Hugo Chavez tells Venezuela troops to 'prepare for war' with Colombia
by Hannah Strange in Caracas, Times Online

"Colombia and Venezuela drew closer to the brink of conflict today after President Hugo Chavez sent 15,000 Venezuelan troops to the volatile border between the two countries, claiming that the US planned to use Colombian bases to mount ( Read more... )

Israel expels Venezuela envoy

Israel says it has ordered Venezuela's diplomats to leave the country, following the decision by Venezuela to sever diplomatic relations.

Venezuela expelled the Israeli ambassador and his staff from Caracas on 6 January in protest at Israel's offensive in the Gaza Strip.

A week later, Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez ( Read more... )

Chavez accuses Obama of meddling in referendum

CARACAS - President Hugo Chavez has accused Barack Obama of meddling in a referendum that could allow him to run for re-election indefinitely and ordered a crackdown on disorderly student protests against the upcoming vote.

In a speech to supporters, Chavez accused the United States President-elect of ( Read more... )

Chávez reopens oil bids to West as prices plunge
by Simon Romero, IHT

CARACAS: President Hugo Chávez, buffeted by falling oil prices that threaten to damage his efforts to establish a Socialist-inspired state, is quietly courting Western oil companies once again.

Until recently, Chávez had pushed foreign oil companies here into a corner by ( Read more... )