Kerry meets Venezuela's Maduro amid vote tensions

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry met Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro on Monday, the first formal encounter between the two since Kerry became the top U.S. diplomat. The two sat down together after a ceremony in the Colombian city of Cartagena to mark the signing of a peace agreement to end that country's civil war. "(Kerry) spoke of our concern about the economic and political challenges that have affected millions of Venezuelans, and he urged President Maduro to work constructively with opposition leaders to address these challenges," said State Department Spokesman John Kirby. Kerry and Maduro also agreed to continue bilateral discussions that began in recent months, Kirby said. More…