Venezuela

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro had been ready Tuesday to fly into exile in Cuba until he was dissuaded by Russia, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said, amid a military uprising in Caracas, reported AFP.
"He had an airplane on the tarmac, he was ready to leave this morning as we understand it, and the Russians indicated that he should stay," Pompeo told CNN.

Venezuelans have gathered for mass protests after opposition leader Juan Guaidó called for fresh demonstrations.

It comes the day after President Nicolás Maduro said he had stopped an "attempted coup" by the opposition.

"Today we continue," Mr Guaidó tweeted. "We will keep going with more strength than ever, Venezuela". Pro-government protests will also take place.

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro warned on April 30 that those responsible for a military uprising against him would face "criminal prosecutions."        

Guaido spoke to his sympathizers from an unknown location.

Venezuelan opposition leader and self-proclaimed acting president Juan Guaido said on Tuesday that troops had joined his campaign to oust President Nicolas Maduro as the government vowed to put down what it called an attempted coup.

The new minimum wage covers only 1/10 of the cost of basic food products, reported NOVA TV. 

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro doubled the minimum wage to the equivalent of about $ 8 per month in a situation of hyperinflation and a strong devaluation of the Bolivar national currency, France's press reported, quoted by BTA.

Venezuela continues this year to head the Bloomberg rating for "the most miserable economies in the world," but three of the top ten are neighbors of Bulgaria.

Turkey ranks fourth, Greece - fifth, and Serbia is the tenth.

Venezuelan lawmakers loyal to President Nicolas Maduro stripped opposition leader Juan Guaido's immunity on April 2 and authorized the high court to criminally prosecute him for proclaiming himself the crisis-hit country's ruler.

Venezuela's opposition leader Juan Guaido will be barred from public office for 15 years, the government comptroller said on March 28, as it seeks to crack down on the U.S.-backed rival to President Nicolas Maduro.

The Kremlin explained that Russia's actions are legal and in line with an agreement Russia has reached with the legitimate Venezuelan government.