Opec oil price news

CARACAS: A close ally of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro said on Friday (Saturday in Manila) he’s hopeful the Biden administration will roll back a “cruel” sanctions policy and instead give room for diplomacy that could lead to the reopening of the US Embassy and the release of several jailed American citizens. Jorge Rodríguez’s comments came in his first interview since taking the helm of Venezuela’s National Assembly over strong protests from the US, European Union and domestic opponents. Rodriguez, extending an olive branch to the incoming US president, said the ruling socialist party is eager for a new start after four years of endless attacks by the Trump administration that he believes not only exacerbated suffering among Venezuelans and failed to unseat Maduro but also punished US investors who historically have been important in the OPEC nation. “All points and all issues are on the table,” he said, including the future of six Venezuelan-American oil executives ... » Learn More about Maduro wants dialogue with Biden

THE Philippines said it was “imperative” for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) to adopt a “Code of Conduct in the South China Sea (SCS) whereby all parties, including China, accept restraints.” The Philippines, through Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr., issued the statement on Twitter on Friday, after an ABS-CBN television crew was chased by Chinese missile ships away from the country’s own exclusive economic zone (EEZ) within the West Philippine Sea (WPS), which is part of the SCS. The Department of National Defense has ordered an investigation as government officials denounced the latest action taken by China in the WPS and fueled calls to set the country’s Mutual Defense Treaty (MDT) with the United States into motion. The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), in a separate statement on Saturday, said it would raise the matter with the Chinese government if the “chase” allegations will be proven true. “In the meantime, the Department is thankful ... » Learn More about PH to Asean: Sea code of conduct ‘imperative’

BOA VISTA : US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo used a South American tour on Friday (Saturday in Manila) to tell Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro he “has to leave,” drawing a furious accusation of “war-mongering” from the leftist leader. Touring a refugee center in the town of Boa Vista, Brazil, on the border with Venezuela, Pompeo emphasized the plight of the nearly five million Venezuelans who have fled the country’s economic meltdown under Maduro. “Those people I talked to today are desperate to return home,” he said of the refugees being processed at the center — among the estimated 260,000 Venezuelans who have fled to Brazil. “They want what all human beings want — dignity, they want a democratic, peaceful, sovereign Venezuela to call home, one where they and their children can find jobs.” He called Maduro “a leader who’s destroyed his own country, a man-made disaster of massive proportions,” as well as “a drug trafficker” — referring to charges the United States ... » Learn More about Pompeo: Maduro should leave

Pattaya – The following post is an advertorial. Their statements are their own. Thai Sky Adventures in Pattaya offers thrilling experiences with a safe skydive with a fully licensed company with more than 35 years of experience in sky diving in Thailand and England. This Songkran, they are offering some of their best ever deals for the experience of a lifetime! You can be sure that you are learning with a highly experienced instructor with more than 10 years in Thailand and safety standard measurements approved by the United States Parachute Association – USPA. Thai Sky Adventures is the first in Eastern Asia which teaches fully licensed sky diving. Many foreigners have enjoyed learning sky diving here from all over the world over many years. Thai Sky Adventures also provides world-class service to customers with private VIP rooms before and after their skydives. The rooms have pool and ping pong tables along with a bakery and drinks. For April, they are ... » Learn More about Enjoy your experience this Songkran with Thai Sky Adventures in Pattaya, including special discounts and promotions!

BUS IN SEARCH OF BUG Vice President Leni Robredo also rolled out the Swab Cab in late March to provide free antigen testing for residents especially in Metro Manila’s COVID-19 “hot spots.” The mobile facility can conduct up to 1,500 tests per trip. —LYN RILLON MANILA, Philippines — People cooped up at home due to the community quarantine but in need of “tulong” (assistance) or “konsulta” (consultation) for their medical problems need only to type either of those Filipino words on the Bayanihan E-Konsulta page on Facebook to get some help. The Office of the Vice President (OVP) has opened an online channel offering the service to residents of Metro Manila and nearby provinces. Available on Facebook’s free data service, the platform will entertain medical queries not just limited to COVID-19 concerns. “The target patients here are those who cannot access existing platforms because they either can’t afford to pay the fee or have no internet access,” Vice President Leni Robredo said ... » Learn More about OVP’s ‘E-Konsulta’ allow for safe, convenient medical queries, hospital search

The number of multimillionaires in Hong Kong hit a record high last year – despite the city recording its worst recession on record because of the pandemic – according to the results of a survey released by Citibank on Thursday. As many as 515,000 people in Hong Kong were estimated to have HK$10 million (US$1.28 million) each in total assets last year, up from 413,000 in 2019, according to Citibank’s Hong Kong Affluent Study 202 0, which was conducted between November last year and January this year. A multimillionaire is defined by the bank as someone who has more than HK$10 million in total net assets and at least HK$1 million in liquid assets. “The population of Hong Kong multimillionaires continues to grow unabated during the pandemic, and has even set a record high,” said Josephine Lee Kwai-chong, Citibank Hong Kong’s head of retail banking. “Even with the outbreak of the pandemic, governments around the world have taken measures to save [their economies] and stabilise the ... » Learn More about Hong Kong’s multimillionaire population hit record high last year even as its economy had its worst recession on record

“Las Chicas del Cable” (First of two parts) We are all forced to stay at home for a month. And yes, after more than two weeks into the Luzon-wide community quarantine imposed by the government to help curb the spread of the deadly novel coronavirus (COVID-19), we are already bored as heck.This is why Inquirer Entertainment has come up with suggestions on what you can watch to entertain yourself while stuck at home. What we did was ask some of our most awarded Filipino filmmakers to help fill up our list by making them share with us their personal favorites. We reminded them to choose only those that we could access online since we won’t be able to go out to buy copies of their suggested titles. What we discovered was that while they are all fine directors, they’re also avid cinephiles who get super excited when they see great performances, moving visuals and original concepts. Read on! Documentarist Baby Ruth Villarama said she hasn’t watched a lot of movies lately, “since I’m ... » Learn More about Filmmakers’ lockdown viewing options