Venezuela runs out of toilet paper. ‘excessive demand’ ?

First milk, butter, coffee and cornmeal ran short. Now Venezuela is running out of the most basic of necessities – toilet paper.

Blaming political opponents for the shortfall, as it does for other shortages, the government says it will import 50m rolls to boost supplies.

That was little comfort to consumers struggling to find toilet paper on Wednesday.

“This is the last straw,” (more…)

U.S. Imposes Sanctions on Those Aiding Iran

The United States on Thursday expanded its roster of those violatingIran sanctions, blacklisting four Iranian companies and one individual suspected of helping the country enrich nuclear fuel. It also singled out two other companies, including a Venezuelan-Iranian bank, accused of helping Iran evade other Western-imposed prohibitions on oil sales and financial dealings. (more…)

Columbia’s Uribe dimisses Maduro’s accusation as “immature”

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has accused former Colombian leader Alvaro Uribe of plotting to assassinate him.

Mr Maduro said he had evidence that right-wing Venezuelan poluticians had been involved in the plot. (more…)

Parliament brawl leaves Venezuelan politicians bruised

The bitter dispute over Venzuela’s first post-Chávez election has erupted into an all-out brawl in the country’s Parliament between government and opposition members, leaving several people injured.

Opposition figures said seven of its parliamentarians were hurt while protesting (more…)

Henrique Capriles wants vote recount in Venezuela polls

Henrique Capriles, has refused to accept the results of Sunday’s presidential election in Venezuela until votes are fully audited.

According to Venezuela’s National Electoral Council, Capriles, the opposition candidate, obtained 49 percent of the votes this weekend. That means he lost to government candidate Nicolas Maduro by just 1.5 percentage points. (more…)

Chavez meets his idols in Heaven

“Hugo Chavez, Che Guevara, Simón Bolívar, and Salvador Allende all meet in Heaven.” You’d be forgiven for thinking that was the opening line of a mediocre joke, but it’s actually an animated TV spot, put together by Venezuela’s state-run TV station, ViVe. (more…)

No free oil for Cuba if Capriles wins

Venezuelan opposition candidate Henrique Capriles resumed his campaign today in the western part of the country. He faces off with interim president Nicolas Maduro on April 14, reported dpa news.

Capriles told university students in Maracaibo that he would end the Chavez’ government’s “giveaway” (more…)

U.S. expels 2 Venezuelan diplomats

The United States has expelled two Venezuelan diplomats in response to the expulsion of two U.S. officials from the South American country last week, a U.S. official said Monday. (more…)

A Hug in Venezuela gets Iranian president in trouble at home

Iranian President Mahmud Ahmadinejad is in trouble for embracing the mother of Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, who died last week following a battle with cancer.

Ahmadinejad has come under criticism over a picture that shows him holding the hands of Elena Frias, Chavez’s mother, and comforting her during the March 8 funeral in Caracas. (more…)

Maduro seeks snap election as Venezuela mourns Chavez

Venezuela’s new acting President Nicolas Maduro is pushing for a quick election, hoping to benefit from an emotional outpouring at the death of his charismatic mentor, Hugo Chavez, and step into his shoes. (more…)