The crisis in Venezuela
CBSN
Christmas came early this year in Venezuela. The season officially began October 1, as decreed by the country's authoritarian president, Nicolás Maduro. "I am going to declare the advancement of Christmas to the first of October," he said.
The absurdity would be laughable if this weren't the perfect snapshot of Venezuela's black-is-white, dystopian unreality, an oil-rich country so devastated economically that it can't even keep the lights on … where life is so unlivable that a quarter of its population (nearly 8 million people) has fled.
"He needed a distraction," said former New York Times journalist William Neuman. "It's bread and circuses."
Chiva, Spain — The death toll from historic flash floods in Spain climbed to at least 205 people Friday, with many more believed to be missing, as the initial shock gave way to anger, frustration and a wave of solidarity. Spanish emergency authorities said 202 of the victims were in the Valencia region alone, and officials warned that more rains were expected in the coming days.