WASHINGTON, April 8 -- The Center for Strategic and International Studies issued the following commentary on April 7, 2026, by Leslie Palti-Guzman, senior associate (non-resident) with the Energy Security and Climate Change Program: * * * The Alluring Potential of an Integrated Venezuelan Gas Industry The Trump administration's removal of autocrat Nicolas Maduro from power could deliver an energy diversification benefit that has received little attention. While Venezuela is well known for hav  more

BRUSSELS, Belgium, April 7 (TNSjou) -- Free University of Brussels-VUB issued the following news release: * * * Wind and solar power to keep the lights on in Ecuador Empty reservoirs caused disrupted energy supply * Researchers from the Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB) in Belgium and Yachay Tech University in Ecuador have come to a surprising conclusion: wind and solar energy, often criticised for their lack of predictability and dependence on the weather, could make Ecuador's power supply   more

WASHINGTON, April 8 -- The proposed fiscal year 2027 budget for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services outlines a sweeping restructuring effort aimed at reshaping federal health priorities while significantly reducing overall spending. The administration has requested $111.1 billion in discretionary budget authority, representing a decrease of $15.8 billion, or 12.5 percent, compared to the 2026 enacted level. * * * Here is the text of the White House budget outline: The Budget adva  more

WASHINGTON, April 7 [Category: Energy] -- The Institute for Energy Research posted the following commentary: * * * Trump Announces New Refinery -- The First in 50 Years * Key Takeaways 1 President Trump has announced the first major new refinery in 50 years, which will be built in Brownsville, Texas. 2 America First Refining will build the refinery and hold a 20-year agreement with Reliance Industries of India to purchase the refinery's products. 3 The refinery is being built to handle th  more

PARIS, France, April 7 -- The International Science Council issued the following Q&A involving Carlos Alberto Vargas Jimenez, director of the Regional Focal Point for Latin America and the Caribbean and president of the Colombian Academy of Exact, Physical and Natural Sciences: * * * Carlos Alberto Vargas Jimenez: Latin American science must speak in its own voice In a new ISC leadership role as Director of the Regional Focal Point for Latin America and the Caribbean, Colombian geophysicist C  more

WASHINGTON, April 8 -- The Jamestown Foundation issued the following commentary on April 7, 2026, by Paul Goble, specialist on ethnic and religious questions in Eurasia, in its Eurasia Daily Monitor: * * * Putin Seen Making Ever More Mistakes, Sending Approval Rating Down Executive Summary: * As Russian anger about President Vladimir Putin's moves against the internet grows, Russian commentators are pointing to other mistakes the Kremlin leader has been making and to polls showing his approv  more

WASHINGTON, April 7 -- Rep. John B. Larson, D-Connecticut, issued the following news release: * * * Larson Condemns Trump Statement on Iran * East Hartford, CT - Today, Rep. John B. Larson (CT-01) released the following statement after Trump said, 'a whole civilization will die tonight' in reference to the Iranian people. "Congress must come back immediately to end Trump's illegal war in Iran," said Larson. "These threats are reprehensible and beyond the pale. Congress cannot let any lead  more

WASHINGTON, April 7 -- Rep. Seth Moulton, D-Massachusetts, issued the following news release: * * * Moulton and McGovern Demand CFTC Explain Why It Has Not Acted Against Illegal Offshore War Betting Markets * SALEM, MA -Today, Reps. Seth Moulton (MA-06) and Jim McGovern (MA-02) sent a letter to Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) Chairman Michael S. Selig demanding answers on why the agency has failed to take action against offshore prediction market platforms-such as Polymarket-that  more

WASHINGTON, April 8 -- Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Oregon, ranking member of the Senate Finance Committee, issued the following news release on April 7, 2026: * * * Wyden Seeks Answers on Massive U.S.-Venezuela Gold Deal Brokered by Trump Administration Wyden letter cites well-documented ties between terrorist organizations and Venezuelan mines supplying gold for sale in United States * Senate Finance Committee Ranking Member Ron Wyden, D-Ore. today wrote to Trafigura, a Singapore-based multinational  more