Topic: Venezuela

Argentina’s move to seize the local energy assets from Spanish oil and gas giant Repsol has spurred condemnation from the European Union's parliament and has led to worries about more anti-free market policies in Latin America.

As the dust settles on the announcement that Argentina would seize control of assets owned by Repsol-backed energy company YPF, many are worried that other companies will shy away from investment in the South American country.

There was a wide-ranging change of the guard  in Europe and the Middle East in 2011. Click ahead for 10 other elections that could change the game of global politics in 2012.

Venezuelan opposition leader Henrique Capriles easily won a primary election on Sunday to become the unity candidate against President Hugo Chavez, vowing to end 13 years of socialist rule that he said has left the OPEC nation in crisis.

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s five-day tour of Latin American countries comes at a time of rising tensions with the United States and growing international isolation. The US State Department described Iran’s search for friends as “desperate,” while US Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner is expected to ratchet up the pressure in a visit to China and Japan.

Venezuela's PDVSA said on Monday it will pay Exxon Mobil $255 million in compensation for nationalized assets - less than a third of what the U.S. oil giant said it was awarded by an arbitration panel.

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OPEC oil producers on Wednesday sealed their first new output agreement in three years in a deal that settles a 6-month-old argument over supply policy firmly in Saudi Arabia's favor.

OPEC oil producers on Wednesday agreed their first new production limit in three years in a deal that settles a 6-month-old argument over output levels in Saudi Arabia's favor.

The kidnapping ordeal of Washington Nationals catcher Wilson Ramos ended after two days when Venezuelan police commandos swooped in to rescue him in a flurry of gunfire and arrested five alleged abductors.