Venezuela

Venezuela's government expelled the German ambassador Daniel Kriener on March 6 two days after he and diplomats from other embassies welcomed home opposition leader Juan Guaido at the Caracas airport.

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro urged his supporters on March 5 to attend "anti-imperialist" rallies on March 9, the same date that anti-government marches will be held by the opposition.

New Democracy said on Tuesday it wants answers from the government with regard to reports of a "mystery flight" by a Venezuelan government airplane to Athens International Airport on Saturday.
According to a report by Skai TV, the airplane remained in Athens for four hours before flying off and Venezuela's Foreign Minister Jorge Arreaza was on board.

The 35-year-old leader of Venezuela's National Assembly showed off his passport before climbing onto scaffolding and pumping his fist during the demonstration in Caracas.

Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido said on March 2 he would return home after a visit to Ecuador and called for new protests next week against President Nicolas Maduro, whose government had banned him from traveling abroad.

Russia and the United States have been at loggerheads over a U.S.-led campaign for international recognition of Juan Guaido, the Venezuelan opposition leader and head of the country's elected National Assembly, over President Nicholas Maduro. Guaido last month declared himself the interim head of state.

It was the third Council meeting seeking solutions to Venezuela's "protracted crisis" since tensions started escalating in January, when Juan Guaidó, head of the country's National Assembly, challenged the legitimacy of the sitting President, Nicolás Maduro, who has been in power since 2013 and who was sworn in again for a second term, on 10 January.

A U.S.-backed drive to deliver foreign aid to Venezuela met strong resistance as troops loyal to President Nicolas Maduro blocked the convoys at the border and fired tear gas on protesters in clashes that left two people dead and some 300 injured.

Humanitarian aid should not be forced into Venezuela, lest it cause violence, China's Foreign Ministry said on Feb. 22, warning that Beijing opposed military intervention in the country.Venezuela President Nicolas Maduro threatened to close the border with Colombia on Feb.

Nicolas Maduro defines help as "American provocation", reported NOVA TV. 
Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro announced that he is closing the border with Brazil. He intends to prevent the acceptance of humanitarian aid planned by opposition leaders.

Maduro also said he is considering closing the border with Colombia.