Venezuela

• Friday, December 15th 2017 - 07:35 UTC

  Venezuelan opposition receives European Union prize for human rights

  

  Venezuela’s opposition received a European Union prize for human rights and urged the world to keep a close eye on an upcoming presidential election where it aspires to end two decades of socialist rule in the OPEC nation. Foes of President Nicolas Maduro failed to dislodge him during months of street protests this year that turned violent killing more than 125 people, and have been dismayed to see him consolidate his power in recent months.

• Monday, December 11th 2017 - 09:30 UTC

  Opposition parties will be barred from 2018 presidential vote, Maduro anticipates

  

  President Nicolas Maduro announced Sunday that leading opposition parties will be barred from taking part in next year's presidential vote after they boycotted mayoral polls, in a move set to further consolidate his grip on power. That includes the groups of key figures who have led street protests against his rule such as Henrique Capriles, Leopoldo Lopez and others, Maduro told reporters after casting his vote in the municipal polls.

• Friday, December 8th 2017 - 06:18 UTC

  Chinese government oil company suing Venezuela's PDVSA in US courts

  

  China Petroleum & Chemical Corp., the state-controlled oil company, is suing Petroleos de Venezuela SA in U.S. courts for unpaid bills. Sinopec, as the Chinese company is known, also filed a request for arbitration against PDVSA at the International Chamber of Commerce, as it alleges damages of at least $23.7 million, according to court papers.

• Thursday, December 7th 2017 - 08:52 UTC

  Chavista heavyweight purged by Maduro, and blamed for PDVSA corruption

  

  Venezuela's former oil czar resigned as ambassador to the United Nations, on what he said were orders from President Nicolas Maduro, a sign of growing divisions in the ruling socialist party amid a deepening economic crisis.

• Wednesday, December 6th 2017 - 10:15 UTC

  No elections until “vulgar sanctions” against Venezuela are lifted, warns Maduro

  

  Venezuela said future elections in the country would only take place once U.S. sanctions against top ranking officials and its finances are lifted, in a sign from the government that next year’s presidential vote is at risk.

• Monday, November 27th 2017 - 09:27 UTC

  PDVSA says it has started to repay interest on two bonds nearing default

  

  Venezuela's state-owned oil firm PDVSA said Friday it has started to repay US$233 million in interest on two bonds nearing default, days before the end of the 30-day grace period. Writing on Twitter, the company announced “the transfer process was started to pay the interest on the PDVSA 8,5% 2020 Bonds and the PDVSA 6% 2022 Bonds.”

• Monday, November 27th 2017 - 09:21 UTC

  Venezuela Oil ministry and PDVSA come under military control

  

  Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro on Sunday tapped a National Guard major general to lead state oil company PDVSA and the Oil Ministry as the OPEC member labors under near 30-year lows in oil production.

• Monday, November 20th 2017 - 19:22 UTC

  Venezuelan street markets trade staples in spoonful portions forced by poverty and scarcity

  

  Poverty and scarcity are so extended in Venezuela that people now sell and buy food by the spoonful in a desperate attempt to overcome a situation that has worsened as the economy has entered into a growing hyperinflationary cycle.

• Monday, November 20th 2017 - 11:53 UTC

  Calls for an ICC investigation into abuses of murder and torture by Venezuelan leaders

  

  Venezuela’s former attorney general urged the International Criminal Court to launch an investigation into alleged abuses of murder and torture by the leaders of the crisis-hit country. President “Nicolas Maduro and his government must pay for this, for these crimes against humanity,” said Luisa Ortega, after handing over to the tribunal in The Hague a dossier containing 1,000 pieces of evidence.

• Monday, November 20th 2017 - 08:46 UTC

  Caracas ex mayor flees Venezuela and pledges to denounce the Maduro regime worldwide

  

  The ousted mayor of Caracas pledged to spread his protest against Venezuela's socialist government across the world as he arrived in Spain on Saturday, a day after escaping from house arrest and slipping past Venezuelan security forces into Colombia.