Latin America

• Tuesday, December 31st 2024 - 10:55 UTC

  La Niña projected to take its toll in the Southern Cone

  

  Meteorologists foresee that the La Niña weather phenomenon will not go unnoticed in the Southern Cone next year after the Brazilian agency Metsul reported signs of unusual activity in the Pacific Ocean. The main impact will be reflected in mercurial temperatures, MetSul's warning noted.

• Monday, December 30th 2024 - 10:43 UTC

  WaPo says Paraná Waterway riddled with drug trafficking

  

  The Paraguay-Paraná Waterway channeling myriads of tons of cargo every year is one of the leading passages of cocaine shipments bound for Hamburg and Antwerp, among other destinations, the Washington Post reported. It runs for more than 3,300 kilometers, connecting at least 150 ports in five countries. It is arguably the most important river trade route on the continent.

• Tuesday, December 24th 2024 - 10:50 UTC

  Colombia and Mexico to be represented at Maduro's new inauguration

  

  Authorities in Bogotá and Mexico City admitted this week that their governments will be represented in Caracas on Jan. 10 when President Nicolás Maduro takes his oath of office for a new six-year term (2025-2031)for which he was chosen in the controversial July 28 elections which the opposition also claims to have won.

• Monday, December 23rd 2024 - 10:59 UTC

  Trump picks Claver-Carone for State Dept. Latin American branch

  

  US President-elect Donald Trump announced Sunday he had chosen former Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) Mauricio Claver-Carone as his future State Department's Envoy to Latin America. The Cuban-born Claver-Carone was appointed to the IDB at Trump's request in 2020 but was dismissed amid an affair with a subordinate whom he had given a pay raise.

• Monday, December 23rd 2024 - 10:45 UTC

  Venezuela steps up Essequibo deployment amid dispute with Guyana

  

  Venezuela's Bolivarian regime has built a bridge reaffirming its sovereignty claims over Guyana Essequiba. The provisional structure will allow the arrival of heavier machinery for the definitive bridge, it was explained. Last Thursday, a fixed bridge over the Cuyuní River on the island of Anacoco was inaugurated as part of the Venezuelan government's efforts to reaffirm its sovereignty over that disputed region. Attending the ceremony were Defense Minister Vladímir Padrino López and Transport Minister Ramón Velásquez Araguayán, among other high-ranking officials and military commanders.

• Thursday, December 19th 2024 - 10:35 UTC

  Argentina warns against all travel to Venezuela

  

  Following the detention of Border Guard (Gerndarmería Nacional) First Corporal Nahuel Gallo in Venezuela on spying charges, the Argentine Government of President Javier Milei issued a travel advisory Tuesday recommending to avoid all travel to that country where “A dictatorship prevails,” according to Presidential Spokesman Manuel Adorni.

• Tuesday, December 17th 2024 - 10:55 UTC

  Caracas confirms arresting Argentine Gendarmería NCO

  

  Venezuelan Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello Monday confirmed that Argentine Border Guard (Gendarmería Nacional) First Corporal Nahuel Gallo had been arrested by the Chavista regime because “he came to fulfill a mission.” Cabello added that Gallo's social media activity showed a lifestyle unfitting his salary, which raised doubts about his ultimate intentions.

• Monday, December 16th 2024 - 10:28 UTC

  Number of casualties of illegal mining in Bolivia soars

  

  At least 119 deaths have been recorded in Bolivia in 2024 as a result of illegal mining. This figure represents an alarming increase over previous years. Most of these deaths have occurred in illegal or unregulated operations, where working conditions are hazardous, Special Force to Fight Crime (Felcc) Potosí Director Marco Antonio Dávalos explained, in whose jurisdiction 113 deaths were reported.

• Monday, December 16th 2024 - 09:33 UTC

  Presidents of Colombia and Ecuador meet in Galapagos

  

  Presidents Daniel Noboa of Ecuador and Gustavo Petro of Colombia met Sunday at the Charles Darwin Research Station in the Galapagos Islands to discuss environmental protection initiatives, border cooperation, and other matters of mutual interest, such as drug trafficking and energy integration.

• Friday, December 13th 2024 - 10:59 UTC

  Defense minister Lord Coaker visits Chile and Brazil to strengthen defense relations

  

  Defense Minister Lord Coaker's recent visit to Chile and Brazil focused on supporting global security and tackling increasing threats. There, he held talks with his counterparts and industry as the UK strengthens relations with partners around the world.