Apr 11, 2019 - Energy & Environment

Venezuela's economic situation continues to worsen

Dion Rabouin, author of Markets
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Data: OPEC; Chart: Axios Visuals

Venezuela's oil production fell 500,000 barrels per day in March from the previous month, the country reported yesterday.

The bottom line: Despite being home to the world's largest proven oil reserves, Venezuela now pumps around 1/10th of OPEC leader Saudi Arabia's output, and about half of what it produced as recently as 2017.

Flashback: In 2014, Venezuela pumped nearly 3 million barrels of oil daily.

Context: The incredible production recession is the result of crippling U.S. sanctions, which, as Bloomberg reported in February, have half a billion dollars' worth of Venezuela's oil sitting in ships off its coast, and the rapid debilitation of its state oil company under President Nicolás Maduro.

Go deeper: U.S. sanctions cripple Venezuela's oil sector

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Dave Lawler
Updated 3 mins ago - World

Massive explosion rocks Beirut

Photo: Anwar Amro/AFP via Getty Images

A major explosion has slammed central Beirut, Lebanon, damaging buildings as far as several miles away and injuring scores of people.

Driving the news: The cause of the explosion is unknown. It's also unclear how many people were killed or wounded, but the Lebanese Red Cross has told AP that casualties number in the hundreds. Reuters reports that at least 10 people have been killed, citing security sources.

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Axios
Updated 39 mins ago - Politics & Policy

Coronavirus dashboard

Illustration: Sarah Grillo/Axios

  1. Global: Total confirmed cases as of 1 p.m. ET: 18,349,260 — Total deaths: 695,550 — Total recoveries — 10,951,112 — Map.
  2. U.S.: Total confirmed cases as of 1 p.m. ET: 4,732,418 — Total deaths: 155,942 — Total recoveries: 1,513,446 — Total tests: 57,543,852 — Map.
  3. States: New York City health commissioner resigns in protest of De Blasio's coronavirus response.
  4. Public health: 40% of Americans continue to put off medical care.
  5. Politics: Trump tells "Axios on HBO" that pandemic is "under control," despite surges in infections and uptick in deaths.
  6. Business: Low-income households are struggling to pay energy bills — Construction spending falls for 4th straight month.
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Miriam Kramer
Updated 48 mins ago - Science

The U.S. is at risk of attacks in space

Illustration: Annelise Capossela/Axios

Other nations are catching up to U.S. capabilities in space, potentially putting American assets in orbit at risk.

Why it matters: From GPS to imagery satellites and others that can peer through clouds, space data is integral to American national security.

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