Latin America

• Thursday, April 27th 2017 - 09:32 UTC

  Venezuela quitting OAS; death toll of demonstrations climbs to 33

  

  Following through on its threat, Venezuela's government announced on Wednesday it is quitting the Organization of American States, accusing the regional body of meddling in its internal affairs over weeks of political unrest. The step was taken just hours after violent clashes in Caracas between security forces and protesters during yet another march against the socialist government of President Nicolas Maduro.

• Tuesday, April 25th 2017 - 19:16 UTC

  UN forecasts South American countries average economic expansion at 0.6%

  

  The Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) updated growth projections for economic activity in the region in 2017 and forecasts a 1.1% average expansion for this year, the United Nations body stated on Monday in a press release. This projection is slightly below the 1.3% that was estimated in December 2016.

• Monday, April 24th 2017 - 14:36 UTC

  Trump receives Argentine president Macri at the White House on Thursday

  

  Argentine and United States presidents Mauricio Macri and Donald Trump will be addressing bilateral trade, the Venezuelan situation, combating drugs and declassification of documents from the last dictatorship when they meet next Thursday at the While House, according to Chargé d'Affaires Thomas Cooney currently running the US embassy in Buenos Aires.

• Wednesday, April 19th 2017 - 21:12 UTC

  World Bank praise for Latam countries pursuing counter-cyclical fiscal policies

  

  In a positive development, today more than ever before, Latin American and Caribbean countries are pursuing counter-cyclical fiscal policies - spending more in bad times and saving in good times, according to a new World Bank semiannual report for the region.

• Monday, April 10th 2017 - 08:12 UTC

  Trump will host Argentina's Macri at the White House on April 27

  

  Argentine president Mauricio Macri confirmed that a date has been officially established for his meeting with Donald Trump at the White House, April 27. The date was revealed by the president Macri during an interview with Bloomberg.

• Friday, April 7th 2017 - 12:28 UTC

  Norwegian Sky planning 33 roundtrips to Cuba from Miami in 2018

  

  Norwegian Sky will sail 33 roundtrip cruises from Miami to Cuba in 2018, with 32 voyages featuring an overnight call in the capital city of Havana as well as a call on Great Stirrup Cay, Norwegian’s private island in the Bahamas.

• Friday, April 7th 2017 - 12:18 UTC

  Ecuador's ruling party accepts a recount of votes as demanded by the opposition

  

  In a surprise move, Ecuador’s ruling party, Country Alliance, has called for a recount of the votes cast in the weekend’s presidential election. Its candidate, Lenin Moreno, had won the election by the narrowest margin, with 51.16% of the vote.

• Thursday, April 6th 2017 - 12:35 UTC

  ExxonMobil strikes oil again offshore Guyana, the second this year

  

  ExxonMobil’s oil finding streaking offshore Guyana is continuing, with the company reporting yesterday that it has struck oil again. It is Exxon’s third such find in the Stabroek Block and the second this year, coming on the heels of oil discoveries in Liza in 2015 and Payara in January.

• Thursday, April 6th 2017 - 06:08 UTC

  Maduro blows up last bridge with Mercosur and causes deep rift in Uruguayan ruling coalition

  

  Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro seems to have blown up the last bridge to Mercosur when he launched a barrage of accusations against Uruguay's foreign minister which triggered an immediate reaction from president Tabare Vazquez, who demanded evidence of the charges or a public retraction from the embattled Maduro. But the conflict has also openly exposed the deep rift inside the Uruguayan ruling coalition regarding the Bolivarian revolution “anti imperialist” regime.

• Wednesday, April 5th 2017 - 05:06 UTC

  Mine Action Day 2017: OAS calls on regional countries to continue clearing landmines

  

  On this International Day for Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action 2017, the Organization of American States (OAS) wishes to highlight the many significant advances toward the goal of making the Americas the first landmine-free zone in the world.