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MercoPress, en Español

Montevideo, July 5th 2025 - 17:27 UTC

Latin America

  • Thursday, September 24th 2015 - 08:11 UTC

    Venezuela admits military 'deployment exercise' along the border with Guyana

    Defense Minister Padrino Lopez said that Venezuela was conducting military exercises “because we are really preparing ourselves”

    Venezuela says the deployment of its troops near the border it shares with Guyana, which triggered serious concern in Georgetown, is “an operational deployment exercise”. This follows on months of diplomatic aggression and threats by the regime of Nicolas Maduro claiming two thirds of Guyana's territory.

  • Wednesday, September 23rd 2015 - 09:03 UTC

    Guyana claims Venezuela is making “abnormal military deployments” near the border

    “During September we have noticed an extraordinary escalation of Venezuelan military activity in eastern Venezuela” said president Granger

    Guyana President David Granger is claiming that Venezuela is making “abnormal and extraordinary military deployments” near the border between the two countries. He made the accusation on Tuesday, saying that he had received reports about the movement in eastern Venezuela/western Guyana.

  • Tuesday, September 22nd 2015 - 10:14 UTC

    With mediation of Uruguay and Ecuador border Colombia / Venezuela reopens

    The talks -- facilitated by Correa and Uruguayan President Tabare Vazquez -- lasted five hours and also saw an agreement of “the situation on the border”

    Colombia and Venezuela have agreed to restore diplomatic dialogue and oversee “progressive normalization” of their border, after a meeting between Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos and his counterpart Nicolas Maduro.

  • Tuesday, September 22nd 2015 - 08:07 UTC

    Pope will celebrate last mass in Cuba on Tuesday before flying to the US

    “I am aware of the efforts and of the sacrifices the Church in Cuba has carried out to take to all, even in most remote locations, the word and the presence of Christ”.

    Pope Francis has celebrated mass in front of thousands of people in the eastern Cuban city of Holguin. During his homily, he paid tribute to the “efforts” and “sacrifices” the Roman Catholic Church has made in Cuba.

  • Tuesday, September 22nd 2015 - 07:15 UTC

    Which lawmakers from the Pacific Alliance are paid the most?

    In Colombia they make more than 40 times the country’s minimum wage of $205, a disparity which has long caused frustration among Colombians

    Of all four Pacific Alliance countries, Colombia spends most on its congressional representatives, despite the South American country’s low wages. According to a report published on Monday by economic newspaper La Republica, the state pays Colombia’s congressmen a total of nearly $2.1 million per month in salaries, almost double the total of Chile, whose congressmen have the highest individual salaries, but in total cost the state $1.2 million per month.

  • Monday, September 21st 2015 - 08:07 UTC

    Francis meets Fidel Castro and warns Cubans of the dangers of ideology

    Spokesperson Father Lombardi said the meeting, which included Castro's wife and other family members, was “very relaxed, fraternal and friendly.”

    Pope Francis met Cuba's revolutionary leader Fidel Castro on Sunday hours after warning Cubans to beware the dangers of ideology and the lure of selfishness as the island enters a new era of closer ties with the United States. Latin America's first pope and Castro, the region's last surviving revolutionary icon of the 20th century, discussed religion and world affairs at the home of the 89-year-old retired president for about 40 minutes.

  • Monday, September 21st 2015 - 08:03 UTC

    Dissidents arrested in Havana as they tried to approach Pope Francis

    Photos showed some of the dissidents dragged away by security personnel at Havana's Revolution Square, where they reportedly tried to approach the pope

    Dissidents opposed to Cuba’s regime were arrested when they tried approaching Pope Francis in Havana on Sunday, an activist group reported. The Foundation for Human Rights in Cuba identified the dissidents as Patriotic Union of Cuba members Zaqueo Baéz, Boris Reni, Aymara Nieto Muñoz and Maria Josefa Acon Sardiña, who is also a member of the Ladies in White, a peaceful protest group founded by female relatives of Cuban political prisoners.

  • Monday, September 21st 2015 - 07:53 UTC

    Che's daughter refuses to attend Pope Francis mass at Revolution Square

    “I did not go to the mass because it would be hypocritical of me. What was I to do standing there for hours? No, no” said Aleida Guevara

    The Cuban revolutionary Che Guevara’s daughter, Aleida Guevara refused to go to a mass Pope Francis conducted on Sunday during his historic Cuban trip, saying it would be “hypocritical” of her to be present.

  • Monday, September 21st 2015 - 07:38 UTC

    Cristina Fernandez attends Havana mass and meets with Pope Francis

    This time, the seventh was mostly a protocol meeting, but Cristina Fernandez takes every opportunity possible to join the Argentine born Pope

    Argentine president Cristina Fernández took part in Pope Francis' Sunday's mass from Havana's Plaza de la Revolucion, as she watched the pontiff in the company of her Cuban counterpart Raul Castro. Sitting next to the Cuban president, CFK followed Francis' services as he called for society to “protect the most fragile,” in a service witnessed by more than 100,000 worshippers at the Havana landmark.

  • Saturday, September 19th 2015 - 08:36 UTC

    Pope Francis arrives in Cuba, but dissidents are skeptical about any changes

    Rights groups and dissidents opposed to the regime have called on the pope to urge Raul Castro to put an end to crackdowns and curbs on civil liberties.

    Pope Francis praised Cubans' “spirit” in the face of adversity in a message broadcast ahead of his trip to the impoverished island. “It does me a lot of good and helps me to think of your faith in the Lord, of the spirit with which you confront the difficulties of each day,” the pope said in a message played on state television.