Venezuela closes border with Brazil

Venezuela's President, Nicolás Maduro, closed the border with Brazil as he was fighting for humanitarian aid.

The leader in crisis said that he could also close the border with Colombia to prevent the opposition from providing relief.

The rate of inflation in Venezuela has led to a surge in prices, forcing many Venezuelans to obtain basic necessities such as food, toiletries and medicines.

President Maduro denies any crisis and calls for aid delivery plans a show orchestrated by the United States.

His ally, Russia, accused the United States of trying to arm Venezuela's opposition.

Rival concerts will be held on both sides of a bridge connecting Venezuela and Colombia later on Friday.

On the Colombian side, an event will be organized to raise funds for Venezuela. At the same time, Maduro's government will hold its own concert just 300 meters away.

Opposition leader Juan Guaidó and his allies hope to collect food and medicine gathered Saturday in neighboring Brazil and Colombia, in defiance of President Maduro.

President of the National Assembly, Mr. Guaidó declared himself acting head of anti-government demonstrations last month. It is recognized by dozens of countries, including the United States and most Latin American countries.

The Branson concert will take place on the Colombian side of the Tienditas Bridge …

Brazilian border: confrontation of aid

The border with Brazil remained closed on Friday morning, but the local G1 website revealed that a group of Venezuelans had managed to cross the Brazilian city of Pacaraima on foot via an unofficial route.

Mr Maduro announced Thursday that the border would be closed "completely and absolutely" until further notice and indicated that he was considering a "total closure" of the border with Colombia.

Brazil had previously indicated that, in coordination with the United States, food and medicines would be available to be collected by "the government of interim President Juan Guaidó in Venezuelan trucks driven by Venezuelans".

Colombian Border: Battle of the Bands

British entrepreneur Sir Richard Branson organized a concert near the Tienditas Bridge crossing in Cucuta in the hope of raising around $ 100 million (£ 77 million) to buy food and medicine from Venezuelans.

Venezuela Aid Live, he said, was organized at the request of Mr. Guaidó and another opposition leader, Leopoldo López, under house arrest. About 250,000 people are expected.

The Venezuelan government erected a scene on its side of the pbad for its Hands Off Venezuela event.

… and a step of the Venezuelan government has not gone far

According to the UN, more than three million Venezuelans have fled in recent years as the country struggles with hyperinflation and a shortage of basic necessities.

Despite the denial of any humanitarian crisis, Maduro announced this week that 300 tons of aid would be shipped from his ally, Russia.

At the same time, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said the attempt to provide help could spark violence and serve as a pretext for the Americans to sack Mr. Maduro.

Citing unspecified information, she also accused the United States and its NATO allies of discussing how to arm Venezuelan opposition and claimed that US special forces and materiel were deployed near the country.

Guaidó goes to Cúcuta

Guaidó is leading a convoy that left the capital, Caracas, on Thursday for Cucuta, about 800 km away.

He said that 600,000 volunteers have already registered to help deliver aid to Venezuela while the The Venezuelan government has announced that it will deliver 20,600 of its own food boxes at the Colombian border.

The Venezuelan army has so far resisted calls for the abandonment of Mr. Maduro, in power since 2013.

Hugo Carvajal, former intelligence chief, called on the military to break with the president and allow him to provide help. In a video posted online, the deputy recognized Guaidó as "president in charge" and reprimanded Mr. Maduro.

"You have killed hundreds of young people in the streets for trying to claim the rights you stole from them – not to mention the deaths for lack of medicine and safety."

Guaidó's aides in Washington said that 11 Venezuelan diplomats based in the United States had defected and declared their support.