TheRepublic.com - Latin America News

Ex-Guatemala president extradited to US

Fri, 24 May 2013 21:52:47 -0400

GUATEMALA CITY - Former Guatemalan President Alfonso Portillo was extradited on Friday to the United States to face charges of laundering $70 million in Guatemalan funds through U.S. bank accounts.

Honduran gangs to announce truce to cut violence

Fri, 24 May 2013 20:22:28 -0400

TEGUCIGALPA, Honduras - Honduras' two largest and most-violent gangs will sign a truce next week and ask for a dialogue with the government and police to help them start leaving their gang lifestyle, a Roman Catholic bishop said Friday.

Mexico: far fewer people disappeared than feared

Fri, 24 May 2013 19:11:34 -0400

MEXICO CITY - Mexico's top security official said Friday that far fewer people disappeared during Mexico's drug war than were feared when the government released a list of about 26,000 cases.

Third term begins for Ecuador's President Correa

Fri, 24 May 2013 18:56:18 -0400

QUITO, Ecuador - Ecuador's Rafael Correa began his third term as president on Friday under seemingly ideal conditions: extremely high popularity, a more than two-thirds majority in Congress, a stable economy and a badly splintered opposition.

Barrick fined $16m for Pascua-Lama violations

Fri, 24 May 2013 18:38:35 -0400

VALLENAR, Chile - Chile's environmental regulator blocked Barrick Gold Corp.'s $8.5 billion Pascua-Lama project on Friday and imposed its maximum fine on the world's largest gold miner, citing "very serious" violations of its environmental permit as well as a failure by the company to accurately describe what it had done wrong.

Venezuela to create new workers militia

Fri, 24 May 2013 15:28:20 -0400

CARACAS, Venezuela - Venezuela's president has ordered the creation of a new workers' militia to defend the country's "Bolivarian revolution" at a time when the government faces economic problems and political turmoil.

Brazil police arrest 9 for abusing Indian girls

Thu, 23 May 2013 17:07:24 -0400

SAO PAULO - Brazil's Federal Police say nine people have been arrested on suspicion of sexually abusing Indians girls in the northern state of Amazonas.

Massive fuel-depot fire breaks out in Brazil

Thu, 23 May 2013 12:20:09 -0400

RIO DE JANEIRO - A massive fire broke out Thursday at a fuel depot on the northern outskirts of Rio de Janeiro, sending bright orange flames leaping high into the air and thick black smoking rolling upward and enveloping the area.

Globovision owners hint at toned-down news stance

Wed, 22 May 2013 23:58:05 -0400

CARACAS, Venezuela - The new owners of Venezuela's only television channel to take critical stands against the government say they will, in their words, "contribute to a climate of peace and not of conflict."

Boxes of cash seized in Mexico corruption probe

Wed, 22 May 2013 23:07:16 -0400

MEXICO CITY - Mexican authorities on Wednesday seized five boxes filled with cash as part of an investigation into alleged embezzlement by a former governor of southern Tabasco state, in what could become the latest test for President Enrique Pena Nieto to act against corruption.

Canada sets new aid for Peru linked to mining

Wed, 22 May 2013 19:44:53 -0400

LIMA, Peru - Canada's prime minister has announced a new package of development aid for Peru that environmentalists are viewing warily because it is closely tied to Canadian mining investments in the South American country.

Argentine leader raises cash handouts 35 percent

Wed, 22 May 2013 19:43:30 -0400

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina - Argentina's president announced a $3.2 billion annual increase in cash handouts for the poor, students and pregnant women Wednesday, saying the programs will reach nearly 700,000 additional children, pay their families 35 percent more and encourage consumer spending in what is an election year.

Little done in Brazil to improve safety after fire

Wed, 22 May 2013 18:38:09 -0400

BRASILIA, Brazil - Little has been done to improve the safety of public gathering places since a nightclub fire killed 242 people earlier this year in southern Brazil, relatives of the victims said Wednesday.

New Paraguay leaders promise more free milk

Wed, 22 May 2013 17:48:04 -0400

ASUNCION, Paraguay - Paraguay exports enough soy, wheat and corn to feed 80 million people, more than 10 times its population, and its rivers provide abundant fresh water. But 14 percent of its children suffer chronic malnutrition, and many others lack clean drinking water.

Colombia: 10 soldiers killed by in rebel attack

Wed, 22 May 2013 17:49:29 -0400

BOGOTA, Colombia - At least 10 Colombian soldiers were killed and six wounded Wednesday in a pre-dawn attack on an army patrol with homemade explosives by the country's second-largest leftist rebel band, the military said.

4-nation Pacific Alliance trade bloc forges ahead

Wed, 22 May 2013 17:27:04 -0400

BOGOTA, Colombia - The presidents of Colombia, Peru, Chile and Mexico meet in the western city of Cali on Thursday in hopes of completing a nascent trade bloc that looks to the European Union as a model and aims to further open their trade with Asia.

Argentine Indians ask president for their lands

Wed, 22 May 2013 17:08:12 -0400

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina - Argentina's Qom Indians have asked President Cristina Fernandez for help in recovering some of their ancestral land.

Costa Rican volcano spews ash, smoke

Wed, 22 May 2013 16:24:26 -0400

SAN JOSE, Costa Rica - Scientists say one of Costa Rica's largest volcanos is spewing clouds of ash and gas, setting off a small-scale evacuation.

Argentine dictator Videla's burial protested

Wed, 22 May 2013 13:18:18 -0400

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina - Argentines in the hometown of former dictator Jorge Rafael Videla are upset at the prospect that he may be buried there.

Protesters hurl firebombs as Chile leader speaks

Wed, 22 May 2013 00:38:04 -0400

SANTIAGO, Chile - Bands of young people hurling firebombs and stones clashed with police outside Chile's congress Tuesday after thousands of students and workers staged a protest march before President Sebastian Pinera's final state of the nation speech.