CARACAS, May 21 (Reuters) - A recording released by Venezuela's opposition purportedly revealing graft and conspiracy in the ruling Socialist Party has stirred a new political storm in the OPEC nation's already traumatic transition after the death of

CARACAS, May 19 (Reuters) - Venezuela's recent designation of an acting head of its diplomatic mission in the United States shows the OPEC nation's desire to restore full diplomatic relations, the foreign minister said in an interview broadcast on Su

LIMA, May 19 (Reuters) - President Ollanta Humala's approval rating fell 5 points to a six-month low of 46 percent, reflecting the unpopularity of his proposal to buy an oil refinery owned by Spain's Repsol and his support for Venezuela's new governm

To vaguely paraphrase Mike Tyson, "everyone has a plan for a socialist utopia, until they run out of toilet paper." This is just what happened to Venezuela, where in the image vacuum left following the death of leader Hugo Chavez, things are rapidly

Okay, I guess you can laugh. At socialism.    

CARACAS, May 16 (Reuters) - Venezuela's state-run oil firm PDVSA said on Thursday its U.S.-based refining subsidiary Citgo will pay a record first-quarter dividend of $461 million, helped by a...

Price controls limiting supply of basic necessities.

CARACAS, May 15 (Reuters) - Socialist leader Nicolas Maduroand the billionaire boss of Venezuela's biggest private companyhave buried the hatchet after a war of words over food shortagesand other economic problems in the South American nation.

CARACAS, May 15 (Reuters) - Venezuela has suspended operations in its territory by the small Curacao-based airline Dutch Antilles Express (DAE) due to alleged breaches of security.

CARACAS, May 14 (Reuters) - Venezuela in 2012 became a net importer of gasoline as a result of escalating problems at its refineries and increasing demand for fuel in its internal market, joining a growing list of countries that struggle with fuel su

CARACAS, May 14 (Reuters) - Venezuela in 2012 became a net importer of gasoline as a result of escalating problems at its refineries and increasing demand for fuel in its internal market, joining a growing list of countries that struggle with fuel su

The owners of Venezuelan opposition TV channel Globovision say they have sold the channel, with changes expected to its editorial line.

* Rights groups question military crime-fighting credentials

CARACAS, May 13 (Reuters) - Venezuela's top food producer,Empresas Polar, on Monday challenged the country's socialistgovernment to boost output of basic staples and ease naggingproduct shortages, rejecting accusations it is hoarding productsto desta

BRASILIA, May 9 (Reuters) - Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro got strong backing from regional heavyweight Brazil on Thursday on a tour of South American allies to cement his legitimacy as political heir to the late Hugo Chavez.

CARACAS, May 9 (Reuters) - Venezuelan consumer prices rose in April at their fastest rate in three years, the central bank said on Thursday, presenting a growing economic challenge for recently...

CARACAS, May 9 (Reuters) - Venezuelan consumer prices rose in April at their fastest rate in three years, the central bank said on Thursday, presenting a growing economic challenge for recently...

CARACAS, May 9 (Reuters) - Venezuelan consumer prices rose in April at their fastest rate in three years, the central bank said on Thursday, presenting a growing economic challenge for recently...

CARACAS, May 9 (Reuters) - Venezuelan consumer prices rose in April at their fastest rate in three years, the central bank said on Thursday, presenting a growing economic challenge for recently...

CARACAS, May 9 (Reuters) - Venezuelan consumer prices rose 4.3 percent in April, the central bank said on Thursday, compared with 2.8 recorded in March.

(Reuters) - Satellite TV provider DirecTV easily beat estimates for the first quarter on Tuesday, as better-than-expected growth in Latin America helped offset the negative effects of a currency devaluation in Venezuela.

Satellite TV provider DirecTVeasily beat estimates for the first quarter on Tuesday, as better-than-expected growth in Latin America helped offset the negative effects of a currency devaluation in Venezuela.

May 7 (Reuters) - Satellite TV provider DirecTV easily beat estimates for the first quarter on Tuesday, asbetter-than-expected growth in Latin America helped offset thenegative effects of a currency devaluation in Venezuela.

