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Venezuela

The Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela is situated on the northern coast of South America. Home to an estimated population of 29.1 million, it covers around 916,445 square kilometres which includes the Andes mountains and the Amazon Basin Rainforest. Its main export is oil. Venezuela was colonized by Spain in 1522 but continued resistance led in 1811 to it becoming the first Spanish American country to declare independence. A chequered political history followed which saw dictatorships rise and fall, as well as military coups.

Capital

Caracas

Head of State

President Nicolás Maduro

Head of Government

President Nicolás Maduro

Nicolas Maduro

In message from US jail, Maduro weighs in on Venezuela transition talks

Ex-president calls for ‘reconciliation’ ahead of US-backed meetings between the interim government and opposition.

3 Aug 2026 - 10:23AM

Crime

Colombia bombing near police station wounds 14 ahead of president’s inauguration

2 Aug 2026 - 6:08AM

United States

As I see it | Despite immense power, the US delivers neither butter nor bullets

31 Jul 2026 - 8:30PMvideocam

China-Latin America relations

Brazil turns to China trade deal after Trump tariffs, as years of resistance end

Xi and Lula agree to fast track Mercosur trade talks, endorsing a deal Brasilia fought to bury when Uruguay first proposed it.

28 Jul 2026 - 5:13AMvideocam

Chinese President Xi Jinping (left), seen here with Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva in Brasilia, Brazil, in November, 2024. The pair have agreed to accelerate negotiations for a trade agreement between China and Mercosur. Photo: Xinhua

Americas and the Caribbean

Venezuela opposition leader says won’t take part in US-backed talks

Refusal by Maria Corina Machado and Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia deals a blow to Washington-backed efforts for political reconciliation.

27 Jul 2026 - 11:05AM

Cuba

Raul Castro absent as Cuba marks revolutionary anniversary

For the first time in over 30 years, the 95-year-old ex-president skips the July 26 rally.

27 Jul 2026 - 11:34AM

US-Venezuela conflict

Venezuela’s Maduro and wife back in US court, as judge sets 2027 trial date

Defence lawyers to seek dismissal of the drug-trafficking charges for the former president, claiming immunity.

23 Jul 2026 - 11:07AM

Nicolas Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, along with their lawyers at a hearing in New York City. Image: Jane Rosenberg via Reuters

Americas and the Caribbean

27 dead, 83 missing after passenger ferry capsizes off Guyana

Initial signs indicate that the ship flipped over after being hit by a big wave, Public Works Minister Juan Edghill said.

21 Jul 2026 - 7:34AM

Natural disasters

Strong quake off Mexican coast rattles Guatemala and El Salvador

The tremor recalled the recent earthquakes in Venezuela, though there were no immediate reports of deaths or major damage.

18 Jul 2026 - 2:37AM

US-China relations

Trump intel pick to play ‘helpful’ role in agreeing economic strategy with China

Jay Clayton says US can still work together ‘on the world stage economically’ with Beijing despite the geopolitical challenges they face.

16 Jul 2026 - 5:08AMvideocam

Jay Clayton testifies during a Senate Intelligence Committee hearing on his nomination to be the Director of National Intelligence in Washington on Wednesday. Photo: AFP

Earthquakes

Quake-hit Venezuela faces looming health threats as survivors crowd shelters

Poor shelter conditions, lack of clean water and sanitation could leave many thousands vulnerable, PAHO says.

10 Jul 2026 - 12:56PM

A child sleeps inside a tent in a makeshift shelter in the aftermath of the June 24 earthquakes. Photo: Reuters

Cuba

More hardship in fuel-starved Cuba, hit by third nationwide blackout this year

Cuba’s president slams Washington’s ‘strangulation’ of communist island as grid collapse leaves 9.6 million without power.

7 Jul 2026 - 1:07PM

Earthquakes

Venezuela quakes survivor shares ordeal after 8 days buried alive

Security guard recalls surviving darkness, aftershocks and walls shifting before his miraculous rescue from a collapsed building.

6 Jul 2026 - 3:40PMvideocam

Natural disasters

Venezuela leader vows ‘no social unrest’ as quakes toll passes 3,300

Delcy Rodriguez defends emergency response amid growing public anger and UN estimates of up to 50,000 missing.

