Venezuela
VenezuelaFor the third time in five years, Miss Venezuela takes the Miss Universe crown
For the third time in five years, Miss Venezuela has taken the Miss Universe crown. Gabriela Isler became the 62nd Miss Universe last weekend beating out 85 other hopefuls in the 2013 pageant held at Moscow’s Crocus City Hall in Russia.
Maduro promises more price controls while bargain hunters empty appliance stores
Venezuelans stood in lines outside appliance stores for a fourth day on Monday after President Nicolas Maduro deployed the army to force retailers to slash prices. After taking control of several appliance stores last week, Maduro vowed late Sunday to step up inspections of businesses selling shoes, clothes, automobiles and other goods to make sure they aren’t gouging consumers.
Mercosur cancels summit until end of January waiting for Cristina Fernandez
The Mercosur summit scheduled for December in Venezuela has been suspended and will most probably take place sometime in late January announced Uruguayan president Jose Mujica who on Friday cancelled a trip to Brasilia to meet with his peer Dilma Rousseff.
Venezuela joins the hyperinflation club: 54.3% in last twelve months and climbing
Venezuela's consumer prices rose 5.1% in October, pushing the 12-month inflation rate to 54.3%, the highest mark since the late President Hugo Chávez took power in 1999. The news was released by the central bank on Thursday which also revealed that the scarcity index had reached its highest level since 2009.
President Maduro declares that 'early Christmas” has arrived in Venezuela
Venezuela's Supreme Happiness ministry is rolling: President Nicolás Maduro declared official the arrival of “early Christmas”, nearly two months ahead of the actual holiday and the surprise was that all workers will receive the first two-thirds of their bonuses and pensions on November 10/11, which critics claim is only meant to get him votes in the municipal elections of December 8.
Mercosur meets in Caracas to consolidate `'joint and only presentation' before EU
Mercosur members will be holding an extraordinary meeting in Caracas on 15 November to define an 'only joint position of the group ahead of the presentation to the European Union, in the framework of negotiations for the trade and cooperation accord, said Venezuelan foreign minister Elías Jaua.
Dollar-short Venezuela creates new exchange rate system for arriving tourists
Venezuela will create a new exchange rate for tourists to buy up to US$10,000 of the local Bolivar currency per year in a measure intended to help reduce black market trading, the government said in its official gazette.
Paraguayan congress should vote Venezuela's incorporation to Mercosur before December summit
Foreign minister Eladio Loizaga revealed that the Paraguayan congress must first approve Venezuela's protocol of incorporation to Mercosur before the country can attend the coming bloc's summit scheduled for next 17 December in Caracas.
Mercosur calls special meeting in November to consolidate trade proposal before the EU
Mercosur will be holding a special meeting of foreign ministers next 15 November in Caracas to consolidate “Mercosur presentation before the European Union”, according to a release from the Argentine Foreign ministry.
In a further step to normalize relations Paraguay names new ambassador to Venezuela
Paraguay has named veteran diplomat Enrique Jara as new ambassador in Venezuela, giving a further step towards the full normalization of relations that had been interrupted since July 2012 when the two countries expelled their respective accredited staff.
