paving the way for the return of US energy majors -- a key demand of President Donald Trump. Less than three weeks after the US ouster of Nicolas Maduro, MPs endorsed on first reading a bill allowing private companies to independently engage in oil exploration and extraction. If adopted on a second reading, the bill would roll back decades of state controls over Venezuela's oil sector, which were tightened by Maduro's late mentor, socialist firebrand Hugo Chavez, in the mid-2000s.

The bill has been promoted by Maduro's former deputy, acting president Delcy Rodriguez, who has overseen a lightning-fast thaw in ties with Washington since taking the helm. On Thursday, Trump called her leadership "very strong" and said the United States is already taking a cut of Venezuela's oil. "Our country will become richer and that means our taxes will be going down and they will do better -- Venezuela's going to do better than they've ever done," Trump said. Another change unfolded in Caracas Thursday, with the United States confirming Laura F. Dogu -- a former ambassador to Nicaragua and Honduras -- as the new charge d'affaires to Venezuela. That was seen as a step toward restoration of full diplomatic ties. (Bssnews)