6 Jul 2026 - 11:36AMvideocam

Rescuers search the rubble of a collapsed building on Sunday. Photo: Reuters

Natural disasters

Venezuela quake death toll rises to nearly 3,000

Tens of thousands remain missing, but international rescue efforts have started winding down.

5 Jul 2026 - 4:58AMvideocam

US rescuers work at the site of a collapsed building in La Guaira, Venezuela, on Friday. Photo: Reuters

Natural disasters

Fallout from Venezuela’s quakes turns political, as Machado seeks return

Amid growing anger over the government’s disaster response, the exiled Nobel Peace laureate says the country needs ‘figures it can trust’.

4 Jul 2026 - 5:13AMvideocam

Earthquakes

Venezuela’s leader defends quake response as thousands remain missing

In her first press conference since taking power after Maduro’s capture by the US, Rodriguez lashes critics.

3 Jul 2026 - 4:01PMvideocam

Natural disasters

‘Truly a miracle’: man rescued from Venezuela rubble 8 days after twin quakes

Multinational teams tunnel through collapsed building to extract security guard as the death toll continues to rise.

3 Jul 2026 - 4:15PMvideocam

Hernan Gil after his rescue from the rubble on Thursday. Photo: AFP

China-Latin America relations

Aid for Venezuela, China-Colombia ties: 7 Latin America relations reads

From Argentina’s move towards Beijing to Lula’s beef deal, here are highlights from the SCMP’s foreign correspondents in June 2026.

2 Jul 2026 - 10:30PM

United States

Venezuela faces post-quake medical crisis as threat of infections looms

A public health emergency in Venezuela, unless quickly controlled, could take more lives in the days and weeks ahead.

2 Jul 2026 - 4:25PMvideocam

Earthquakes

Video | Dog pulled from Venezuela rubble days after quakes

News of the rescue came as Venezuela’s death toll rose above 1,700 on Monday.

1 Jul 2026 - 6:16PM

00:38

Earthquakes

Video | Man digs through Venezuela quake debris to search for family

Quake victims have accused authorities of being too slow in mobilising rescue efforts including sending heavy equipment to help search for more survivors.

1 Jul 2026 - 3:50PM

‘We are going to keep at it’: Venezuela quake victim vows to keep digging for family

02:18

Nicolas Maduro

From raid to relief: US military aids Venezuela after twin earthquakes

US deploys forces and drone assets to spearhead relief, marking a stunning shift for a relationship upended by a raid six months ago.

1 Jul 2026 - 10:50PMvideocam

Americas and the Caribbean

Venezuela survivors pulled from rubble days after quakes

Amid diminishing hope, a preliminary assessment via satellite data says the two earthquakes likely damaged or destroyed 58,870 buildings.

30 Jun 2026 - 9:25PM

China's military weapons

Should China worry more about keeping defence customers than winning new deals?

A study of the risks and opportunities for Chinese weapons exports in global markets cautions against a reductive assumption about quality.

30 Jun 2026 - 5:55PMvideocam

Chinese-made J-10C fighter jets belonging to the Pakistan Air Force. Photo: AFP

Earthquakes

Why did they pancake? Building failures, soft soil amplify Venezuela quake destruction

Experts point to poor code enforcement, risky geography as factors in collapses in the wake of twin earthquakes.

30 Jun 2026 - 2:40PMvideocam

An aerial view shows the catastrophic destruction of flattened housing structures in La Guaira, Venezuela. Photo: Handout via Reuters

United States

Over 100 Venezuelans deported from US missing after quakes level hotel

Their flight landed just hours before the disaster. Their families are searching for answers amid a soaring death toll.

30 Jun 2026 - 10:16AMvideocam

China-Latin America relations

‘Venezuela is our home’: Chinese Venezuelans rally after earthquakes

Merchants across the country transformed shops, warehouses and community networks into a relief effort after the deadliest quakes in decades.

30 Jun 2026 - 8:40AMvideocam

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Venezuela

In message from US jail, Maduro weighs in on Venezuela transition talks

Ex-president calls for ‘reconciliation’ ahead of US-backed meetings between the interim government and opposition.

Colombia bombing near police station wounds 14 ahead of president’s inauguration

.css-1pcrwvc{color:#2aa191;}As I see it | Despite immense power, the US delivers neither butter nor bullets

Brazil turns to China trade deal after Trump tariffs, as years of resistance end

Xi and Lula agree to fast track Mercosur trade talks, endorsing a deal Brasilia fought to bury when Uruguay first proposed it.

