Venezuela interim leader asks Trump to lift blockade, sanctions

Venezuela's interim leader Delcy Rodriguez on Thursday asked US President Donald Trump to end punitive sanctions and other measures aimed at the South American country, calling the two nations "friends".  Since Maduro was removed from power, Rodriguez had worked closely with the US, and passed an amnesty law to help accelerate the thaw in Venezuela's ties with the broader West.

Under pressure from US, Rodriguez pushed through a major reform of the country's hydrocarbon laws, opening up the sector to private and foreign investment.