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☆ Venezuelans say credit cards that were once lifeline now 'useless'
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-13 | by ( Mayela Armas | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

"They are useless," administrator Lina Pereira, from the central city of Valencia, said of her two credit cards, which both have low limits. "My parents bought appliances and computers with their credit cards, but that's a memory for Venezuelans." As incomes have fallen and living costs have grown, credit cards have become vital for many people to make everyday purchases in supermarkets and pharmacies, even as credit limits stagnate and some banks eliminate the cards altogether. In 2012 that figure was 12% in Venezuela, while in countries like the Dominican Republic and Bolivia credit cards currently account for 5% of banks' credit portfolios, according to those country's regulators. "With the limit on cards you can't even pay for lunch," said Gregorio Afonso, a 53-year-old university professor who has two local credit cards and an income of $20 monthly.

☆ George Santos signs onto abortion, guns, term limits, and impeachment bills as he attempts to make friends on Capitol Hill
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-08 | by ( Nicole Gaudiano | Warren Rojas | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Freshman Rep. George Santos is still finding his way on Capitol Hill after a rough start. In his first off-the-rails month on Capitol Hill, Santos has signed onto bills dealing with abortion rights, guns, the global social media phenomenon TikTok, congressional term limits, and even articles of impeachment. He signed onto bills promoting term limits and calling for the impeachment of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, a top priority for the MAGA wing. "The congressman seeks to work with everyone, and has developed relationships with Republican members, as well as those across the aisle," a Santos spokesperson said. Republican Rep. Mike Waltz of Florida introduced that legislation to block Americans from doing business with Venezuela.

☆ Maduro negotiator says Venezuela government, opposition making progress on $3.2 billion humanitarian fund
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-06 | by ( Vivian Sequera | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/2] Venezuela’s President Nicolas Maduro delivers a speech in front of the Venezuelan Supreme Court of Justice magistrates during the opening of the new court term, in Caracas, Venezuela January 31, 2023. The opposition hopes the negotiations will help guarantee that elections tentatively scheduled for 2024 are held in fair conditions. Rodriguez did not offer details on what progress had been made toward creation of the humanitarian fund. The opposition's head negotiator, Gerardo Blyde, has said money from the frozen assets is spread across different jurisdictions, each with their own legal requirements. The opposition has said the money could be moved in small tranches to protect it from creditors.

☆ Venezuela should release arbitrary detainees, end torture, UN rights chief says
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-30 | by ( ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +1 min

CARACAS — Venezuela should release arbitrarily detained individuals and end torture, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk said on Saturday at the end of a trip to the country. Turk arrived in Venezuela on Thursday and met with President Nicolás Maduro on Friday, in addition to Vice President Delcy Rodriguez, senior government officials, opposition figures and victims of human rights violations. “In my meetings with the president and ministers, I called for all people who have been arbitrarily detained to be released,” Turk said on Saturday in a statement. Turk extended his call to governments around the world to release, pardon or grant amnesty to “all those arbitrarily detained for exercising their fundamental human rights.”During his trip, Turk said he met with people who were arbitrarily detained and tortured. “I was given commitments that torture complaints would be addressed decisively, fully investigated and those responsible brought to justice,” Turk said.

☆ UN rights chief asks Venezuela to release arbitrary detainees, end torture
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-28 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/3] United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) Volker Turk looks on next to Human Rights Reporting Officer Helene Devaux, and Jose M. Aranaz during a news conference in Caracas, Venezuela January 28, 2023. REUTERS/Leonardo Fernandez ViloriaCARACAS, Jan 28 (Reuters) - Venezuela should release arbitrarily detained individuals and end torture, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk said on Saturday at the end of a trip to the country. Turk arrived in Venezuela on Thursday and met with President Nicolas Maduro on Friday, in addition to Vice President Delcy Rodriguez, senior government officials, opposition figures and victims of human rights violations. Turk extended his call to governments around the world to release, pardon or grant amnesty to "all those arbitrarily detained for exercising their fundamental human rights." During his trip, Turk said he met with people who were arbitrarily detained and tortured.

☆ Miss Universe judge Emily Austin calls Venezuela's President Nicolás Maduro 'illegitimate' after he alleged the pageant was rigged
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-28 | by ( Gabi Stevenson | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

A Miss Universe judge responded to Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro's comments on the pageant. Miss Universe judge Emily Austin said in an interview with Fox News published Friday that Maduro's criticism was hypocritical. Miss Venezuela, Miss USA, and Miss Dominican Republic compete in the 71st annual Miss Universe. Jason Kempin / Staff / Getty ImagesThe Miss Universe Organization chief executive Amy Emmerich also defended Gabriel's wins in both the Miss USA and Miss Universe pageants in a statement to the Los Angeles Times on January 18. "People saying that its 'suspect' that JKN Global Group owns both Miss Universe and Miss USA aren't familiar with the history of the organizations.

