Latin America

• Monday, April 16th 2018 - 07:56 UTC

  Most Latin American countries cautious or critical about bombings in Syria

  

  Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau backed air strikes by the United States and its allies on Syria’s chemical weapons program but Argentina, Brazil and Peru voiced caution during a regional summit about the escalating military action.

• Saturday, April 14th 2018 - 10:56 UTC

  Ecuador and Colombia elite troops after Farc renegades who killed journalists and their driver

  

  Ecuador on Friday confirmed the deaths of two journalists and their driver who had been kidnapped by renegade Colombian rebels -- and quickly launched a retaliatory military operation in the area where they were snatched.

• Saturday, April 14th 2018 - 10:49 UTC

  Corruption and Venezuela in the agenda of a subdued Summit of the Americas

  

  Peruvian President Martin Vizcarra opened on Friday a subdued Summit of the Americas decrying widespread corruption and urging regional leaders to join forces in increasing transparency and boosting civil society. Addressing Western Hemisphere leaders in an auditorium where a number of seats were left notably empty, Peru's new president said that rather than accept corruption as a deep-seated scourge impossible to eliminate, governments should adopt concrete measures that prevent it from ever taking place.

• Tuesday, April 10th 2018 - 14:40 UTC

  Trump cancels trip to Americas' summit because of Syrian situation; Pence will represent him in Lima

  

  After threatening a military strike against Syria, President Donald Trump on Tuesday canceled plans to travel to Peru later this week, choosing to stay in the United States to manage the response to an apparent chemical weapons attack.

• Tuesday, April 10th 2018 - 08:44 UTC

  FARC leader arrested in Bogotá on a US request for drug trafficking

  

  One of the top leaders of Colombia's former rebel group, FARC, has been arrested in Bogota following a request from the United States. Jesus Santrich, a former peace negotiator, is accused of drug trafficking by a court in New York.

• Sunday, April 8th 2018 - 06:43 UTC

  Lula in prison in Curitiba. Fiery-emotional speech to supporters before turning in

  

  Brazil's leftist icon Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva turned himself in Saturday to start a 12-year sentence for corruption after a chaotic attempt by supporters to stop him from surrendering. Surrounded by bodyguards, Lula had to push through a seething throng of supporters to get into a police vehicle outside the metalworkers' union building in Sao Bernardo do Campo, where he had been holed up for two days and nights.

• Sunday, April 8th 2018 - 06:40 UTC

  UK present at Latin America's Air and Space Fair held in Santiago

  

  The 20th Air and Space Fair (Fidae), the most important aviation event in Latin America, kicked off in Chile on Tuesday with a participation of more than 50 exhibitors and about 120 civil and military aircraft. FIDAE, a biennial international air show held in Santiago, Chile, is the largest aerospace and defense fair in Latin America. More than 120,000 attendees are expected to attend during the six days display.

• Saturday, April 7th 2018 - 10:31 UTC

  Milestone Colombian ruling orders the government urgent protection of Amazon rainforest

  

  Colombia’s highest court has told the government it must take urgent action to protect its Amazon rainforest and stem rising deforestation, in what campaigners said was an historic moment that should help conserve forests and counter climate change.

• Friday, April 6th 2018 - 19:47 UTC

  Regaining citizens’ trust in public institutions is key to resuming inclusive growth and well-being in Latin America and the Caribbean

  

  Brussels, 09 April 2018 - Three out of four Latin Americans today show little or no confidence in their national governments. Around 80% think corruption is widespread. These levels are both up from 55% and 67% respectively in 2010. Mistrust is rising as in most regions of the world and risks deepening the disconnect between people and public institutions, harming social cohesion and weakening the social contract. Reconnecting public institutions with citizens by better responding to their demands is thus critical for strengthening growth and sustainable development in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) and for the well-being of the region’s citizens, according to the Latin American Economic Outlook 2018, Rethinking Institutions for Development. The region needs more transparent, capable, credible and innovative institutions if it wants to put itself on a higher and more inclusive development trajectory.

• Friday, April 6th 2018 - 16:23 UTC

  Lula resists arrest deadline waiting for last minute habeas corpus filed at an appeals court

  

  Former Brazilian president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva told Folha de Sao Paulo early Friday that he has decided not to turn himself at the Federal Police in Curitiba where he must serve a 12-year prison sentence for corruption, as ordered by judge Sergio Moro.