Courtesy of: El Universal
This week: Growing concerns about food shortages and all-time lows in agricultural exports heap pressure on the Chávez campaign. Compounding matters, OPEC reports that Venezuelan oil production has also seen a decrease — a bad sign for a debt-ridden nation that relies on oil as its chief source of revenue. An American man was apprehended trying to cross the border from Colombia; Venezuelan officials call him a “mercenary,” as Chávez stokes fears by announcing that he will prepare the nation for an American “invasion” by raising a one million man strong guerilla army. After a period of confusion, American officials were able to meet with the detainee. Finally, to facilitate Chávez’s election-year increase in spending, the friendly National Assembly approves an increase in borrowing authority.
Venezuelan food shortages bode ill for Chavez’s re-election, USA Today
A year ago, Romero’s fields overlooking the Tacarigua Valley were neatly lined with green onions, peppers and tomatoes.
Venezuela plans a million strong ‘guerrilla army’ against US invasion, The Telegraph
“Plan Sucre” – apparently crafted with input from close ally and fellow US foe Cuba – covers the legal, logistical and other angles necessary to “transform a professional army into a guerrilla army,” Representative Maria Corina Machado told El Universal newspaper.
Fear of Mercosur weakening Venezuelan chemicals industry, El Universal
The recent entry of Venezuela into the Common Market of the South (Mercosur) is a threat to Venezuelan chemical industry, warns the Venezuelan chemical and petrochemical industry association (Asoquim).
Venezuela Prison Violence Rises, Report Says, AP (Huffington Post, Washington Post)
The number of killings inside Venezuela’s notoriously violent prisons has increased this year even as President Hugo Chavez faces mounting pressure to curtail the violence as he campaigns for re-election, according to a human rights group.
ONGC Sees Start of Venezuelan Project Delayed by Election, Bloomberg
India’s Oil & Natural Gas Corp. (ONGC) expects the start of production at the Carabobo 1 block in Venezuela to be delayed until early next year as the South American country prepares for presidential elections in October.
OPEC: Venezuelan oil production down 2.4%, El Universal
The Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) has reported that Venezuelan oil production dropped in July.
US Officials Confirm Arrest of Citizen in Venezuela, Wall Street Journal
U.S. officials on Tuesday confirmed that a U.S. citizen has been detained in Venezuela, just days after President Hugo Chavez announced the arrest and suggested the man may be a “mercenary” for the leader’s ideological foe.
U.S. officials see ‘mercenary’ suspect in Venezuela, Chicago Tribune (Reuters)
Two U.S. diplomats on Wednesday visited an American man jailed in Venezuela whom President Hugo Chavez says he suspects of being a mercenary, the U.S. Embassy said.
Venezuela’s Chavez says U.S. given access to ‘mercenary’ suspect, Reuters
U.S. officials will be allowed access on Wednesday to an American citizen arrested in Venezuela on suspicion of being a mercenary, President Hugo Chavez said.
2012 Venezuela’s budget expense exceeds last year total amount, El Universal
The Venezuelan National Assembly authorized on Tuesday USD 768 million for additional credits. Consequently, the extraordinary operations approved during the year increase to USD 20 billion.