Venezuela – News Stories About Venezuela - Page 22

Venezuela
To Pick Up Hostages
in Colombia

Dec 26, 2007 5:48 PM CST

Venezuela To Pick Up Hostages in Colombia

Guerrillas will release under Chavez plan

(Newser) - Three hostages held for more than five years by Marxist guerrillas will soon go free after Colombia agreed today to a handover plan engineered by Hugo Chavez, Reuters reports. Venezuelan planes and helicopters will pick up Clara Rojas, a former vice presidential candidate kidnapped in 2002; the young son she...

Former Ally Now Rivals Chavez

Dec 24, 2007 6:05 PM CST

Former Ally Now Rivals Chavez

Ex-defense minister pressed Chavez to admit referendum defeat

(Newser) - An ex-ally has become a formidable rival for Hugo Chavez after the president's defeat in a constitutional referendum that would have given him more power and the right to unlimited reelection. The Wall Street Journal explores the career of Raul Baduel, Chavez’ former friend and defense minister, who protected Chavez...

Argentine Prez Campaign Cash Tied to Chavez

Dec 14, 2007 4:29 AM CST

Argentine Prez Campaign Cash Tied to Chavez

$800,000 in suitcase seized en route to Kirchner, US says

(Newser) - US prosecutors are accusing the Hugo Chavez government of sneaking donations to the election campaign of new Argentine President Cristina Kirchner, writes the Guardian. A suitcase filled with $800,000, seized at Buenos Aires airport , was on its way from Caracas to Kirchner, one of the men involved in the...

Chavez
Calls Time
for Venezuela

Dec 10, 2007 9:30 AM CST

Chavez Calls Time for Venezuela

President orders country's clocks to make 30-minute shift

(Newser) - In an apparent move by Hugo Chavez to thumb his nose at Washington, Venezuela turned back the clock for good yesterday. The shift creates a single-nation time zone 4 hours and 30 minutes behind Greenwich Mean Time. Supporters of the move say waking up earlier will boost productivity, but others...

Not So Noble After All

OPINION

Dec 8, 2007 4:23 PM CST

Not So Noble After All

Chavez tried to fix results, demanded margin of error be shrunk

(Newser) - Why was Hugo Chavez so princely in defeat last week, never demanding a recount after losing at the polls? Because he did try to fix the vote behind closed doors, and relented only when officials slimmed the margin of defeat to help him save face, writes Newsweek's Jorge Castaneda.

OPEC Declines to Boost
Oil Output

Dec 6, 2007 10:33 AM CST

OPEC Declines to Boost Oil Output

$80 crude seems to be producers' new target; $3 gas isn't going anywhere soon

(Newser) - OPEC’s decision yesterday not to boost oil production, despite prices hovering around $90 a barrel, underscores a new reality, the New York Times observes: the oil producers aim to keep prices nearly that high—say around $80 a barrel—a target unthinkable a few years ago. In the US,...

Chavez Loses Vote in Upset

Dec 3, 2007 2:57 AM CST

Chavez Loses Vote in Upset

Foes dance in the streets

(Newser) - In a stunning upset, Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez has lost a referendum that would have allowed him to run for president as many times as he pleased. Foes danced in the streets as results were announced early today. Venezuelans rejected the sweeping measures 51% to 49%. "This was a...

Exit Polls Give Chavez Victory

Dec 2, 2007 8:06 PM CST

Exit Polls Give Chavez Victory

Opposition doubts early results as supporters party in the streets

(Newser) - Chavez supporters waved flags in the streets today as exit polls showed him winning a referendum by six to eight points, Reuters reports. Anti-Chavez forces rejected the numbers, leaked by government-connected sources. "According to our information, it is a statistical tie," said the popular mayor of Caracas. He...

Venezuela Calmly Goes
to Polls

Dec 2, 2007 3:07 PM CST

Venezuela Calmly Goes to Polls

Chavez seeks to end prez term limits, enact socialist reforms

(Newser) - Polls are orderly today as Venezuelans decide on an amendment that may make Chavez president for life, Reuters reports. Most surveys say voters are split 50/50 on the referendum, which Chavez vows will win by 10 points and usher in “21st century socialism.” Opponents say the changes, which...

Chavez Threatens Oil Cutoff

Dec 1, 2007 7:46 AM CST

Chavez Threatens Oil Cutoff

Warns US against trying to sabotage vote

(Newser) - Hugo Chavez has threatened to cut off oil to the US if it tries to sabotage tomorrow's referendum, which will allow the Venezuelan president to run for re-election indefinitely, Reuters reports. He's sent the army to protect oil fields in case violence follows the vote to change the constitution and...

