Politics

• Thursday, March 7th 2013 - 06:56 UTC

  Cuban leadership trusts Venezuelan oil and financial aid will continue to pour in

  

  A mix of sorrow, self-interest and dread took hold of Cuba as word spread like wildfire that Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez, who had done so much for the country, was dead. While the official newscast devoted its entire program to events unfolding in Caracas, the government reaction was slow in coming.

• Thursday, March 7th 2013 - 06:52 UTC

  Gibraltar represented for the first time at United Nations Commission

  

  For the first time ever Gibraltar is represented at the United Nations Commission on the status of women. Minister for Equality and Social Services, Samantha Sacramento has been attending the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) 57th Session at the United Nations Headquarters in New York.

• Thursday, March 7th 2013 - 06:39 UTC

  Brazil basic rate unchanged at record low 7.25%, but inflation could reverse policy

  

  Brazil’s central bank on Wednesday kept its benchmark rate at a record low 7.25% for the third straight meeting as policy makers seek to prop the anaemic economy which last year only advanced 0.9%.

• Wednesday, March 6th 2013 - 11:04 UTC

  Obama calls for a ‘constructive’ future relationship with Venezuela

  

  President Barack Obama said within hours of the death of President Hugo Chavez Tuesday that the United States was interested in a “constructive” future relationship with Venezuela.

• Wednesday, March 6th 2013 - 10:59 UTC

  As president for 14 years, “Chavez left a lasting impression on Venezuela and more widely”

  

  The UK Foreign secretary has paid tribute to Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, who he said left a “lasting impression” on his country. Chavez, 58, died on Tuesday after being seriously ill with cancer, ending his 14-year rule.

• Wednesday, March 6th 2013 - 10:54 UTC

  Chavez funeral ceremony at the Military Academy, ‘cradle of the Bolivarian revolution’

  

  The Venezuelan government declared seven days of national mourning and suspended classes until next Friday as it organizes the funeral of President Hugo Chavez that is scheduled to take place at the Military Academy, where he will lie in state beginning Wednesday morning.

• Wednesday, March 6th 2013 - 10:50 UTC

  Nicolas Maduro named interim president; elections within 30 days

  

  Venezuelan Vice President Nicolas Maduro will take over as interim president of the country while elections are organized within 30 days following the death of Hugo Chavez, Foreign Minister Elias Jaua announced on Tuesday.

• Wednesday, March 6th 2013 - 10:46 UTC

  Santos pays special tribute to Chavez for his efforts to help bring peace to Colombia

  

  Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos regretted the loss of Hugo Chavez and attributed the advances in the peace process of his government with the FARC Marxist guerrillas (Colombian Revolutionary Armed Forces) to the deceased Venezuelan leader.

• Wednesday, March 6th 2013 - 10:43 UTC

  Latinamerican leaders praise Chavez and prepare to travel to Caracas for his funeral on Friday

  

  All Latinamerican leaders expressed their deep sorrow over the death of President Hugo Chavez, and several of them will be travelling to Caracas for his funeral scheduled next Friday.

• Wednesday, March 6th 2013 - 02:06 UTC

  Venezuela announces the death of President Hugo Chavez

  

  Venezuelan Vice-President Nicolás Maduro announced during a nation-wide transmission that President Hugo Chávez “has died today at 4:25pm.”