South America

Haitian and Dominican Republican FMs to boost strained ties

The foreign ministers of Haiti and the Dominican Republic met in Santo Domingo on Thursday (September 29) to strengthen bilateral relations between the two neighbours which were strained after migrant deportations from the Dominican Republic a year ago. Last year, reportedly thousands of Haitians were sent back across the border after Dominican officials began implementing a controversial immigration programme against undocumented migrants, many of whom were from Haiti. Many of those who were deported or […]

Colombia’s FARC apologises for deadly 2002 massacre

Commanders of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) offered an official apology on Thursday (September 29) for the 2002 Bojaya massacre where guerrillas killed 79 civilians. Visiting the church which was destroyed in the attack, just days after a peace agreement was signed with the Colombian government, FARC commander Ivan Marquez asked the local community for reconciliation. “We ask for you to forgive us and that you give us the hope of a spiritual […]

Spain’s Cabify launches helicopter service to transport people around Mexico City

Spanish private auto taxi service operator Cabify launched its CabiFLY Shuttle air taxi service in Mexico City on Wednesday (September 28) together with Helitour operator, with a fleet of Bell helicopters. The company said in a news release, CabiFLY Shuttle, is the first shuttle air service of its type, offering point to point, round trips for 1 to 5 people from Mexico City’s International Airport to the Miditel Heliport, located in the upscale neighbourhood of […]

Venezuela’s Maduro calls for new era of relations with U.S.

Venezuela’s President Nicolas Maduro said on Tuesday (September 27) he is hopeful for improved relations with the United States, a day after meeting U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry. Maduro met Kerry in Colombia’s coastal city of Cartagena after the signing of a major peace deal between leftist guerrillas and the Colombian government. “I ask God to bless the results of the meeting, and for Venezuela to open a new era of good relations with […]

Santos expresses confidence that peace deal will pass plebiscite

Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos said on Wednesday (September 21) he expects an historic peace deal ending a half century of conflict between the Colombian government and leftist rebels to pass a plebiscite on October 2. Santos made the comments in an interview with Reuters on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly. He said he was confident in a positive outcome despite a push by former President Alvaro Uribe against the deal. “Of […]

Nine dead and two missing after rains cause mudslide in Guatemala

At least nine people died and two people were missing from a small town near Guatemala City on Wednesday (September 7) after intense rains the night before caused a mudslide, emergency workers said. Around 50 people were affected and various homes were damaged in Santa Isabel Villanueva, a town 30 kilometres (19 miles) south of the capital, David de Leon, a spokesman for the national emergency services, told reporters. After Tuesday’s rains, the lack of […]

Thousands demonstrate against Brazil’s new president in Sao Paulo

Tens of thousands poured into the streets of Sao Paulo in a massive demonstration against Brazil’s newly installed president, Michel Temer, on Sunday (September 4). More than a half dozen demonstrations against Temer have been held in Brazil’s largest city leading up to and since Brazil’s Senate decision to oust former President Dilma Rousseff on Wednesday (August 31), following a months-long impeachment trial. Temer, the former vice president, was officially sworn in as president shortly […]

Brazil’s Rousseff appeals against losing presidency

BRASILIA, Brazil (AFP) – by Damian Wroclavsky and Sebastian Smith Impeached Brazilian president Dilma Rousseff filed a Supreme Court challenge Thursday to her removal from office in an early blow to new President Michel Temer’s bid to stabilize the country. The appeal, filed by Rousseff’s lawyer Jose Eduardo Cardozo and seen by AFP, demands “the immediate suspension of the effects of the Senate decision.” The Senate voted Wednesday to convict Rousseff on charges of having […]

Rival demos fill Venezuela streets in test of power

  CARACAS, Venezuela (AFP) – by Maria Isabel SANCHEZ Hundreds of thousands of demonstrators crowded the streets of volatile Venezuela Thursday in a test of strength between its government and opponents seeking a referendum to remove President Nicolas Maduro. Police deployed in their hundreds to keep apart anti-government protesters angry at food and medicine shortages from Maduro’s supporters who vowed to defend his “socialist revolution.” Demonstrators dressed in white marched in the east of the capital, […]

Brazil’s Senate removes President Dilma Rousseff from office

  (REUTERS)   Brazil’s Senate removed leftist President Dilma Rousseff from office on Wednesday for breaking budgetary laws, in an impeachment process that has polarized the Latin American country and paralyzed its politics for nine months. Senators voted 61-20 to convict Rousseff for illegally using money from state banks to boost public spending. Her conservative former Vice President Michel Temer, who has run the country since her suspension in May, will be sworn to serve out […]

Strong 6.9 quake strikes in mid-Atlantic: USGS

WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — A strong 6.9-magnitude earthquake struck north of Ascension Island in the mid-Atlantic early Monday, the US Geological Survey said, though there were no immediate reports of damage. The shallow quake struck at the equator north of the remote islands at 0429 GMT, with no people likely to have been affected by shaking, USGS said. The National Weather Service Tsunami Warning Center said a damaging tsunami was not expected. © 1994-2016 […]

Bolivian government confirms beating death of deputy interior minister by miners

PANDURO, Bolivia (Reuters) — The Bolivian government confirmed on Thursday (August 25) that Bolivian Deputy Interior Minister Rodolfo Illanes was beaten to death by striking mineworkers after being kidnapped. “Everything indicates that our Vice Minister of the Interior, Rodolfo Illanes, was killed in a cowardly and brutal way. We are organizing to receive the body. We are deeply pained. We pray for the pain of the family,” said Government Minister Carlos Romero on state television. […]