WORLD NEWS - 00:30 UTC, December 18th, 2010

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It is zero hour thirty Universal Time. Now，the News in VOA Special English. I’m Christopher Cruise reporting live to the world from the VOA newsroom in Washington.

Lawmakers in Venezuela are giving more power to President Hugo Chavez. Allies of Mr. Chavez control the country’s current national assembly. Assembly members agreed Friday to let him rule by declaration for 18 month. The move gives the president the ability to use such powers for the fourth time since he took office 11 year ago. President Chavez has said he needs the powers to react quickly to disasters caused by severe weather. Such disasters have forced thousands of Venezuelans to live in government shelters.

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WORLD NEWS - 00:30 UTC, December 18th, 2010