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Water shortages and electricity cuts have added to the hardships of Venezuela's 30m people

Venezuela in two-day working week to save energy

Venezuela's socialist government has ordered public workers to work a two-day week as an energy-saving measure in the crisis-hit South American country.

News • 27 Apr 16

The system is widely regarded as a primary cause of runaway inflation, a deep recession and chronic product shortages that have afflicted Venezuela's economy under socialist President Nicolas Maduro

Venezuela pays pharma debts with discounted bonds

Venezuela has settled debts with at least three global drug companies by giving them bonds that trade at a heavy discount, a further sign of the OPEC nation's worsening financial crisis.

Business • 08 Mar 16

A British Royal Force jet returns to Akrotiri base after completing its first mission since the parliamentary vote to undertake air strikes in Syria

News in brief

A round-up of other domestic and international stories.

News • 07 Dec 15

Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro took office in 2013

US declares Venezuela a national security threat

The United States has declared Venezuela a national security threat and ordered sanctions against seven officials from the oil-rich country in the worst bilateral diplomatic dispute since socialist President Nicolas Maduro took office in 2013.

News • 10 Mar 15

At least 41 people have died, and nearly 800 have been injured in the protests

58 foreigners held in Venezuela protests

58 foreigners have been arrested on suspicion of inciting anti-government protests and violence that have rocked the Venezuela for the last three months.

News • 02 May 14

A show of force from the National Guard after the death toll from a month and a half of protests rose to 29

Death toll in Venezuelan unrest rises to 29

A National Guard captain has died after being shot in the head during a demonstration in Venezuela.

News • 17 Mar 14

A woman protests in front of members of the Bolivarian National Guard during a demonstration in Caracas (Pic: EPA)

Venezuelans vent anger over food shortages

Thousands of Venezuelans took to the streets armed with cooking pots in the latest public rally against the government of President Nicolas Maduro.

News • 09 Mar 14

People attend a march against the government of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro in San Cristobal, capital of the western border state of Tachira, Venezuela,

Death toll mounts to eight in Venezuela

A student and a young supermarket worker were the latest fatalities from Venezuela's political unrest as the death toll from 10 days of violence rose to at least eight.

News • 23 Feb 14

Anti-government protests have escalated across Venezuela (Pic: EPA)

Anti-govt protests in Venezuela escalate

Venezuelan security forces and demonstrators faced off in streets blocked by burning barricades in several provincial cities as protests escalated against the government.

News • 20 Feb 14

President Maduro ordered the arrest of Lopez on charges of homicide and inciting violence

Thousands flood Caracas streets after Lopez arrest

Tens of thousands of protesters against Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro's government have blocked Caracas streets after the arrest of opposition leader Leopoldo Lopez.

News • 19 Feb 14

The natural phenomenon in the western state of Zulia is called the Catatumbo Lightning

Venezuela wins Guinness record for lightning

An area of Venezuela with 20,000 flashes of lightning per hour has won the Guinness record for the place with the most lightning.

News • 29 Jan 14

Temporary "intervention" at its subsidiary Smurfit Kappa Carton de Venezuela announced

Venezuela temporarily takes over Smurfit plant

Smurfit Kappa has confirmed that officials from the Venezuelan government have announced a temporary intervention at its subsidiary there.

Business • 02 Dec 13

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has given the diplomats 48 hours to leave the country

Venezuela expelling top US diplomats

Venezuela is to expel three US diplomats, accusing them of meeting with opposition leaders and encouraging "acts of sabotage".

News • 01 Oct 13

People stand in the corridor of a building during the blackout in Caracas

Venezuela struck by widespread power cuts

A blackout hit much of Venezuela yesterday, including the capital Caracas.

News • 04 Sep 13

Edward Snowden has been in the transit area of Moscow's Shremetyevo airport since 23 June

Three Latin American states offer Snowden asylum

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has offered asylum to former US intelligence contractor Edward Snowden.

News • 07 Jul 13

H1N1, often referred to as swine flu, was a flu strain that swept around in the world in a 2009/2010 pandemic

Swineflu kills 17 in Venezuela

17 people have been killed by an outbreak of swineflu in Venezuela and another 250 people are infected.

News • 27 May 13

$The fracas came after the Assembly passed a measure denying opposition members the right to speak until they publicly recognised President Nicolas Maduro$

Venezuelan brawl blamed on election tension

Members of Venezuela's National Assembly say post-election tensions set off a brawl between politicians that left one opposition assembly member badly bruised and bleeding.

News • 01 May 13

Last night youths in Caracas and other cities blocked streets, burned tires and fought with police

Venezuela's president-elect fears coup attempt

Venezuelan President-elect Nicolas Maduro has accused the opposition of planning a coup against him after seven government supporters were killed in clashes over his disputed election victory.

News • 16 Apr 13

Former bus driver Nicolas Maduro wins Venezuela's presidential election

Venezuela election won by Nicolas Maduro

Former bus driver Nicolas Maduro has won a narrow victory in Venezuela’s presidential election, but the opposition has demanded a recount of all the votes.

News • 15 Apr 13

Venezuela's opposition candidate, Henrique Capriles, says Mr Maduro's tenure has been a disaster

Venezuelans vote on Chavez successor

Venezuelans will decide today on whether to honour Hugo Chavez's dying wish for a long-time loyalist to continue his hardline socialism or hand power to a young challenger.

News • 14 Apr 13

Venezuelans attend rallies ahead of election opinion polls give acting President Nicolas Maduro, a strong lead over opposition challenger Henrique Capriles

Large rallies in Venezuela ahead of election

The late Hugo Chavez's self-declared socialist revolution in Venezuela will be put to the test at a presidential election on Sunday.

News • 12 Apr 13

A supporter holds a picture showing Venezuelan hero Simon Bolivar and Hugo Chavez

Venezuela to probe Hugo Chavez poisoning claims

Venezuela is to set up a formal inquiry into suspicions that the late President Hugo Chavez's cancer was the result of poisoning by his enemies abroad, the government said last night.

News • 12 Mar 13

Hugo Chavez died on Tuesday after a long battle with cancer

Presidential election date set in Venezuela

A presidential election to appoint a successor to Hugo Chavez is to be held in Venezuela on 14 April.

News • 10 Mar 13

President of the Venezuelan National Assembly Diosdado Cabello puts the presidential sash on Venezuelan Vice President Nicolas Maduro

Venezuelan election set for 14 April

The Venezuelan election commission has said the presidential election will be held on 14 April.

News • 09 Mar 13

Hugo Chavez died last Tuesday aged 58 after a two-year battle with cancer

Dignitaries gather for funeral of Hugo Chavez

Around 30 heads of state attended the funeral of Hugo Chavez in a last goodbye to the charismatic but divisive Venezuelan leader who changed the face of politics in South America.

News • 08 Mar 13

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