Venezuela

In a statement on Friday, the Greek Foreign Ministry said the government recognized Juan Guaido as president of Venezuela "in order for him to call for free, fair and democratic presidential elections."

Norway's Foreign Ministry says negotiations aimed at resolving Venezuela's political deadlock are to resume on the Caribbean island of Barbados in the coming week.

The United States on June 28 imposed sanctions on the son of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro for serving in his father's "illegitimate regime."

Venezuela's socialist government said on June 26 it had derailed a coup bid, claiming the United States, Colombia and Chile colluded in a military plot to assassinate President Nicolas Maduro and install a general and former defense minister in his place.    

Cuba will continue to support Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro as a legitimate South American leader, France's press agency quoted an official Cuban representative as saying.

The Cuban source of France's press has underlined that Havana's support for Maduro "is not negotiable" despite U.S. sanctions against an island state.

Canada suspended operations at its embassy in Venezuela on June 2, saying the regime of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro regime would not renew visas for its diplomats.

Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido renewed calls for President Nicolas Maduro to resign on May 31 while campaigning in the birthplace of former leader Hugo Chavez, following inconclusive talks in Norway to end the country's crisis.    

Turkey on May 31 voiced support for mediation talks between Venezuela's Maduro government and the country's opposition.

Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido vowed to press ahead with street protests after talks with government officials hosted by Norway ended on May 29 without progress towards resolving the South American country's long-running political crisis.

Inflation in Venezuela in 2018 was 130 060 percent. The central bank said after four years of silence.

Economic data are, in principle, strictly kept secret from the authoritarian regime of Nicolas Maduro. The country's economy shrunk by 19.2% in the first nine months of 2018 on an annual basis, as private consumption has fallen sharply and inflation has risen.