VENEZUELA

Chávez makes himself issue in Venezuela's local elections

President Hugo Chávez, with his grip on Venezuela's political system at stake, has been campaigning for his allies running in Sunday's elections.

At least 8 killed in Venezuela flooding, mudslides

Heavy rains unleashed flooding and mudslides in Venezuela that killed at least eight people, including four children, authorities said Friday.

Venezuelan oil falls to lowest price in 22 months

Prices for Venezuelan oil reached their lowest level in 22 months Friday as fears of a global recession stalled demand, slashing the main source of cash for President Hugo Chávez's hefty state spending.

Venezuelan conductor Gustavo Dudamel lives his dream

With long sideburns and black curly locks hanging over his ears and collar, Gustavo Dudamel looks more like a rock star than the next music director of one of the leading U.S. orchestras.

Venezolanos donaron más de $4 millones a damnificados cubanos

Ciudadanos e instituciones venezolanas donaron más de 4 millones de dólares a los cubanos afectados por los huracanes Gustav, Ike y Paloma, informó este viernes un diplomático cubano.

Al menos nueve muertos por lluvias en Venezuela

Nueve fallecidos y unas 300 familias damnificadas dejaron las precipitaciones que azotaron la capital, el centro y occidente de Venezuela, ocasionando deslizamientos de tierras, bloqueos de vías, y el colapso de algunas viviendas, informaron el viernes las autoridades.

Russian ships to Venezuela in show of power

The voyage of the cruiser Peter the Great, scheduled to arrive in Venezuela next week with a squadron of other Russian warships, was meant to showcase the Kremlin's ability to project naval power abroad and reassert its claim to great power status.

VENEZUELA

Chávez's populist grip shows signs of weakness

Voters in Venezuela's Barinas state symbolize the support President Hugo Chávez has thrived on. But his following is no longer fanatical.

VENEZUELA

Opposition must seize victory

The Venezuelan opposition has been criticized for not taking advantage of the major electoral victory obtained in December 2007, when voters rejected President Hugo Chávez's project to ''reform'' the constitution, an attempt to concentrate more power in the executive branch -- i.e., himself.

Venezuela, Vietnam strengthen ties with joint fund

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez and his Vietnamese counterpart, Nguyen Minh Triet, agreed on Thursday to create a $200 million joint development fund to strengthen economic cooperation between the socialist countries.

Chavismo no escatima recursos para ganar

La campaña electoral para elegir a 22 gobernadores y más de 300 alcaldes en Venezuela, podría pasar a la historia como una de las más excéntricas...

Venezuela's Hugo Chávez campaigns for Sunday's elections

With his control of the political system at stake, the president has been campaigning furiously across the country

Ex presidente venezolano lanza advertencia

El ex presidente Carlos Andrés Pérez advirtió en Miami que las elecciones del próximo domingo en Venezuela, significará para los venezolanos un dilema entre un "sedicente comunismo'' y un sistema de gobierno "que le rinda cuentas a sus ciudadanos''.

Cae el precio del crudo venezolano

El precio de la cesta petrolera venezolana en los mercados internacionales cayó el jueves a un nivel histórico por debajo de los $40, el más bajo desde mayo del 2005, en medio de pronósticos que anticipan más caidas en el valor del crudo.

Escritor mexicano analiza el efecto del régimen castrista sobre Chávez

El sueño del presidente venezolano, Hugo Chávez, es convertirse en el equivalente de Stalin pero respecto al régimen cubano de Fidel Castro, afirmó el historiador mexicano Enrique Krauze, autor de El poder y el delirio.

Avizoran choque de maquinarias electorales en Venezuela

El próximo domingo 23 dos formidables maquinarias electorales medirán sus fuerzas y su eficacia para atraer la mayor cantidad de electores a las urnas de votación y tratar de garantizar una mayor transparencia del proceso, durante los comicios regionales que tendrán lugar en Venezuela.

NICARAGUA

Protests imperil Nicaragua's democracy

Post-election violence in Nicaragua could continue after upcoming elections in Venezuela, experts said.

Venezuela cozies up to Zimbabwe

Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez's government is strengthening ties with Zimbabwe and pledging deeper cooperation in areas from energy to agriculture.

Chavez in song: Venezuela vote has live soundtrack

Sunday's elections in Venezuela will be a key test for President Hugo Chavez a year after voters defeated his effort to change the constitution, and the socialist leader isn't missing a beat as he campaigns for his allies.