Venezuela has had to shut schools and suspend business activities during the worst blackouts in decades. The outages have compounded the country’s economic and political crisis, with the government and opposition accusing each other of responsibility for the infrastructure breakdown
Continue reading...Category Archives: Venezuela
‘A city of shadows’: fear as Venezuela’s crippling blackout enters day four
Power outage – that Maduro blames on foreign saboteurs – could have dramatic implications for country’s political future
When night falls on Venezuela’s ghostly capital, an unnerving hush grips the streets of this once-bustling South American metropolis.
“You feel a profound silence all around you,” said Alejandro Guzmán, a 26-year-old lawyer and one of millions of Venezuelans left in the dark after their country was hit by an unprecedented blackout some believe could have dramatic implications for its political future. “It’s like a city of shadows.”
Continue reading...Venezuela: Maduro and Guaidó’s supporters return to the streets
Demonstrations spark fears country’s political crisis could deep following huge blackout
Supporters of Venezuela’s leader, Nicolás Maduro, and his US-backed challenger, Juan Guaidó, returned to the streets again on Saturday amid rising fears the political crisis could be entering a turbulent new phase.
After a strained 48 hours for Venezuela in which almost the entire country was affected by a blackout thousands of demonstrators turned out to champion their respective leaders, both of whom claim the presidency.
Continue reading...Venezuela blackout caused by ‘US attack’, defence minister says
- Two-day power cut is worst in country’s recent history
- ‘This is an aggression designed to destabilise’
Venezuela’s defense minister has accused the United States of masterminding a crippling power cut that has left virtually the entire South American country without electricity and stirred fears that its crisis could be entering a volatile new phase.
Related: Venezuela: 'country has stopped' as blackout drags into second day
Continue reading...Venezuela: ‘country has stopped’ as blackout drags into second day
Delcy Rodríguez said schools were closed and workers should stay home after ‘technological attack’ on Guri hydroelectric plant
Venezuela’s embattled president, Nicolás Maduro, has been forced to close schools and give workers the day off after a severe and potentially destabilizing blackout dragged into a second day.
On Friday morning, more than 19 hours after power failed across most of the country, Venezuela’s vice-president, Delcy Rodríguez, announced that schools would not open and private- and public-sector workers should stay at home.
Continue reading...Venezuela: huge power outage leaves much of country in the dark
At least 18 of 23 states reportedly affected by blackout authorities blamed on anti-government saboteurs
Venezuela has been hit by a vast power cut, with at least 18 of its 23 states reportedly affected by a blackout authorities blamed on anti-government saboteurs.
Commuters in the country’s crumbling capital, Caracas, were forced to walk home from work after the metro service was paralyzed by the outage, while the international airport was reportedly plunged into darkness.
Continue reading...Venezuela orders German ambassador to leave
Nicolás Maduro’s administration accuses Daniel Kriener of ‘crass’ and ‘unlawful’ meddling in Venezuelan affairs
Nicolás Maduro’s embattled government has declared the German ambassador persona non grata and ordered him to leave the country within 48 hours as Venezuela’s political crisis intensified on Wednesday.
The decision to expel Daniel Kriener – who has been based in Caracas since last year – was announced on Twitter by Venezuela’s foreign minister, Jorge Arreaza.
Continue reading...Guaidó returns to Venezuela with new hope to unseat Maduro
Washington warned on eve of arrival Maduro faces ‘strong and significant response’ if Guaidó is detained or threatened
The opposition figurehead battling to dislodge Venezuela’s president Nicolás Maduro has made an audacious and dramatic homecoming, flying into the country’s main airport as he sought to re-energize his campaign for political change.
Juan Guaidó – who secretly left Venezuela last month to conduct a support-seeking tour of South America – landed at the Simón Bolívar international airport on Monday on a commercial flight from Panama.
Continue reading...Venezuela blocks off second bridge to Colombia as Guaidó flies to Brazil
- Shipping containers positioned across Simón Bolívar bridge
- Guaidó travels to Brazil to try to ramp up pressure on Maduro
Venezuelan authorities have blockaded a second bridge to Colombia amid fresh skirmishes between protesters and security forces loyal to embattled leader Nicolás Maduro.
Related: Venezuela: US increasingly isolated as allies warn against use of military force
Continue reading...Infant mortality in Venezuela has doubled during crisis, UN says
UN security council officials clash over ‘politicised’ aid to troubled country as peace-building chief warns of ‘grim realities’
Infant mortality in Venezuela has soared by roughly 50% during the prolonged political crisis in the country.
Briefing the UN security council, the UN’s political and peace building chief, Rosemary DiCarlo, depicted a devastating collapse in Venezuela’s health system. She warned that 40% of medical staff had left the country and said hospital stocks of medicine had dwindled to 20% of the required level.
Continue reading...Univision’s Jorge Ramos detained in Venezuela after Maduro interview, network says
Anchor, who has reportedly been released, asked question embattled leader did not approve of, according to Univision executive
The Univision anchor Jorge Ramos has been detained in the Miraflores presidential palace in Caracas, Venezuela, the network announced on Monday evening.
The Mexican-born journalist was interviewing Venezuela’s embattled president Nicolás Maduro when he and his crew were detained after asking a question the combative Maduro did not approve of, according to a tweet by the network’s US president, Daniel Coronell. The team’s equipment had also been confiscated, Coronell said.
