More than a week of protests in Venezuela about its ongoing economic, political, and social crisis has left five protesters dead and hundreds wounded or imprisoned.
1.3 tonnes of cocaine has been seized at Charles De Gaulle airport in Paris, with the drugs found in 30 suitcases carried onto an Air France passenger plane.
Clashes continue on the streets of Venezuelan cities, with opponents of the government demanding a recount after Nicolás Maduro was declared president-elect of the Republic.
Socialist party leader and Chávez’s anointed heir, Nicolas Maduro, has been called the winner of the Venezuelan election but only by a margin of 1.6% or around 230,000 votes, with opposition candidate Henrique Capriles demanding a recount, calling the election of Maduro “illegitimate”.
Hugo Chávez’s presidency (1999-2013) was characterized by a dramatic concentration of power and open disregard for basic human rights guarantees according to Human Rights Watch.