Latin America

• Saturday, August 20th 2016 - 05:40 UTC

  Peru Supreme Court overturns sentence against ex president Fujimori for alleged diversion of public funds

  

  Peru’s Judiciary overturned an eight-year sentence against former president Alberto Fujimori for alleged diversion of public funds to tabloids to facilitate his second re-election in 2000. The Supreme Court said in a ruling “there isn’t enough material evidence” to declare any criminal responsibility of Fujimori, who is serving another 25-year sentence in prison for crimes against humanity.

• Saturday, August 20th 2016 - 01:50 UTC

  Falklands allows return of abandoned Argentine yacht rescued in Islands waters last October

  

  The Argentine flagged yacht “La Sanmartiniana” which was rescued in October 2015 while abandoned and adrift, by a Falkland Islands Fisheries Protection Vessel and towed to Stanley, where it has remained since waiting for claimants, has finally been released, after the Argentine group FIPCA complied with all the formalities for its recovery.

• Saturday, August 20th 2016 - 01:45 UTC

  UN acknowledges role in the Haiti imported cholera epidemic that killed thousands

  

  For the first time since a cholera epidemic believed to be imported by the United Nations peacekeepers began killing thousands of Haitians nearly six years ago, the office of Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has acknowledged that the United Nations played a role in the initial outbreak and that a “significant new set of U.N. actions” will be needed to respond to the crisis.

• Thursday, August 18th 2016 - 06:54 UTC

  Fire forces full passenger evacuation of Caribbean Fantasy off Puerto Rico

  

  A fire forced more than 500 people to be evacuated from a cruise ship about a mile off Puerto Rico's northern coast on Wednesday. The U.S. Coast Guard brought passengers to the shore as the fire continued to burn aboard the Caribbean Fantasy, a combination cruise and ferry ship. Other agencies also joined the rescue effort until fire forced them to abandon the ship.

• Thursday, August 18th 2016 - 06:04 UTC

  Macri after full integration of Mercosur with the Pacific Alliance

  

  Latin America needs greater economic integration and a merger of Mercosur and the Pacific Alliance should be the objective, according to Argentine president Mauricio Macri, who insists in loosening trade restrictions in his country and the region.

• Tuesday, August 16th 2016 - 11:03 UTC

  Guatemalan government makes a call to Apple asking to rename iconic ringtone.

  

  The movement made up of artists and local authorities has now 7000 signatures of support. The “ Marimba ” ringtone is the classic iPhone ringtone and probably one of the most recognizable ringtones in the world. What most people around the globe don’t know is that the Marimba is the national instrument of Guatemala and one of it’s national symbols.

• Tuesday, August 16th 2016 - 06:01 UTC

  Latam airlines has poor performance in 2Q; defers incorporation of new aircraft

  

  Latin America's largest airline, reported a wider-than-forecast net loss in the second quarter of US$92 million, as it struggles to overcome tough economic conditions in its key markets. The airline made a loss of US$50 million in the same period a year ago, a quarter that is traditionally weak for seasonal reasons.

• Monday, August 15th 2016 - 12:36 UTC

  Norwegian cruise line admits weak Caribbean summer season; South American itineraries “soft”

  

  Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings CEO Frank Del Rio said the company’s “lofty” expectations for the Caribbean this summer have not been met, one factor in revising expectations downward for the rest of the year. In a conference call to discuss second-quarter results this week, Norwegian lowered its guidance for second-half earnings and said it will not make its previously forecast goal of earning US$5 a share in 2017.

• Tuesday, August 9th 2016 - 08:24 UTC

  Ban Ki-moon praises Argentina's commitment with the UN and cooperation with other countries

  

  United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon applauded on Monday Argentina's commitment and strong partnership with the UN and its cooperation with other countries. Ban Ki-moon arrived in Buenos Aires from Paraguay and previously from Brazil where he was part of the inauguration of the Rio Olympic Games.

• Friday, August 5th 2016 - 20:54 UTC

  Cuba admits Venezuelan recession is hitting hard: Chavist oil shipments down 20%

  

  Venezuela’s grim situation is impacting not only millions of households around the country: it is also sending panic waves across the Caribbean all the way to Cuba, a solid ally that for decades now has relied heavily on Chavismo’s generosity.