Ahmad’s list, however, was elected to seats on the AFC’s executive board or, as in Kiron’s case, as a confederation representative to FIFA.

After reviewing the evidence presented by Mohamed and her lawyers, the CAS panel made clear in the summary of its decision that it agreed with her version of the events. The panel confirmed that the 2019 elections had breached FIFA and AFC rules on gender discrimination. It concluded that Sheikh Ahmad had tried to influence the outcome, and that the AFC had denied Mohamed justice by not making a ruling on her complaint. It did, however, also say that by not bowing out of the elections, Mohamed ensured the sheikh’s efforts to influence the election in her case were not effective.

But the court said it was powerless to order that the flawed elections be annulled, or to punish any of the individuals accused of interfering with them. Any decision on further action was for FIFA, and the AFC, to decide, the court said.

Because of the rules governing the court, the panel’s full findings have been cloaked in secrecy since the verdict was announced on Jan. 25.

“If nothing happens it is a disgrace for FIFA, the AFC, and undermines the authority of CAS indirectly,” said Miguel Maduro, the former FIFA governance head who gave evidence in Mohamed’s case. “This award and what follows tells us at once that CAS has exposed corruption at the highest level of elections in football and at the same time tells us they cannot do anything about it.”

Maduro added that at the very least, FIFA should have initiated an ethics inquiry after the ruling. To date, it has not.

Such a move, though, would be extremely sensitive for soccer’s global leadership. The FIFA official responsible for overseeing the 2019 election, Eduardo Ache, told the CAS panel that soccer’s guidelines to improve female representation were mere recommendations. The panel said Ache’s evidence suggested he was “prepared to accept any discrimination provided at least one woman was elected to FIFA.”

But pressing for discipline in the case also could be uncomfortable for FIFA’s president, Gianni Infantino, who relies on the support of national and regional soccer leaders to push his agenda. He recently spent two weeks touring Africa, for example, to ensure that his favored candidate, a South African billionaire with no high-level experience in soccer administration, was elected president of the continent’s regional confederation. And he is unlikely to press for discipline against the leader of Qatar’s soccer federation — reportedly present when Mohamed was offered inducements to step aside — or any other Asian leader a year before Qatar hosts the 2022 World Cup.

The longer the full ruling in Mohamed’s case goes unpublished, though, the more it will give the appearance soccer’s leaders are trying to brush a problematic situation under the carpet, said Johan Lindholm, a professor of law at Umea University in Sweden who has published a book on CAS.

“Whether it’s because of bad PR or there are other things going on, then you would probably want to keep it as secret as possible,” Lindholm said.

The ruling could not have been more clear. One of soccer’s six regional bodies had engaged in discriminatory behavior against a female official by hindering her chances of getting a seat on its board and a leadership position with the sport’s global governing body, FIFA.

