UPI: The governor of Venezuela’s Táchira state has said some drivers next week could begin to pay gas stations with Colombian pesos or U.S. dollars. Táchira Gov. José Vielma Mora said gas stations under the new currency program- aimed at Colombian drivers- will be jointly operated by Colombian companies and Venezuela’s government-owned Petroleos de Venezuela, or PDVSA, oil company. The… Read more »
AL JAZEERA: Venezuelan bus drivers have caused traffic chaos in Caracas by parking their buses in the street, protesting against the country’s economic crisis. Hundreds of drivers joined the strike on Wednesday, demanding better pay, more security against violent crime and spare parts for their buses. Tyres, car batteries and motor oil are on a long list of goods that have… Read more »
STRATFOR: A number of recent developments, protests on Thursday notwithstanding, have raised the odds that Venezuela could default on its foreign debt repayments, triggering a cascade of events that would destabilize the country. Though the country has lived with the specter of default for years, Venezuelan officials have shown a willingness — given the existential threat that a default would pose to the… Read more »
BBC: Hundreds of thousands of people have marched through the Venezuelan capital, Caracas, to protest against President Nicolas Maduro. Opposition supporters, staging their largest rally for two years, called for Mr Maduro’s removal. They blame him for Venezuela’s economic crisis and accuse the electoral commission of delaying a referendum that could shorten his stay in power. Mr Maduro’s supporters also rallied in… Read more »