Latin America

Saturday, May 30th 2015 - 00:48 UTC
One step closer: US drops Cuba from its list of state sponsors of terrorism

The United States on Friday formally dropped Cuba from its list of state sponsors of terrorism, the US State Department said in a statement. The removal of Cuba from the US terrorism list eliminates an obstacle toward restoring diplomatic ties between the United States and the communist-led Caribbean island state after 54 years.
Wednesday, May 27th 2015 - 05:13 UTC
Almagro as new OAS chief pledges to end fragmentation and to work with all countries

The former Foreign Minister of Uruguay Luis Almagro Lemes took office on Tuesday as Secretary General of the Organization of American States (OAS) during a meeting of the Permanent Council at the headquarters of the Organization in Washington, DC.
Tuesday, May 26th 2015 - 06:03 UTC
Belize and Guatemala en route to solve territorial dispute sponsored by OAS

Belize and Guatemala signed on Monday the Protocol to the Special Agreement which will allow the governments of both nations to separately hold public consultations with a view to submitting their territorial dispute to the International Court of Justice.
Monday, May 25th 2015 - 07:21 UTC
Mexico compensates China for cancelling high-speed rail contract

Mexico will compensate China Railway Construction Corporation (CRCC) $1.31m for cancelling a $3.75bn high-speed rail contract. CRCC was at the head of a consortium that had won the project last year, which was abruptly revoked shortly after being awarded.
Monday, May 25th 2015 - 06:25 UTC
Bachelet underlines close economic and political ties of Chile with China

Chile and China have enjoyed a positive and fruitful relationship and bilateral ties will further develop very strongly in the future, anticipated Chilean President Michelle Bachelet during an interview with Xinhua prior to Chinese Premier Li Keqiang's upcoming visit
Saturday, May 23rd 2015 - 10:27 UTC
China and Peru agree to study feasibility of transcontinental railroad

China and Peru have agreed to study the feasibility of a controversial 5,300 km transcontinental railroad that will connect Peru's Pacific coast with Brazil's Atlantic coast, China's official Xinhua News Agency reported.
Friday, May 22nd 2015 - 10:21 UTC
El Niño could again disrupt global food markets later this year

A strong El Niño is likely to increase prices of staple foods such as rice, coffee, sugar and cocoa, say scientists. Forecasters agree that the El Niño effect, which can drive droughts and flooding, is under way in the tropical Pacific, but they say it is too early to say how severe it will be.
Friday, May 22nd 2015 - 08:52 UTC
PM Li Keqiang in Bogotá: China and Colombia considering free trade accord

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang vowed to deepen economic ties with Colombia after arriving to Bogotá on Thursday, as part of his four-nation South American tour aimed at boosting trade and investment. Li is the highest-ranking Chinese official to visit Colombia since the two nations established diplomatic ties 35 years ago and his visit was hailed as historic by President Juan Manuel Santos.
Friday, May 22nd 2015 - 08:48 UTC
Caribbean epidemiologic alert following reports of Zika virus in Brazil

Following reports of suspected Zika virus in Brazil, the health ministries of several Caribbean countries have issued advisories for the mosquito borne viral disease.On Thursday, the Jamaica Health Ministry issued an epidemiological alert after the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) noted the potential spread of this arbovirus across territories where the vectors (Aedes) are present.
Friday, May 22nd 2015 - 08:39 UTC
“Obama would relish the opportunity to visit Cuba and Havana in particular”

President Obama is looking to travel to Cuba’s capitol city of Havana before his tenure ends, White Press Secretary Josh Earnest told reporters Thursday, the same day a Florida bank announced that the State Department has given them permission to make diplomatic transactions between the two nations.