Venezuela

• Wednesday, December 31st 2014 - 03:23 UTC

  Venezuela admits recession in the last three quarters and inflation of 63.6%

  

  Venezuela confirmed on Tuesday it had entered a recession while inflation remained the highest in the Americas, but President Nicolas Maduro's populist government blamed political foes for the dismal data. According to the latest Central bank information, GDP contracted in each of the first three quarters: 4.8%, 4.9% and 2.3%, while twelve-month inflation reached 63.6% in November.

• Wednesday, December 31st 2014 - 03:17 UTC

  Venezuela has world's second highest homicide rate: 24.980 killings in the year

  

  Venezuela has the second highest homicide rate in the world, according to a report released by the NGO Venezuelan Violence Observatory. The country's homicide rate for 2014 stood at 82 per 100,000, with a total of 24,980 killings recorded for the year. The figure marked an uptick from the group’s estimate for the year prior, which stood at 79 per 100,000.

• Tuesday, December 30th 2014 - 08:30 UTC

  Maduro loyals appoint new TSJ Justices in Venezuela

  

  No agreement reachable with opposition in three previous sessions. Nominations Committee must continue working.

• Monday, December 29th 2014 - 08:04 UTC

  Lopez: 'Venezuela on the brink of collapse'

  

  Human rights traded for other means of survival as shortages hit average people, says the 43-year-old Harvard graduate from his prison cell in a letter to the Wall Street Journal .

• Saturday, December 27th 2014 - 06:27 UTC

  Maduro makes diplomatic changes, sends separate letters to Castro brothers

  

  Rafael Ramirez new ambassador to the UN, Rivas Alvarado to ALADI and Mercosur. Delcy Rodríguez new chancellor. Letters to the Castro brothers in which he speaks of a “change of era” published in Havana.

• Monday, December 22nd 2014 - 08:42 UTC

  Colombian nationals to be deported from Venezuela

  

  Fourth time in 2014, always amid allegations of “inhuman and degrading ” treatment. Ombudsman monitoring situation, offering assistance to those involved

• Friday, December 19th 2014 - 07:58 UTC

  New gameboard for Maduro after US-Cuba reconciliation

  

  Analysts agree that the Venezuelan president will need to put aside some of his anti-imperialist jargon and socialist practices to stay in play.

• Thursday, December 18th 2014 - 23:04 UTC

  US sanctions against Venezuela officials signed into law

  

  The United States will now be able to impose punitive measures on Venezuelan government officials involved in a crackdown on protesters against the Maduro administration, or on those who have carried out acts of violence or violated the human rights of political opponents.

• Thursday, December 11th 2014 - 11:35 UTC

  US Congress votes sanctions on Venezuelan government officials and sends bill for Obama's signature

  

  The US House of Representatives passed legislation to impose sanctions on Venezuelan government officials found to have violated protesters' rights during demonstrations earlier this year.

• Thursday, December 4th 2014 - 05:43 UTC

  Maduro's regime charges opposition leader Corina Machado with 'sedition'

  

  Venezuela has indicted hard-line opposition leader María Corina Machado on charges of sedition claiming she took part in an alleged plot to kill president Nicolas Maduro, the state prosecutor's office confirmed.