Venezuela

Venezuela’s President Nicolas Maduro on Saturday night increased the country’s minimum wage 30 percent, amid rampant inflation that has destroyed purchasing power in the crisis-hit country.

As of May 1, the minimum wage will jump to 15,051 bolivars per month – $1,505 at the strongest official exchange rate but just $13.50 at the black market rate.

CARACAS, Venezuela - The Supreme Tribunal of Justice (TSJ), the highest judicial body in Venezuela, has rejected the opposition's bid to change the presidential mandate from six years to four years, which would have ended President Nicolás Maduro's mandate early and called for elections in December of this year.

World press freedom deteriorated in 2015, especially in the Americas, advocacy group Reporters Without Borders said on Wednesday as it released its annual rankings and warned of “a new era of propaganda”.

The World Press Freedom Index ranks 180 countries on indicators such as media independence, self-censorship, the rule of law, transparency and abuses.

BELGRADE - At least 272 people were killed by Saturday's devastating earthquake in Ecuador, President Rafael Correa said Sunday evening in an address to the nation.

"Officially, the number [of those killed] in the country totals 272," Correa said.

"The scale of the tragedy is huge, but we will be able to move forward."

Major oil producers gathered in Qatar yesteray for crucial talks on capping production to boost prices, despite Iran's refusal to take part.

Top energy officials from some 15 countries including Saudi Arabia and Russia were at the Doha talks, amid reports a draft agreement was in the works to freeze output at January levels until at least October.

German magazine Der Spiegel involves German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble in the Panama Papers case which was revealed last week and concern a massive data leak that has called into question the finances of the world‘s rich and powerful.

Venezuelan workers will get Fridays off for the next two months as part of an emergency plan to save electricity, the president said.

Venezuela has the world's largest proven oil reserves but its economy is a mess, with rampant inflation, shortages of goods as basic as soap and toilet paper and constant blackouts.

Public nudity is not something our society is very approving of, which is why those who prefer the ‘freedom’ of losing their clothes and enjoying the natural elements opt for nudist beaches. And the trend of nudist beaches is one the is catching on around the world.

Tens of thousands of people protested in more than 20 cities across Colombia on April 2 against President Juan Manuel Santos and his government's peace process with the FARC guerrillas.

Qatar said on March 22 that it has invited Iran to join talks among the world's top oil producers next month on implementing a proposed output freeze to stabilize plummeting prices.

The Qatari energy ministry said all 13 OPEC members including Iran had been invited to the April 17 talks in Doha with key non-cartel producers including Russia.