Some Venezuelans manage to endure the nation's economic meltdown by clinging to the shrinking number of well-paid jobs or by receiving some of the hundreds of millions of dollars sent home by friends and relatives abroad — a quantity that has swollen in recent years as millions of Venezuelans have fled. But a growing percentage of people across the country, especially in slums like Petare, are struggling to cope.

The US central bank since early this year has signalled a "patient" approach to increase borrowing costs, drawing an end to a gradual, three-year cycle of monetary tightening marked by nine rate hikes, including seven during the 2017-2018 period.

The transfers show at least some Iranian fuel oil is being traded despite the reimposition of sanctions in November 2018.

Germany was in touch with several member-nations of the European Union to list Azhar as a terrorist which will result in his travel ban as well as the freezing of his assets in the 28-country bloc.