Venezuela

Monday, June 8th 2015 - 08:05 UTC
Maduro cancels trip to Rome and meeting with the Pope because of a 'flu spell'

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro announced he had canceled a planned trip to Rome and Vatican during which he was due to meet Pope Francis, because he is sick with flu. Analysts believe the 'diplomatic' flu spell could be linked to protests in Rome and the Vatican bringing up the issue of political prisoners, following on several letters sent to the Holy See.
Monday, June 8th 2015 - 08:00 UTC
Felipe Gonzalez in Venezuela to help lawyers defending political prisoners

Former Spanish prime minister Felipe González has arrived in Venezuela, where he intends to help lawyers defending imprisoned opposition leader Leopoldo Lopez and Caracas mayor Antonio Ledezma, who is under house arrest.
Monday, June 1st 2015 - 07:32 UTC
Cabello denies cocaine trafficking and will file complaints against media reports in Spain and US

Venezuelan parliament chief Diosdado Cabello said in an interview on Sunday that he plans to file lawsuits in Spain and the United States following media reports that link him and other top officials to cocaine trafficking and money laundering.
Monday, May 25th 2015 - 07:25 UTC
Jailed Venezuelan opposition leaders declare themselves on hunger strike

Jailed opposition leader Leopoldo Lopez has declared himself on hunger strike and called for a protest march next weekend against Venezuela's populist government. Lopez, the best-known opposition activist in custody, was jailed more than a year ago for his role in instigating street protests against President Nicolas Maduro that led to violence killing 43 people and injuring hundreds more.
Thursday, May 21st 2015 - 06:45 UTC
Venezuelan government targets opposition leader Capriles for making “false allegations”

Barely one week after Venezuela’s President of the National Assembly of Venezuela Diosdado Cabello filed a defamation suit against 22 media executives and editors for publishing reports linking him to an international drug-trafficking, another high-level minister announced they would be filing suit against opposition leader Henrique Capriles for making “false allegations.”
Wednesday, May 20th 2015 - 04:42 UTC
US targets Venezuela's second strongest man for alleged cocaine trafficking

Despite persistent denials of any wrongdoing from Caracas, US authorities are currently investigating Venezuela’s powerful parliamentary chief, Diosdado Cabello, and other senior officials over alleged cocaine-trafficking and money-laundering, the Wall Street Journal reported.
Friday, May 15th 2015 - 04:41 UTC
Exxon discovers oil off Guyana coast, in territory claimed by Venezuela

Exxon Mobil Corp has discovered oil off the coast of Guyana, the company and the South American nation's government said on Thursday, potentially inflaming a long-running territorial dispute with neighboring 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.