The ruling could not have been more clear. One of soccer’s six regional bodies had engaged in discriminatory behavior against a female official by hindering her chances of getting a seat on its board and a leadership position with the sport’s global governing body, FIFA. The official, Mariyam Mohamed, also convinced judges at sports’ top court that an influential Kuwaiti sheikh had actively interfered in elections held by the Asian Football Confederation in 2019 to achieve his desired outcome. The full ruling, which has not been published, was obtained by The New York Times. In it, a panel at the Court of Arbitration for Sport in Switzerland concluded that the inaction by Asian soccer officials over several months amounted to a “denial of justice” for Mohamed. Yet two months since the decision was announced, the effect of what appears to be a powerful denunciation of ethics breaches and a disregard for women’s rights has had all the effect of a snowball hitting a tank. Nothing has happened. The tainted elections will not be rerun. The men who offered Mohamed inducements to drop out have not been punished. And soccer’s leaders have taken no action. FIFA said in an email it had no comment, even though it previously insisted it would follow up on the court’s findings with soccer officials in Asia. Asian soccer’s governing body also declined to comment, saying its leaders had nothing to add to a January statement in which they had pledged the organization would review the findings. For Mohamed, the silence has been maddening. “It’s just a game for them, justice denial, the same process that I was in,” she said in a phone interview. “They’re waiting for time to pass by, and hoping I get fed up. Now the verdict has come, and it’s just very sad. I don’t know where else to go now.” Mohamed, who filed her complaints to the Asian federation’s disciplinary department in May 2019, says she initially celebrated the ruling, but came to realize it may amount to a Pyrrhic victory. She has not been contacted by officials from the AFC, she said. Nor has she heard from ethics investigators from FIFA, even though the organization’s rules state that gender discrimination is “strictly prohibited and punishable by suspension or expulsion.” The case and its aftermath have highlighted how power works in global sports. It shows how a tainted Gulf royal linked to other cases of corruption has been able to exert significant control over one of soccer’s largest governing bodies even though he has no official role in its affairs. And it shows how a strategy of delay can be its own kind of injustice. Mohamed’s case had roots in FIFA’s response to its own problems with discrimination: To address a lack of women on its governing board, the organization since 2013 set aside specific seats for women, starting with one voting member in 2013 and now a minimum of one from each of FIFA’s six regional confederations. Mohamed, a former soccer player and coach from the Maldives, an archipelago in the Indian Ocean, had hoped to win the AFC’s spot in a vote in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, in April 2019. It did not take her long to realize that the power brokers of Asian soccer had already decided the election’s outcome. She filed her first complaints about the election to the Asian confederation’s disciplinary department a month later. Emails show the organization responded to her inquiries by insisting it had begun an investigation, although it appears little was done. The AFC, citing confidentiality, refused to supply any evidence of its investigation to the court. At a hearing at the Court of Arbitration for Sport last July, the AFC hardly put up a defense. Its lawyers offered no witnesses to challenge Mohamed’s testimony that a top confederation official and the head of the soccer federation of Qatar had been present in a luxury hotel suite when the Kuwaiti sheikh, Ahmad al-Fahad al-Sabah, told Mohamed he had decided that his preferred candidate, Mahfuza Akhter Kiron of Bangladesh, would be elected as the AFC’s female representative to the FIFA Council. Mohamed was told she should drop her candidacy, and do so within 24 hours. She later claimed, in testimony that went unchallenged by the AFC, that Sheikh Ahmad attempted to mollify her by saying he had so much sway in international soccer circles that he could obtain for her “any other position of her choosing at the AFC or FIFA” in exchange for her withdrawal. By this point, Sheikh Ahmad had no official role in soccer, having resigned his position on the FIFA Council in 2017 after allegations emerged in a U.S. federal court that he had bribed Asian officials. But Mohamed’s decision to take her case to court provided a rare public glimpse into his continuing stature as a power broker in global sports through his role as the president of the Olympic Council of Asia, an organization created by his father in 1982. At a 2013 International Olympic Committee meeting, for example, Sheikh Ahmad’s support helped Thomas Bach secure the IOC presidency and also deliver the 2020 Olympics to Tokyo. Since he was indicted in a forgery case unrelated to sports in 2018, he has “self-suspended” from two prominent Olympic roles. But his opinion still carries weight. Before the AFC’s 2019 elections, his legal troubles did not seem to be an issue. A list of his favored candidates was distributed to AFC voters on the eve of the elections and, aware of the talks with Mohamed and of Sheikh Ahmad’s preference for a different candidate, the leaders of several federations pressured Mohamed to drop out, she said. She declined to withdraw, and lost the vote, 31-15. Every candidate on Sheikh Ahmad’s list, however, was elected to seats on the AFC’s executive board or, as in Kiron’s case, as a confederation representative to FIFA. After reviewing the evidence presented by Mohamed and her lawyers, the CAS panel made clear in the summary of its decision that it agreed with her version of the events. The panel confirmed that the 2019 elections had breached FIFA and AFC rules on gender discrimination. It concluded that Sheikh Ahmad had tried to influence the outcome, and that the AFC had denied Mohamed justice by not making a ruling on her complaint. It did, however, also say that by not bowing out of the elections, Mohamed ensured the sheikh’s efforts to influence the election in her case were not effective. But the court said it was powerless to order that the flawed elections be annulled, or to punish any of the individuals accused of interfering with them. Any decision on further action was for FIFA, and the AFC, to decide, the court said. Because of the rules governing the court, the panel’s full findings have been cloaked in secrecy since the verdict was announced on Jan. 25. “If nothing happens it is a disgrace for FIFA, the AFC, and undermines the authority of CAS indirectly,” said Miguel Maduro, the former FIFA governance head who gave evidence in Mohamed’s case. “This award and what follows tells us at once that CAS has exposed corruption at the highest level of elections in football and at the same time tells us they cannot do anything about it.” Maduro added that at the very least, FIFA should have initiated an ethics inquiry after the ruling. To date, it has not. Such a move, though, would be extremely sensitive for soccer’s global leadership. The FIFA official responsible for overseeing the 2019 election, Eduardo Ache, told the CAS panel that soccer’s guidelines to improve female representation were mere recommendations. The panel said Ache’s evidence suggested he was “prepared to accept any discrimination provided at least one woman was elected to FIFA.” But pressing for discipline in the case also could be uncomfortable for FIFA’s president, Gianni Infantino, who relies on the support of national and regional soccer leaders to push his agenda. He recently spent two weeks touring Africa, for example, to ensure that his favored candidate, a South African billionaire with no high-level experience in soccer administration, was elected president of the continent’s regional confederation. And he is unlikely to press for discipline against the leader of Qatar’s soccer federation — reportedly present when Mohamed was offered inducements to step aside — or any other Asian leader a year before Qatar hosts the 2022 World Cup. The longer the full ruling in Mohamed’s case goes unpublished, though, the more it will give the appearance soccer’s leaders are trying to brush a problematic situation under the carpet, said Johan Lindholm, a professor of law at Umea University in Sweden who has published a book on CAS. “Whether it’s because of bad PR or there are other things going on, then you would probably want to keep it as secret as possible,” Lindholm said.

A soccer official proved her discrimination case. No one was punished.

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro on Sunday proposed paying for vaccines against the novel coronavirus with oil, though he provided few details about how such a scheme would work.

The crisis-stricken OPEC nation`s crude exports have plummeted to their lowest levels in decades since Washington sanctioned state oil company Petroleos de Venezuela in 2019, cutting off Venezuela`s exports to the United States and dissuading many other customers from buying Venezuelan oil as well.

Maduro said Venezuela was working to pay for vaccines from the World Health Organization`s (WHO) COVAX mechanism - which provides vaccine access to poor countries - both through Venezuelan funds frozen in overseas accounts due to sanctions, and through oil shipments.

"Venezuela has the oil vessels and has the customers who will buy our oil," Maduro said in a state television address.

"We are ready and prepared for oil for vaccines, but we will not beg anyone."

