CARACAS, Venezuela, Feb. 9 (UPI) -- Venezuela announced plans to invest more than $6 million in solar power as the government declares a formal electricity emergency.

CARACAS, Venezuela, Feb. 5 (UPI) -- In a daring move, former aides of Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez have signed a petition asking the populist leader to resign because of gross incompetence.

CARACAS, Venezuela, Jan. 24 (UPI) -- Radio Caracas Television says it was dropped by Venezuelan cable providers because it dared to criticize President Hugo Chavez.

LA PAZ, Bolivia, Jan. 23 (UPI) -- Evo Morales described Bolivia as a new "plurinational" state as he took the oath of office for his second term as president Friday.

CARACAS, Venezuela, Jan. 12 (UPI) -- Venezuelans have thronged into stores to buy all kinds of imported goods before the nation's currency, the bolivar, is devalued, witnesses said.

MOSCOW, Jan. 11 (UPI) -- Venezuela is poised to deploy a new fleet of Russian tanks and combat helicopters along its borders with Colombia, Russian media report.

CARACAS, Venezuela, Jan. 9 (UPI) -- Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez has sharply devalued the country's currency as big fluctuations in the oil market have caused financial stress.

ASUNCION, Paraguay, Jan. 7 (UPI) -- Venezuela's hopes of an early inclusion into the Mercosur trading bloc suffered a new blow as Paraguayan Vice President Federico Franco ruled out ratification of the pact while Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez harbored designs on the landlocked state.

CARACAS, Venezuela, Dec. 24 (UPI) -- Public discontent over renewed disruptions in electricity supplies reached new levels as the government of President Hugo Chavez announced further cutbacks in business and domestic use of power.