said Guaido, a 35-year-old industrial engineer, in his first speech. “This National Assembly, as the only legitimate power elected by Venezuelans, assumes the representation of the people.”

Venezuela’s annual inflation now tops 1 million percent and basic food and medicine are out of the reach of most citizens, spurring an exodus of some 3 million people since 2015, according to the United Nations.

Maduro says the country is the victim of an “economic war” by opposition leaders with the help of Washington, which has levied several rounds of sanctions against his government and top officials.

He won a second term in 2018, but the vote was broadly boycotted by the opposition on the grounds that it was rigged in his favor.

The ruling Socialist Party with the help of the country’s topJanuary 31, 2011

Catholics throughout Laos have welcomed their new priest, ordained for a northern long-time vicariate that has not had a priestly ordination in 30 years. Father Pierre Buntha Silaphet was ordained a priest for Luang Prabang apostolic vicariate on Jan. 29 by Bishop Louis Marie Ling Mangkhanekhoun of Pakse at a service attended by some 1,000 people of Catholic and other denominations. Church sources say Luang Prabang vicariate has not had a priestly ordination for more than 30 years. Father Buntha, 34, is from Sayaboury village, northern Laos. The ethnic Khomu priest is the youngest of a family with seven siblings. His parents are farmers. After finishing his philosophical and theological studies at St. John Vianney Major Seminary in Thakhek, he also studied English for one year