Venezuela

• Monday, May 11th 2015 - 09:05 UTC

  Under pressure from Brazil, Venezuela announces legislative elections for end of the year

  

  Venezuela will hold parliamentary elections in the last quarter of this year and the exact date will be announced soon, the head of the National Electoral Council (CNE) said on Sunday. The elected lawmakers will be inaugurated for five years on 2016.

• Wednesday, April 29th 2015 - 09:14 UTC

  Oil rich but power short Venezuela cuts working day to save electricity

  

  Venezuela says it will cut the working day for public sector workers to five-and-a-half hours to conserve energy, down from eight to nine hours. The initiative is part of a nationwide electricity rationing plan.

• Monday, April 20th 2015 - 23:59 UTC

  China makes effective 5bn dollars loan to Venezuela for 'development plans'

  

  China has awarded Venezuela 5 billion dollars for unspecified “development plans,” President Nicolas Maduro said on Sunday, approximately three months after an official visit to China. According to published reports, the loan is part of a 10 billion deal to be completed in the following months.

• Friday, April 10th 2015 - 07:14 UTC

  Cuba and US hold historic meeting at highest level in Panama

  

  US Secretary of State John Kerry and Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez have held talks, in the highest level meeting between the two countries in more than half a century. The two were involved in closed-door discussions after arriving in Panama for a summit.

• Friday, March 20th 2015 - 08:23 UTC

  Venezuela condemns US 'tyrannical” attempts in New York Times full page ad

  

  Venezuela has placed a full page ad in The New York Times decrying what it charges are “tyrannical” attempts by the US government to undermine its socialist system. The ad declaring that “Venezuela is not a threat” comes amid mounting tensions between the two countries after President Nicolás Maduro this month accused Washington of plotting to oust him and ordered the US Embassy in Caracas to slash staffing levels.

• Wednesday, March 18th 2015 - 08:37 UTC

  Brazil coordinates efforts to guarantee supply of basic products to Venezuela

  

  Following a request from Venezuela, the Brazilian government has acted alongside Brazilian companies to guarantee supply of basic products during Venezuela's economic crisis, according to diplomatic sources. The request was made by President Nicolas Maduro in at least two meetings with President Dilma Rousseff, in December 2014 and the day after Rousseff began her second term, on January 2.

• Monday, March 16th 2015 - 10:48 UTC

  President Maduro will rule the rest of the year with decree powers

  

  Venezuela's parliament has granted President Nicolas Maduro decree powers for the rest of 2015 in a move he says is to defend the country from US meddling but opponents decry as evidence of autocracy. In a noisy National Assembly session, ruling Socialist Party legislators, who have a majority, applauded the “Enabling Law” as a legitimate response to a US declaration that Venezuela is a security threat and sanctions on seven officials.

• Monday, March 16th 2015 - 10:08 UTC

  Unasur calls on the US to revoke measures against Venezuela and implement dialogue

  

  The Union of South American Nations (UNASUR) slammed the United States for its decision to label Venezuela as a security threat and impose sanctions against a number of its officials, calling on Washington to revoke the measure.

• Friday, March 13th 2015 - 10:51 UTC

  New York Times warns Obama's strategy towards Venezuela could be failing

  

  In an editorial piece, “A failing relationship with Venezuela”, The New York Times expressed doubts about the latest measures imposed by the Obama administration on seven top officials from the Venezuelan government and goes even further questioning whether they will not end actually reinforcing President Nicolas Maduro position.

• Wednesday, March 11th 2015 - 06:54 UTC

  Unasur to hold a presidential summit on the Venezuela/US confrontation

  

  Unasur (Union of South American Nations) presidents will meet next week to respond to the “grotesque and illegal” meddling of the United States in Venezuelan affairs announced Ecuadorean president Rafael Correa.