International Trade
Cargo that has arrived at Guanta Port:
- Over 3,000 of dairy cattle from Brazil.
Cargo that has arrived at Puerto Cabello:
- Over 1,000 tons of black beans from China
- Over 500 tons of polycarbonated resin
- Over 200 tons of rolled cloth fabric from Panama
to Ágata.
- Over 27 tons of fireworks from China to
Distribuidora Triki-Traki
Oil &
Energy
HOVENSA refinery deal rejected over contract breach
doubts
The U.S. Virgin Islands' legislature has turned down
an agreement that would lead to the reopening of the 350,000 barrel-per-day HOVENSA
refinery, after its counsel warned that the would-be buyer might not be able to
uphold the contract. U.S. oil producer Hess and Venezuela's state-run PDVSA,
owners of the shut refinery on the island of Saint Croix, had hired investment
banking firm Lazard to sell the plant. (Reuters, http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/12/20/oil-hovensa-sale-idUSL1N0U402O20141220)
Economy
& Finance
Maduro reports oil prices down to US$ 50 per barrel,
guarantees resources for 2015
President Nicolás Maduro reports Venezuelan oil prices
are "now at US$ 50 (per barrel) and
has been oscillating downward" due to "destructive" techniques used by the United States. He also has
"fully guaranteed" budget resources needed to cover 2015. More in
Spanish: (Ultimas Noticias: http://www.ultimasnoticias.com.ve/noticias/actualidad/economia/crudo-venezolano-se-ubica-en-50-dolares-el-barril.aspx#ixzz3Mje7qtWM;
El Universal, http://www.eluniversal.com/nacional-y-politica/141223/recursos-para-cubrir-ejercicio-fiscal-2015-estan-garantizados)
Venezuela's international reserves down to USD 21.6
billion
Data from the Central Bank of Venezuela (BCV) show
that international reserves have plummeted 8% in a month. Back on November 14,
BCV assets fell to US$ 19.4 billion, a number that Venezuela had not reached
since the end of 2003. After depositing US$ 4 billion from the Joint Chinese-Venezuelan
Fund, assets rose to US$ 23.5 billion on November 19. Yet a few weeks later,
reserves have plunged again by US$ 1.9 billion on December 19. Reserves now
stand at US$ 21.6 billion, as reported by BCV. (El Universal, http://www.eluniversal.com/economia/141222/venezuelas-intl-reserves-down-to-usd-216-billion)
Politics and
International Affairs
Key authorities designated by absolute majority, in
violation of the Constitution according to the opposition
With only 99 votes at the National Assembly the ruling
United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV) has named Tarek William Saab as
Ombudsman; Manuel Galindo (current Solicitor General) as Comptroller General.
Luisa Ortega Díaz was reappointed Prosecutor General. Assembly member Stalin
González, leader of the parliamentary caucus of the opposition Unified
Democratic Panel (MUD), has protested that under article 279 of the
Constitution, the appointment of those authorities must be made by two-thirds majority, that is, 110
votes during a plenary session. (El Universal, http://www.eluniversal.com/nacional-y-politica/141222/citizens-power-authorities-designated-by-absolute-majority; http://www.eluniversal.com/nacional-y-politica/141222/national-assembly-tries-to-renew-public-powers)
...designation of Supreme Court justices scheduled for
Friday
The National Assembly has been called to session on
Friday, December 26th, to designate 12 Supreme Court justices and two deputy
justices for a 12 year period. Their designation requires a two thirds vote at
the National Assembly, according to the Supreme Court Organic Law. More in
Spanish: (AVN; http://www.avn.info.ve/contenido/designación-magistrados-del-tsj-pasa-segunda-sesión)
...and the Supreme Court will designate Elections
Board members
National Assembly President Diosdado Cabello says that
under current legislation the Supreme Court will name Elections Board directors
after the National Assembly failed to meet the two thirds majority required for
their designation. More in Spanish: (AVN; http://www.avn.info.ve/contenido/decisión-para-elegir-rectores-del-cne-pasa-al-tsj)
Venezuela’s Cuba problem
In a surprise announcement US president Barack Obama
and Cuban president Raúl Castro, announced a significant thaw in relations
between their respective countries. The move has major implications for
Venezuela, Cuba's main ally. The Venezuelan president, Nicolás Maduro, appeared
to be caught unawares, right in the middle of a rhetorical campaign against
"insolent, imperialist"
sanctions passed by the US Congress just one week beforehand. Unlike the
decades-old Cuba embargo, the sanctions are targeted at senior Venezuelan
government officials accused of committing human rights violations. Now
Venezuela faces the prospect of replacing Cuba as the US's main adversary in
the region—just as its economy is imploding and its governability is at risk
from internal dissent—or capitulating and losing the support of the
already-restive domestic left. The timing could hardly be worse for Mr. Maduro.
