Venezuela

• Wednesday, December 4th 2013 - 06:00 UTC

  Blackout leaves Maduro speechless; blame falls on the fascist opposition'

  

  A huge power outage that darkened Venezuela's capital and parts of the country was a conspiracy to sabotage the Socialist government, according to Venezuela's President Nicholas Maduro. The blackout came five days ahead of Sunday's municipal elections.

• Friday, November 29th 2013 - 07:23 UTC

  Desperately dollar-short Venezuela planning gold reserves swap operation

  

  Venezuela is evaluating a swap agreement involving gold reserves as a way to fortify dollar supplies in a country which suffers chronic product shortages and inflation close to 55%. Opposition leader Henrique Capriles said last week that the government was negotiating a swap operation with Goldman Sachs involving 1.45 million ounces of gold worth around 1.86 billion dollars.

• Thursday, November 28th 2013 - 10:31 UTC

  Maduro tells Central bank he expects 5% deflation in November because of the mandatory price cuts

  

  President Nicolás Maduro has sent clear messages to the Venezuelan central bank arguing that following the 'economic war' he declared on big business and hoarding with the mandatory cuts in prices, November should register “5% deflation and not inflation”.

• Wednesday, November 27th 2013 - 07:10 UTC

  “Capitalists speculate and steal, as we do” admits in a passionate slip Maduro

  

  No end to Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro oral bloopers. In campaign for the municipal elections of 8 December and in the midst of an economic war on big business of which it accuses of promoting inflation and destabilizing his government, a self confession or “sincericide” (a blend of sincerity and suicide) became the delight of social networks ant twitters.

• Monday, November 25th 2013 - 08:03 UTC

  Tens of thousands turn out to the streets to protest Venezuela economic situation

  

  Tens of thousands of opposition supporters marched in Venezuela on Saturday to pressure President Nicolás Maduro’s government before December 8 local elections after their leader denounced the pre-dawn arrest of an aide.

• Saturday, November 23rd 2013 - 06:30 UTC

  Kennedy killed by CIA conspiracy for acting weak with Cuba, claims Maduro

  

  President John F Kennedy was murdered by a CIA conspiracy including groups linked to the anti-Castro and Sicilian mafias because he was 'weak' with Cuba, claimed Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro who remembered events of 50 years ago in Dallas.

• Saturday, November 16th 2013 - 07:25 UTC

  Next Tuesday Venezuelan president Maduro will begin governing by decree

  

  Venezuela's legislature gave initial backing this week to a measure granting extraordinary powers over the economy to President Nicolas Maduro, which means next Tuesday, when the second vote, he will be able to govern by decree without having to seek parliamentary approval.

• Wednesday, November 13th 2013 - 06:24 UTC

  Guyana terms “illegal” and “spurious” Venezuela's claim over the Esequibo

  

  Guyana's Minister of Foreign Affairs Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett termed “illegal” and “spurious” Venezuela's claim over Essequibo, which is equivalent to a third of the former British colony territory.

• Wednesday, November 13th 2013 - 00:25 UTC

  For 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.

• Tuesday, November 12th 2013 - 08:14 UTC

  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.