☆ Gentle soul, accordion player, mushroom lover: Half Moon Bay victim mourned
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-26 | by ( Alexandra Ulmer | Thomson Reuters | U.S. National Affairs Correspondent Who Spent Four Years In Venezuela Covering President Maduro'S Administration | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

HALF MOON BAY, Calif., Jan 25 (Reuters) - When friends of farm supervisor Marciano Martinez heard of the shooting at the Half Moon Bay mushroom plantations on Monday, they had a sinking feeling. Unmarried and with no children, he gradually became a part of Ortega's family, she said. When Ortega's husband, Reyes Vargas, was ill, Martinez would rush to the hospital after work. As Ortega's husband took a turn for the worse, he asked Martinez to look after his wife, Ortega recounted. In turn, Ortega, a talented cook, would prepare Mexican chiles rellenos, tongue tacos or her coveted homemade tortillas.

☆ Fact Check-Clip of military vehicle running over protesters filmed in Caracas, Venezuela in 2019
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-25 | by ( Reuters Fact Check | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

(Warning: This article contains graphic content)A clip of a military vehicle running over protesters was filmed in Caracas, Venezuela in April 2019 and not Peru amid protests in January 2023. The clip was shared by social media users online amid protests that kicked off in December following the ousting of Peru’s then president, Pedro Castillo. The social media users erroneously captioned it as an incident in Peru during the protests. Reuters also produced an article reporting that a Venezuela National Guard vehicle ran protesters over outside a military base in Venezuela’s capital on April 30, 2019 (here). Read more about our work to fact-check social media posts here.

☆ Latin America, Caribbean call for more international funding at CELAC summit
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-25 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

BUENOS AIRES, Jan 24 (Reuters) - Countries from Latin America and the Caribbean on Tuesday called for more international funding in the region following economic and climate crises, in a final declaration after a summit held in the Argentine capital of Buenos Aires. The 111-point "Declaration of Buenos Aires" from the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States' (CELAC) seventh summit described how effects of COVID-19, climate change and the war in Ukraine had rippled across the region. "We express our concern that several countries emerged from the pandemic with higher levels of public debt," it said. Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro sent a recorded message saying he had chosen not to attend due to "permanent conspiracies, the permanent threat, calculated ambushes." Reporting by Lucila Sigal; Writing by Sarah Morland; Editing by Christopher CushingOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Suspect in California's latest shooting rampage due in court
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-25 | by ( Alexandra Ulmer | Thomson Reuters | U.S. National Affairs Correspondent Who Spent Four Years In Venezuela Covering President Maduro'S Administration | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

[1/3] A suspect is arrested by law enforcement personnel after a mass shooting at two locations in the coastal northern California city of Half Moon Bay, California, U.S. January 23, 2023 in a still image from video. HALF MOON BAY, Calif., Jan 25 (Reuters) - The man accused of shooting and killing seven farm workers near San Francisco in the latest of two back-to-back gun rampages in California that claimed 18 lives overall was due in court on Wednesday for his initial appearance before a judge. Chunli Zhao, 66, the lone suspect in Monday's massacre at two mushroom farms in the seaside town of Half Moon Bay, is expected to be formally presented with murder and other charges at the San Mateo County Superior Court in nearby Redwood City. The suspect was described as a resident of Half Moon Bay, a community of about 12,000 residents known for its foggy weather, fishing, and agriculture. San Mateo County jail records showed Zhao was booked on suspicion of premeditated murder, attempted murder and firearms offenses.

HALF MOON BAY/MONTEREY PARK, California, Jan 24 (Reuters) - America was supposed to be a place of safety for Jose Romero when he arrived some two years ago to work on a California farm alongside other immigrants from Mexico and China. Romero was killed on Monday, shot dead by a gunman along with six other farm workers in Half Moon Bay, just south of San Francisco. Antonio Perez, who now lives in Half Moon Bay after moving from Mexico in 1983, said he feels stuck between cartel violence in his homeland and gun violence in the United States. “What a tragedy.”People gather for a candlelight vigil after a mass shooting during Chinese Lunar New Year celebrations in Monterey Park, California, U.S. January 24, 2023. About 9.3% of Asian immigrants keep guns in their homes in California, compared with 5.6% of Latino immigrants and 12% of white immigrants, said Ninez Ponce, the lead researcher on the UCLA study.

