Latin America

Tuesday, December 31st 2019 - 12:24 UTC
Nicaragua president Ortega's authoritarian regime Ortega releases 91 opposition prisoners

Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega's government on Monday released 91 opposition prisoners held following a deadly crackdown on 2018 protests in the Central American country. Among those released was Belgian-born student leader Amaya Coppens, her family and a local rights organization said.
Monday, December 30th 2019 - 09:50 UTC
Ex judge Moro chosen as one of the decade's personalities by the Financial Times

Brazilian Justice Minister Sergio Moro was chosen as one of the fifty personalities of the decade by the Financial Times, a list which includes activists, politicians, business people and sports persons from all over the world.
Monday, December 30th 2019 - 09:40 UTC
Spain/Bolivia/Mexico spat over an alleged attempt to rescue ex president Morales aids accused of sedition

Bolivia accused Spain of an abortive attempt to extract a wanted former government aid from Mexico's embassy in La Paz, prompting a sharp denial from Madrid. It was the latest twist in a murky incident on Friday involving embassy personnel in the Bolivian capital that has sparked a bitter diplomatic spat.
Saturday, December 28th 2019 - 09:27 UTC
Outbreak of chicken pox among migrants returned to Mexico from US

An outbreak of chicken pox has forced the temporary closure of a shelter housing Central American migrants sent to Mexico from the United States, Mexican authorities said on Friday, as officials sought to contain the highly contagious virus.
Saturday, December 28th 2019 - 09:20 UTC
Peru fines McDonald's local franchise US$ 250.000 for safety violations that electrocuted two employees

Peruvian authorities on Thursday fined the local owner of a McDonald's franchise US$250,000 for serious safety violations after two employees were electrocuted to death. Two workers, an 18-year-old man and a woman, died on Dec 15 while cleaning the kitchen of a McDonald's in Pueblo Libre, in the Lima province.
Friday, December 27th 2019 - 09:54 UTC
Mexico/Bolivia spat over embassy security ring: both sides willing to take the case to The Hague

Mexico's government said on Thursday it was appealing to the International Court of Justice to ensure its diplomatic facilities were respected in Bolivia following its decision to grant asylum to nine people there.
Thursday, December 26th 2019 - 12:25 UTC
Morales claims he was ousted in a coup sponsored by the US aimed at taking over Bolivia's lithium resources

Former Bolivia president Evo Morales told news agencies in Buenos Aires last Tuesday that he was forced from office by a United States-backed coup d'etat aimed at gaining access to the South American country's vast lithium resources.
Thursday, December 26th 2019 - 12:15 UTC
Chile: Allegedly intentional fire in Valparaíso consumed around 245 houses at Christmas

A voracious fire in the Chilean city of Valparaíso began on Tuesday and extended until after Christmas Eve on Wednesday, leaving about 245 homes destroyed, 2000 people without power and a dozen injured. The authorities believe that the fires in the tourist city were intentional.
Thursday, December 26th 2019 - 12:00 UTC
Strong earthquakes strike Colombia, with no reports of injuries or major damage

Two strong earthquakes, of magnitude 6.2 and magnitude 5.7, struck central Colombia on Tuesday, the Colombian Geological Service said, but there were no immediate reports of any injuries or major damage.
Tuesday, December 24th 2019 - 09:56 UTC
Maduro says barracks assailants are refuging in Brazil and asks Bolsonaro to return the stolen weapons

The president of Venezuela, Nicolás Maduro, said Monday that 11 people have been arrested in connection with an assault early Sunday at a military post in the south of the country and said that some of those involved were in Brazil along with the stolen weapons of the installation.