
Venezuela said it had freed most of the 243 youth activists arrested in raids last week on street camps set up to protest against President Nicolas Maduro's government. Although the demolition of four camps in Caracas was hoped would discourage the three-month protest movement, activists vowed the measure had only strengthened their resolve to demonstrate.

At the end of May Mercosur will be ready to exchange tariff-reduction proposals with the European Union, announced Brazilian Industry minister Mauro Borges who also anticipated the trade block would be holding a preparatory meeting next week in Caracas, Venezuela.

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) called on the Venezuelan government urgently to honor its commitment made in March to permit the repatriation of 3.9 billion dollars of airline funds at fair exchange rates. The funds are from sales of airline tickets in Venezuela and are being held in contravention of international treaties.

Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro forecasted that sooner than later, the Malvinas Islands will return to the hands of the Argentine people and recalled that during the recent Celac summit in Cuba (Community of Latin-American and Caribbean States) Latin-American was declared a territory of peace and free of colonialism.

Most presidents of Latin America and particularly those from Mercosur are concerned with the Venezuelan situation, which generates uneasiness among opposition parties, mass media, corporations and citizens, the International Prospective Institute (IPI) states in a report.

The Venezuelan government formally invited today the Vatican Secretary of State, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, to join the exploratory talks with the opposition as “mediator of good will” in order to find a solution to the violent situation in the country.

China loaned 102 billion dollars to Latin America between 2005 and 2013, mainly to Venezuela and Argentina, while Mexico seems to be going the same way, according to a release from the Global Economic Governance Initiative which depends from the University of Boston.

The United Nations office in Venezuela expressed deep concern over the high human cost of anti-government protests which have left 39 people dead during two months of unrest. Hundreds more have been detained or injured in clashes with security forces.

Venezuela: A Call for Peace - By Nicolás Maduro, President of Venezuela - The recent protests in Venezuela have made international headlines. Much of the foreign media coverage has distorted the reality of my country and the facts surrounding the events.

Venezuelan troops dispersed opposition demonstrators with tear gas on Tuesday and blocked anti-government activist Maria Corina Machado, recently stripped of her seat in the National Assembly, from reaching the legislature.