May 7 (Reuters) - Satellite TV provider DirecTV easily beat estimates for the first quarter on Tuesday, as better-than-expected growth in Latin America helped offset the negative effects of a currency devaluation in Venezuela.

May 7 (Reuters) - Satellite TV provider DirecTV easily beat estimates for the first quarter on Tuesday, as better-than-expected growth in Latin America helped offset the negative effects of a currency devaluation in Venezuela.

May 7 (Reuters) - Satellite TV provider DirecTV said on Tuesday that first-quarter net income fell after a $166 million charge related to a Venezuelan currency devaluation in February.

BOGOTA, May 6 (Reuters) - Colombian President Juan ManuelSantos on Monday refused to be drawn into a war of words betweenhis predecessor - and harshest critic - and Venezuela's newpresident, Nicholas Maduro.

* Detention puts tense U.S.-Venezuelan ties in spotlight (Adds statement from Tracy's family)

* Detention puts tense U.S.-Venezuelan ties in spotlight (Adds petition from Venezuelan filmmakers)

CARACAS, May 5 (Reuters) - Venezuela brushed off criticismfrom U.S. President Barack Obama on Sunday and maintained itsaccusation that an American detainee in Caracas is a spypretending to be a filmmaker.

CARACAS, May 3 (Reuters) - Venezuela's oil and fuel exports rose 4 percent in 2012 compared with the previous year, state oil company PDVSA said on Friday, even as the OPEC nation's total output...

CARACAS, May 3 (Reuters) - Venezuela's oil and fuel exports rose 4 percent in 2012 compared with the previous year, state oil company PDVSA said on Friday, even as the OPEC nation's total output slipped by 3 percent.

CUMANA, Venezuela, May 2 (Reuters) - Venezuelan state oil company PDVSA has no immediate plans to issue bonds, the company's finance director said on Thursday.

CARACAS, April 27 (Reuters) - Venezuela's electoral authority said on Saturday the opposition created false hopes about a vote audit being prepared after President Nicolas Maduro's narrow election win, adding that his rival had failed to present comp

HAVANA, April 27 (Reuters) - Cuba and Venezuela signedcooperation accords on Saturday for 51 projects as VenezuelanPresident Nicolas Maduro, on his first trip to the island sincehis election, pledged to maintain the close alliance forged byhis late p

HAVANA, April 27 (Reuters) - Cuba and Venezuela signed cooperation accords on Saturday for 51 projects as Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, on his first trip to the island since his election, pledged to maintain the close alliance forged by his la

Uncertainty and political tension look set to continue after the opposition leader vowed to mount a legal challenge to the close outcome

* Opposition leader says he will not take part in a "joke" audit

CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) — A 35-year-old filmmaker from California has been arrested by Venezuelan authorities who are accusing him of fomenting post-election violence on behalf of the U.S. government. President Nicolas Maduro said Thursday that

Colgate's first-quarter earnings fell 22% despite higher sales as results were hurt by the Venezuelan government's devaluation of its currency.

First-quarter earnings at the toothpaste maker fell 22% despite higher sales.

April 25 (Reuters) - Colgate-Palmolive Co posted lower quarterly profit on Thursday as sales grew but the recent devaluation of the Venezuelan bolivar led to a hefty charge.

April 25 (Reuters) - Colgate-Palmolive Co postedlower quarterly profit on Thursday as sales grew but the recentdevaluation of the Venezuelan bolivar led to a hefty charge.

CARACAS, April 23 (Reuters) - Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro named a new acting head of its U.S. diplomatic mission in Washington on Tuesday and sent an offer of dialogue after attacking the United States for "interference" in a row over his ele

CARACAS, April 23 (Reuters) - The nominee to lead Venezuela's central bank, Edmee Betancourt, is known as a dedicated socialist who backed the drive by late President Hugo Chavez to expand state...

CARACAS, April 23 (Reuters) - The nominee to lead Venezuela's central bank, Edmee Betancourt, is known as a dedicated socialist who backed the drive by late President Hugo Chavez to expand state...

CARACAS, April 23 (Reuters) - President Nicolas Maduro'sgovernment declared a 90-day "emergency" in Venezuela'selectricity sector on Tuesday to speed up infrastructure workand equipment imports needed to prevent politically-contentiouspower cuts.