(The Economist, http://country.eiu.com/article.aspx?articleid=322601016&Country=Venezuela&topic=Politics&subtopic=Forecast&subsubtopic=International+relations)
Venezuela’s phony olive branch - Miami Herald
editorial
As expected, President Obama last week signed
legislation imposing sanctions on government officials in Venezuela responsible
for violence and human-rights violations in the wake of anti-government
protests early this year. It will allow the president to freeze assets and deny
or revoke visas of Venezuelan officials. The decision to sign the sanctions
bill, after months of resistance by the White House, represents a recognition
that this country could no longer ignore the repression in Venezuela and limit
its criticisms to stern admonitions aimed at Caracas. It is an action
commensurate with the democratic values that America upholds, including the
right to self-expression and peaceful assembly. Venezuelan officials should be
held accountable for their behavior. In an opinion article in The New York
Times last week, Diosdado Cabello, president of the Venezuelan National
Assembly, said that the Venezuelan government recently “extended an olive branch” to Mr. Obama by naming
an ambassador to Washington and inviting the U.S. administration to name an
ambassador to Caracas. He missed the point: Maduro should extend an olive
branch to the people of Venezuela, not Washington, allow political opponents
like Leopoldo López to leave prison and otherwise start behaving like the
leader of a real democracy — which Venezuela once was. Until then, the
sanctions should remain in place. (The Miami Herald, http://www.miamiherald.com/opinion/editorials/article4833972.html#storylink=cpy)
Venezuela rejects European Parliament resolution
The Venezuelan Foreign Office rebutted and labeled as
"interventionist" a resolution by the European Parliament (EP), which
was adopted by 476 votes, with 109 against, and 49 abstentions, in which the EP
stated it is "deeply concerned at
the worsening situation in Venezuela and condemns the imprisonment of peaceful
protesters, students and opposition leaders." In addition, the EP
"urges the immediate release of
those arbitrarily detained prisoners." (El Universal, http://www.eluniversal.com/nacional-y-politica/141222/venezuela-rejects-european-parliament-resolution)
Opposition is asking Maduro to free political
prisoners for Christmas
Rogelio Díaz, Secretary General of the COPEI (Christian
Democrat) party has asked President Nicolás Maduro to allow Leopoldo López,
Enzo Scarano, Daniel Ceballos and students arrested for protests last February
to spend Christmas at home with their families. Freddy Guevara, Political
Coordinator for Voluntad Popular has also asked for liberation and is seeking
respect for young people who have chained themselves in Altamira square in
Caracas. More in Spanish: (El Nacional; http://www.el-nacional.com/)
Former NBA player Carl Herrera improves in hospital after
shooting in Venezuela
The team coached
by former NBA player Carl Herrera says his condition is improving following a
shooting in Venezuela.
The Gigantes de
Guayana team said in a Twitter post that Herrera is no longer in critical
condition and is "completely out of
danger." Herrera was shot Saturday during an apparent robbery attempt
at a restaurant on Margarita Island off Venezuela's Caribbean coast. The
country's Interior Relations Minister Carmen Melendez says security forces are
on the trail of the attackers. (Fox News, http://www.foxnews.com/world/2014/12/22/former-nba-player-carl-herrera-improves-in-hospital-after-shooting-in-venezuela/)
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