Venezuela delays state elections to 2017

Elections for Venezuela's state governorships will be held in 2017 rather than December as previously expected, the election board said on Tuesday, giving the unpopular socialist government a short breathing space before going to the polls. Critics say authorities have delayed the state elections - and are also seeking to derail an opposition push for a referendum to recall President Nicolas Maduro - because they are scared of letting Venezuelans have their say. Maduro, who replaced the popular