hugo chavez

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez on Sunday said he was signing his first decree under new powers granted to him by congress to create a fund for housing reconstruction after devastating floods and landslides.

Venezuelan lawmakers granted President Hugo Chavez broad powers Friday to enact laws by decree, undermining the clout of a new congress that takes office next month with a bigger opposition bloc.

President Hugo Chavez is using a friendly lame-duck congress to seek broad powers to rule by decree for the next year -- a plan that drew strong criticism Wednesday from the U.S. government and opponents who called it a blow to democracy.

Venezuela's political opposition is at a critical crossroads, trying to win control of the National Assembly for the first time in Hugo Chavez 's 11-year presidency.

American filmmaker Oliver Stone said Friday he deeply admires Hugo Chavez but suggested the Venezuelan president might consider talking a bit less on television.

If Oscar-winning actor Sean Penn had his way, any journalist who called Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez a dictator would quickly find himself behind bars.

Esteban Colberto helps Stephen explain what happened during Obama's South American visit and speculates on whether Obama and Hugo Chavez are more than friends.