http://www.newser.com/2008 - Newseren-usNewser Feed GeneratorMon, 06 Oct 2008 13:53:24 CDThttp://www.newser.com/story/38626/chavez-building-reactor-with-russian-support.html?refid=rss_all_defaultIn his latest challenge to Washington, Venezuela's president Hugo Chavez has announced that his nation is developing a nuclear reactor—with Russian support, Reuters reports. "We are interested in development of nuclear energy, of course for peaceful purposes—for medical purposes, for  electricity," Chavez said yesterday at a political rally. Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin offered to help with a reactor, and "we already have a commission working on this issue," he added.http://www.newser.com/story/38626/chavez-building-reactor-with-russian-support.html?refid=rss_all_defaultSun, 28 Sep 2008 22:22:40 CDThttp://www.newser.com/story/38534/resurgent-russia-vows-to-beef-up-military.html?refid=rss_all_defaultRussia signed a $1 billion military loan deal with Venezuela yesterday while pledging to upgrade its own military, the New York Times reports. The country plans to ratchet its defense budget back up to Cold War levels next year and intends to have new warships built by 2020. President Dmitry Medvedev said the Georgia conflict exposed serious weaknesses, and he vowed to return Russia to a state of permanent combat readiness.http://www.newser.com/story/38534/resurgent-russia-vows-to-beef-up-military.html?refid=rss_all_defaultSat, 27 Sep 2008 3:58:37 CDThttp://www.newser.com/story/37841/russia-snubs-us-sells-arms-to-iran.html?refid=rss_all_defaultDefying the objections of the United States, Russia has announced plans to sell military hardware to Iran and Venezuela. In the latest escalation of the diplomatic standoff between Russia and the West, the state arms exporter will sell anti-aircraft systems to the two countries, the Times of London reports. "Contacts between our countries are continuing and we do not see any reason to suspend them," said the director of the arms company.http://www.newser.com/story/37841/russia-snubs-us-sells-arms-to-iran.html?refid=rss_all_defaultFri, 19 Sep 2008 7:30:17 CDThttp://www.newser.com/story/37349/us-slaps-sanctions-on-chavez-aides.html?refid=rss_all_defaultEscalating the diplomatic crisis with Venezuela, the US has frozen the assets of three members of Hugo Chavez's inner circle it accuses of having links with drug-running Colombian rebels, the Wall Street Journal r eports. The sanctions follow the expulsion by Venezuela and Bolivia of their US ambassadors—a move the State Department slammed yesterday as a "weak and desperate" attempt to distract restive citizens.http://www.newser.com/story/37349/us-slaps-sanctions-on-chavez-aides.html?refid=rss_all_defaultSat, 13 Sep 2008 3:22:19 CDThttp://www.newser.com/story/37238/chavez-boots-us-envoy-go-to-hell-yankees.html?refid=rss_all_defaultIn a dramatic move in support of Bolivia, Venezuela President Hugo Chavez yesterday slashed diplomatic ties with the US, booting the American ambassador and calling home his envoy from Washington, reports Reuters. The socialist leader has also threatened to stop all oil shipments to the US—Venezuela’s largest customer—and plans to freeze relations with Washington until “there is a new government in the US that respects the people of Latin America.”http://www.newser.com/story/37238/chavez-boots-us-envoy-go-to-hell-yankees.html?refid=rss_all_defaultThu, 11 Sep 2008 23:49:55 CDThttp://www.newser.com/story/37159/russian-bombers-land-in-venezuela.html?refid=rss_all_defaultTwo Russian bombers have landed at an airfield in Venezuela, where the Russian defense ministry says they will conduct a few days of test flights. The mission comes after Hugo Chávez, the Venezuelan president, invited the Russian air force to conduct operations in its territory. A spokesman for the Russian military said that NATO fighter planes followed the bombers all the way across the Atlantic.http://www.newser.com/story/37159/russian-bombers-land-in-venezuela.html?refid=rss_all_defaultThu, 11 Sep 2008 5:54:11 CDThttp://www.newser.com/story/36026/former-london-mayor-will-advise-chavez.html?refid=rss_all_defaultKen Livingstone, London's mayor from 2000 until his election defeat this May, has found a new job: consultant to Venezuelan strongman Hugo Chávez. "Red Ken," who has long been a supporter of the socialist president, will advise pro-government mayors on urban planning, reports the BBC. Last year Livingstone cut an oil deal with Chávez to provide cheap fuel to London's buses—an agreement phased out by his successor.http://www.newser.com/story/36026/former-london-mayor-will-advise-chavez.html?refid=rss_all_defaultThu, 28 Aug 2008 4:58:16 CDThttp://www.newser.com/story/34244/chavez-grabs-vast-new-powers-with-dictator-decrees.html?refid=rss_all_defaultAvowed US foe Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez has drastically expanded his powers with a litany of personal decrees that bypass the nation's legislature, reports the Wall Street Journal. S ome of the decrees enact laws specifically rejected by the electorate in a referendum just months ago.http://www.newser.com/story/34244/chavez-grabs-vast-new-powers-with-dictator-decrees.html?refid=rss_all_defaultTue, 05 Aug 2008 22:31:59 CDThttp://www.newser.com/story/33106/chavez-id-welcome-russian-troops-in-venezuela.html?refid=rss_all_defaultVenezuelan president Hugo Chavez is on a two-day trip to Moscow seeking closer military and economic ties —and raising the possibility that Russian troops may be stationed in Venezuela. Chavez and Russian president Dmitry Medvedev have already agreed to extend an energy partnership and are negotiating an arms deal and military co-operation, reports the BBC.http://www.newser.com/story/33106/chavez-id-welcome-russian-troops-in-venezuela.html?refid=rss_all_defaultWed, 23 Jul 2008 3:05:15 CDT