Long queues at gas stations around the country underscore Venezuela's continuing fuel shortages, despite Iran stepping in to help its Latin American ally with a major fuel shipment last month.

A judge in London on Thursday said the UK government has "unequivocally recognized" opposition leader Juan Guaido as Venezuela's president, in a battle over its gold bullion held at the Bank of England.

Venezuela's Supreme Court on Tuesday approved opposition member Luis Parra as parliament speaker after a tense, months-long stand-off with opposition leader Juan Guaido, who also claims the role. 

One of five Iranian tankers carrying much-needed gasoline and oil derivatives arrived Tuesday at Venezuela's main oil refinery, officials said.

Two Americans were arrested in Venezuela on Monday for a failed "invasion" that the government has blamed on opposition leader Juan Guaido, President Nicolas Maduro said.

Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido, on a charm offensive to back his bid to oust his country's leader, claimed Saturday to have the "firm support" of French President Emmanuel Macron.

The United Nations says seven countries are so far behind in paying their dues that they are losing their voting privileges in the 193-member General Assembly, including Venezuela and Lebanon.

U.N. spokesman Stephane Dujarric said Friday that three other countries — Comoros, Sao Tome and Principe and Somalia — are also in arrears by the assembly decided in October that they can retain their vote until September.

The year 2019 saw an explosion of demonstrations across the world as people demanded an overhaul of entrenched political systems and action on climate change.

The EU on Friday imposed sanctions on seven Venezuelan intelligence and security officials for alleged grave rights violations including torture and the killing of a renegade captain.

The right-hand man of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro is in North Korea leading a "high-level delegation", state media in the North said Thursday, as both nations grapple with economic pressures from international sanctions.