Courtesy of: Policy Mic

This week: In defiance of Washington, Venezuela offers asylum to NSA leaker Edward Snowden; 44 percent of Venezuelans seek better relations with the United States; if asylum is granted, Venezuela may face economic and diplomatic sanctions by the United States; Maduro faces a potential revolt from radical sectors of his party who think he is negotiating with the United States. Human Rights Watch sends a letter to the United Nations criticizing the Venezuelan government for using criminal investigations to intimidate the opposition; Venezuelan “birther” movement further questions Maduro’s legitimacy; swarms of motorcycles in Venezuela’s capital are linked to violent crime; facing a shortage of hard currency, Christmas toys may be in short supply this year in Venezuela. Venezuelan inflation rises to 4.7 percent in June, reaching a staggering 40 percent for the past year; Venezuelan Central Bank says it will sell $200 million at auction in an attempt to alleviate shortages; the Central Bank of Venezuela removes the cap on the amount of U.S. dollars individuals are allowed to buy via Sicad; Venezuela’s restrictive hiring and firing practices discourage companies from filling openings, further dampening investment in the country; and Venezuelan daily oil exports to US fall 8.3 percent in the first half of 2013.

Venezuela offers asylum to U.S. fugitive Snowden, Reuters

Venezuela’s President Nicolas Maduro offered asylum to Edward Snowden who is believed to be holed up in the transit area of Moscow’s Sheremetyevo international airport; this action was made in defiance of Washington, which is demanding his arrest for divulging details of secret U.S. spy programs.

Many Venezuelans want better relations with the U.S., Pew Research Center

Poll shows that a plurality of Venezuelans (44%) prefer to have a closer relationship with the US than existed during the presidency of Chavez, while Maduro’s offer of asylum to Snowden would entail worsening ties with US, something that the Venezuelan public would avoid.

Venezuela may face economic sanctions if it grants asylum to Snowden, El Universal

Venezuela will face economic and diplomatic sanctions by the United States if Nicolás Maduro’s government grants asylum to former CIA agent Edward Snowden, who formally requested asylum to Venezuela on Monday.

With Snowden offer, Venezuela’s Maduro is on world stage, The Washington Post

American fugitive Edward Snowden’s diminishing possibilities of remaining free to continue releasing information about secret U.S. surveillance programs increasingly appear to hinge on Venezuela, which awaited word Monday on whether the former National Security Agency contractor would accept its offer of asylum and fly to the oil-rich country.

Letter to the UN about post-electoral violence in Venezuela, Human Rights Watch

Human Rights Watch is extremely concerned that Venezuelan authorities are using criminal investigations as a political tool to accuse the opposition, without adequate justification, of the commission of crimes.

Venezuela ‘Birther’ Movement Questions President’s Eligibility, Bloomberg

Venezuela’s opposition has been questioning Maduro’s Venezuelan nationality, since he was born in Colombia to Colombian parents, which would make his presidency fall foul of the constitution.

A circus without a ringmaster, The Economist

During the presidency of Hugo Chávez, who ruled from 1999 until his death from cancer in March, the domineering personality of the comandante left no doubt as to who was in charge of Venezuela.

Swarms of motorcycles in Venezuela’s capital tied to traffic chaos, violent crime, Washington Post

Ronald Alvarez was driving in chaotic, bumper-to-bumper traffic when he heard a throaty buzz and insistent “Beep! Beep! Beep!” approaching rapidly from behind.

Christmas toys may be in short supply in Venezuela, Reuters

Whether they’ve been naughty or nice, Venezuelan children might be stuck without Christmas presents this year.

Venezuela’s 12-Month Inflation Rate Advances to Just Shy of 40% in June, The Wall Street Journal

Venezuela’s 12-month inflation approached 40% in June after jumping 4.7% in June and 6.1% in May, pressured by a rise in government spending last year and in the wake of the country’s latest currency devaluation in February.

Venezuela central bank to sell $200 mln in forex auction, Reuters

Venezuela’s central bank said it will sell $200 mill at auction, of which $170 million would be allocated to businesses and $30 million to individuals, under its revamped currency system as government increases imports to alleviate the product shortages.

Central Bank of Venezuela removes cap in sale of US dollars to individuals, El Universal

The Central Bank of Venezuela (BCV) removed a cap limiting the amount of US dollars that individuals are allowed to buy via the Sicad.

Venezuela Forces Employment Even With Shuttered Factories, Bloomberg

Jean Salero gets up at dawn to clock in for his daily shift at a shuttered beer factory in the Venezuelan city of Barquisimeto.

Venezuela’s oil exports to the US fall in 2013, El Universal

Venezuelan oil exports to the US in the period Jan-Jun 2013 hit their lowest level since the 1990s, hitting 754,000 barrels per day from 823,000 bpd in 2012, amidst Venezuela’s strategy to prioritize clients and allies such as China or India and curb oil shipments to the US.