Maduro attempted to outlaw Venezuela’s largest ­banknote in mid-December, a measure that he said would strike at foreign powers conspiring to sabotage his socialist government.

In a news conference in mid-December, Obama noted that tension in his late-term responsibilities in response to a question about the violence in Syria.

In a news conference in mid-December, Mr. Obama noted that tension in his late-term responsibilities in response to a question about the violence in Syria.