Venezuela Shuts Schools and Tells Workers to Stay Home After Big Power Cuts

Venezuela’s government suspended school and told workers to stay home on Tuesday after electricity failures in large parts of the country. While the Communications Minister and Vice President initially said that the blackout that began Monday afternoon had been resolved, laying blame on an “attack” of the system by political opponents, the lights went out again in the capital city Caracas in the evening. The South American country was recovering from a crippling week-long power failure earlier this month that sparked looting in major cities, exacerbated emergencies in hospitals without generators and spoiled food at a time when many Venezuelans are struggling to eat three meals a day. President Nicolas Maduro continues to blame the U.S. and domestic opponents for sabotage and attacks on the grid while the opposition says his regime has failed to invest and maintain the aging infrastructure. More…