Venezuela

Friday, December 30th 2016 - 17:36 UTC
The 100 Bolivar notes refuse to die: Maduro extends their use until January 20

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro says his government will extend the use of 100-bolivar notes to January 20, after a plan to withdraw those bills from the economy sparked protests across the country and widespread looting.
Friday, December 30th 2016 - 04:16 UTC
Venezuela second on world murder ranking with 28,479 yearly killings, says NGO

The new figures leave President Nicolas Maduro's country behind only El Salvador. Honduras comes in third but way behind the front runners. The Venezuelan Observatory on Violence (OVV) NGO announced that 28,479 killings over the course of the year is tantamount to 91.8 such deaths per 100,000 inhabitants.
Wednesday, December 28th 2016 - 04:25 UTC
New banknotes received in Venezuela, but they are not available yet

Venezuela's Central Bank took delivery of yet a new batch of bigger denomination banknotes on Tuesday, but the bills where nowhere public to be seen (and spent) as popular unrest mounts, it was reported on Tuesday.
Wednesday, December 21st 2016 - 20:09 UTC
Maduro reopens Colombian border after eight days

The government of Nicolás Maduro Tuesday reopened its border with Colombia, eight days after closing it to combat smuggling, it was announced.
Monday, December 19th 2016 - 09:55 UTC
Maduro backtracks on elimination of 100-bolivar bill as looting erupts

Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro reversed his decision to ban from circulation the 100-bolivar bill and gave the notes, which are worth between US$ 0.02 and 0.04 according to varying quotations, a two-week grace. The bills can now be used until January 2, Maduro said.
Saturday, December 17th 2016 - 09:13 UTC
Macri's Argentina back from world isolation except from Venezuela and Iran

Argentine President Mauricio Macri said Friday that “we have come from years of isolation and bad relations with almost all countries except Venezuela and Iran.” He added that “this year we have experienced a Copernican change in that sense.”
Friday, December 16th 2016 - 11:34 UTC
Venezuelan leader calls Macri “coward” and says Argentine ambassador should leave the country

Diosdado Cabello, considered one of the three most powerful persons in Venezuela called Argentine president Mauricio Macri a “coward”, described the Argentine ambassador in Caracas as an “enemy” and suggested that if he had any dignity left he should pack his suitcase and leave Venezuela.
Thursday, December 15th 2016 - 02:32 UTC
Venezuela definitively spoils Argentina's Mercosur taking-chair ceremony

If Venezuela's intention was to spoil Argentina's ceremony as the new holder of Mercosur pro tempore chair for the next six months, they certainly managed. A low key event at foreign ministers level, instead of a presidential summit, was briefly interrupted by the uninvited attendance of Venezuelan foreign minister 'Delcy Rodríguez' who turned up in Buenos Aires to protest what Caracas considers a Mercosur confabulation against Venezuela, suspended from the block since last 2 December.
Wednesday, December 14th 2016 - 21:47 UTC
Maduro seizes 4 million toys and promises Father 'Nicolas' Christmas will visit all Venezuelan children

Venezuela president Nicolas Maduro government has seized four million toys on the grounds that their owners were hoarding castles and kiddie cars ahead of Christmas. Now the “Santa Nicolas” government will be giving the toys supposedly to the poor children of the country.
Wednesday, December 14th 2016 - 18:02 UTC
Chaotic Mercosur: Venezuelan minister turns up in Buenos Aires but Malcorra asks Rodriguez not to attend

In what is turning into a Caribbean soap opera, Venezuela's foreign minister Delcy Rodriguez, with Bolivia's David Choquehuenca, on Wednesday morning turned up at Argentina's foreign ministry pretending to participate in an extraordinary Mercosur council meeting, to which she had not been invited since Venezuela is officially suspended from the group.