Latin America

• Tuesday, February 26th 2019 - 10:50 UTC

  US imposes more sanctions to Maduro's allies; calls on Mexico and Uruguay to recognize Guaidó as president

  

  The United States targeted Venezuela's government with new sanctions on Monday and called on allies to freeze the assets of its state-owned oil company PDVSA after deadly violence blocked aid from reaching the crisis-hit country during the weekend.

• Tuesday, February 26th 2019 - 10:50 UTC

  Brazil rules out any military intervention of Venezuela: US will not be allowed to use Brazilian territory

  

  Brazilian Vice President Hamilton Mourao said on Monday that under no circumstances would his country allow the United States to intervene militarily in Venezuela from Brazilian territory.

• Tuesday, February 26th 2019 - 10:36 UTC

  Mexico disappointed indigenous actress Yalitza was left out of the Oscars' celebration

  

  Cheers echoed through Mexico City’s Roma district when the eponymous film by Alfonso Cuaron won three Oscars on Sunday, but revelers let out a disappointed sigh when best actress didn’t go to the indigenous star of the ode to 1970s life in the capital. In a payback for Cuaron’s black-and-white tribute to growing up among 1970s Roma’s handsome villas and apartment blocks, city officials set up giant screens in a park to watch the live broadcast from Los Angeles.

• Tuesday, February 26th 2019 - 09:57 UTC

  Cubans ratify new one-party socialist constitution with modest economic and social changes

  

  Cubans have overwhelmingly ratified a new constitution that enshrines the one-party socialist system as irrevocable while instituting modest economic and social changes, according to the national electoral commission.

• Monday, February 25th 2019 - 09:51 UTC

  What are the next steps for Guaidó after the failed humanitarian operation?

  

  “I will return by the airport,” responded the leader of the Venezuelan National Assembly and proclaimed the president in charge, Juan Guaidó, during a press conference in the border city of Cúcuta, Colombia. And is that after the end of the failed humanitarian operation that failed to internalize the oil country tons of food and medicine, many wonders how Guaidó will concretely return to Venezuela.

• Monday, February 25th 2019 - 09:31 UTC

  Vice president Mike Pence to announce “clear actions” on Venezuela

  

  US Vice President Mike Pence is set to announce “concrete steps” and “clear actions” to address the Venezuela crisis when he meets this Monday with regional leaders in Bogota, Colombia, a senior US administration official said.

• Monday, February 25th 2019 - 09:30 UTC

  Venezuela soldiers who defected to Colombia fear for their families

  

  Venezuelan soldiers who defected into Colombia on Saturday say they fear for the safety of their families under President Nicolás Maduro's government. Speaking exclusively to the BBC's Orla Guerin, one defector aged 23 says he is worried forces loyal to the president may “lash out against my family”.

• Monday, February 25th 2019 - 09:09 UTC

  Ecuador reaches an agreement with IMF and will receive US$ 4.2 billion

  

  Ecuador and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) staff have reached an agreement on a set of policies to underpin a US$4.2 billion (435% of quota and SDR3.035 billion) arrangement under the IMF’s Extended Fund Facility (EFF). This arrangement, which is subject to IMF Executive Board approval, would provide support for the Ecuadorian government’s economic policies over the next three years.

• Sunday, February 24th 2019 - 17:46 UTC

  Humanitarian aid to Venezuela clash: first round for Maduro, but defeat to the world's eyes

  

  Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaidó has called on other nations to consider “all measures” to oust President Nicolas Maduro. International pressure is building on Mr Maduro after opposition-led efforts to bring aid into Venezuela descended into deadly violence on Saturday.

• Saturday, February 23rd 2019 - 19:31 UTC

  Maduro announces “total rupture” of relations between Venezuela and Colombia

  

  In the midst of a tense day in which there have been clashes between volunteers and Venezuelan military officials on the borders of the country, President Nicolás Maduro, considered a usurper by the parliament of his country, announced the “total” cessation of diplomatic relations with Colombia.