Latin America

• Monday, March 15th 2021 - 09:06 UTC

  Brazil becomes second worst Covid-19 country; a time bomb for neighboring countries, WHO reports

  

  Brazil has surpassed India to become the second worst-hit country from the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) pandemic. With 11,483,370 cases and 278,327 deaths, Brazil is now one spot behind the United States, which is the worst-affected globally with more than 30 million cases and 546,605 deaths, according to figures by WorldMeters.

• Saturday, March 13th 2021 - 09:52 UTC

  Bolivian former interim president and cabinet members face charges of an alleged coup

  

  Former Bolivian interim president Jeanine Anez said on Friday that she and former Cabinet members faced arrest over an alleged coup. In a tweet, she said, “The political persecution has begun.” Prosecutors accused them of terrorism and sedition related to the ouster of long-time leader Evo Morales.

• Saturday, March 13th 2021 - 09:40 UTC

  IDB initiative to help Latin America better compete for Covid-19 vaccines

  

  The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) announced a first-of-its kind initiative that would help Latin American and Caribbean countries better compete to obtain lifesaving COVID-19 vaccines. The instrument would help both countries and vaccine makers resolve indemnity obligations, thereby removing a key obstacle to vaccine contract negotiations.

• Saturday, March 13th 2021 - 09:19 UTC

  Interpol leads investigators to arrest 13 of the most wanted Latin American fugitives

  

  An Interpol coordinated ‘EL PAcCTO’ operation (20 November– 5 March) has seen a team of investigators from across Latin America locate and arrest 13 of their most wanted fugitives.

• Friday, March 12th 2021 - 10:08 UTC

  Argentina promises Bolivia's incorporation to Mercosur for the next bloc's summit

  

  Argentina pledged on Thursday to manage Bolivia's entry into Mercosur, after both countries relaunched their trade relationship during the official visit of the Argentine Foreign Minister, Felipe Solá, who sees the need to approve the full entry of the Andean country at the next Mercosur summit to be held on March 26.

• Thursday, March 11th 2021 - 09:44 UTC

  Mexico to join the club of countries that decriminalize cannabis

  

  Mexico's lower house of Congress on Wednesday approved a bill that would decriminalize cannabis for recreational, medical and scientific uses, bringing it a step closer to creating one of the world's largest markets for the plant.

• Wednesday, March 10th 2021 - 09:30 UTC

  Honduran president accused of assisting to smuggle tons of cocaine into the US

  

  Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernandez was accused on Tuesday of assisting a drug trafficker smuggle tons of cocaine into the US. Assistant US Attorney Jacob Gutwillig made the claim during his opening statement at the trial of accused drug trafficker Geovanny Fuentes Ramirez.

• Wednesday, March 10th 2021 - 08:49 UTC

  International Women's Day was particularly defiant and even violent in Latin America

  

  Tens of thousands on Monday defied coronavirus restrictions, gathering worldwide on International Women's Day to denounce gender violence and inequalities.

• Tuesday, March 9th 2021 - 09:35 UTC

  Colombian fighting continues: 11,000 people have been terrorized and displaced in two months, ombudsman report

  

  REUTERS – Intra fighting continues among armed groups in Colombia and more than 11,000 people have been displaced from their homes so far in 2021 the country's human rights watchdog said on Monday.

• Monday, March 8th 2021 - 08:55 UTC

  Names of women victimized by violence painted on metal barriers protecting Mexico's National Palace

  

  Reuters – The names of women victimized by violence were painted late on Saturday on metal barriers erected around Mexico's national palace ahead of a major women's march as activists turned the fencing into a makeshift billboard for their movement.