Venezuela has received vaccine doses from allies Russia and China. The government and the opposition had been in talks with the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) over Venezuela`s access to vaccines through COVAX, but the government said last week it would not accept the AstraZeneca PLC vaccine, one of the main inoculations deployed by COVAX in Latin America.

Washington labels Maduro - who has overseen an economic collapse since taking office in the South American country in 2013 - a dictator who rigged his 2018 re-election and has violated human rights in crackdowns on dissent.

Maduro says Washington is seeking to oust him in a coup to control Venezuela`s oil reserves, the largest in the world by some measures.

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro on Sunday proposed paying for vaccines against the novel coronavirus with oil, though he provided few details about how such a scheme would work.

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro on Sunday proposed paying for vaccines against the novel coronavirus with oil, though he provided few details about how such a scheme would work. The crisis-stricken OPEC nation`s crude exports have plummeted to their lowest levels in decades since Washington sanctioned state oil company Petroleos de Venezuela in 2019, cutting off Venezuela`s exports to the United States and dissuading many other customers from buying Venezuelan oil as well. Maduro said Venezuela was working to pay for vaccines from the World Health Organization`s (WHO) COVAX mechanism - which provides vaccine access to poor countries - both through Venezuelan funds frozen in overseas accounts due to sanctions, and through oil shipments. "Venezuela has the oil vessels and has the customers who will buy our oil," Maduro said in a state television address. "We are ready and prepared for oil for vaccines, but we will not beg anyone." Venezuela has received vaccine doses from allies Russia and China. The government and the opposition had been in talks with the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) over Venezuela`s access to vaccines through COVAX, but the government said last week it would not accept the AstraZeneca PLC vaccine, one of the main inoculations deployed by COVAX in Latin America. Washington labels Maduro - who has overseen an economic collapse since taking office in the South American country in 2013 - a dictator who rigged his 2018 re-election and has violated human rights in crackdowns on dissent. Maduro says Washington is seeking to oust him in a coup to control Venezuela`s oil reserves, the largest in the world by some measures.

Venezuela's Maduro proposes paying for coronavirus vaccines with oil

President Joe Biden’s administration is in “no rush” to lift U.S. sanctions on Venezuela but would consider easing them if President Nicolas Maduro takes confidence-building steps showing he is ready to negotiate seriously with the opposition, a White House official told Reuters.

Signaling that the new U.S. president may be unlikely to loosen the screws on Venezuela anytime soon, the official emphasized that existing sanctions have enough special provisions to allow for humanitarian aid shipments to help Venezuelans cope with economic hardships and the COVID-19 pandemic.

But the official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said Maduro’s Socialist government has been “actively preventing the delivery of humanitarian assistance.”

This suggests that for now Biden is prepared to stick with the specific sanctions, including crippling oil-sector penalties, imposed by former President Donald Trump on the OPEC nation, despite the failure to force Maduro from power.

But Biden, by contrast, intends to move away from the mostly unilateral approach of Trump’s “maximum pressure” campaign and enlist more countries to help seek a diplomatic solution, the official said in an interview.

Biden’s administration has made clear it will continue to recognize opposition leader Juan Guaido as Venezuela’s interim president. Dozens of countries have backed Guaido’s claim following Maduro’s re-election in 2018 in a vote Western governments called a sham, though cracks recently have appeared in Guaido`s international support.

“We’re in no rush to lift sanctions,” the official said. “If the regime undertakes confidence-building measures that show that they`re ready and willing to engage in real conversations with the opposition ... if they`re ready to take serious steps, then we will consider the alleviation of sanctions."

The official did not specify what steps Maduro would need to make but said he could not be allowed to use negotiations as a “delaying tactic” to consolidate power and divide the opposition, as he has been accused of doing in the past.

Maduro, who calls Guaido a U.S. puppet, has shown no signs of giving ground. Having retained support of the military as well as Russia, China, Cuba and Iran, he has rejected or ignored previous demands for such concessions.

The Biden administration also appears to have little sense of urgency for major gestures toward Cuba despite hopes for a softer approach after Trump, often citing its support for Maduro, rolled back historic Obama-era détente with Havana.

Some Biden advisers had suggested earlier that he could start by loosening up the flow of remittances from Cuban Americans and ease restrictions on family travel to the Communist-ruled island.

But while acknowledging such changes could have a positive impact, the official said a Cuba policy shift was not currently among Biden’s top priorities, which include the coronavirus pandemic, economic recovery and rebuilding alliances abroad.

“Frankly, first things first,” the official said.

There has also been no sign of any immediate plans to rescind Cuba’s designation as a state sponsor of terrorism, though Biden officials have said Trump’s last-minute decision to return Havana to the U.S. blacklist is under review.

President Joe Biden’s administration is in “no rush” to lift U.S. sanctions on Venezuela but would consider easing them if President Nicolas Maduro takes confidence-building steps showing he is ready to negotiate seriously with the opposition, a White House official told Reuters.

