Venezuela’s National Assembly on Sunday approved President Nicolas Maduro’s request to govern by decree for a year for the second time since he took office two years ago. Maduro, who holds a majority of support in the National Assembly, said he needed the special powers through Dec. 31 in order to defend the country from the new U.S. sanctions against Venezuelan officials. Last week, President Obama issued an executive order banning seven Venezuelan officials from traveling to the U.S. while also freezing their assets over human rights. Opposition lawamkers called the legislation a weapon to use against those who disagree with Maduro and a diversion from the economic crisis.
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