Latin America

Thursday, January 29th 2015 - 06:53 UTC
Fidel Castro in “good health and feels great admiration for Pope Francis”

Fidel Castro is in good health and feels “deep admiration” for Pope Francis, Brazilian intellectual Frei Betto said on Wednesday a day after meeting with Cuba's former president. He and Fidel discussed a wide range of subjects and the 88-year-old leader of the Cuban Revolution remains “very optimistic,” Betto told reporters in Havana.
Thursday, January 29th 2015 - 06:32 UTC
Raul Castro demands the return of Guantanamo and compensation for US trade embargo

Cuban President Raul Castro demanded on Wednesday that the United States return the U.S. base at Guantanamo Bay, lift the half-century trade embargo on Cuba and compensate his country for damages before the two nations re-establish normal relations.
Wednesday, January 28th 2015 - 07:21 UTC
US moves into the Caribbean to replace Venezuela as cheap gas supplier

The United States Monday rolled out a new initiative for Caribbean countries to ensure energy security in a move widely seen as distancing the Caribbean from Venezuela for their oil and energy needs.
Tuesday, January 27th 2015 - 06:18 UTC
Poverty reduction in Latin America stalls during 2014: totals 167 million

Poverty affected 28% of Latin America’s population in 2014, revealing that its decline has stalled at around that level since 2012, while indigence rose to 12.0% from 11.3% during the same two-year period in an overall context of economic deceleration, according to projections from a study presented On Monday by the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) in Santiago, Chile.
Monday, January 26th 2015 - 07:17 UTC
Venezuela denies authorization to former presidents to visit political prisoner

The Venezuelan government has turned down a request by former presidents of Chile and Colombia to visit opposition leader Leopoldo Lopez in jail. Chile's Sebastian Piñera and Colombia's Andres Pastrana say they are in Venezuela to support the opposition and have called for the release of Mr Lopez, who was arrested nearly a year ago.
Saturday, January 24th 2015 - 05:50 UTC
Cuba/US: catching a glimpse of the possible future

By Leonardo Padura Fuentes (*) - All Cubans, on either side of the Florida Straits, but also in places like Spain, France or Greenland – where there must be a couple of Cubans – as well felt it was a historic moment that included each and every one of us, when U.S. President Barack Obama announced on Dec. 17 the normalization of relations after half a century of hostility.
Saturday, January 24th 2015 - 05:44 UTC
UK, US and Canada welcome elections announcement by Guyanese president

The United States of America, Canada, and the United Kingdom have welcomed Guyana's President Ramotar’s announcement that national and regional elections will be held in Guyana on May 11, 2015. Elections are a critical first-step towards the return of a fully functioning Parliament.
Friday, January 23rd 2015 - 07:04 UTC
US and Cuba agree to continue disagreeing but want to advance

The United States and Cuba fell short of setting dates to reopen embassies but agreed to meet again to overcome deep rifts after they wrapped up historic talks aimed at normalizing relations.
Friday, January 23rd 2015 - 06:30 UTC
Guyana president announces May 11 as date for general elections

Guyana President Donald Ramotar announced this week that May 11 is the date for general and regional elections in the country, less than five years after his ruling People's Progressive Party (PPP) won the polls in November 2011.
Friday, January 23rd 2015 - 06:10 UTC
Morales is sworn in for a third period promises to reduce poverty to 8% by 2020

President of Bolivia Evo Morales on Thursday was sworn in for the third time as his country's head of state, and set as his primary objective reduce further poverty levels up to the end of his term in 2020.