Latin America

• Monday, November 16th 2015 - 07:22 UTC

  Mosquito-spread dengue, chickungunya and now Zika threatens the Caribbean and tourism industry

  

  Jamaica's Ministry of Health is urging people to be more vigilant and to clean up their environment and destroy mosquito breeding sites, in light of the announcement by the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) that the Zika virus has been detected in a Caribbean Community (CARICOM) nation.

• Monday, November 16th 2015 - 07:10 UTC

  Uruguay's ruling Broad Front coalition divided over Venezuela

  

  The strong 16 pages long letter sent by OAS (Organization of American States) secretary general Luis Almagro to Venezuelan electoral officials calling for transparency, international observers and freeing political prisoners, ahead of December 6 legislative elections, triggered an immediate furious insulting reaction from Venezuela's strongman Diosdado Cabello, but also again exposed a growing rift in the Uruguayan government.

• Monday, November 16th 2015 - 06:49 UTC

  St Helena airport official opening has been delayed from February to May 2016

  

  The opening of St Helena Airport in the south Atlantic Ocean has been delayed from February 2016 to May 2016 to allow for additional refinement of the aerodrome's infrastructure.

• Friday, November 13th 2015 - 08:32 UTC

  Venezuela calls OAS “the world's most perverted, corrupt and discredited organization”

  

  Key Venezuelan government officials launched a furious broadside at the Organization of American States (OAS), a day after its secretary general, Luis Almagro, criticized Caracas and questioned the fairness of the upcoming December 6 parliamentary polls.

• Wednesday, November 11th 2015 - 07:35 UTC

  Uruguay hopeful of a more 'flexible' Argentina whoever wins on 22 November

  

  The Uruguayan government is hopeful that with president Cristina Fernandez no longer at the helm of Argentina, as of 10 December, a more flexible attitude can be expected from the newly elected authorities, particularly regarding Uruguay's intention of signing trade agreements with third parties, if Mercosur is not interested in such commitment.

• Wednesday, November 11th 2015 - 05:50 UTC

  Germany mourns one of the architects of modern, unified Europe, Helmut Schmidt

  

  Helmut Schmidt, who served as West German Chancellor from 1974 to 1982, has died aged 96, his office says. Mr. Schmidt, who was a Social Democrat, was an architect of the European Monetary System, which linked EU currencies and helped pave the way to the euro. He also helped to consolidate Germany's post-war economic boom.

• Monday, November 9th 2015 - 08:15 UTC

  Border conflict erupts between Chile and Peru over a 10 acre wedge of land

  

  The fragile relations between neighboring Chile and Peru appeared to unwind further Saturday, after Peruvian President Ollanta Humala officially recognized an administrative district in a disputed border area. The Chilean government promptly sent a protest note to Peru “strongly” rejecting the law because it concerns “unquestionably” Chilean territory.

• Friday, November 6th 2015 - 08:40 UTC

  Monsanto GM seeds blocked from two Mexican states; consultation with local communities mandatory

  

  Monsanto, the world's largest seed company, has been blocked from planting genetically modified soy seeds in the southern Mexican states of Campeche and Yucatan after the country's Supreme Court granted an injunction against the country’s agriculture ministry, teleSur reported.

• Friday, November 6th 2015 - 08:28 UTC

  Panama dismantles drug network linking FARC with Mexican cartel

  

  Panamanian officials announced the dismantling of a drug network linking fugitive Mexican drug lord Joaquin “El Chapo” (Shorty) Guzman's Sinaloa cartel and a Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, FARC, front.

• Thursday, November 5th 2015 - 07:02 UTC

  Mexico ready to purchase Guyana rice following Venezuela's refusal to renew exchange accord

  

  The Guyana government says Mexico has indicated a willingness to fast track an agreement to purchase paddy rice from the Caribbean country. A statement released by the Office of Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo said that Mexico’s Agriculture Minister Jose Calzada has given the assurance that he would fast track arrangements to buy Guyana’s paddy.