Continue reading...Venezuela: US increasingly isolated as allies warn against use of military force
Mike Pence says ‘all options are on the table’ in effort to oust Maduro while key allies warn they would oppose sending troops
US vice-president Mike Pence has repeated a veiled threat of military intervention in Venezuela, but Washington appeared increasingly isolated in its willingness to contemplate using force to oust President Nicolás Maduro.
Both European powers and some of Donald Trump’s key Latin American allies – all of whom have recognised opposition leader Juan Guaido as Venezuela’s legitimate leader – warned that they would oppose sending troops into the country.
Continue reading...Ex-campaign staffer says Trump kissed her without consent – live updates
Alva Johnson files lawsuit alleging Trump kissed her in August 2016 outside rally in Tampa, and says ‘I immediately felt violated’
Donald Trump has complained about a “racist hit” he said Spike Lee carried out on him at the Oscars.
The film-maker, 61, won his first competitive Academy Award, best adapted screenplay, for his film BlacKkKlansman, which was also nominated for best picture. Lee received an honorary Oscar in 2015.
A former staff member of Donald Trump’s presidential campaign has filed a federal lawsuit against the president, claiming he kissed her without consent.
Alva Johnson, who served as Trump’s campaign’s director of outreach and coalitions in Alabama in 2016, told the Washington Post that Trump “grabbed her hand and leaned in to kiss her on the lips”, as the then-candidate exited an RV at a rally in Tampa on August 24 2016.
Johnson said she turned her head and the unwanted kiss landed on the side of her mouth, which she called “super-creepy and inappropriate.”
“I immediately felt violated because I wasn’t expecting it or wanting it,” she said. “I can still see his lips coming straight for my face.”
Continue reading...Spain would ’roundly condemn’ use of force in Venezuela
Spanish foreign minister says Madrid would not support military action to oust Nicolás Maduro
Spain has warned that it will not back any military intervention in Venezuela after the South American country’s opposition leader, Juan Guaidó, urged other nations to consider “all options” to remove the president, Nicolás Maduro, from power.
Guaidó is due to meet the US vice-president, Mike Pence, in Colombia on Monday amid ongoing speculation that the Trump administration could use force to oust Maduro.
Continue reading...Juan Guaidó: ‘keep all options open’ to remove Venezuela’s Maduro from power
- Opposition leader set to meet Vice-President Mike Pence
- Comments come a day after clashes that left four people dead
Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaidó is set to meet US Vice-President Mike Pence on Monday, after asking other countries to consider “all options” to remove President Nicolás Maduro from power.
Related: 'Venezuelan blood is being spilled': tension flares near border with Brazil
Continue reading...‘Venezuelan blood is being spilled’: tension flares near border with Brazil
While the world watches supporters of Guaidó and Maduro at the Colombian frontier, a remote region sees days of drama and fear
On Saturday, presidents, music stars and activists backing the Venezuelan opposition’s attempt to break a government blockade and bring food and medical supplies into the country, and most of the journalists covering the showdown, clustered around the border with Colombia.
Related: Juan Guaidó: 'keep all options open' to remove Venezuela's Maduro from power
Continue reading...Venezuela: at least four dead and hundreds injured in border standoff
Presidential challenger Juan Guaidó says he will urge foreign leaders to keep ‘all options open’ at a meeting on Monday
At least four people have been killed and hundreds injured in a wave of violence that convulsed Venezuela’s border regions on Saturday, as opposition activists tried to defy a government ban and bring food and medical supplies into the country.
After the failed attempt to breach government blockades, opposition leader Juan Guaidó declared the fight would continue, and said “we must keep all our options open for the liberation of our homeland”.
Continue reading...In pictures: violent clashes on the Venezuelan border
Volunteers attempt to get aid inside country but trucks stopped just meters inside Venezuelan territory
- Report: at least four dead and dozens injured
- Liveblog: national guard and protesters clash
- Video report: clashes at the border
Venezuela: police and protesters clash as border tensions rise – video report
Tensions have been rising at the Venezuelan border with Colombia amid president Nicolás Maduro's ban on aid entering the country.
Dozens of Venezuelans and Colombians gathered at the Simón Bolívar bridge connecting the countries to urge authorities to allow humanitarian aid to enter Venezuela, while in other areas on the border Venezuelan soldiers defected and violent protests broke out between police and demonstrators
- Report: At least four dead and dozens injured
- Liveblog: national guard and protesters clash
- Picture gallery: violent clashes on Venezuelan border
Venezuela: national guard and protesters clash as border tensions rise – live
- Trucks carrying aid crossed border but are on Brazilian side of a blockade
- Members of the armed forces defect on the Simón Bolívar bridge
- Venezuelan police fire teargas after clashes break out on border
Video shows Venezuelan security forces using tear gas against volunteers and opposition politicians who are trying to get the aid shipments across the border from Colombia, on the Simon Bolivar bridge.
1:10 pm. PNB dispara lacrimógenas contra voluntarios y diputados en el Puente Simón Bolívar. #23Feb Vía VPI pic.twitter.com/URqU8xcyoG
Venezuelans near the border with Brazil are holding flags as they await the hoped-for arrival of trucks carrying food and medicine.
1:00 pm| Foto cortesía. Aunque hay fuerte represión en el pueblo, hasta ahora, en la línea fronteriza todo transcurre en paz tras la llegada de un camión que, aseguran, lleva comida y medicinas. #FronteraConBrasil #ayudahumanitaria pic.twitter.com/rFPPJ94J9W
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