Latin America

• Thursday, August 18th 2016 - 06:54 UTC

  Fire forces full passenger evacuation of Caribbean Fantasy off Puerto Rico

  

  A fire forced more than 500 people to be evacuated from a cruise ship about a mile off Puerto Rico's northern coast on Wednesday. The U.S. Coast Guard brought passengers to the shore as the fire continued to burn aboard the Caribbean Fantasy, a combination cruise and ferry ship. Other agencies also joined the rescue effort until fire forced them to abandon the ship.

• Thursday, August 18th 2016 - 06:04 UTC

  Macri after full integration of Mercosur with the Pacific Alliance

  

  Latin America needs greater economic integration and a merger of Mercosur and the Pacific Alliance should be the objective, according to Argentine president Mauricio Macri, who insists in loosening trade restrictions in his country and the region.

• Tuesday, August 16th 2016 - 11:03 UTC

  Guatemalan government makes a call to Apple asking to rename iconic ringtone.

  

  The movement made up of artists and local authorities has now 7000 signatures of support. The “ Marimba ” ringtone is the classic iPhone ringtone and probably one of the most recognizable ringtones in the world. What most people around the globe don’t know is that the Marimba is the national instrument of Guatemala and one of it’s national symbols.

• Tuesday, August 16th 2016 - 06:01 UTC

  Latam airlines has poor performance in 2Q; defers incorporation of new aircraft

  

  Latin America's largest airline, reported a wider-than-forecast net loss in the second quarter of US$92 million, as it struggles to overcome tough economic conditions in its key markets. The airline made a loss of US$50 million in the same period a year ago, a quarter that is traditionally weak for seasonal reasons.

• Monday, August 15th 2016 - 12:36 UTC

  Norwegian cruise line admits weak Caribbean summer season; South American itineraries “soft”

  

  Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings CEO Frank Del Rio said the company’s “lofty” expectations for the Caribbean this summer have not been met, one factor in revising expectations downward for the rest of the year. In a conference call to discuss second-quarter results this week, Norwegian lowered its guidance for second-half earnings and said it will not make its previously forecast goal of earning US$5 a share in 2017.

• Tuesday, August 9th 2016 - 08:24 UTC

  Ban Ki-moon praises Argentina's commitment with the UN and cooperation with other countries

  

  United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon applauded on Monday Argentina's commitment and strong partnership with the UN and its cooperation with other countries. Ban Ki-moon arrived in Buenos Aires from Paraguay and previously from Brazil where he was part of the inauguration of the Rio Olympic Games.

• Friday, August 5th 2016 - 20:54 UTC

  Cuba admits Venezuelan recession is hitting hard: Chavist oil shipments down 20%

  

  Venezuela’s grim situation is impacting not only millions of households around the country: it is also sending panic waves across the Caribbean all the way to Cuba, a solid ally that for decades now has relied heavily on Chavismo’s generosity.

• Thursday, August 4th 2016 - 21:52 UTC

  Venezuela defies Mercosur members and announces it will “fully exercise the presidency”

  

  Venezuela has defiantly confirmed that is will fully exercise the “self-proclaimed” presidency of Mercosur, despite the opposition from Argentina, Brazil and Paraguay, who consider the chair vacant and are meeting in Montevideo to find an alternative for the six month mandate.

• Wednesday, August 3rd 2016 - 07:12 UTC

  US 'Dream team' rented cruise liner “Silver Cloud” as their Olympic Village

  

  Multi-millionaire members of the US Olympic basketball team have rented a massive luxury cruise ship to call their home while they compete at the Rio Olympics. Super rich members of the 'Dream Team' are shirking the nightmare of the Olympic Village, still undergoing finishing touches in some areas and likely to remain “under construction” throughout the games in others. Members of the women's team are also reported to be calling the cruise ship home.

• Wednesday, August 3rd 2016 - 06:58 UTC

  Rio Games opening tailored to the current economic conditions in Brazil

  

  Rio de Janeiro Olympics opening ceremony on Friday will break with the recent tradition of large-scale and expensive shows, featuring a low-emissions cauldron and an “analogue” experience, executive producer Marco Balich said.