Chavez Foes Stage Mass Rally

Nov 29, 2007 4:24 PM CST

Chavez Foes Stage Mass Rally

Thousands take to the streets ahead of Sunday's vote

(Newser) - Tens of thousands took to the streets in Caracas today to protest Hugo Chavez's proposal to bolster his power and institute socialist changes. Venezuelans will vote Sunday on 69 constitutional reforms, including the eradication of presidential term limits. "We can't be a communist Venezuela," one opposition leader told...

Chavez Threatens to Boot US Diplomat Over Vote 'Plot'

Nov 29, 2007 3:54 AM CST

Chavez Threatens to Boot US Diplomat Over Vote 'Plot'

US accused of plotting against Chavez

(Newser) - Venezuela threatened to expel a US diplomat for allegedly plotting against President Hugo Chavez' plan to run for re-election indefinitely. It's the latest headline-grabbing move by Chavez before a referendum on changes to the nation's constitution. Chavez has also accused CNN of encouraging an assassination plot against him, and has...

Chavez Fumes Over Caption Goof on CNN

Nov 28, 2007 8:06 PM CST

Chavez Fumes Over Caption Goof on CNN

Venezuelan leader says channel trying to incite assassins

(Newser) - An honest flub? No way, says Venezuela's Hugo Chavez. After CNN showed a picture of Chavez with the words, “Who killed him?”—a caption meant for a story on murdered NFL star Sean Taylor, Chavez accused the channel of trying to incite assassins, BBC reports. CNN—which Chavez...

Chavez Freezes Out Colombia

Nov 26, 2007 4:56 AM CST

Chavez Freezes Out Colombia

Puts brakes on bilateral ties over talks with rebels

(Newser) - Venezuela's volatile President Hugo Chavez says he is freezing ties with neighboring Colombia, insulted by Bogota's decision to ditch Chavez as a negotiator with Marxist guerrillas who have been holding hostages for years. Colombia's President Alvaro Uribe accused Chavez of favoring the rebels and overstepping his authority. Chavez called the...

Chavez, Meet the Students

Nov 24, 2007 5:35 PM CST

Chavez, Meet the Students

Angry universities are main obstacle in march to power

(Newser) - Chavez rules Venezuela’s congress, courts and army, but students like Stalin are blocking his way. That would be Ivan Stalin González—an undergrad who helped corral thousands to march against Chavez in recent weeks. Chavez has labeled the kids “terrorists,” but Stalin, as he likes to...

MLB's Future
in Venezuela Uncertain

Nov 22, 2007 6:43 AM CST

MLB's Future in Venezuela Uncertain

Political mandates could push baseball out of huge talent pool

(Newser) - Baseball is big in Venezuela, and vice versa: 200 Venezuelans have played in MLB, including 50 who are currently active. You’d expect clubs to be racing to the country in search of talent, but concerns about Venezuela’s political climate are actually scaring them away: The Padres, Orioles, Red...

Greenback Assaulted at
OPEC meeting

Nov 18, 2007 9:52 PM CST

Greenback Assaulted at OPEC meeting

Dollar a 'worthless piece of paper,' Iran's president says

(Newser) - Calling it a "small and worthless piece of paper,” Iran’s president today urged OPEC's members to drop the depreciating US dollar as its official currency. Mahmoud Ahmadinejad blamed President Bush for the dollar’s decline and its adverse effects. The comments highlight mounting tension among OPEC members,...

Chavez Warns of $200 Oil if US Strikes Iran

Nov 17, 2007 6:48 PM CST

Chavez Warns of $200 Oil if US Strikes Iran

But call to make OPEC 'geopolitical agent' rejected by Saudis

(Newser) - Crude oil prices could hit $150-$200 a barrel if Bush is “mad enough” to strike Iran, Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez warned today at the OPEC summit. “The basis of all aggression is oil,” said Chavez, arguing that OPEC should set itself up as “an active geopolitical...

Chavez Vision Roils Nation

Nov 17, 2007 12:27 PM CST

Chavez Vision Roils Nation

Constitution overhaul expected to pass, would make him re-electable for life

(Newser) - Hugo Chavez's grasp on Venezuela is about to tighten as the country inches toward a virtual dictatorship and expanded socialism—a development that has support among the poor but is drawing dissent from economists and former army officials. An expected revision of the Constitution would drop the workday to six...

Spanish King to Venezuelan Prez: Shut Up!

Nov 11, 2007 7:26 AM CST

Spanish King to Venezuelan Prez: Shut Up!

Summit simmers when King Juan Carlos snaps at hectoring Chavez

(Newser) - World leaders at the Ibero-American summit had a grade-school exchange yesterday, with Spain's King Juan Carlos pulling out a "why don't you shut up" when Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez wouldn't wait his turn to talk. Chavez ignored requests to be more polite after calling a former Spanish prime minister...