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Venezuela

Venezuelan Assembly Postpones Ailing Chavez's Inauguration

BBC, EL NACIONAL, EL UNIVERSAL, ULTIMAS NOTICIAS (Venezuela)

Worldcrunch

CARACAS- After a three-hour debate, the Venezuelan National Assembly has approved the request of President Hugo Chávez to postpone the inauguration for his new term in office, which was scheduled for Thursday, Jan. 10.

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Photo: Wilson Dias/ABr via Wikipedia

According to the BBC, the Venezuelan constitution states: Article 231:The president-elect shall take office on 10 January of the first year of their constitutional term, by taking an oath before the National Assembly. If for any reason, (they) cannot be sworn in before the National Assembly, they shall take the oath of office before the Supreme Court.

As Chávez is recovering in Cuba from a lung infection after his cancer surgery, neither option is feasible.

According to El Universal, the Assembly has given Chávez as much time as he needs to recover. National Assembly President Diosdado Cabello – a staunch Chavez ally – said that the date was not immovable and that the ceremony was just a formality. He pointed out that in 2000, the president was sworn in on Aug. 19.

Although Chávez appointed Vice President Nicolas Maduro as his successor should anything happen to him, the Constitution states that a chosen successor can only replace the President for 90 days, and a further 90 if it is voted by the National Assembly.

Últimas Noticias reports that during the debate, Deputy Julio Borges of the Primero Justicia party said that the National Assembly President could take the possession of the post. According to El Nacional, this fact was brought up 15 times but Diosdado Cabello, who was president in 2002 (albeit just for a few hours – the world's second shortest presidency), refused to even consider himself for the job.

On Tuesday, Opposition leader Henrique Capriles had said that Chavez's term officially ends on Jan. 10, and that the Supreme Court should "take a position on what the text of the constitution says.” Other opposition leaders have said that the inauguration could not be legally postponed.

Cabello criticized the opposition and declared: "Beware! We know what we will do. On the day that it does happen, Nicolas (Maduro) and I will be together with the people to defend the Constitution for the Commander".

The Assembly ended allowing Chávez all the time he needs to take care of his health and to return when he is better.

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food / travel

Meet Blanca Alsogaray, The First Woman To Win Cuba's "Oscar Of Cigars"

For the first time, Cuba's prestigious annual cigar festival recognized a woman, Alsogaray, owner of an iconic cigar shop in Buenos Aires, as the top representative of this celebrated lifeline of the Cuban economy.

Photo of a woman smoking a cigar.

Alsogaray smoking a cigar at her shop in Buenos Aires

Mariana Iglesias

BUENOS AIRES — Cigars are traditionally reserved for a man's world. But this year, for the first time, a Latin American woman has won one of three awards given at the 23rd Habano Festival in Cuba.

Every year since 2000, the Festival has gathered the top players in the world of Cuban cigars including sellers, distributors, specialists and aficionados. A prize is given to an outstanding personality in one of three areas: production, communication and sales. The latter went to Blanca Alsogaray, owner of the Buenos Aires shop La Casa del Habano. She says these prizes are not unlike the "Oscars of cigars."

"It's a sexist world for sure, but I won," she said of a prize which was called "Habano Man" (Hombre habano) until this year, when the word was changed for her.

"It recognizes a lifetime's work, which I consider so important as Argentina isn't an easy place for business, and less so being a woman." She was competing with two men. "In truth," she added. "I really do deserve it."

Alsogaray opened her shop in 1993. At the time there were only two sellers anywhere of Cuba's premium, hand-rolled cigars, the other one being in Mexico. Now habanos are sold in 150 outlets worldwide. "I want to celebrate these 30 years, and the prize. We're going to have a big party," she said. The firm celebrated its 30th anniversary on May 16.

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