☆ Trinidad offers to pay for Venezuelan gas with humanitarian supplies
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-25 | by ( Curtis Williams | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The U.S. Treasury Department on Tuesday issued a license allowing Trinidad to co-develop the Dragon gas field, which holds 4.2 trillion cubic feet of reserves on the Venezuelan side of the maritime border with Trinidad. The project would have Trinidad import the gas and turn it into exportable liquefied natural gas (LNG). So we buy the gas and we pay for it in a variety of ways," Rowley told journalists late on Tuesday. Venezuela has resorted to swaps to make its economy work amid stiff U.S. sanctions prohibiting financial transactions or the use of dollars to pay Venezuela or the country's state companies. Shell (SHEL.L), which operates the neighboring Hibiscus field in Trinidad, ideally could become the operator, said Trinidad's Rowley.

“The intentions, of course, were never to cross over to Venezuela, he was just accompanying her,” said Henry Martínez, Hernández’s brother. The men told Hernández that if they wanted to enter Venezuela, he had to pay $100. Hernández told them he was not trying to enter the country and did not have $100. The U.S. has not had a diplomatic presence in Caracas since 2019, so access to jailed Americans has been limited since then. “Sometimes I can hear his voice weak and just frustrated and anxious,” said Henry Martínez.

PDVSA has found reserves of 4.2 trillion cubic feet (TCF) in the Dragon field, on the Venezuelan side of its maritime border with Trinidad. Even with Washington's granting of Trinidad's request, it could take years of investment and development to bring Venezuelan gas to Trinidad and boost LNG to Europe, experts say. In addition, with no payments authorized to Venezuela, it could be difficult for Trinidad to craft a deal with Caracas. "At the request of the Government of Trinidad and Tobago, the United States Department of the Treasury issued a specific license to enable Trinidad and Tobago to develop the Dragon gas field," the senior administration official said. The Chevron license is meant to reopen some oil flows that were shut by U.S. sanctions nearly four years ago.

☆ Venezuela's inflation slows to 234% in 2022, vice president says
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-23 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

CARACAS, Jan 23 (Reuters) - Inflation in Venezuela hit 234% in 2022, Vice President Delcy Rodriguez said on Monday, representing a slowdown from the previous year, as the South American country struggles with a deep and lengthy economic crisis. Rodriguez provided the inflation rate during a meeting with Turkish and Venezuelan business leaders. Venezuela's central bank infrequently publishes economic data, and has not given inflation data since October. Government spending has also sped up and demand for dollars is outpacing the central bank's foreign currency reserves. Inflation in 2021 was more than 686%, according to the country's central bank.

☆ A South American currency union? Don't hold your breath
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-23 | by ( Rodrigo Campos | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

That came after the leaders had touted a "common South American currency" on Sunday and officials told the Financial Times the tender could even be called the "sur" and eventually look to bring in other countries around South America. "It has failed to achieve simpler integration goals than that of a common currency." He called the idea of a currency union a "fantasy." Currency union talk was just a distraction, she said. Todd Martinez, a director at Fitch Ratings' sovereigns group focused on Latin America, said the two countries appeared to be unlikely partners to form a successful currency union, given their diverging economies.

☆ Venezuela public sector workers march for better salaries
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-23 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/5] A demonstrator holds a placard that reads "Together for a living salary", during a march by teachers, health workers, workers' unions members and members of the opposition to demand better salaries, as the government of President Nicolas Maduro faces renewed challenges in its attempt to fight inflation, in Caracas, Venezuela January 23, 2023. REUTERS/Leonardo Fernandez ViloriaCARACAS, Jan 23 (Reuters) - Hundreds of public sector workers including teachers, nurses and retired police officers took to the streets in Venezuela on Monday to demand better salaries and pensions at a time when the government of President Nicolas Maduro faces growing inflation. Workers in Venezuela's education and health sectors have held three peaceful demonstrations in a dozen cities so far this year to demand more money. In Maracaibo, the capital of the once-powerful oil-rich Zulia state in northwestern Venezuela, protesters marched to the governor's office. "With a (monthly) salary of just $10 it's impossible for a family of four or five people to survive," Jimenez, 56, said.

☆ Venezuela calls off Maduro meeting with Lula, Brazil govt says
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-23 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

BUENOS AIRES, Jan 23 (Reuters) - Venezuela has decided to call off a previously arranged meeting between President Nicolas Maduro and his Brazilian counterpart Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva on Monday, Lula's press office said. Later, however, Lula's team released a new update of his agenda saying the meeting would no longer take place as Venezuela canceled it. Lula, who took office on Jan. 1, asked his foreign relations minister to restore relations with Venezuela. Diplomatic relations between the countries were broken in 2020 by Brazil's former far-right President Jair Bolsonaro. Reporting by Lisandra Paraguassu; Editing by Steven GrattanOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Venezuela releases ex-interior minister from prison; he will go to Spain
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-21 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

CARACAS, Jan 21 (Reuters) - A Venezuelan court on Saturday released former Interior Minister Miguel Rodriguez Torres from jail after he was imprisoned for nearly five years, allowing him to travel to Spain, relatives of the former official said. The retired army General served as interior minister in 2014 but later broke with President Nicolas Maduro. A relative said Rodriguez Torres would move to Spain, without providing further details. In 2019, Rodriguez Torres went on hunger strike in protest over being held incommunicado. Rodriguez himself faced sharp criticism for treatment of detainees while he was interior minister during a wave of opposition protests in 2014, which human rights groups say included arbitrary detentions and beatings during imprisonment.