Venezuela opposition leader says won’t take part in US-backed talks

Refusal by Maria Corina Machado and Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia deals a blow to Washington-backed efforts for political reconciliation.

Raul Castro absent as Cuba marks revolutionary anniversary

For the first time in over 30 years, the 95-year-old ex-president skips the July 26 rally.

Venezuela’s Maduro and wife back in US court, as judge sets 2027 trial date

Defence lawyers to seek dismissal of the drug-trafficking charges for the former president, claiming immunity.

27 dead, 83 missing after passenger ferry capsizes off Guyana

Initial signs indicate that the ship flipped over after being hit by a big wave, Public Works Minister Juan Edghill said.

Strong quake off Mexican coast rattles Guatemala and El Salvador

The tremor recalled the recent earthquakes in Venezuela, though there were no immediate reports of deaths or major damage.

Trump intel pick to play ‘helpful’ role in agreeing economic strategy with China

Jay Clayton says US can still work together ‘on the world stage economically’ with Beijing despite the geopolitical challenges they face.

Quake-hit Venezuela faces looming health threats as survivors crowd shelters

Poor shelter conditions, lack of clean water and sanitation could leave many thousands vulnerable, PAHO says.

More hardship in fuel-starved Cuba, hit by third nationwide blackout this year

Cuba’s president slams Washington’s ‘strangulation’ of communist island as grid collapse leaves 9.6 million without power.

Venezuela quakes survivor shares ordeal after 8 days buried alive

Security guard recalls surviving darkness, aftershocks and walls shifting before his miraculous rescue from a collapsed building.

Venezuela leader vows ‘no social unrest’ as quakes toll passes 3,300

Delcy Rodriguez defends emergency response amid growing public anger and UN estimates of up to 50,000 missing.

Venezuela quake death toll rises to nearly 3,000

Tens of thousands remain missing, but international rescue efforts have started winding down.

Fallout from Venezuela’s quakes turns political, as Machado seeks return

Amid growing anger over the government’s disaster response, the exiled Nobel Peace laureate says the country needs ‘figures it can trust’.

Venezuela’s leader defends quake response as thousands remain missing

In her first press conference since taking power after Maduro’s capture by the US, Rodriguez lashes critics.

‘Truly a miracle’: man rescued from Venezuela rubble 8 days after twin quakes

Multinational teams tunnel through collapsed building to extract security guard as the death toll continues to rise.

Aid for Venezuela, China-Colombia ties: 7 Latin America relations reads

From Argentina’s move towards Beijing to Lula’s beef deal, here are highlights from the SCMP’s foreign correspondents in June 2026.

Venezuela faces post-quake medical crisis as threat of infections looms

A public health emergency in Venezuela, unless quickly controlled, could take more lives in the days and weeks ahead.

.css-1f6sr3w{color:#727272;}Video | Dog pulled from Venezuela rubble days after quakes

News of the rescue came as Venezuela’s death toll rose above 1,700 on Monday.

Video | Man digs through Venezuela quake debris to search for family

Quake victims have accused authorities of being too slow in mobilising rescue efforts including sending heavy equipment to help search for more survivors.

From raid to relief: US military aids Venezuela after twin earthquakes

US deploys forces and drone assets to spearhead relief, marking a stunning shift for a relationship upended by a raid six months ago.

Venezuela survivors pulled from rubble days after quakes

Amid diminishing hope, a preliminary assessment via satellite data says the two earthquakes likely damaged or destroyed 58,870 buildings.

Should China worry more about keeping defence customers than winning new deals?

A study of the risks and opportunities for Chinese weapons exports in global markets cautions against a reductive assumption about quality.

Why did they pancake? Building failures, soft soil amplify Venezuela quake destruction

Experts point to poor code enforcement, risky geography as factors in collapses in the wake of twin earthquakes.

Over 100 Venezuelans deported from US missing after quakes level hotel

Their flight landed just hours before the disaster. Their families are searching for answers amid a soaring death toll.

‘Venezuela is our home’: Chinese Venezuelans rally after earthquakes

Merchants across the country transformed shops, warehouses and community networks into a relief effort after the deadliest quakes in decades.

As I see it | Despite immense power, the US delivers neither butter nor bullets

Video | Dog pulled from Venezuela rubble days after quakes