* President Hugo Chávez claimed the United States is engaged in an economic plot against Venezuela, and warned: “If they (Washington) do not want the Venezuelan oil, they should tell us, and we will stop selling oil to them.”

* The Venezuelan ruler threatened to nationalize major beef warehouses and wholesalers selling the product above the price set by the government.

* Hugo Chávez granted pensions of the Venezuelan Welfare Institute (IVSS) to 103,039 elderly people under presidential resolution 4269, which establishes a special program to apply for IVSS pensions for the elderly.