Venezuela

CARACAS, Nov 14 (NNN-TELESUR) — Venezuela’s President Nicolas Maduro rejected the European Union (EU) Council’s decision to extend sanction against the country, noting the bloc is playing an “outrageous and sad role”.

“The EU stuck to Donald Trump’s tail and automatically continues with its cruel, ruthless and failed policy against Venezuela (…) it is a shameful, outrageous and sad role that the European Union plays against the noble people of Venezuela,” Maduro stressed. 

29 Oct 2020; MEMO: An Iranian plane owned by a company said to be sanctioned by the US over alleged weapons shipments to Syria, landed in Venezuela yesterday, according to a Venezuelan opposition lawmaker and flight tracking data, reports Reuters.

CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) — The second of three ships loaded with gasoline from Iran approached fuel-starved Venezuela on Wednesday amid simmering social unrest over a lack of goods and services that’s sparked protests across the South American nation.

More than 100 street demonstrations have flared up in remote towns over the last week. Despite each being relatively small, they have raised concern among Venezuelan authorities, who have responded forcefully, sending in soldiers and local police, activists and residents told The Associated Press.

29 Sep 2020; MEMO: A tanker carrying fuel from Iran to Venezuela reached the South American nation’s waters yesterday, Refinitiv Eikondata cited by Reuters shows.

CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) — Venezuela’s chief prosecutor on Monday said a U.S. citizen recently arrested in the country as a suspected spy has been charged in an alleged terrorist plot to sabotage oil refineries and electrical service in order to stir unrest.

The man, alleged to have CIA ties, had help from three Venezuelan conspirators, who were arrested with him last week near a pair of oil refineries on the country’s north Caribbean coast, Venezuela’s Chief Prosecutor Tarek William Saab said on state television.

CARACAS, Sept. 4 (Xinhua) -- Venezuela is to request the extradition of four citizens recently captured in Colombia who have been accused of involvement in a coup attempt, Venezuelan Attorney General Tarek William Saab said on Friday.

CARACAS, Sept 1 (NNN-XINHUA) – Venezuelan President, Nicolas Maduro, on Monday pardoned over 100 political opposition leaders, who are serving sentences or face criminal charges, ahead of the Dec 6, parliamentary elections.

Communication and Information Minister, Jorge Rodriguez, said, the move aimed to “promote peaceful coexistence and the resolution of controversies through constitutional, electoral and peaceful channels.”

A total of 27 deputies from different political parties with pending legal proceedings are among the pardoned.

CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) — Venezuelan security forces and authorities under President Nicolás Maduro have used the coronavirus as an excuse to crack down on dissenting voices on social media and even in private messages, Human Rights Watch reported Friday.

The New York-based rights group said Venezuelan authorities have targeted dozens of journalists, healthcare workers, human rights lawyers and political opponents critical of the government’s response to the pandemic.

23 Aug 2020; MEMO: Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro on Saturday said it would be a “good idea” to look into buying missiles from Iran, a day after Colombia said Venezuela was considering such a plan amid growing ties between Caracas and Tehran, Reuters reports.

Iran in May supplied gasoline to Venezuela to ease chronic shortages, triggering alarm bells in Washington as the two countries expand trade relations amid efforts to undermine aggressive U.S. sanctions programs.

CARACAS, Aug. 20 (Xinhua) -- The unity of countries that has ratified the OPEC+ Declaration of Cooperation will make it possible to overcome the negative impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, Venezuelan Minister of Petroleum Tareck El Aissami said on Wednesday.

"The OPEC+ Declaration of Cooperation has been an excellent mechanism that has guaranteed not only the stability of the oil market, but has also been the fundamental point for leveraging the world economy," El Aissami said via Twitter.