Family of jailed oil exec asks for Venezuelan leader's mercy

CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) — The family of a Houston-based Citgo oil executive convicted and ordered to prison in Venezuela alongside five others appealed directly to President Nicolás Maduro on Friday for mercy. In an open letter, relatives of José Pereira, 63, wrote to Maduro that he has a long...

Minnesota tribes file to halt pipeline approval due to virus

ST. PAUL, Minn (AP) — Two Native American tribes in northern Minnesota are asking state regulators to stop the imminent construction of Enbridge Energy's Line 3 crude oil pipeline replacement, saying it would increase the risk of coronavirus infections spreading. The Red Lake and White Earth Bands of...

Top California air, climate regulator hopes to run Biden EPA

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — Over four decades, Mary Nichols has been the regulator behind some of the nation’s most ambitious climate policies and, in recent years, she’s been their staunchest defender against President Donald Trump's effort to dismantle them. With Joe Biden heading to the...

Venezuela judge convicts 6 American oil execs, orders prison

CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) — Six American oil executives held for three years in Venezuela were found guilty of corruption charges by a judge Thursday and immediately sentenced to prison, dashing hopes of a quick release that would send them home to their families in the United States. Some relatives had...

Greece: Turkey still risks EU sanctions over sea dispute

ATHENS, Greece (AP) — Greece said Thursday that neighbor Turkey has so far refused to take action requested by the European Union to avoid sanctions from the bloc. Government spokesman Stelios Petsas said ongoing Turkish offshore gas exploration in the eastern Mediterranean has undermined efforts to...

Mine explodes, damaging oil tanker off Saudi Arabia

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — A mine in the Red Sea off Saudi Arabia's coast near Yemen exploded and damaged an oil tanker Wednesday, authorities said, the latest incident targeting the kingdom amid its long war against Yemen's Houthi rebels. The blast happened before dawn and struck the MT Agrari, a...

Private security firm says mine explodes, damaging oil tanker off Saudi Arabia near Yemen border in Red Sea

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Private security firm says mine explodes, damaging oil tanker off Saudi Arabia near Yemen border in Red Sea.

Asian shares rise after Dow crests 30,000 on vaccine hopes

TOKYO (AP) — Asian shares rose Wednesday after the Dow Jones Industrial Average closed above 30,000 points for the first time despite an ongoing pandemic, as progress in development of coronavirus vaccines kept investors in a buying mood. Japan's benchmark Nikkei 225 jumped 1.7% to 26,607.63 in morning...

Enbridge sues Michigan over oil pipeline shutdown order

TRAVERSE CITY, Mich. (AP) — Enbridge filed a legal challenge Tuesday to Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer's recent demand that the company shut down its oil pipeline that crosses the waterway connecting Lake Huron and Lake Michigan. The Canadian company accused the state of overstepping its bounds, arguing...

Minnesota issues another approval for disputed oil pipeline

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — A Minnesota regulatory panel on Tuesday signed off on Enbridge Energy’s planned Line 3 crude oil pipeline replacement across northern Minnesota, leaving only one minor state permit to go before construction can begin. The independent Public Utilities Commission notified Enbridge...