News of latin america

A DIPLOMATIC APPROACH

Walking the walk and talking the talk in Latin America

Today 07:00 A closer look at the US and Chinese diplomatic presence in the Americas, with the region gripped by social and political turmoil.

by Tomás Brockenshire

Chile Protests

Chileans who lost eyes in protests demonstrate in capital

01-12-2019 20:54 Protesters to support people who have lost eyes to police shotgun pellets and tear gas canisters during mass demonstrations that have wracked the country.

URUGUAYAN ELECTIONS

Macri, Fernández seek 'excellent' relationship with Uruguay's next leader

29-11-2019 08:54 Alberto Fernández says relationship with conservative leader Luis Lacalle-Pou will be as good as if opponent Daniel Martínez had won election.

Protests in Colombia

Iván Duque to meet with protest leaders in Colombia

26-11-2019 12:50 The meeting with the National Strike Committee -- which brings together unions, indigenous people, students and opposition parties -- will form part of the national dialogue Duque launched on Sunday to address corruption, economic inequality and other woes.

Protests in Colombia

First protester dies in Colombia unrest as marches press on

26-11-2019 12:13 A high school student died two days after being hit in the head by a projectile reportedly fired by riot police.

Protests in Colombia

Colombia president opens national dialogue after protests

25-11-2019 17:51 The leader gathered mayors and governors from around the country to launch an initiative that he said will focus on six main topics: economic growth with equality; corruption; education; improvements in life for areas hard hit by the nation's long civil conflict; the environment; and strengthened government institutions.

Demonstrations in Colombia

Populist riots, largely peaceful, leave three dead in Colombia

22-11-2019 20:13 This wave of protests across Latin America defies easy categorisation and it remains unclear if Colombia's will persist.

REGIONAL UNREST SPREADS?

Colombians fill streets hoping to channel wave of discontent

22-11-2019 10:08 Colombians angry with conservative President Iván Duque and hoping to channel Latin America’s wave of discontent took the streets by the tens of thousands Thursday in one of the biggest protests in the nation’s recent history.

BLOOMBERG

Civil unrest haunts those who remember Latin America’s juntas

19-11-2019 13:46 Unrest in the region is putting soldiers back into the public eye.

Protests in Chile

Chile's Piñera acknowledges excess police force used in protests

19-11-2019 09:58 President admits excessive force used in clamping down on demonstrators, and promises “no impunity” for anyone who commits acts of violence.

Neighbouring country

Fernández lends support to Martínez in Uruguay ahead of run-off

14-11-2019 19:17 The president-elect met with Uruguayan president, Tabaré Vázquez, in Montevideo. The two spoke about bilateral relations and recent events in Latin America.

Chile Protests

Argentina's Embassy in Santiago evacuated after 'attack'

13-11-2019 15:32 Ambassador José Octavio Bordón was one of the diplomats who fled the building while protesters tried to enter.

BRAZIL UNDER BOLSONARO

Economy in mind, Bolsonaro changes tack and cozies up to China

13-11-2019 12:38 Gone is last year’s fiery campaign trail rhetoric about China being a rapacious power intent on exploiting Brazilian resources. China is, after all, Brazil’s biggest trading partner.

BREAKING NEWS

Brazil judge orders ex-president Lula's release from jail

08-11-2019 16:45 Judge authorises release of jailed ex-president, after a Supreme Court ruling paved the way for thousands of convicts to be freed.

CULTURE

Colombia court upends old Latin America naming tradition

07-11-2019 09:44 Tradition has long had it that children born to families in Latin America receive two last names: That of their father, followed by that of their mother. Now that practice is being challenged in court.

Chile Protests

Piñera on alleged abuses: Chilean government has 'nothing to hide'

06-11-2019 12:58 Demonstrations have shrunk in size, but protesters say it's not due to lack of commitment to the cause. Meanwhile, an investigation mounts against Chilean law enforcement for human rights abuses and the economy takes a hit.

PRESIDENT-ELECT IN MEXICO

Fernández, López Obrador talk up trade ties and regional cooperation

05-11-2019 11:28 Leaders of Argentina and Mexico say they see the world in a similar way, with president-elect saying the two are seeking to restore "the equilibrium and social equality lost in Latin America" in recent years.