President Joe Biden’s administration is in “no rush” to lift U.S. sanctions on Venezuela but would consider easing them if President Nicolas Maduro takes confidence-building steps showing he is ready to negotiate seriously with the opposition, a White House official told Reuters. Signaling that the new U.S. president may be unlikely to loosen the screws on Venezuela anytime soon, the official emphasized that existing sanctions have enough special provisions to allow for humanitarian aid shipments to help Venezuelans cope with economic hardships and the COVID-19 pandemic. But the official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said Maduro’s Socialist government has been “actively preventing the delivery of humanitarian assistance.” This suggests that for now Biden is prepared to stick with the specific sanctions, including crippling oil-sector penalties, imposed by former President Donald Trump on the OPEC nation, despite the failure to force Maduro from power. But Biden, by contrast, intends to move away from the mostly unilateral approach of Trump’s “maximum pressure” campaign and enlist more countries to help seek a diplomatic solution, the official said in an interview. Biden’s administration has made clear it will continue to recognize opposition leader Juan Guaido as Venezuela’s interim president. Dozens of countries have backed Guaido’s claim following Maduro’s re-election in 2018 in a vote Western governments called a sham, though cracks recently have appeared in Guaido`s international support. “We’re in no rush to lift sanctions,” the official said. “If the regime undertakes confidence-building measures that show that they`re ready and willing to engage in real conversations with the opposition ... if they`re ready to take serious steps, then we will consider the alleviation of sanctions." The official did not specify what steps Maduro would need to make but said he could not be allowed to use negotiations as a “delaying tactic” to consolidate power and divide the opposition, as he has been accused of doing in the past. Maduro, who calls Guaido a U.S. puppet, has shown no signs of giving ground. Having retained support of the military as well as Russia, China, Cuba and Iran, he has rejected or ignored previous demands for such concessions. The Biden administration also appears to have little sense of urgency for major gestures toward Cuba despite hopes for a softer approach after Trump, often citing its support for Maduro, rolled back historic Obama-era détente with Havana. Some Biden advisers had suggested earlier that he could start by loosening up the flow of remittances from Cuban Americans and ease restrictions on family travel to the Communist-ruled island. But while acknowledging such changes could have a positive impact, the official said a Cuba policy shift was not currently among Biden’s top priorities, which include the coronavirus pandemic, economic recovery and rebuilding alliances abroad. “Frankly, first things first,” the official said. There has also been no sign of any immediate plans to rescind Cuba’s designation as a state sponsor of terrorism, though Biden officials have said Trump’s last-minute decision to return Havana to the U.S. blacklist is under review.

Biden in no rush to lift Venezuela sanctions, seeks 'serious steps' by Maduro

Venezuelans vote Sunday in legislative elections set to tighten President Nicolas Maduro's grip on power and further weaken his US-backed opposition rival Juan Guaido, who is leading a boycott of the polls he calls a fraud.

Victory will give Maduro's ruling Socialist Party control of an expanded 227-seat National Assembly, the only institution not yet in its hands.

"The day has come. We have been patient," Maduro said Saturday at his Miraflores presidential palace in Caracas. Sunday's vote comes five years after the opposition won control of the National Assembly by a landslide.

Guaido, 37, called for a boycott on grounds that "free and fair" conditions for holding elections do not exist. He labeled Sunday's poll "a fraud".

"Maduro's objective isn't even to gain legitimacy," Guaido told AFP in an interview this week, adding that the goal was instead to simply wipe out all semblance of democracy.

Guaido and his allies plan a week-long plebiscite from Monday seeking public support to prolong the mandate of the current National Assembly until "free, verifiable and transparent" elections can be held.

However, the results will not be binding, as Maduro exercises control of the country's institutions, including the Supreme Court and the powerful military.

- Weary population -

The vote takes place against a backdrop of deep political and economic crisis, with a weary population facing endless queues for gas, and chronic shortages of basic food and medical supplies.

That will likely translate into voter "apathy and inertia," with Luis Vicente Leon of pollsters Datanalisis predicting a turnout of 34 percent or less.&nbsp;

Maduro, a former bus driver who became president on the death of his mentor Hugo Chavez in 2013, was re-elected in 2018 in fraud-tainted polls, a victory which much of the international community branded illegitimate.

The United States, the European Union and many Latin American countries have long blamed Venezuela's crippling economic crisis on Maduro's repression and mis-rule.&nbsp;

Instead, they backed Guaido when the National Assembly speaker proclaimed himself interim president in January of last year.&nbsp;

Initial enthusiasm has waned, however, with critics seeing Guaido's plebiscite ploy as a desperate gamble.

- Allies watching -

Maduro's expected victory on Sunday will be greeted by his foreign allies Russia and China as lending his regime legitimacy as well as a legal framework to their agreements which help circumvent US and EU sanctions.

The electoral authority, appointed by the Maduro-friendly Supreme Court, said more than 20 million people are eligible to vote in the polls.

Opposition dissidents who criticize Guaido for calling the boycott will take part in the election, despite being accused of lending Maduro legitimacy.

"They are going to represent the new opposition after January 5" when the new legislature takes office, said political scientist Jesus Castillo.

Defeat is likely to leave Guaido increasingly isolated, analysts say.

Guaido, who boldly declared himself president last year, winning the backing of 50 countries, is set to lose the leadership of the National Assembly, on which he based his legitimacy.

That will likely force his international backers to reassess their position.

Guaido is meanwhile calling for increased sanctions from the US and EU, even though a Datanalisis poll showed 71 percent of Venezuelans oppose more crippling sanctions.

Venezuelans vote Sunday in legislative elections set to tighten President Nicolas Maduro's grip on power and further weaken his US-backed opposition rival Juan Guaido, who is leading a boycott of the polls he calls a fraud.

