Latin America

• Monday, January 18th 2021 - 09:19 UTC

  Guatemala forces beat back migrant caravan heading for the US

  

  Guatemala beat back on Sunday a large migrant caravan bound for the United States, just days before the inauguration of the new administration.

• Friday, January 15th 2021 - 09:40 UTC

  Argentine president celebrates a rare success of his administration, promulgation of an abortion bill

  

  Argentina on Thursday became one of just a handful of Latin American countries to allow elective abortion, as neighboring Chile initiated its own debate on decriminalizing a procedure denied to most women on the continent. President Alberto Fernandez signed a law that allows abortion until 14 weeks of pregnancy that was passed by the Senate on December 30.

• Friday, January 15th 2021 - 09:29 UTC

  PAHO warns new Covid-19 variants make it urgent to continue with public health measures

  

  The appearance of new variants of the COVID-19 virus in several countries of the Americas, combined with an acceleration in the virus’s spread in virtually every country in the Americas, makes it urgent to continue public health measures such as social distancing, wearing masks, and washing hands often, Pan American Health Organization Director Carisa F. Etienne said.

• Thursday, January 14th 2021 - 09:54 UTC

  Uruguay signs contract to resume offshore seismic surveying for oil and gas

  

  Norwegian oil and gas exploration seismic data company PGS has signed an agreement with Uruguay's state oil company ANCAP to reprocess over 11 000 km of existing 2D lines of various vintages, applying the latest seismic imaging techniques.

• Wednesday, January 13th 2021 - 09:10 UTC

  Strong rebound of Peruvian economy in the next five years

  

  The economy of Peru, the world’s second largest copper producer, is expected to grow an annual average of 5.1% between 2021 and 2026, the economy ministry said on Tuesday

• Wednesday, January 13th 2021 - 09:04 UTC

  Mexico expected to approve Russia's Sputnik vaccine, and could order 24 million doses

  

  Mexican health authorities will make a decision this week on whether to authorize Russia's Sputnik V COVID-19 vaccine after getting access to data on it, Deputy Health Minister Hugo Lopez-Gatell said on Tuesday.

• Tuesday, January 12th 2021 - 09:31 UTC

  Secretary of State Pompeo re-designates Cuba as a “state sponsor of terrorism”

  

  The outgoing president Donald Trump administration has re-designated Cuba as a “state sponsor of terrorism” in a move that hits the Castro dynasty island with new sanctions shortly before President-elect Joe Biden takes office.

• Tuesday, January 12th 2021 - 09:26 UTC

  US openly supports Guyana: joint coast guard exercise and visit of top Navy commander

  

  The United States is doubling its support for Guyana in the territorial dispute with Venezuela, another flank in Washington's campaign to force Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro out of power.

• Monday, January 11th 2021 - 09:45 UTC

  Rich Argentines fly to Miami to get the Covid vaccinations: Florida residents complain

  

  Residents of foreign countries have obtained COVID vaccinations in Florida, taking advantage of the state’s loose rules on who can get a shot. The list includes a prominent Argentine lawyer, business leaders, and Canadians whose home countries restrict vaccines to first-responders, medical personnel, and a few other groups.

• Thursday, January 7th 2021 - 09:49 UTC

  Uruguay extends closure of frontier until the end of January; concern with clandestine partying

  

  Uruguay announced on Wednesday a raft of new measures to help contain the growing number of Covid-19 positive cases which if sustained could strain hospital and sanitary capacities.