Hello there, I'm Ed Butler and welcome to Business Daily from the BBC.

Today, a significant development in the Venezuelan crisis.

The US announces sanctions on the country's oil industry.

We have continued to expose the corruption of Maduro and his cronies,

and today's action ensures they can no longer loot the assets of the Venezuelan people.

Where does this leave Venezuela? A country with two internationally recognized presidents and a

population battling with hyperinflation. Paper money is losing its value every day. As soon as you

get paid by any job, you go to the store and spend it.

That's all coming up in Business Daily from the BBC.

The sound of just some of the protests which began in Caracas last week

and which have been pretty much a permanent feature of life in the Venezuelan capital ever since.

Dozens have died in clashes with armed forces.

And this week, the opposition figure who wants to rule Venezuela, Juan Guaido, is calling for nationwide protests.

He has the support of the US, of course,

which has raised the pressure further by placing sanctions

on the state oil company, Peverdesa.

More on that in just a second.

But first, here's some more from those protesters

on the streets of Caracas,

for whom the country's economic woes have become a driving factor.

Now in Venezuela, the situation is very difficult.

We are living with a shortage of basic goods, lack of food, and the regime is against dignity.

...