Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro speaks to soldiers while he attends a military exercise in Turiamo, Venezuela February 3, 2019. Miraflores Palace/Handout via REUTERS
Reuters: Exclusive: U.S. in direct contact with Venezuelan military, urging defections - source
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States is holding direct communications with members of Venezuela’s military urging them to abandon President Nicolas Maduro and is also preparing new sanctions aimed at increasing pressure on him, a senior White House official said.
The Trump administration expects further military defections from Maduro’s side, the official told Reuters in an interview, despite only a few senior officers having done so since opposition leader Juan Guaido declared himself interim president last month, earning the recognition of the United States and dozens of other countries.
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MIDDLE EAST
U.S. military aims to withdraw from Syria by April: WSJ.
Kurds in Iraq say US withdrawal from Syria a mistake.
Iran fails to launch second satellite - report.
Iran unveils new ballistic missile.
US vows 'relentless' action to deter Iran missile programme.
Two Palestinian teenagers killed by Israeli live fire in protests, Gaza authorities say.
Kushner to visit Mideast for peace plan push.
NYT: Saudi Crown Prince said he would use 'a bullet' on Khashoggi
Saudi Arabia's al-Jubeir says crown prince did not order Khashoggi killing.
ASIA
No sign of progress in three days of talks to prepare second U.S.-North Korea summit.
Trump says he won't meet China's Xi before March 1 deadline.
Next round of US-China trade talks set for Feb 14-15: White House.
Russia ready to offer helping hand in US troop pullout from Afghanistan.
Top US envoy returns to South Korea after North Korea visit.
Princess Ubolratana: Thai royal to stand as PM candidate.
Thai king moves to block sister's 'inappropriate' candidacy for PM.
Australian parliament hacked, leaving authorities scrambling to discover who did it.
Measles outbreak in the Philippines kills 55 children since 2019.
AFRICA
Sudanese forces fire tear gas at Khartoum mosque: witnesses.
Conflict erupts for control of Libya's largest oil field.
South Africa to hold presidential election on May 8.
Suspected jihadists kill 7 in north Mozambique.
Sierra Leone's president declares rape a 'national emergency'.
Morocco suspends participation in Saudi-led war in Yemen.
CAR peace deal calls for truth commission, joint patrols: AFP.
US-China trade tensions could hit African growth: AFDB.
EUROPE
Macedonia's parliament set April 21 for presidential election.
EU urges May to seize Labour opening as way out of Brexit impasse.
Spain says Catalan separatists rejected talks needed for budget.
EU adopts French, German compromise on Nord Stream 2 pipeline to Russia.
Germany rejects US extradition of man indicted in 2008 deaths of US servicemembers.
Italy sends mixed signals in historic spat with France.
EU-backed group calls for fresh elections in Venezuela.
China denies 'ridiculous' spying allegations by Lithuania.
Dutch, Russia in talks about responsibility in MH17 downing.
Finland's 'free cash' experiment fails to boost employment.
AMERICAS
Border Patrol overwhelmed by large groups of migrant families.
Acting U.S. attorney general snaps at Democrats over Russia probe.
Thousands protest to demand Haitian president's ouster.
Venezuela's Maduro spurns U.S. aid, rival warns military not to block it.
US aid arrives at Colombia border despite Maduro rejection.
'They have no medicine or food': Venezuela's healthcare crisis.
Uruguay changes posture and calls for elections in Venezuela.
Brazil president Jair Bolsonaro hospitalised with pneumonia.
Brazil set to ban upstream tailings dams after collapse kills hundreds.
U.S. seizes record 3,800 pounds of meth intended for Australia.
TERRORISM/THE LONG WAR
Sahel Islamist groups' networking skills growing: security report.
ISIS leader 'survives coup attempt by his own men and places a bounty on the head of foreign fighter behind failed plot to topple him'.
Guantanamo prison looms as option for detained ISIS fighters as US withdraws from Syria.
‘I got cheated. All of us got cheated’: Captured German Isis member says he regrets joining terror group.
ECONOMY/FINANCE/BUSINESS
Late burst of buying on Wall Street leaves indexes mixed.
Trump official slams cartels as lawmakers push anti-OPEC bill.
Trump likely to sign executive order banning Chinese telecom equipment next week.
Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos accuses National Enquirer newspaper of blackmail.
