Reuters first to report Venezuela reaches deal with U.N. to buy food, medicine with gold

Reuters broke the news that Venezuela has reached a deal with the U.N. Development Programme to destine part of its gold in Bank of England accounts toward the purchase of food and medicine during the coronavirus pandemic. The deal comes after Venezuela’s central bank made a legal claim to try to force the Bank of England to hand over part of the 31 tonnes of gold in accounts belonging to the government of President Nicolas Maduro, whom Britain does not recognize as Venezuela’s legitimate leader due to allegations he rigged his 2018 re-election.