Venezuelans vote Sunday in legislative elections set to tighten President Nicolas Maduro's grip on power and further weaken his US-backed opposition rival Juan Guaido, who is leading a boycott of the polls he calls a fraud. Victory will give Maduro's ruling Socialist Party control of an expanded 227-seat National Assembly, the only institution not yet in its hands. "The day has come. We have been patient," Maduro said Saturday at his Miraflores presidential palace in Caracas. Sunday's vote comes five years after the opposition won control of the National Assembly by a landslide. Guaido, 37, called for a boycott on grounds that "free and fair" conditions for holding elections do not exist. He labeled Sunday's poll "a fraud". "Maduro's objective isn't even to gain legitimacy," Guaido told AFP in an interview this week, adding that the goal was instead to simply wipe out all semblance of democracy. Guaido and his allies plan a week-long plebiscite from Monday seeking public support to prolong the mandate of the current National Assembly until "free, verifiable and transparent" elections can be held. However, the results will not be binding, as Maduro exercises control of the country's institutions, including the Supreme Court and the powerful military. - Weary population - The vote takes place against a backdrop of deep political and economic crisis, with a weary population facing endless queues for gas, and chronic shortages of basic food and medical supplies. That will likely translate into voter "apathy and inertia," with Luis Vicente Leon of pollsters Datanalisis predicting a turnout of 34 percent or less. Maduro, a former bus driver who became president on the death of his mentor Hugo Chavez in 2013, was re-elected in 2018 in fraud-tainted polls, a victory which much of the international community branded illegitimate. The United States, the European Union and many Latin American countries have long blamed Venezuela's crippling economic crisis on Maduro's repression and mis-rule. Instead, they backed Guaido when the National Assembly speaker proclaimed himself interim president in January of last year. Initial enthusiasm has waned, however, with critics seeing Guaido's plebiscite ploy as a desperate gamble. - Allies watching - Maduro's expected victory on Sunday will be greeted by his foreign allies Russia and China as lending his regime legitimacy as well as a legal framework to their agreements which help circumvent US and EU sanctions. The electoral authority, appointed by the Maduro-friendly Supreme Court, said more than 20 million people are eligible to vote in the polls. Opposition dissidents who criticize Guaido for calling the boycott will take part in the election, despite being accused of lending Maduro legitimacy. "They are going to represent the new opposition after January 5" when the new legislature takes office, said political scientist Jesus Castillo. Defeat is likely to leave Guaido increasingly isolated, analysts say. Guaido, who boldly declared himself president last year, winning the backing of 50 countries, is set to lose the leadership of the National Assembly, on which he based his legitimacy. That will likely force his international backers to reassess their position. Guaido is meanwhile calling for increased sanctions from the US and EU, even though a Datanalisis poll showed 71 percent of Venezuelans oppose more crippling sanctions.

Maduro eyes victory in Venezuela poll amid opposition boycott

U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Saturday thanked Colombian President Ivan Duque for his stance against Venezuela`s President Nicolas Maduro and pledged continued assistance to help fight drug trafficking.

In the fourth stop on his tour of South America, Pompeo said the partnership between Colombia and the United States was a force for good in the region.

"Your support for interim (Venezuelan) president Juan Guaido and the democratic transition for a sovereign Venezuela free of malign influence ... is incredibly valued," Pompeo told Duque in a joint press conference in Bogota.

Pompeo has used the tour to increase pressure on Maduro, who has overseen a six-year economic collapse and has been indicted in the United States on narcoterrorism charges, to resign.

A report this week by United Nations investigators found Maduro`s government has committed systematic human rights violations including killings and torture amounting to crimes against humanity.

"The international community has to act to bring this situation to an end," said Duque, who calls Maduro a dictator and often accuses him of sheltering and supporting members of Colombian rebel groups.

The Colombian government is among more than 50 countries which consider Venezuela`s opposition leader Guaido to be the country`s interim president.

Pompeo said the United States will continue to provide expertise and resources to help Colombia fight drug trafficking.

Colombia faces constant pressure from the United States, a major destination for cocaine, to reduce the size of crops of coca, the drug`s chief ingredient.

Duque has set a target to destroy 130,000 hectares (321,237 acres) of coca this year, up from 100,000 hectares last year, and has signaled aerial spraying of the herbicide glyphosate could restart. 
&nbsp;

U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Saturday thanked Colombian President Ivan Duque for his stance against Venezuela`s President Nicolas Maduro and pledged continued assistance to help fight drug trafficking.

U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Saturday thanked Colombian President Ivan Duque for his stance against Venezuela`s President Nicolas Maduro and pledged continued assistance to help fight drug trafficking. In the fourth stop on his tour of South America, Pompeo said the partnership between Colombia and the United States was a force for good in the region. "Your support for interim (Venezuelan) president Juan Guaido and the democratic transition for a sovereign Venezuela free of malign influence ... is incredibly valued," Pompeo told Duque in a joint press conference in Bogota. Pompeo has used the tour to increase pressure on Maduro, who has overseen a six-year economic collapse and has been indicted in the United States on narcoterrorism charges, to resign. A report this week by United Nations investigators found Maduro`s government has committed systematic human rights violations including killings and torture amounting to crimes against humanity. "The international community has to act to bring this situation to an end," said Duque, who calls Maduro a dictator and often accuses him of sheltering and supporting members of Colombian rebel groups. The Colombian government is among more than 50 countries which consider Venezuela`s opposition leader Guaido to be the country`s interim president. Pompeo said the United States will continue to provide expertise and resources to help Colombia fight drug trafficking. Colombia faces constant pressure from the United States, a major destination for cocaine, to reduce the size of crops of coca, the drug`s chief ingredient. Duque has set a target to destroy 130,000 hectares (321,237 acres) of coca this year, up from 100,000 hectares last year, and has signaled aerial spraying of the herbicide glyphosate could restart.

