Hugo Chávez is the current President of Venezuela, known for his democratic socialist governance, his anti-imperialism, and his radical criticism of neoliberal globalization and United States foreign policy. A career military officer, Chávez gained popularity following a failed 1992 coup d'état and was elected President in 1998 on promises of aiding Venezuela's poor majority. As President, Chávez has inaugurated massive Bolivarian Missions to combat disease, illiteracy, malnutrition, poverty and other social ills. Abroad, Chávez has acted against the Washington Consensus by advocating alternative models of economic development and fostering cooperation amongst the world's poor nations, especially those of Latin America. However, Venezuela's middle and upper classes have severely criticized Chávez, accusing him of repression and electoral fraud, and he has survived both a 2002 coup and a 2004 recall referendum. Chávez remains one of the most complex, controversial and high-profile figures in modern politics.

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_______________________________ Today's selected anniversaries:

1508: The Papal States, France, Aragon and the Holy Roman Empire formed the League of Cambrai, an alliance against the Republic of Venice. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/War_of_the_League_of_Cambrai)

1868: The first traffic lights were installed outside the Houses of Parliament in London. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/traffic_light)

1898: The signing of the Treaty of Paris ended the Spanish-American War. Spain recognised the independence of Cuba and sold Guam, the Philippines and Puerto Rico to the United States for US$20 million. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Treaty_of_Paris_%281898%29)

1901: The first Nobel Prizes were awarded, on the anniversary of the 1896 death of their founder, Swedish chemist and industrialist Alfred Nobel. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nobel_Prize)

1936: Edward VIII signed his instrument of abdication, becoming the only British monarch to voluntarily relinquish the throne. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abdication_Crisis_of_Edward_VIII)

_____________________ Wikiquote of the day:

Tell all the Truth but tell it slant — Success in Circuit lies Too bright for our infirm Delight The Truth's superb surprise As Lightning to the Children eased With explanation kind The Truth must dazzle gradually Or every man be blind — -- Emily Dickinson -- (http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Emily_Dickinson)