Venezuela

• Monday, May 30th 2016 - 07:36 UTC

  Venezuela's public sector will only work Mondays and Tuesdays for another two weeks

  

  Venezuela's government on Saturday extended by two weeks a decree reducing the public sector workweek to Mondays and Tuesdays in a bid to tackle the oil-rich country's electricity crisis. The enforced leave was first announced in late April, a drastic move for a government also grappling with an economic crisis that has Venezuelans queuing for hours to buy scarce supplies.

• Friday, May 27th 2016 - 08:04 UTC

  Paraguay requests meeting of Mercosur foreign ministers to address Venezuela situation

  

  Paraguay formally requested on Thursday a meeting of Mercosur foreign ministers to address the situation in Venezuela which is undergoing a critical political, social and economic scenario. The request was presented to Uruguay which currently holds the chair of the trade block made up of Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay and Venezuela.

• Wednesday, May 25th 2016 - 06:18 UTC

  Venezuela next Mercosur chair, but Uruguay will continue leading negotiations with EU

  

  Venezuela, in the midst of a most serious domestic political and economic situation, and with less foreign allies is scheduled to take the chair of Mercosur as of next June for the following six months. However it has been agreed that Uruguay will continue leading Mercosur negotiations with the European Union for a much delayed wide ranging cooperation and trade agreement.

• Tuesday, May 24th 2016 - 08:30 UTC

  US tire maker leaves Venezuela after six decades in the country

  

  United States tire maker Bridgestone is selling its business in Venezuela after six decades in the country, the latest blue chip company to abandon the country as a result of runaway inflation and strict currency controls. Bridgestone Americas said in a statement Monday that it is selling its Venezuela assets to Grupo Corimon, a local industrialist. It says the company will be called Alice Neumaticos de Venezuela.

• Tuesday, May 24th 2016 - 08:18 UTC

  Brazil and Argentina to work together to help find a solution to Venezuela

  

  Brazil and Argentina will work together to help find a solution to Venezuela's political crisis, Brazil's acting foreign minister said on Monday. Venezuela is facing a severe economic crisis, with the world's highest inflation and shortages. Polls indicate most Venezuelans want President Nicolas Maduro out of office.

• Saturday, May 21st 2016 - 08:26 UTC

  Maduro admits to being mad as a hatter, but “crazy love” for Venezuela and the revolution

  

  Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro admitted he “was mad as a hatter”, but “mad with love” for Venezuela, the Bolivarian revolution and for the deceased leader Hugo Chavez, in a clear reference to previous statements, without mentioning him, of Uruguayan ex president Jose Mujica.

• Saturday, May 21st 2016 - 08:07 UTC

  Argentina, Chile and Uruguay appeal for an urgent political dialogue in Venezuela

  

  Argentina, Chile and Uruguay in a joint statement released on Friday, called for political dialogue in Venezuela and offered to help with a “national reunion” of the political and social forces of the country. The appeal, with utmost respect for the principle of non interference in the internal affairs of Venezuela, was made extensive to the government, the National Assembly, under opposition control, and all political and social groups.

• Friday, May 20th 2016 - 10:40 UTC

  India planning to swap medicines for Venezuelan crude oil to recoup losses of drugs sector

  

  Indian drug companies could recoup some of the financial losses incurred as Venezuela struggles to make foreign-currency payments and the value of its currency plummets--by participating in a barter plan that would swap medicines for crude oil.

• Thursday, May 19th 2016 - 08:32 UTC

  Mujica says Maduro is “mad as a hatter” and everybody in Venezuela “have gone nuts”

  

  Uruguayan ex president Jose Mujica said on Wednesday that in Venezuela “everybody has gone nuts” and president Nicolas Maduro is “mad as a hatter”. The former leader was reacting to the controversy between his former foreign minister and now OAS secretary general, Luis Almagro and Maduro.

• Thursday, May 19th 2016 - 08:14 UTC

  Maduro prepared to escalate state of emergency following massive protests

  

  Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro said on Wednesday he was prepared to escalate a state of emergency imposed this week after opposition-led protests in the capital and other cities. Maduro told supporters he would give the order - which implies suspending laws and rights to maintain public order - if “violent” anti-government acts occurred.