Pompeo hails Colombia's stance on Maduro, pledges more help in drugs fight

Venezuela's president and top ministers are responsible for probable crimes against humanity including extrajudicial killings and the systematic use of torture, UN investigators said on Wednesday.

In their first report, a team of investigators tasked with probing a slew of alleged violations in Venezuela said they had found evidence that state actors, including President Nicolas Maduro, were behind serious international crimes.

The International Fact-Finding Mission, created by the UN Human Rights Council a year ago, "found reasonable grounds to believe that Venezuelan authorities and security forces have since 2014 planned and executed serious human rights violations," Marta Valinas, the mission's chairperson, said in a statement.

Some of those violations, "including arbitrary killings and the systematic use of torture, amount to crimes against humanity," she said.

"Far from being isolated acts, these crimes were coordinated and committed pursuant to state policies, with the knowledge or direct support of commanding officers and senior government officials."&nbsp;

The 411-page report spelled out which Venezuelan officials it deemed responsible, citing "reasonable grounds to believe that both the President and the Ministers of People's Power for Interior Relations, Justice and Peace, and for Defence, ordered or contributed to the commission of the crimes documented in this report."

The investigators demanded that Venezuelan authorities immediately carry out "independent, impartial and transparent investigations" into the violations, and ensure victims receive "full redress".

Other jurisdictions, including the International Criminal Court, "should also consider legal actions against individuals responsible for violations and crimes the mission identified," Valinas said.

The three-person team was unable to visit Venezuela, but based their findings on 274 remote interviews with victims, witnesses, former state officials and others, and analysis of confidential documents, including legal case files.

Maduro faces mounting pressure from world powers who accuse him of violently cracking down on dissent over Venezuela's economic collapse and on opponents in a harsh political stand-off in recent years.

Wednesday's report decried a vast array of abuses committed amid a gradual breakdown of democratic institutions and the rule of law in the country.

They highlighted soaring numbers of extrajudicial killings in Venezuela, lamenting that the vast majority of such killings by security forces had resulted in no prosecutions.

The mission reviewed over 2,500 incidents since 2014 that led to more than 5,000 killings by security forces, many of them arbitrary.

And it probed 140 so-called Operations for People's Liberation, established purportedly to fight crime, but which between 2015 and 2017 resulted in 413 people being killed, shot "sometimes at point blank range".

The report pointed out that government officials had repeatedly praised such operations.

"These extrajudicial executions cannot be attributed to a lack of discipline among the security forces," Valinas said, pointing out that "high-ranking officials had effective command and control over the perpetrators and knowledge of their actions but failed to prevent or repress the violations.

"The killings appear part of a policy to eliminate unwanted members of society under the cover of combatting crime."&nbsp;

The investigators called for the dismantlement of Venezuela's Special Action Forces, which along with the national police agency was responsible for well over half of the killings.

The investigators also decried the "systematic practice of torture" against people detained during anti-government protests, and against people accused of rebellion or coup attempts.

It pointed to techniques including rape, asphyxiation, beatings, electric shocks and death threats to extract confessions or as punishment.

At least three people had died after being subjected to torture while in the custody of Venezuela's military counter-intelligence directorate and its national intelligence service, the report found.

Investigator Francisco Cox stressed in a statement that commanding officers and high-level officials "had full knowledge of this pattern of crimes," adding that the investigators had drawn up a list of 45 officials within the two agencies "who should be investigated and prosecuted". 
&nbsp;

Venezuela's president and top ministers are responsible for probable crimes against humanity including extrajudicial killings and the systematic use of torture, UN investigators said on Wednesday.

Venezuela's president and top ministers are responsible for probable crimes against humanity including extrajudicial killings and the systematic use of torture, UN investigators said on Wednesday. In their first report, a team of investigators tasked with probing a slew of alleged violations in Venezuela said they had found evidence that state actors, including President Nicolas Maduro, were behind serious international crimes. The International Fact-Finding Mission, created by the UN Human Rights Council a year ago, "found reasonable grounds to believe that Venezuelan authorities and security forces have since 2014 planned and executed serious human rights violations," Marta Valinas, the mission's chairperson, said in a statement. Some of those violations, "including arbitrary killings and the systematic use of torture, amount to crimes against humanity," she said. "Far from being isolated acts, these crimes were coordinated and committed pursuant to state policies, with the knowledge or direct support of commanding officers and senior government officials." The 411-page report spelled out which Venezuelan officials it deemed responsible, citing "reasonable grounds to believe that both the President and the Ministers of People's Power for Interior Relations, Justice and Peace, and for Defence, ordered or contributed to the commission of the crimes documented in this report." The investigators demanded that Venezuelan authorities immediately carry out "independent, impartial and transparent investigations" into the violations, and ensure victims receive "full redress". Other jurisdictions, including the International Criminal Court, "should also consider legal actions against individuals responsible for violations and crimes the mission identified," Valinas said. The three-person team was unable to visit Venezuela, but based their findings on 274 remote interviews with victims, witnesses, former state officials and others, and analysis of confidential documents, including legal case files. Maduro faces mounting pressure from world powers who accuse him of violently cracking down on dissent over Venezuela's economic collapse and on opponents in a harsh political stand-off in recent years. Wednesday's report decried a vast array of abuses committed amid a gradual breakdown of democratic institutions and the rule of law in the country. They highlighted soaring numbers of extrajudicial killings in Venezuela, lamenting that the vast majority of such killings by security forces had resulted in no prosecutions. The mission reviewed over 2,500 incidents since 2014 that led to more than 5,000 killings by security forces, many of them arbitrary. And it probed 140 so-called Operations for People's Liberation, established purportedly to fight crime, but which between 2015 and 2017 resulted in 413 people being killed, shot "sometimes at point blank range". The report pointed out that government officials had repeatedly praised such operations. "These extrajudicial executions cannot be attributed to a lack of discipline among the security forces," Valinas said, pointing out that "high-ranking officials had effective command and control over the perpetrators and knowledge of their actions but failed to prevent or repress the violations. "The killings appear part of a policy to eliminate unwanted members of society under the cover of combatting crime." The investigators called for the dismantlement of Venezuela's Special Action Forces, which along with the national police agency was responsible for well over half of the killings. The investigators also decried the "systematic practice of torture" against people detained during anti-government protests, and against people accused of rebellion or coup attempts. It pointed to techniques including rape, asphyxiation, beatings, electric shocks and death threats to extract confessions or as punishment. At least three people had died after being subjected to torture while in the custody of Venezuela's military counter-intelligence directorate and its national intelligence service, the report found. Investigator Francisco Cox stressed in a statement that commanding officers and high-level officials "had full knowledge of this pattern of crimes," adding that the investigators had drawn up a list of 45 officials within the two agencies "who should be investigated and prosecuted".

