Venezuela

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Nationals catcher Wilson Ramos, entering his second full season in the majors, was seized from his home in Valencia, Venezuela, in November. He was rescued after more than 48 hours and shook hands with an unidentified boy upon leaving police headquarters. (AP Photo/Lexander Loiza)

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Supporters of Henrique Capriles celebrate in Caracas, Venezuela, on Feb. 12 after he won the opposition's presidential-primary election by a wide margin, setting up an October showdown with the incumbent. (Associated Press)

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Los Angeles Philharmonic cellist Ben Hong (left) instructs young musicians from Venezuela's nationwide orchestra program in Caracas. Conductor Gustavo Dudamel is a graduate of the "El Sistema" program. (Associated Press)

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Conductor Gustavo Dudamel, 31, is a national hero in Venezuela. Outside the concert hall where the Los Angeles Philharmonic performed, vendors sold T-shirts and buttons emblazoned with his image. (Associated Press)

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Henrique Capriles Radonski, governor of Miranda state, looks like the favorite to win Sunday's opposition primary to determine an opponent for President Hugo Chavez in Venezuela's Oct. 7 election. (Associated Press)

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Celebrating at a November signing ceremony in Caracas, (from left) are Jorge Giordani, Venezuela's minister of planning and finance; President Hugo Chavez; and Zhan Xiaoquiang, China's vice minister of national development and reform. (Associated Press)

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Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad arrives Jan. 8, 2012, at the international airport in Maiquetia, Venezuela. Ahmadinejad visited Venezuela as part of his tour aimed at showing off relationships with some of Tehran's close allies, while tensions grow over the country's threats to block oil shipments in retaliation for tighter U.S. sanctions. (Associated Press)

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Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad arrives Sunday at the international airport in Maiquetia, Venezuela. Mr. Ahmadinejad also plans to visit Nicaragua, Cuba, Ecuador and possibly Guatemala. (Associated Press)

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Yolanda Silva hangs clothes to dry outside her home made of corrugated zinc in Winche on the outskirts of Caracas, Venezuela. (Associated Press)

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Because oil production from Mexico and Venezuela has fallen drastically in the past decade, Gulf Coast refineries like this one in Deer Park, Texas, now have the capacity to process an additional 500,000 barrels per day of Canadian crude that would come through the Keystone pipeline. (Associated Press)

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With the rise in violence against political leaders and other people of means in many Latin American countries, armored cars are increasingly popular. At a plant in Cagua, Venezuela, armored cars are assembled that include bullet-resistant windows (top) and interior adaptations (center and above) of the car's body. Esteban Papp, who sells materials for the industry in Venezuela, said he saw a Jeep that took at least six bullets in its back window and door in an attack. The metal was dented and the glass broke, but not a single shot penetrated and the driver escaped safely. (Associated Press)

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An armored car with bullet-resistant windows is under assembly at a plant in Cagua, Venezuela. (Associated Press)

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Washington Nationals' catcher (3) Wilson Ramos (left) is joined by Washington Nationals General Manager Mike Rizzo (right) during remarks to reporters about his recent abduction in front of his family home in Venezuela, in the team's clubhouse in Washington, DC, Friday, November 18, 2011. (Rod Lamkey Jr. / The Washington Times)

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Washington Nationals' catcher (3) Wilson Ramos (left) is joined by Washington Nationals General Manager Mike Rizzo (right) during remarks to reporters about his recent abduction in front of his family home in Venezuela, in the team's clubhouse in Washington, DC, Friday, November 18, 2011. (Rod Lamkey Jr. / The Washington Times)

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Washington Nationals' catcher (3) Wilson Ramos (left) is joined by Washington Nationals General Manager Mike Rizzo (right) during remarks to reporters about his recent abduction in front of his family home in Venezuela, in the team's clubhouse in Washington, DC, Friday, November 18, 2011. (Rod Lamkey Jr. / The Washington Times)

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Washington Nationals' catcher (3) Wilson Ramos (left) is joined by Washington Nationals General Manager Mike Rizzo (right) during remarks to reporters about his recent abduction in front of his family home in Venezuela, in the team's clubhouse in Washington, DC, Friday, November 18, 2011. (Rod Lamkey Jr. / The Washington Times)

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Washington Nationals' catcher (3) Wilson Ramos (left) is joined by Washington Nationals General Manager Mike Rizzo (right) during remarks to reporters about his recent abduction in front of his family home in Venezuela, in the team's clubhouse in Washington, DC, Friday, November 18, 2011. (Rod Lamkey Jr. / The Washington Times)

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Washington Nationals' catcher (3) Wilson Ramos (left) is hugged by team mate Stephen Lombardozzi (1) (right) after offering remarks to reporters about his recent abduction in front of his family home in Venezuela, in the team's clubhouse in Washington, DC, Friday, November 18, 2011. (Rod Lamkey Jr. / The Washington Times)

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Washington Nationals' catcher (3) Wilson Ramos (center) is welcomed by team mates Ryan Zimmerman (11) (left) and Stephen Lombardozzi (1) (right) after offering remarks to reporters about his recent abduction in front of his family home in Venezuela, in the team's clubhouse in Washington, DC, Friday, November 18, 2011. (Rod Lamkey Jr. / The Washington Times)

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Washington Nationals' catcher (3) Wilson Ramos (right) hugs team mate Ryan Zimmerman (11) (left) after offering remarks to reporters about his recent abduction in front of his family home in Venezuela, in the team's clubhouse in Washington, DC, Friday, November 18, 2011. (Rod Lamkey Jr. / The Washington Times)