Latin America

• Monday, May 30th 2016 - 09:16 UTC

  US top official expected in Uruguay and Brazil

  

  Acting Assistant Secretary of State for Western Hemisphere Affairs Mari Carmen Aponte will travel to Montevideo, Uruguay, May 31-June 2 to lead the United States delegation at the Open Government Partnership (OGP) Americas Regional Meeting.

• Monday, May 30th 2016 - 07:36 UTC

  Venezuela's public sector will only work Mondays and Tuesdays for another two weeks

  

  Venezuela's government on Saturday extended by two weeks a decree reducing the public sector workweek to Mondays and Tuesdays in a bid to tackle the oil-rich country's electricity crisis. The enforced leave was first announced in late April, a drastic move for a government also grappling with an economic crisis that has Venezuelans queuing for hours to buy scarce supplies.

• Sunday, May 29th 2016 - 14:28 UTC

  World health experts call for Rio Olympics to be postponed or moved given Zika spread fears

  

  More than 100 health experts have called for the Rio Olympic Games to be postponed or moved because of fears that the event could speed up the spread of the Zika virus around the world, according to a public letter published online.

• Sunday, May 29th 2016 - 08:23 UTC

  “Modern Times”, robots rapidly replacing workers in electronics factories

  

  Apple and Samsung supplier Foxconn has reportedly replaced 60,000 factory workers with robots. One factory has “reduced employee strength from 110,000 to 50,000 thanks to the introduction of robots”, a government official told the South China Morning Star.

• Saturday, May 28th 2016 - 07:27 UTC

  WHO public health advice regarding the Olympics and Zika virus

  

  Based on current assessment, cancelling or changing the location of the 2016 Olympics will not significantly alter the international spread of Zika virus. Brazil is one of almost 60 countries and territories which to-date report continuing transmission of Zika by mosquitoes. People continue to travel between these countries and territories for a variety of reasons. The best way to reduce risk of disease is to follow public health travel advice.

• Tuesday, May 24th 2016 - 00:49 UTC

  Infantino admits public opinion “views FIFA with skepticism”, following Scala's resignation

  

  FIFA president Gianni Infantino admits “the public view FIFA with skepticism” after a series of corruption scandals. But in answer to critics who say a recent move has weakened efforts to reform FIFA, he said “from now on the focus should be on our actions and deeds, rather than on premature conclusions and speculation.“

• Monday, May 23rd 2016 - 10:50 UTC

  New recommendations for athletes and visitors of the coming Rio Olympic Games

  

  Australian athletes at this summer’s Rio Olympics will be supplied with condoms which offer “near complete” protection against the mosquito-borne Zika virus, the Australian Olympic Committee (AOC) announced. However, the virus has been linked to a birth defect that causes babies to be born with unusually small heads.

• Saturday, May 21st 2016 - 08:26 UTC

  Maduro admits to being mad as a hatter, but “crazy love” for Venezuela and the revolution

  

  Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro admitted he “was mad as a hatter”, but “mad with love” for Venezuela, the Bolivarian revolution and for the deceased leader Hugo Chavez, in a clear reference to previous statements, without mentioning him, of Uruguayan ex president Jose Mujica.

• Saturday, May 21st 2016 - 08:17 UTC

  Argentina nominates Susana Malcorra candidate for UN Secretary General post

  

  President Mauricio Macri on Friday made official the nomination of Susana Malcorra as a candidate to the post of United Nations Secretary General, underlining that the diplomatic experience of the Argentine foreign minister will contribute to provide “creative solutions” to the challenges faced by the UN organization.

• Saturday, May 21st 2016 - 08:07 UTC

  Argentina, Chile and Uruguay appeal for an urgent political dialogue in Venezuela

  

  Argentina, Chile and Uruguay in a joint statement released on Friday, called for political dialogue in Venezuela and offered to help with a “national reunion” of the political and social forces of the country. The appeal, with utmost respect for the principle of non interference in the internal affairs of Venezuela, was made extensive to the government, the National Assembly, under opposition control, and all political and social groups.