Nicolas Maduro said Venezuelan authorities arrested a US spy who was planning attacks on refineries. Miraflores Palace via Reuters
Nicolas Maduro said Venezuelan authorities arrested a US spy who was planning attacks on refineries. Miraflores Palace via Reuters
Nicolas Maduro said Venezuelan authorities arrested a US spy who was planning attacks on refineries. Miraflores Palace via Reuters
Nicolas Maduro said Venezuelan authorities arrested a US spy who was planning attacks on refineries. Miraflores Palace via Reuters

Nicolas Maduro says US spy captured near Venezuelan refineries


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Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro said authorities had captured a US spy targeting a pair of refineries on the north Caribbean coast as the country once wealthy from oil is gripped by a severe  shortage of fuel.

Mr Maduro alleged the spy was a Marine who had served as a CIA operative in Iraq. He gave no identity or other immediate proof to support the claim, saying more details would follow, such as photos and video.

The suspect was captured on Thursday while possessing specialised weapons and a large sum of dollars, Mr Maduro said on Friday, adding that the man was being interrogated about his activities around the Amuay and Cardon refineries in Falcon state.

Mr Maduro, an adversary of the United States, also said Venezuelan authorities had dismantled a plot on Wednesday that was aimed at blowing up a third refinery, El Palito in Carabobo state. He urged the nation's oil workers to be on alert for more attacks.

“The gringo empire wants revenge against Venezuela,” he said. “It wants to prevent Venezuela from producing all petroleum products, gasoline.”

Oil once made Venezuela a wealthy nation, but critics of Mr Maduro say two decades of socialist rule have left it near ruin. Its dilapidated oil fields and refineries barely produce, and the nation today relies on imports from Iran, another US foe.

A second, severe scarcity of petrol struck in recent days, forcing motorists to queue for hours and days to fill their tanks, even in the capital of Caracas. Analysts say the next three Iranian ships bringing fuel will not arrive for weeks.

The United States recently seized a second shipment of fuel sent by Iran.

While Venezuela's broken oil industry leaves drivers stranded, stiff US sanctions have also blocked Mr Maduro from importing gasoline.

If Mr Maduro's claim of arresting a US citizen are correct, the suspect would join two former US special forces soldiers already jailed in Venezuela for allegedly participating in a failed attempt to overthrow the socialist leader. The two men were arrested in early May among more than 80 rebel Venezuelan fighters who staged a failed beach attack called Operation Gideon that was aimed at seizing Mr Maduro.

The soldiers – identified as Luke Denman Airan Berry Venezuela – have been sentenced to 20 years in prison. Venezuelan authorities say they confessed to being part of the plot.

While the Trump administration denied having anything to do with the blundered May incursion, Washington backs Venezuelan opposition politician Juan Guaido who seeks to overthrow Mr Maduro.

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SRI LANKA SQUAD

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Starring: Varun Dhawan, Anushka Sharma, Raghubir Yadav

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Launched: 2016

Employees: 76

Financing stage: Series A ($4 million)

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Born September 27, 1976

Position Attacking midifelder

Clubs played for (1) - Roma

Total seasons 24

First season 1992/93

Last season 2016/17

Appearances 786

Goals 307

Titles (5) - Serie A 1; Italian Cup 2; Italian Supercup 2

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Founder: Smeetha Ghosh, one co-founder (anonymous)

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Employees: four – plans to add another 10 by July 2021

Financing stage: $250,000 bootstrap funding, approaching VC firms this year

Investors: Co-founders

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  • Do not drive outside designated lanes
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March 4-8: First Test, Rawalpindi

March 12-16: Second Test, Karachi

March 21-25: Third Test, Lahore

March 29: First ODI, Rawalpindi

March 31: Second ODI, Rawalpindi

April 2: Third ODI, Rawalpindi

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Director: Shahad Ameen

Rating: 3/5

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Price, base / as tested: Dh182,178
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Power: 350hp @ 7,400rpm
Torque: 374Nm @ 5,200rpm
Transmission: Seven-speed automatic
​​​​​​​Fuel consumption, combined: 10.5L / 100km

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Price, base: Dhs850,000
Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
Transmission: Seven-speed automatic
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The biog

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Position: Head of the Criminal Registration Department at Hatta police

Family: Five sons and three daughters

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Role Model: Father

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Emirates, Etihad and Swiss fly direct from the UAE to Zurich from Dh2,855 return, including taxes.
 

The chalet
Chalet N is currently open in winter only, between now and April 21. During the ski season, starting on December 11, a week’s rental costs from €210,000 (Dh898,431) per week for the whole property, which has 22 beds in total, across six suites, three double rooms and a children’s suite. The price includes all scheduled meals, a week’s ski pass, Wi-Fi, parking, transfers between Munich, Innsbruck or Zurich airports and one 50-minute massage per person. Private ski lessons cost from €360 (Dh1,541) per day. Halal food is available on request.

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6.40pm Formula 2 race (31 laps)

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Best Men's Player of the Year: Kylian Mbappe (PSG)

Maradona Award for Best Goal Scorer of the Year: Robert Lewandowski (Bayern Munich)

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