Venezuela's Maduro blasts US sanctions on him as 'desperate and hateful'

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro said US President Donald Trump's decision against him reflected the "character of the emperor of the US". The unpopular socialist leader's comments came after the US Department of the Treasury slapped sanctions on Maduro earlier on Monday (31 July).The sanctions came in response to the controversial election that took place in the South American country a day earlier, which the US government called a "sham".