'Neither sanctions nor violence will be able to stop us' Venezuela's Maduro responds to US

Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro was in a defiant mood on Wednesday (January 31) after the U.S. began reimposing sanctions on Caracas, following a move by the South American country's top court to uphold a ban blocking the candidacy of the leading opposition hopeful in presidential elections. "Neither sanctions nor violence will be able to stop us," Maduro said during the opening of the new court term in Caracas, adding that Venezuela would hold presidential elections this year. U.S. is considering additional measures against Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro ’s government after the South American country’s highest court blocked the presidential candidacy of an opposition leader. This comes after the U.S. government on Monday pulled back part of the sanctions relief it granted Venezuela last year, following through on its threat to do so after Maduro reneged on a deal his administration made last year in Barbados with the Venezuelan opposition to hold free elections in 2024. Venezuelan National Assembly president Jorge Rodríguez replied on Tuesday (January 30) to the Treasury Department's warnings about the return of sanctions on the South American country if it does not comply with the election deal. Rodriguez, who also leads the government's representation in the talks with the opposition, advised the United States: "Save the ultimatum (until April), shit Yankees."