Venezuela President Maduro, ministers behind crimes against humanity: UN probe

The&nbsp;Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has announced capturing of an American spy in the country, late on Friday, near the Colombian border.

Maduro announced that the spy was caught&nbsp;in the state of Falcón, which lies on the northwestern coast near the Colombian border.

"Yesterday we captured... an American spy who was spying in Falcon state on the Amuay and Cardon refineries," Maduro said in a televised address.

"Two days ago, Tarek El Aissami, together with a group of expert engineers and technological scientists, discovered and dismantled a plan to cause an explosion at the El Palito refinery," he explained.

The unnamed spy is&nbsp;a former US Marine who has been serving&nbsp;at CIA bases in Iraq. "He was captured with heavy weapons, specialized weaponry, he was captured with a large amount of dollars in cash, a large amount of dollars," Maduro said.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/venezuela-court-sentences-two-former-us-soldiers-to-20-years-in-prison-for-beach-attack-319132">Also read:&nbsp;Venezuela court sentences two former US soldiers to 20 years in prison for beach attack</a>

It is being reported that he was captured near two Venezuelan refineries, after authorities foiled a plot to "cause an explosion" at another oil complex.

Further details are to be released soon&nbsp;by the&nbsp;Venezuelan government.

The capture has been made few months after the 'Operation Gedeon', in which a private mercenary firm Silvercorp USA and the opposition political parties, reportedly, signed a deal to capture, detain or remove the President.

The attempted coup was spotted and stopped in the starting of May this year.

The Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has announced capturing of an American spy in the country, late on Friday, near the Colombian border. Maduro announced that the spy was caught in the state of Falcón, which lies on the northwestern coast near the Colombian border.

The Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has announced capturing of an American spy in the country, late on Friday, near the Colombian border. Maduro announced that the spy was caught in the state of Falcón, which lies on the northwestern coast near the Colombian border. "Yesterday we captured... an American spy who was spying in Falcon state on the Amuay and Cardon refineries," Maduro said in a televised address. "Two days ago, Tarek El Aissami, together with a group of expert engineers and technological scientists, discovered and dismantled a plan to cause an explosion at the El Palito refinery," he explained. The unnamed spy is a former US Marine who has been serving at CIA bases in Iraq. "He was captured with heavy weapons, specialized weaponry, he was captured with a large amount of dollars in cash, a large amount of dollars," Maduro said. Also read: Venezuela court sentences two former US soldiers to 20 years in prison for beach attack It is being reported that he was captured near two Venezuelan refineries, after authorities foiled a plot to "cause an explosion" at another oil complex. Further details are to be released soon by the Venezuelan government. The capture has been made few months after the 'Operation Gedeon', in which a private mercenary firm Silvercorp USA and the opposition political parties, reportedly, signed a deal to capture, detain or remove the President. The attempted coup was spotted and stopped in the starting of May this year.

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro announces capture of 'American spy'

Britain has recognised Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido as the country's president, the English High Court ruled on Thursday, in a case over whether Guaido or Nicolas Maduro should control $1 billion of its gold stored in London.

UK court recognises Juan Guaido as Venezuela president

The UK High Court has ruled that the country recognises&nbsp; Juan Guaido as&nbsp;Venezuela's President, instead of&nbsp;Nicolas Maduro.

The ruling was made in the case of&nbsp;who controls Venezuela's&nbsp;gold reserves stored in London.&nbsp;High court judge Nigel Teare handed down the judgement on Thursday.

The judgement states that British government had formally recognised Guaido as the constitutional interim President of Venezuela.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/venezuela-president-maduro-gives-eu-ambassador-72-hours-to-leave-country-309565">Also read:&nbsp;Venezuela President Maduro gives EU ambassador 72 hours to leave country</a>

It has also been added that considering the ‘One Voice’ and ‘Act of State’ doctrines, the British High Court is precluded from investigating the validity of Guaido's acts.

