The government of Venezuela aggressively rejected a ruling from the UN International Court of Justice ordering Caracas to refrain from holding elections for officials who supposedly would oversee the resource-rich disputed region of Esequibo in neighboring Guyana.
Demonstrators across Brazil marked Workers' Day Thursday with protests demanding an end to the 6x1 schedule (six consecutive workdays followed by one day of rest) and advocating for a reduction in the standard 44-hour workweek.
A 7.4-magnitude earthquake on the Richter scale struck the Drake Passage Friday, triggering a tsunami warning for Chile's Magallanes region and Antarctic Territory. Chile and neighboring Argentina carried out preventive evacuations, relocating thousands from coastal areas. Shortly after, a stronger 7.5-magnitude quake hit Puerto Williams, followed by a 6.1 aftershock in the Strait of Magellan. Chilean authorities later downgraded the tsunami alert but suspended maritime activities. No injuries or damages were reported, and both countries continue to monitor the situation, urging residents to remain in safe zones.
Brazil's Supreme Federal Court (STF) Alexandre De Moraes allowed Thursday former President Fernando Collor de Melo to serve his 8-year, 10-month sentence under house arrest, citing humanitarian grounds. The decision follows a defense request citing Collor's chronic health conditions, including sleep apnea, Parkinson's disease, and bipolar disorder—as well as his advanced age of 75. Collor must wear an electronic monitoring device and can only receive visits from his legal team.
Argentine President Javier Milei launched a fierce attack on the press via social media, defending his advisor Santiago Caputo, who intimidated a Tiempo Argentino photographer during a Buenos Aires City electoral debate.
Former Argentine President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner (CFK) Thursday issued a Workers' Day message on X, criticizing President Javier Milei’s government for eroding labor rights and reducing wages to 2001 levels. CFK pointed out the declared intention of Milei's government to continue sweeping away rights and called on to remain united in the defense of the right to a dignified life, with work as a tool for progress.
US President Donald Trump fired National Security Adviser Mike Waltz Thursday following a scandal involving a Signal group chat that mistakenly included a journalist and revealed sensitive military plans against Houthi targets in Yemen. The March 15 incident exposed operational details, including strike timings and targets, and implicated Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. Waltz's explanations were deemed inadequate, and he was criticized for poor staff vetting and ineffective foreign policy coordination.
Uruguayan Labor Minister Juan Castillo Thursday underlined the need to debate reducing working hours to improve quality of life, social justice, and equality. During his Workers' Day speech broadcast on national radio and television, he recounted the historical significance of the date, referencing the Chicago workers' protests for an eight-hour workday, which led to violent repression and the prosecution of union leaders. Castillo also highlighted his country's labor milestones, including the 1915 law establishing the eight-hour workday and its 2008 extension to rural and domestic workers.
At least eight Ecuadorean children in Taisha, in the province of Morona Santiago bordering Peru, died between February and April 2025 due to an unknown infectious agent, showing symptoms like fever, vomiting, bloody diarrhea, gastrointestinal issues, dehydration, and pneumonia. In this scenario, the Health Ministry has deployed extensive epidemiological efforts, including medical brigades, water and food analyses, and community interventions, but the cause remains unidentified.
As the world marks International Workers' Day on May 1st, Latin America reflects not only on the hard-won labor rights of the past but also on the urgent challenges of the digital age. Born from the 1886 Chicago protests demanding an eight-hour workday, the holiday honors the legacy of the “Haymarket Martyrs” and remains a symbol of the global struggle for fair labor conditions.