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Venezuela releases 2 American prisoners after US visit

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Venezuela releases 2 American prisoners after US visit

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Venezuela launched at the very least two People from jail Tuesday after U.S. officers from the White Home and State Division made a high-level go to to the nation over the weekend, in response to stories. 

Gustavo Cardenas was one in every of six U.S.-based Citgo Petroleum executives arrested in 2017 and convicted on expenses the U.S. mentioned have been made up. Jorge Alberto Fernández, a vacationer, was accused of terrorism as a result of he introduced a drone into Venezuela, in response to Reuters.

Final weekend marked the highest-level go to from U.S. officers to the nation in years. In 2019, the Trump administration banned Venezuelan oil imports over allegations by the West that authoritarian President Nicolás Maduro had performed an illegitimate election. 

The prisoner launch got here on the identical day President Biden mentioned the U.S. plans to ban imports of Russian oil, pure gasoline, and coal. Venezuelan oil might assist offset the lack of Russian imports however U.S. officers mentioned the discharge of the People was not a part of any deal, however somewhat an obvious goodwill gesture. 

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Nicolas Maduro, Venezuela’s president, delivers a State of the Union handle on the Nationwide Meeting in Caracas, Venezuela, on Saturday, Jan. 15, 2022.
(Gaby Oraa/Bloomberg through Getty Pictures)

In a speech final Thursday, Maduro mentioned, “Right here lies the oil of Venezuela, which is obtainable for whomever desires to supply and purchase it, be it an investor from Asia, Europe or america.” 

BIDEN DECISION TO BAN RUSSIAN OIL ‘UNDERMINED’ BY ‘FLIRTING’ WITH IRAN, VENEZUELA, CONGRESSMAN SAYS

Venezuela is a Russian ally, and Moscow got here to the Latin American nation’s monetary support when the U.S. banned its oil imports. The U.S. journey was partially meant to capitalize on Russia’s sanction-weakened economic system and assist pull Venezuela additional away from Putin’s affect, in response to the New York Occasions. 

President Joe Biden announced a ban on Russian oil imports, toughening the toll on Russia's economy in retaliation for its invasion of Ukraine, Tuesday, March 8, 2022, in the Roosevelt Room at the White House in Washington.

President Joe Biden introduced a ban on Russian oil imports, toughening the toll on Russia’s economic system in retaliation for its invasion of Ukraine, Tuesday, March 8, 2022, within the Roosevelt Room on the White Home in Washington.
(AP Photograph/Andrew Harnik)

The U.S. can also be searching for the discharge of the 5 different Citgo workers and three U.S. veterans, in response to the Occasions. 

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“These males are fathers who misplaced valuable time with their youngsters and everybody they love, and their households have suffered day-after-day of their absence,” Biden mentioned Tuesday of the discharge, in response to Reuters. “We additionally bear in mind the names and the tales of each American who’s being unjustly held in opposition to their will — in Venezuela, in Russia, in Afghanistan, Syria, China, Iran and elsewhere around the globe.”

The go to wasn’t with out criticism, nevertheless. 

Sen. Robert Menendez, D-N.Y., and chairman of the Senate International Relations Committee, known as Maduro a “most cancers to our hemisphere” and mentioned, “We must always not breathe new life into his reign of torture and homicide,” in response to Reuters. 

Rep. Rick Crawford, R-Ark., advised Fox Information in an e mail, “The commonsense resolution by the Biden Administration to ban imports of Russian oil is undermined by their flirting with as a substitute searching for imports from pariah nations like Iran and Venezuela.” 

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In this photo released by Miraflores Press Office, Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro gestures after he casts his ballot as he votes for a constitutional assembly in Caracas, Venezuela on Sunday, July 30, 2017. 

On this picture launched by Miraflores Press Workplace, Venezuela’s President Nicolas Maduro gestures after he casts his poll as he votes for a constitutional meeting in Caracas, Venezuela on Sunday, July 30, 2017. 
(Miraflores Press Workplace through AP)

Rep. Alexandria Oscaio-Cortez advised Fox Information that turning to Venezuela or Iran for oil was a mistake. “None of those choices are good ones due to our dependency on oil,” she mentioned. 

“I feel that is the cope with fossil fuels normally is that it isn’t an accident that oil-rich states are usually petro-authoritarian states,” she mentioned, including that whereas she understands there are short-term provide points, the U.S. ought to refocus on investments in photo voltaic and wind. 

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World

‘Why Us?’: A Tide of Grief in Lebanon

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‘Why Us?’: A Tide of Grief in Lebanon
Many of those killed in the strike had fled other parts of southern Lebanon over the past week, following Israeli evacuation orders, and sought refuge in relatives’ homes in Sidon, according to the relatives and their neighbors.

