Latin America

• Wednesday, February 24th 2021 - 08:58 UTC

  At least 62 dead in gang violence in Ecuador prison mutinies

  

  The Ecuadorian police on Tuesday said at least 62 people had been killed in prison mutinies in three separate facilities. News of the violence comes as Ecuador struggles to deal with prison overcrowding and frequent violence between gangs.

• Wednesday, February 24th 2021 - 08:55 UTC

  UN criticizes Colombian government over the murder of former guerrilla activists

  

  United Nations' human rights body called on the Colombian government to improve protection of human rights activists and civilians, be more present in remote, poor areas, and fully implement a peace deal with FARC rebels to curb violence.

• Wednesday, February 24th 2021 - 08:43 UTC

  Ecuadorean indigenous protest presidential election results in Quito

  

  Ecuadorean indigenous protesters arrived in Quito on Tuesday to demand a recount of the Feb. 7 presidential election after official results showed indigenous activist Yaku Perez did not advance to the runoff vote.

• Tuesday, February 23rd 2021 - 15:19 UTC

  Wife of El Chapo Guzman arrested in US on charges of drug trafficking

  

  The wife of Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman, the imprisoned former leader of Mexico's Sinaloa drug cartel, was arrested on Monday over her alleged involvement in international drug trafficking, the U.S. Department of Justice said.

• Tuesday, February 23rd 2021 - 08:37 UTC

  European Union adds 19 senior Venezuelan officials to its list of sanctions

  

  The European Union on Monday imposed sanctions on 19 senior Venezuelan officials, lawmakers and members of the security forces in response to December's legislative election that the bloc said was rigged in favor of President Nicolas Maduro.

• Monday, February 22nd 2021 - 08:54 UTC

  Conservative banker will dispute the presidential runoff in Ecuador; protests expected in Quito

  

  Ecuador's electoral authority announced on Sunday that conservative candidate Guillermo Lasso will dispute the presidential runoff next April after coming in second place in the fiercely disputed February 7 election. The third-placed finisher denounced fraud.

• Friday, February 19th 2021 - 10:14 UTC

  Investigation into Colombian forces extrajudicial killings of 6,402 civilians; 1,500 military involved

  

  Colombia’s Special Jurisdiction for Peace (JEP) said on Thursday that there were at least 6,402 extrajudicial killings between 2002 and 2008. The figure is nearly three times the number the group received when it began investigations.

• Friday, February 19th 2021 - 08:40 UTC

  Former Colombian leaders confess war crimes and crimes against humanity

  

  During the 50-year war with the state, the demobilized Colombian FARC guerrillas committed war crimes and crimes against humanity, former commanders from the group accepted on Thursday in a transitional justice court.

• Thursday, February 18th 2021 - 08:44 UTC

  PAHO still uncertain about the delivery date of vaccines for the COVAX initiative to benefit 37 countries

  

  With COVAX delivery of new vaccines expected soon in the Americas, Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) Director Carissa F. Etienne called for overcoming barriers to ensure “fair and equitable access.”

• Thursday, February 18th 2021 - 08:38 UTC

  Latin America demand rich countries stop hoarding the Covid-19 vaccines

  

  Mexican Foreign Minister Marcelo Ebrard during a virtual meeting of the UN Security Council called on rich countries to stop hoarding vaccines against Covid-19 impeding the poor from being inoculated.