Latin America

Saturday, September 19th 2015 - 08:26 UTC
US ease restrictions on US companies seeking to make business in Cuba

The United States on Friday issued regulations easing restrictions on US companies seeking to do business in Cuba and opening up travel in the latest action to weaken the trade embargo amid warming relations with the Castro brothers regime.
Friday, September 18th 2015 - 08:07 UTC
Cabañas becomes first Cuban ambassador in the US in over half a century

The former Chargé d'affaires at the Cuban Embassy in the United States, Jose Cabañas, on Thursday presented his diplomatic credentials as ambassador to U.S. President Barack Obama in a new step toward the normalization of bilateral relations.
Thursday, September 17th 2015 - 20:32 UTC
Top Bolivian officials allegedly involved in drug trafficking, according to DEA claim

Secret United States indictments obtained by the media have implicated top Bolivian officials in drug trafficking, reigniting the highly charged debate over whether Bolivia is a victim of US political persecution or whether it is becoming a corrupt narco-state.
Thursday, September 17th 2015 - 09:40 UTC
Repsol and BG group discover natural gas reserves in southern Bolivia

President Evo Morales confirmed the discovery of new natural gas reserves at two adjacent fields in southern Bolivia that are managed by a consortium led by Spanish oil major Repsol. The Margarita and Huacaya fields are located in the Caipipendi block, in which Repsol and Britain's BG Group each has a 37.5% stake and Anglo-Argentine oil company Pan American Energy holds a 25% interest.
Thursday, September 17th 2015 - 07:56 UTC
Major offshore earthquake hits Chile; felt in Argentina, Peru and Brazil

A major earthquake just offshore rattled Chileans, killing at least five people and shaking the earth so strongly the tremor was felt in Argentina, Peru, Bolivia, Paraguay and even Brazil. Authorities worked into the early hours on Thursday assessing damage in several coastal towns that saw flooding from small tsunami waves set off by the quake.
Wednesday, September 16th 2015 - 09:09 UTC
Guatemalan runoff on 25 October between a comedian and a former first lady

Guatemalan officials confirmed Tuesday that comedian and surprise presidential frontrunner Jimmy Morales will face former first lady Sandra Torres in a run-off on October 25. The announcement capped a dramatic first-round vote rocked by the outgoing president's resignation and arrest on corruption charges, and a down-to-the-wire battle for the second spot in the run-off.
Wednesday, September 16th 2015 - 08:57 UTC
Guyana asks Google to remove Spanish names from Essequibo region which Venezuela claims

Unasur (Union of South American Nations) member Guyana is asking Google to remove certain street names near its disputed shared border with Venezuela, Guyana's foreign minister announced. The names, in Spanish, seem to suggest they are part of Venezuela, Carl Greenidge said.
Tuesday, September 15th 2015 - 09:58 UTC
OAS supports holding first round of presidential election in Haiti on 25 October

The Organization of American States (OAS) supports holding the first round of presidential elections in Haiti on the scheduled date of October 25, and for that reason, the Director of the Department for Electoral Cooperation and Observation (DECO), Gerardo de Icaza, on Monday travelled to the Caribbean country.
Saturday, September 12th 2015 - 10:26 UTC
Cuba plans to release 3.522 prisoners ahead of Pope's visit this month

State-run newspaper “Granma” reported that Cuba would release 3,522 prisoners three days ahead of the September 19-22 visit by Pope Francis. However Cuban officials, who officially deny that the country has political prisoners, said they would not release inmates convict of crimes against state security.
Saturday, September 12th 2015 - 09:44 UTC
Seventh meeting of Cristina Fernandez and Francis, this time in Cuba

Argentine president Cristina Fernández has formally accepted an invitation by her Cuban counterpart Raul Castro to attend a mass Pope Francis will deliver in the Plaza de La Revolucion in Havana on September 20.