Venezuela

World News

Venezuela Announces Daily 4-Hour Power Cuts Amid Drought

1:21pm April 22, 2016

by Merrit Kennedy

"It's necessary, it's a sacrifice," Electricity Minister Luis Motta Dominguez told the country on Thursday. The news broke as Venezuela's largest brewer said it will be suspending beer production.

Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro announced a plan to cut down on the country's power usage in an effort to save water.

To Save Power, Venezuela Gives Public Employees Fridays Off

6:27pm April 08, 2016

by Laura Wagner

As a drought pushes water levels to extreme lows, President Nicolas Maduro has declared every Friday a holiday for the next two months to save water and electricity.

A boy is ready to take a swing on the streets of San Pedro de Macoris, a provincial capital of the Dominican Republic.

Baseball Is A Field Of Dreams — And Dashed Hopes — For Dominicans

9:22am April 03, 2016

by David Lagesse

The Dominican Republic sends more players to MLB than any other country. That's a boon for the local economy — but it's also sparked controversy.

The headquarters of the Bank of Venezuela (from left) and buildings housing the National Assembly and various government ministries stand in darkness in Caracas on March 22. Venezuela shut down for a week to conserve electricity amid a deepening power cri

World News

In Venezuela, An Electricity Crisis Adds To Country's Woes

5:19pm March 29, 2016

by John Otis

The country has oil, natural gas and rivers for hydroelectric power. Yet it's suffering crippling electricity cuts, adding to its economic woes.

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A motorcyclist waits Feb. 17 to buy gas in Caracas, Venezuela. President Nicolas Maduro increased the price of gasoline for the first time in 20 years, as he faced growing pressure to ease an economic crisis in the oil-producing country.

Cheap Oil Usually Means Global Growth, But This Time Seems Different

8:31pm March 09, 2016

by John Ydstie

Recent forecasts for global growth have been ratcheted down, even as oil prices sink lower and put more money in consumers' wallets. Economists see several factors changing things.

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Joanna Hausmann is a comedian who makes videos for The Flama, which focuses on Latino culture.

National

A Comedian 'Rants' On Different Latino Cultures

10:14am March 05, 2016

by NPR Staff

Latinos in the U.S. are "just put all in one group," says Joanna Hausmann, who is using comedy videos to show that all Latinos aren't the same.

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Venezuelan players celebrate after beating Cuba in the Dominican Republic on Feb. 4. More than 20 U.S. major league teams established baseball academies in Venezuela in the 1990s; currently, more than 60 Venezuelans are in the major leagues. But the turmo

As Venezuelan Crisis Deepens, U.S. Baseball Teams Close Academies

4:53pm February 24, 2016

by John Otis

Venezuela is a key supplier of baseball talent to the U.S. major leagues. Players come up through baseball academies run by the teams. But now, many academies are being shut down.

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These people have just walked across the bridge from Venezuela to Colombia, where the Colombian immigration authorities are on duty. Many people live on one side and work on the other, crossing so frequently they don't have to register with officials each

Health & Safety

Venezuela Won't Talk To Colombia About Zika — And That's A Problem

5:51pm February 23, 2016

Colombia would like to coordinate with Venezuela to fight the virus. That's not happening. Meanwhile, Venezuelans who cross the border may be bringing Zika with them.

Mileidis Bolivar shows off the tomatoes she grows in her rooftop garden in a Caracas, Venezuela, slum.

World News

Facing Severe Food Shortages, Venezuela Pushes Urban Gardens

4:10pm February 17, 2016

by John Otis

In Venezuela, bread, meat, milk and other staples are scarce these days. So Venezuela's government is urging urban slum dwellers to grow and raise their own food. But it's a challenge.

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A Health Ministry employee fumigates against Aedes Aegypti mosquito, which can carry the Zika virus, at a home in Caracas on January 28.

How Many Zika Cases Are There In Venezuela: 4,000 Or 400,000?

4:31pm February 02, 2016

by Nurith Aizenman

It depends who you ask. But Venezuela could be the next ground zero for Zika. And government information is in short supply. So are doctors, medicines and even mosquito repellent.

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