Latin America

• Wednesday, July 8th 2015 - 07:50 UTC

  World Bank claims there's 'no crisis in Latin America', but poverty still prevails

  

  The World Bank’s Vice-President for Latin America and the Caribbean, Jorge Familiar, praised the region’s implementation of economic reforms, claiming that they had led to poverty reduction in the last few years, but he also warned that its pace was decreasing.

• Tuesday, July 7th 2015 - 08:06 UTC

  Pope said Mass to 650.000 people and centered the homily on the family theme

  

  Pope Francis said Mass for more than 650.000 Ecuadoreans and hinted he wanted a major Vatican gathering this year to find ways to reach out to Catholics who feel excluded by the Church. On the first full day of a three-nation “homecoming” trip to South America, the Argentine-born pontiff was in Ecuador's second city Guayaquil, a steamy port sometimes referred to as the world's “banana capital,” given its bustling fruit trade.

• Tuesday, July 7th 2015 - 07:48 UTC

  Caricom supports Guyana in border dispute with Venezuela, but there's also Petro Caribe

  

  The chairman of a 15-member Caribbean trade bloc said over the weekend that he backs Guyana's government amid an escalating border dispute with neighboring Venezuela. Freundel Stuart spoke at a press conference as Caricom leaders ended a three-day summit in Barbados.

• Tuesday, July 7th 2015 - 07:40 UTC

  Maduro recalls ambassador in Guyana: “Venezuela in under new forms of assault and aggression”

  

  President Nicolas Maduro announced Monday that he was recalling Venezuela's ambassador in neighboring Guyana for consultation amid mounting tensions over their disputed border. During an address to parliament, Maduro said that he also is initiating a comprehensive review of relations with much smaller Guyana and reducing the size of Venezuela's embassy there.

• Monday, July 6th 2015 - 07:55 UTC

  Francis in Ecuador repeats call 'to hear the cry of the earth and the cry of the poor'

  

  Francis landed in Ecuador's capital Quito on Sunday to begin an eight-day tour of South America that will also include visits to Bolivia and Paraguay. On his first visit as pontiff to Latin America, the Argentina-born pope is scheduled to conduct masses in both Quito and the coastal city of Guayaquil before flying to Bolivia on Wednesday.

• Saturday, July 4th 2015 - 07:21 UTC

  Ecuadorians take to the streets to protest against Correa; Pope arrives Sunday

  

  Thousands of people turned out for protest marches across Ecuador on Thursday to call for the ouster of President Rafael Correa just three days before a visit by Pope Francis. Full demonstrations were reported in the three biggest cities, Quito, Guayaquil and Cuenca, as well as other smaller cities. Correa claimed a 'coup' was on the making.

• Saturday, July 4th 2015 - 07:13 UTC

  Cristina Fernandez plans sixth meeting with the Pope, when he visits Paraguay

  

  Argentine President Cristina Fernández will have a meeting with Pope Francis during the Pontiff’s visit to Paraguay, official sources have confirmed. The Argentine leader will travel to Asunción between July 11 and 13 for her sixth encounter with Francis, who will be ending his South American tour during those dates. The Pope will visit Ecuador, Bolivia and Paraguay, beginning Sunday.

• Friday, July 3rd 2015 - 07:45 UTC

  Republicans anticipate they will not approve a US ambassador to Cuba

  

  United States Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said on Thursday that his chamber is unlikely to approve a US ambassador to Cuba, sending a quick rebuff to President Barack Obama and his drive to normalize relations with the U.S. neighbor and longtime Cold War foe.

• Thursday, July 2nd 2015 - 06:37 UTC

  Pacific Alliance summit takes off in Peru with business conferences

  

  The Xth summit of the Pacific Alliance took off on Wednesday with the attendance of presidents from Chile, Colombia, Mexico and Peru at the Peruvian sea-side resort of Paracas.

• Thursday, July 2nd 2015 - 05:17 UTC

  US embassy will be opened on July 20; Kerry will raise the flag in Havana

  

  President Obama formally announced on Wednesday that the United States and Cuba have both agreed to open embassies in each other’s capitals following more than a half-century of hostilities between the two nations.