Venezuela high court blocks legislature's bills

The decision, issued last Friday and published Tuesday, is the latest showdown between the National Assembly and the court, which the opposition accuses of blatant bias in favor of leftist President Nicolas Maduro. The case dates back to legislative elections in December, which the opposition won in a landslide amid an economic crisis marked by severe shortages of food and basic goods. The court barred the three opposition lawmakers pending an investigation of fraud allegations. The opposition condemned the case as an excuse to strip it of its powerful two-thirds majority. More…