Venezuela to export gasoline to Iran

Venezuela will begin exporting 20,000 gallons of gasoline to Iran next month as the nations strengthen bilateral cooperation, Iranian state media reported. Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and his Venezuelan counterpart Hugo Chavez announced the agreement on Sunday

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Wie and Kim lead U.S. to Solheim Cup triumph

Inspired by the heroics of a rejuvenated Michelle Wie and the battling Christina Kim, the United States retained the Solheim Cup with a 16-12 victory over Europe. The 18-year-old was crowned by another Venezuelan, Dayana Mendoza, Miss Universe 2008, marking the first time that two contestants from the same country have won the title in consecutive years. As Miss Universe, Fernandez will have the use of a New York City apartment for the year of her reign, and will receive living expenses.

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Sinopec reports sharp rise in profits

Chinese oil refiner Sinopec has announced its net profit in the first half of 2009 jumped fourfold from a year earlier, fueled by changes in state price controls for fuel, China state media reported. The 18-year-old was crowned by another Venezuelan, Dayana Mendoza, Miss Universe 2008, marking the first time that two contestants from the same country have won the title in consecutive years. As Miss Universe, Fernandez will have the use of a New York City apartment for the year of her reign, and will receive living expenses.

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Miss Venezuela wins Miss Universe title — again

Venezuelan Stefania Fernandez was named Miss Universe 2009, beating out more than 80 other contestants during a pageant held Sunday night in Nassau, Bahamas. The 18-year-old was crowned by another Venezuelan, Dayana Mendoza, Miss Universe 2008, marking the first time that two contestants from the same country have won the title in consecutive years

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Air China raises Cathay stake

Air China, the country’s flag carrier, has agreed to pay HK$6.3bn (US$813m) to increase its stake in Cathay Pacific, only three years after first securing a holding in the Hong Kong airline. Chavez’s government is “moving forcefully to silence critics,” said the unclassified U.S. analysis prepared by the Open Source Center, a government intelligence center

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Chavez criticizes Colombia over weapons claims

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez on Wednesday blasted accusations that his government supplied Colombian guerrillas with shoulder-fired anti-tank weapons and accused the neighboring country of blackmail. The remarks follow a freezing of diplomatic relations between the countries over the weapons issue and over negotiations that could lead to American military bases in Colombia.

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The Pain in the Reign in Spain

When Spain’s King Juan Carlos verbally slapped down bad boy Hugo Chavez at the Ibero-American summit, it came, to say the least, as a surprise. For a man who normally is the very embodiment of decorum, Juan Carlos’ retort to the Venezuelan president — “Why don’t you shut up?” — seemed shockingly uncharacteristic.

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Venezuelan official granted asylum in Peru

Manuel Rosales, the mayor of Maracaibo, Venezuela, has been granted political asylum in Peru, Peru’s foreign minister said Monday. Rosales, a leading political opponent who lost the 2006 presidential race to Hugo Chavez, faces corruption charges in Venezuela

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Venezuela: Chavez says he’s willing to take Gitmo inmates

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez says he would be willing to accept prisoners from the Guantanamo Bay detention center, which U.S. President Barack Obama has said he will close, the Venezuelan government said Thursday. Chavez also said he hopes the United States will give Cuba back the land on which the naval base is located, the government said in a news release.

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