Narmin Jradi, 20, who had been planning her wedding, was on the ground floor when she died. Majid and Malek Hannach, were rambunctious siblings, 12 and 13.

Mohammad Hannach, 18, from Nabatieh, had been worried about whether the war would disrupt his plans to study engineering at a university next year.

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Wildlife lover facing charges after allegedly assaulting passersby while attempting to capture a baby seagull

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Wildlife lover facing charges after allegedly assaulting passersby while attempting to capture a baby seagull

A Belfast woman was in court for allegedly attacking good Samaritans who attempted to free a baby seagull she captured Aug. 14. 

Angela Wildman, 58, allegedly used a milk carton and a long-handled mop to attack passersby who tried freeing the waterfowl from her sports bag.

Wildman denied charges in court of common assault, possessing an offensive weapon in public, disorderly behavior and resisting a police officer, according to the BBC. 

Wildman’s defense attorney, Damien Trainor, said in court the 58-year-old denies being diagnosed with any mental health conditions. 

NEW JERSEY MAN WHO RIPPED HEAD OFF OF SEAGULL AT PIER SPARKS OUTRAGE ONLINE: ‘HORRIBLE MAN’

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Angela Wildman is known in Belfast for being a wildlife lover who tends to birds. (iStock)

“[Wildman] explained to me that she feeds birds, takes birds home and looks after wildlife,” said Trainor. “She keeps herself to herself, feeds her birds and cleans her house, does her shopping and comes and goes.”

According to officers’ testimony in court Tuesday, people who attempted to liberate the seagull from Wildman “were assaulted by the defendant with a long-handled mop and a large carton of milk”.

IRISH FARMER FINDS NEAR 60-POUND SLAB OF ANCIENT BOG BUTTER ON HIS LAND BY ‘PURE LUCK’

One unlucky passerby was allegedly struck with both the mop and the milk carton during the Aug. 14 incident.

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When officers responded in south Belfast, Wildman was allegedly aggressive and uncooperative when they tried to handcuff her. 

Belfast City Hall

A Belfast woman is facing charges after allegedly attacking passersby who tried to free a baby seagull she was capturing. (Ahmet Gurhan Kartal/Anadolu via Getty Images)

The arresting officer argued against Wildman’s application for bail in court, saying, “I don’t know that this obsession is with wanting to capture wildlife.

“The public were drawn to her attention because she had managed to capture a baby seagull and was looking after it.”

Wildman was granted bail due to the six weeks she spent in custody ahead of her court date Tuesday.

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Wildman’s defense lawyer, Damien Trainor, did not immediately return Fox News Digital’s request for comment.

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Wider Middle East war could have serious implications for EU — analyst

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Wider Middle East war could have serious implications for EU — analyst

Though many countries still believe a diplomatic solution to end the conflict is achievable, so far, diplomatic efforts to ease tensions have failed to bring about concrete results.

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The increasingly worsening crisis in the Middle East has Europe and the world further polarised, experts warn, and a wider regional war could have massive implications for the EU and the continent at large.

Prof Luigi Narbone, a former EU ambassador to Saudi Arabia and Gulf countries, believes the bloc’s member states are paying the price for being too divided over the matter.

The warning comes as G7 leaders called for de-escalation and a decrease in tensions along the Israel-Lebanon border in a conference call on Wednesday, where they discussed the fighting and worsening crisis.

“We should not underestimate that, especially in the southern parts of the world, the perception is that Europe has adopted double standards,” said Narbone.

“On the one hand, (there’s) the condemnation against Russia’s (President Vladimir) Putin; on the other, an ambivalent attitude toward Israel and the Middle East conflict.”

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This double standard is very damaging to the EU’s credibility and the defence of fundamental values, Narbone said.

“The lack of stability in the region could affect the role of Russia in Syria and have repercussions on the economy. Sorting out the crisis is crucial for Europe, and it’s directly linked to migration flows with people fleeing war-hit areas in the region,” the former EU ambassador stressed.

The Italian government, which holds the presidency of the G7, would like the United Nations Security Council to consider strengthening the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL)’s mission mandate and extending its powers and responsibilities.

Meanwhile, the UNIFIL has said it will remain in place despite the latest developments.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, the UN mission said that any crossing into Lebanon violates Lebanese sovereignty.

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Though many countries still believe a diplomatic solution to end the conflict is achievable, so far, diplomatic efforts to ease tensions have failed to bring about concrete results.

Israel launched a ground incursion into Lebanon on Tuesday. Its forces have since then clashed with Hezbollah militants in a narrow strip along the border, and the IDF has launched several deadly airstrikes to bolster the campaign.

A series of attacks before the incursion killed some of the group’s key members, including longtime leader Hassan Nasrallah.

Authorities in Lebanon say about 1.2 million people have been displaced and over 1,300 killed so far, according to health officials.

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