☆ Venezuela opposition names committee to manage foreign assets
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-19 | by ( Deisy Buitrago | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Venezuela traditionally has only one legislature, but currently has two parallel bodies - one of government-allied lawmakers and another for the opposition. Opposition party members Carlos Millan, Rene Uzcategui, Yon Goicoechea and Fernando Blasi will serve on the committee headed by Gustavo Marcano. Many assets controlled by the opposition have enjoyed the United States' protection against creditors, which this week extended its protection of Citgo for three months. Marcano, Goicoechea and Blasi served on the spending control committee previously operated under the interim government of former opposition leader Juan Guaido. Blasi will also represent the assembly in the United States, while lawmaker Miguel Pizarro will work on the assembly's behalf at the United Nations.

☆ 'No reason' for opposition talks to go on unless funds are released: Venezuela official
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-17 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

CARACAS, Jan 17 (Reuters) - The head of the Venezuelan government's negotiating team in its talks with the country's opposition said on Tuesday there was no reason to return to dialogue if the government's opponents do not "return" frozen foreign assets. The money was frozen by U.S. and European banks after the United States ramped up sanctions to pressure President Nicolas Maduro to take steps toward free elections. The opposition national assembly - backed by the United States and others - is able to control some assets in other countries, including U.S.-based refiner Citgo Petroleum. The opposition has sought to protect foreign assets from creditors. The United States on Tuesday extended for three months the license that protects Citgo Petroleum from creditors trying to auction its assets to cash on pending debt.

☆ Venezuelan teachers march for better pay amid sky-high inflation
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-16 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Jan 16 (Reuters) - Teachers, retirees and workers' unions marched in at least six Venezuelan cities on Monday to demand better salaries, as the government of President Nicolas Maduro faces renewed challenges in its attempt to fight inflation. The minimum monthly salary for a public school teacher is about $10, while university professors earn between $60 and $80. I earn 460 bolivars a month (about $23)," said Odalis Aguilar, a 50-year-old teacher who marched in the city of Maracay. In the central state of Carabobo, teachers and public employees also held demonstrations, saying salaries do not cover the cost of food and medicine. Over the weekend the government paid public employees a bonus equivalent to $29.80.

☆ Venezuelan opposition to pay debts to law firms, leader says
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-09 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

CARACAS, Jan 9 (Reuters) - The president of Venezuela's opposition national assembly, Dinorah Figuera, said on Monday a new committee meant to manage the country's assets abroad will pay off debts to law firms in the United States. Venezuela owes some $20.7 million to U.S. law firms representing it in fights against creditors. The committee is a key part of recent moves by the opposition legislature, which appointed Figuera and two vice presidents last week after disbanding the interim government of Juan Guaido. The United States has so far protected Venezuela's state-owned oil refiner Citgo Petroleum from creditors, a protection the opposition hopes the United States will extend when it expires this month. In a statement on Monday, the U.S. Treasury Department renewed permission for U.S. citizens to engage in business with the opposition assembly and the boards it appoints.

☆ Global leaders condemn assault on Brazilian government buildings
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-08 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +7 min

Brazil's democratic institutions have our full support and the will of the Brazilian people must not be undermined. Using violence to attack democratic institutions is always unacceptable. BOLIVIAN PRESIDENT LUIS ARCE"We strongly condemn the assault on the Brazilian Congress, Palace and Supreme Court by anti-democratic groups. A return to normality is urgently needed and we express solidarity with Brazilian institutions. We categorically condemn the assault on the Brazilian Congress and make a call for the immediate return to democratic normality."

☆ All-female team replaces Juan Guaidó as face of Venezuela opposition
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-06 | by ( Associated Press | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +5 min

CARACAS, Venezuela — Venezuela’s opposition has selected an all-female team of mostly unknown exiled former lawmakers to replace the beleaguered Juan Guaidó as the face of its faltering efforts to remove socialist President Nicolas Maduro. Meanwhile, Maduro’s supporters seemed to be relishing the opposition’s squabbles. At Thursday’s session inaugurating the legislative year, loyalist lawmakers re-elected Jorge Rodriguez to lead the National Assembly. U.S. State Department spokesman Ned Price said Tuesday that the U.S. stands ready to work with any individual, or collective body, chosen by the 2015 National Assembly to represent it. We support the 2015 National Assembly as the only remaining vestige of democracy in Venezuela.”

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