Stories for September 2016

Friday, September 2nd 2016 - 15:01 UTC
Brazil reacts to Maduro's statements and calls its ambassador in Caracas

The impeachment process that led to the removal of Dilma Rousseff from office on Wednesday, August 31, increased the gap among the continent's governments. While the U.S. said that the definite ousting of the now-former president of Brazil followed constitutional proceedings, the so-called Bolivarian governments – Venezuela, Ecuador and Bolivia – reacted by calling their ambassadors back.
Friday, September 2nd 2016 - 11:21 UTC
A million Venezuelans take to the streets peacefully to protest against Maduro

Opponents of President Nicolas Maduro flooded Venezuela's capital on Thursday in one of the biggest mass protests against socialist rule for more than a decade. Dressed in white and chanting “this government will fall,” hundreds of thousands rallied across Caracas to demand a recall referendum against Maduro and decry a deep economic crisis in the oil rich country.
Thursday, September 1st 2016 - 23:29 UTC
Uruguay's Home Secretary questions the legitimacy of Temer, and calls removal of Rousseff, a “coup”

Uruguay's Home Secretary Eduardo Bonomi described the removal of Brazilian ex president Dilma Rousseff as a “coup” and underlined her successor Michel Temer “has no legitimacy” to occupy the Executive. He added that the events of this week in Brazil have had an impact on Brazilian democracy and the region overall.
Thursday, September 1st 2016 - 11:04 UTC
Argentina recognizes Brazil's institutional process and president Temer

The Argentine government expressed on Wednesday respect for Brazil's institutional process and iterated its willingness to continue advancing toward a real and effective integration based on respect for human rights, democratic institutions and International law.
Thursday, September 1st 2016 - 10:58 UTC
Fears the “Great March on Caracas” could trigger violent clashes between Chavistas and opposition

Venezuela's opposition and government head into a crucial test of strength this Thursday with massive marches for and against a referendum to recall President Nicolas Maduro that have raised fears of a violent confrontation.
Thursday, September 1st 2016 - 10:45 UTC
First US commercial flight lands in Cuba in more than half a century

United States Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx stepped onto Cuban soil from the first U.S. commercial flight to the island nation in more than half a century on Wednesday, a JetBlue Airways flight from Florida, marking a big step in restoring normal relations between the U.S. and Cuba.
Thursday, September 1st 2016 - 10:29 UTC
Venezuela, Ecuador and Bolivia freeze relations with Brazil in support of Rousseff

Venezuela on Wednesday withdrew its ambassador from Brazil and froze ties in response to president Dilma Rousseff's removal from office.
Thursday, September 1st 2016 - 10:10 UTC
Pope declines request to help select judges for Colombia's peace tribunal

The Vatican announced Wednesday that, although Pope Francis is pleased about a peace deal between the government of Colombia and the country’s guerrillas, he has declined a request to have a Vatican envoy help select judges for a new peace tribunal.
Thursday, September 1st 2016 - 10:02 UTC
Brazil central bank keeps rates unchanged for the ninth straight time

Brazil's central bank kept interest rates at a decade high for the ninth straight time on Wednesday, but did not discard a cut rate later this year if stubbornly high inflation subsides. In a unanimous vote, the bank's monetary policy committee, Copom, kept its benchmark Selic rate at 14.25%, its highest since July 2006.
Thursday, September 1st 2016 - 07:35 UTC
Guantanamo Bay inmate is back in Uruguay following his arrest in Venezuela

A former Guantanamo Bay inmate who was resettled in Uruguay and then arrested in Venezuela after going missing has been sent back to Uruguay, officials announced in Montevideo. Syrian Jihad Diyab, 45, who was resettled in Uruguay as a refugee in 2014 -- was jailed at the headquarters of the Venezuelan secret police after going off the radar in Uruguay then traveling to Venezuela, apparently evading border control.