The government of President Nicolas Maduro government closed the border with Brazil for 72 hours for the same reason it had taken the same measure with Colombia: money smuggling, Brazilian local authorities and residents of southern Venezuela who routinely cross to Brazil where they can make transactions in bolivars confirmed.
On the eve of Argentina becoming the next chair of Mercosur, Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro revealed he held an hour long video conference with his Uruguayan peer Tabare Vazquez and they both agreed in building a path to channel the current conflict, which has Venezuela suspended from the group, but is rejected point blank by Caracas.
Argentina's priority as chair of Mercosur which it will officially take over this week will be to advance negotiations with the European Union for a wide ranging trade agreement which will not include Venezuela, anticipated foreign minister Susana Malcorra .
Venezuela's new currency will go into circulation on December 15 in denominations of 20,000, 10,000, 5,000, 2,000, 1,000 and 500 Bolivars, with 100-, 50- and 10-bolivar coins, the Venezuelan Central Bank (BCV) announced.
During a commemorative assembly marking the fourth anniversary of the day the late Hugo Chavez picked him as his successor, Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro called for a powerful civilian and military mobilization next December 17 to make a anti-coup test in view of the alleged threats from imperialism and national oligarchy.
The founding Mercosur countries Friday suspended Venezuela from full membership of the free-trade bloc in view of its failure to adjust its domestic regulations to economic agreements and human rights and immigration guidelines and principles that are mandatory to all the other members.
Nicolas Maduro's Venezuela has been suspended from the Mercosur regional trade bloc for failing to meet its membership requirements, a Brazilian government source revealed Thursday. And the official announcement is to be made Friday, which could not be corroborated in Buenos Aires' diplomatic circles.
Putin's victories are our victories, Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro told Russia's State Duma Speaker Vyacheslav Volodin on Tuesday during funerary ceremonies in Havana to mark the passing away of former Cuban leader Fidel Castro.
Leaders of the Venezuelan opposition have blamed President Nicolas Maduro's regime of causing the Bolivar to devalue to unprecedented levels against the U.S. dollar. According to data provided by the currency tracking website DolarToday, the Venezuelan Bolivar fell this week to an all-time low against the U.S. dollar in the black market.
Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro said on Sunday he hopes to maintain dialogue with the opposition in 2017 and 2018, although his opponents insist on calling for elections as soon as possible to seek a change of government.