menu submit News More Middle East Documentaries More Shows More Investigations Opinion More More FEATURESVENEZUELA1 HOUR AGO Venezuela: What is happening? A look at the country's ongoing protests against the government of President Maduro and the current political situation. President Maduro says the opposition is conspiring with foreigners to destabilise the country [Handout via REUTERS] Venezuela's capital, Caracas, has seen almost daily demonstrations over the past weeks, some of which became violent. Protesters say President Nicolas Maduro is moving towards tyranny, and they want him to resign. Watch: Is it the end of socialism in Venezuela? (25:00) But Maduro says the opposition is conspiring with foreigners to destabilise the country. Venezuela's defence minister Padrino Lopez has declared the army's "unconditional loyalty" to Maduro, who ordered troops on to the streets before a major protest by opponents that will take place on Wednesday. Here are four questions to understand Venezuela's current situation. How did the protests start this year in Venezuela? The instability and the political turmoil in the country reached a peak on March 30, when Venezuela's Supreme court ruled that it will take over the opposition-led Congress' legislative powers, in a move condemned by opposition parties as an attempt to install a dictatorship. The court, said that as long as Congress remains in "contempt" of past court rulings "congressional functions will be exercised by this chamber or another chosen organ". Security forces violently repressed protests that broke out the next day. What led to Venezuela's 'coup'? In January 2016, the Supreme Court suspended the elections of four legislators - three that were enrolled with the opposition and one with the ruling party - for alleged voting irregularities. The opposition accused the court of trying to strip them of their super-majority, and went ahead and swore in three of the legislators in question. In response, the Supreme Court ruled that the entire National Assembly was in contempt and all decisions it made would be null. The deadlock continued, when electoral officials suspended a recall referendum against Maduro and postponed regional elections until 2017. After the National Assembly refused to approve the country's state-run oil company PDVSA from forming joint ventures with private companies, the government went to the Supreme Court, which ruled that it will take over the opposition-led Congress' legislative powers. WATCH - Venezuela: Life after Chavez [25:00] What other problems does Venezuela have? Venezuela is not facing only one crisis but many, all of which are connected and affecting the lives of ordinary citizens. One of them is the economic crisis. Inflation is out of control and is expected to rise to 1,660 percent this year. According to the International Monetary Fund, next year's projection is even higher as the government is running out of cash. There is no money left for imports such as food and medicine. Many people in Venezuela cannot get access to food and are suffering from malnutrition on a widespread level. Over the past year, 74 percent of Venezuelans lost an average of 8.7kg in weight and critics are blaming the government of Maduro. However, the economic crisis is hitting Venezuela's public health system the hardest. In the country's public hospitals, where treatment should be free, medicine, equipment and even food is increasingly not available. READ MORE: Venezuela military controls food as nation goes hungry On top of that, a political crisis in crippling the country. Amid a three-year economic crisis and record levels of violent crime and poverty, Maduro's popularity has dipped to its lowest point of the last few years. The opposition blames Maduro for an economic implosion that has seen severe food shortages, a health crisis, hyperinflation, violence and looting in a once-booming country that is home to the world's largest oil reserves. He also has been accused of using authoritarian methods to stop dissent. Venezuela's political opposition has been represented mainly by the Democratic Unity Roundtable, which is a group that's formed by different parties. However, many distrust parts of the coalition, which includes figures who were active in politics decades ago. The coalition has also been criticised for having struggles over power as well as disagreements over ideology and policy. What are the latest developments? Demonstrators in Venezuela have fought with security officers during protests calling for President Nicolas Maduro to step down. Police fired tear gas to disperse crowds that had gathered in the capital, Caracas. Although the court quickly reversed its decision, street protests have continued. Venezuelan authorities have banned top opposition leader Henrique Capriles from running for office for 15 years, the latest move in an increasingly tense power struggle. Capriles, 44, has been the most prominent leader of Venezuela's opposition over the past decade, twice coming close to winning the presidency. Venezuela's defence minister has declared the army's "unconditional loyalty" to Maduro, who ordered troops on to the streets before a major protest by opponents. Maduro has ordered the army to march on April 17 in "defence of morality" and "in repudiation of the traitors of the country", a demonstration of force that will take place on the eve of the "great march" called by the opposition in Caracas. Captain Juan Escalona and new presidential commissioner, said on Twitter: Translation: People be aware! President @NicolasMaduro is denouncing, to the country and the world, the coup plans that the right has launched in Venezuela! Capriles has also called on people to go out Translation:Tomorrow (Wednesday) we will make the voice of Venezuelans feel abroad! World Protest against 'Dictaduro' and its 'self-coup' WATCH: How close is Venezuela to the brink of total collapse? (25:00) Source: Al Jazeera News

Sgt. Solaiman Calocop and Private 1st Class Samuel Garay were reunited with their families on Wednesday. JOHN UNSON

DAVAO DEL SUR, Philippines — Communist Rebels freed on Wednesday two soldiers they abducted in Columbio, Sultan Kudarat more than two months ago.

 

Sgt. Solaiman Calocop and Private 1st Class Samuel Garay of the Army's 39th Infantry Battalion were released by a group of New People’s Army guerrillas to Columbio Mayor Amir Musali in Barangay Colonbasac in Matanao, Davao del Sur.

 

Calocop and Garay were riding a motorcycle together en route to their detachment in a hinterland area in Columbio town on February 2 when they were snatched by the NPA. The NPA considers them and other security personnel in their custody as prisoners of war.

 

Senior Inspector Bernard Francia, chief of the Columbio municipal police, said the two soldiers looked slightly emaciated, but are both in good health.

 

The two soldiers immediately reported to their battalion, a component unit of the Army’s 10th Infantry Division.

 

Francia said the families of Calocop and Garay had issued a common statement thanking the crisis committee that secured their release.

 

The committee is comprised of local officials in Columbio and Sultan Kudarat Gov. Pax Mangudadatu.

 

“The two soldiers both said they were treated fairly while in captivity,” Francia told reporters.

 

The families of the two soldiers also thanked President Rodrigo Duterte for agreeing not to launch pursuit operations against the NPAs during their captivity in the jungle border of Sultan Kudarat and Davao del Sur provinces.