Chavez: Iran sanctions hurt joint auto venture

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez said Saturday that international sanctions on Iran are impeding some of his country's business deals with Tehran.

Colombia rebel undergoes tests at Caracas hospital

A Colombian rebel commander who has been detained in Venezuela since May was taken to a military hospital because of health problems, Venezuelan authorities said Friday.

Cuba's Raul Castro visits Venezuela's Chavez

Cuban President Raul Castro flew to Caracas on Friday to attend a meeting with other allies of Venezuelan leader Hugo Chavez, who was at the airport for the arrival.

Chavez raps allies for posing kids with rifles

President Hugo Chavez is strongly condemning an armed pro-government group for allegedly allowing children to pose with assault rifles. He says it could hurt his image ahead of Venezuela's presidential election.

Venezuela passes anti-terrorism law

Venezuela's congress has approved a law aimed at fighting organized crime and terrorism, though opposition lawmakers say they fear it could be used to crack down on dissent.

Iran-Latin America

Iran’s HispanTV aims to woo Latino viewers

Interested in Persian cooking or the U.S. plot against Syria? Iran wants viewers to tune into its new Spanish-language satellite TV station.

Venezuelan Crime

Mexican ambassador briefly held hostage in Venezuela

Mexico’s ambassador to Venezuela was briefly held hostage Sunday night in Venezuela, as the nation has been fighting off a surging crime wave.

Venezuelans protest closure of Miami consulate

Venezuelans living in Florida are protesting the closing of their country’s consulate in Miami following the expulsion of the office’s chief diplomat.

Venezuela

Consulate closure has repercussions in South Florida

From college students to entrepreneurs and pensioned retirees, there are thousands of Venezuelans whose finances fell into limbo after the decision made by the government of President Hugo Chávez to close its consulate in Miami, a measure that threatens money transfers from the oil-producing country.

MIAMI

Chávez: ‘There will be no consulate in Miami’

The decision, which is in response to the expulsion of consul Livia Acosta, impacts more than 200,000 Venezuelans in the Southeast.

Ahmadinejad Trip

Iran, Venezuela call U.S. a global danger

Amid fresh concerns about Iran’s nuclear intentions and a growing diplomatic squabble, Iran’s president began a four-day Latin American trip in Venezuela.

DIPLOMACY

Venezuelan consul in Miami ordered to leave U.S. for discussing cyber-attacks

Venezuela’s consul general in Miami is being expelled after allegations surfaced that she discussed possible cyberattacks on U.S. soil.

Prison camp discloses secret discipline unit

In releasing a photo of the so-called discipline unit called “Five Echo,” the military at Guantánamo was showing to the public a detention block the media don’t see.

Summit

Latin and Caribbean leaders challenge US role in region

Leaders of 33 Latin American and Caribbean nations are meeting in Caracas on Friday to create a new regional organization that will exclude the U.S. and Canada. Some hope the CELAC will ultimately replace the Washington-based Organization of American Stat

Bishops defied Pope John Paul II over efforts to topple President Hugo Chavez

Pope John Paul II, who was fast-tracked for sainthood earlier this year, ordered Venezuela's clergy to stay out of efforts to topple President Hugo Chavez nearly 10 years ago but Venezuela's church hierarchy defied him, with the encouragement of the administration of then-President George W. Bush, secret documents show.

IBD EDITORIAL

From petrostate to narcostate

A congressional report released last week left little doubt that Venezuela's Hugo Chavez is turning his country into a narcotraffickers' paradise. So why isn't Venezuela an international pariah?

LOS ANGELES TIMES

Venezuela's opposition gets heat from Hugo Chavez

Local leaders who defeated the president's candidates in last year's elections say Chavez is stripping them of resources and authority. A new law could give him still more power.

AS-COA

Venezuelan officials speak to U.S. group

Video: Venezuela - A Conversation with Three Governors and the Mayor of Caracas

THE WASHINGTON POST

Ally's ouster gives Venezuela's Hugo Chávez a stage

The ouster of Honduran President Manuel Zelaya could not have been better scripted for another Latin American leader who has taken center stage: Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez. The populist firebrand has been Zelaya's most forceful advocate and could win international accolades if the Honduran eventually succeeds in regaining power.

LOS ANGELES TIMES

U.S., Venezuela to restore full diplomatic ties

In a potentially significant step toward repairing their tattered relationship, the United States and Venezuela have formally agreed to resume full diplomatic relations, the State Department announced Thursday. (May need to register)