Guaido, the opposition leader, back in 2019 had used his position of&nbsp;head of Parliament to challenge Maduro's authority by declaring himself acting president after the National Assembly deemed the socialist leader a usurper over his controversial re-election in 2018 in a poll widely branded fraudulent.

Since then, he is recognised as Venezuela's interim president by more than 50 nations, including the UK, the United States and much of the European Union.

This decision came few days after&nbsp;Venezuela President Nicolas Maduro issued a notice to the&nbsp;European Union mission in Caracas, Isabel Brilhante Pedrosa, 72 hours to leave the country after the bloc announced sanctions against 11 Venezuelan officials.

The UK High Court has ruled that the country recognises Juan Guaido as Venezuela's President, instead of Nicolas Maduro. The ruling was made in the case of who controls Venezuela's gold reserves stored in London.

The UK High Court has ruled that the country recognises Juan Guaido as Venezuela's President, instead of Nicolas Maduro. The ruling was made in the case of who controls Venezuela's gold reserves stored in London. High court judge Nigel Teare handed down the judgement on Thursday. The judgement states that British government had formally recognised Guaido as the constitutional interim President of Venezuela. Also read: Venezuela President Maduro gives EU ambassador 72 hours to leave country It has also been added that considering the ‘One Voice’ and ‘Act of State’ doctrines, the British High Court is precluded from investigating the validity of Guaido's acts. Guaido, the opposition leader, back in 2019 had used his position of head of Parliament to challenge Maduro's authority by declaring himself acting president after the National Assembly deemed the socialist leader a usurper over his controversial re-election in 2018 in a poll widely branded fraudulent. Since then, he is recognised as Venezuela's interim president by more than 50 nations, including the UK, the United States and much of the European Union. This decision came few days after Venezuela President Nicolas Maduro issued a notice to the European Union mission in Caracas, Isabel Brilhante Pedrosa, 72 hours to leave the country after the bloc announced sanctions against 11 Venezuelan officials.

Britain recognises Guaido as Venezuela president, not Maduro: UK High Court

Venezuela President Nicolas Maduro on Monday (June 29) gave the head of the European Union mission in Caracas, Isabel Brilhante Pedrosa, 72 hours to leave the country after the bloc announced sanctions against 11 Venezuelan officials.

"Who are they to try to impose themselves with threats?" said Maduro.

"We will sort it out in 72 hours... she will be given a plane to leave, but we will arrange our things with the European Union." Venezuela's airspace is currently closed to commercial airplanes due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-sanctions-five-iranian-ship-captains-over-venezuela-oil-delivery-308479">US sanctions five Iranian ship captains over Venezuela oil delivery</a>

Relations have been tense since 2017 when Venezuela became the first Latin American country to receive sanctions from the EU, including an arms embargo.

Among the officials sanctioned on Monday was opposition legislator Luis Parra, who backed by Maduro is contesting the leadership of the opposition controlled National Assembly with its president Juan Guaido.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/venezuela-calls-us-warship-presence-a-provocation-308601">Venezuela calls US warship presence 'a provocation'</a>

Guaido used his position as head of Parliament to challenge Maduro's authority in January 2019 by declaring himself acting president after the National Assembly deemed the socialist leader a usurper over his controversial re-election in 2018 in a poll widely branded fraudulent.

Guaido is recognised as his country's interim president by more than 50 nations, including the United States and much of the European Union.

Parra, though, declared himself National Assembly president in January while security forces loyal to Maduro prevented Guaido from entering the building for a re-election vote he was widely expected to win.

Initially allies, Parra fell out with Guaido after he was linked to a corruption scandal relating to a food distribution programme run by Maduro's government.

Venezuela President Nicolas Maduro on Monday (June 29) gave the head of the European Union mission in Caracas, Isabel Brilhante Pedrosa, 72 hours to leave the country after the bloc announced sanctions against 11 Venezuelan officials.

Venezuela President Nicolas Maduro on Monday (June 29) gave the head of the European Union mission in Caracas, Isabel Brilhante Pedrosa, 72 hours to leave the country after the bloc announced sanctions against 11 Venezuelan officials. "Who are they to try to impose themselves with threats?" said Maduro. "We will sort it out in 72 hours... she will be given a plane to leave, but we will arrange our things with the European Union." Venezuela's airspace is currently closed to commercial airplanes due to the coronavirus pandemic. Also read: US sanctions five Iranian ship captains over Venezuela oil delivery Relations have been tense since 2017 when Venezuela became the first Latin American country to receive sanctions from the EU, including an arms embargo. Among the officials sanctioned on Monday was opposition legislator Luis Parra, who backed by Maduro is contesting the leadership of the opposition controlled National Assembly with its president Juan Guaido. Also read: Venezuela calls US warship presence 'a provocation' Guaido used his position as head of Parliament to challenge Maduro's authority in January 2019 by declaring himself acting president after the National Assembly deemed the socialist leader a usurper over his controversial re-election in 2018 in a poll widely branded fraudulent. Guaido is recognised as his country's interim president by more than 50 nations, including the United States and much of the European Union. Parra, though, declared himself National Assembly president in January while security forces loyal to Maduro prevented Guaido from entering the building for a re-election vote he was widely expected to win. Initially allies, Parra fell out with Guaido after he was linked to a corruption scandal relating to a food distribution programme run by Maduro's government.

Venezuela President Maduro gives EU ambassador 72 hours to leave country

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