President Hugo Chavez's government is likely to spend heavily this year to rev up the economy during his re-election bid, and that could worsen one of Venezuela's biggest problems: 27 percent annual inflation that is already close to the highest in the world.
President Obama criticized the Venezuelan government's rights record and its ties to Iran and Cuba in comments to a Venezuelan newspaper.
Venezuelan authorities said Friday they are confident they can quickly solve the kidnapping of Washington Nationals catcher Wilson Ramos.