IN MEXICO CITY

Alberto Fernández meets with Mexican President López Obrador

04-11-2019 11:31 Argentina's president-elect makes first visit overseas since winning election, visits Mexico's president to discuss bilateral relations, investment and the situation in Venezuela.

FOREIGN POLICY

Alberto Fernández: What can we can expect on foreign policy

04-11-2019 09:40 President-elect – who visits Mexico this week – is preparing his foreign policy approach. But will it echo that of Kirchnerismo, or forge a distinct new path?

LANDMARK EVENTS

Chile scraps Asia-Pacific and climate summits amid protests

30-10-2019 12:23 Even a cabinet shakeup doesn't stem the country's protests, compelling Piñera to call off two major gatherings of international leaders Chile was scheduled to host.

Chile Protests

Fresh protests, looting erupt in Chile despite new Cabinet

29-10-2019 08:21 Fresh protests and attacks on businesses erupted in Chile Monday despite President Sebastián Piñera's replacement of eight important Cabinet ministers with more centrist figures, and his attempts to assure the country that he had heard calls for greater equality and improved social services.

FOREIGN AFFAIRS

Arrival of Fernández set to deepen fragmentation in Latin America

29-10-2019 07:27 Peronist victory in Argentina's presidential election is set to cement a rift between region's largest nations, and suggests turbulence could extend for years.

Bloomberg

Alberto Fernández picks Mexico for first trip abroad as president-elect

28-10-2019 09:37 Scheduled for next week, the trip marks a clear departure from the foreign policy approach of the last four years and a move towards aligning his administration with like-minded leftists in Latin America.

AS I SEE IT

Development is no longer what it used to be

26-10-2019 13:01 To avoid getting left behind, countries whether big or small have no choice but to do whatever they can to encourage not only the outlandishly talented but also the many who can help them achieve their goals.

by James Neilson

Chile Protests

Estimated one million flood streets of Santiago as crisis continues

25-10-2019 20:27 Entering their second week, demonstrations against the Chilean government persist, growing in size and strength.

Chile Protests

UN to probe abuses in Chile as strike continues

24-10-2019 23:44 Head of UN Human Rights Council and former Chilean president says the “verification mission” will “examine the allegations of human rights violations.”

Bolivian Elections

Evo Morales claims victory in disputed election, but open to run-off

24-10-2019 12:52 Pressure mounts from opposition candidate Carlos Mesa and global community to hold another round of voting, calling it the only way to avoid more civil unrest.

Chile Protests

Human rights groups in Buenos Aires support Chilean protesters

23-10-2019 17:00 Eleven NGOs issue call of solidarity and demand President Sebastián Piñera bring end to fighting through peaceful means.

Bolivian Election

Bolivia's opposition stages general strike as Morales denounces 'coup'

23-10-2019 13:40 Amid protests and votes still being counted, President Evo Morales declares himself the winner of Sunday's presidential election and vows to "defend" democracy.

CHILE PROTESTS

Piñera apologies to Chile, unveils raft of social measures

23-10-2019 07:17 "I recognise this lack of vision and I apologise to my compatriots," Pinera said in an address from the presidential palace in Santiago as he tries to halt violent protests over economic inequality which have swept the country and claimed 15 lives.

Argentina

Violence erupts outside of Chilean consulate in Buenos Aires, journalists attacked

22-10-2019 12:50 At least six people detained for infiltrating peaceful march with molotov cocktails.

Argentina

Ministers allege unrest in Latin America part of 'destabilisation' plot

22-10-2019 09:32 With regional nations gripped by violent protests, Miguel Ángel Pichetto, Jorge Faurie and Patricia Bullrich claim Venezuela and Cuba are behind the demonstrations.

Latin America

United States calls on Bolivia to release full election results

21-10-2019 14:36 When the first wave of results in Sunday night’s election suggested President Evo Morales would face a run-off, the release of the remaining votes suddenly halted overnight. Now, the government faces mounting international pressure to reveal the numbers.

Bloomberg

On the streets, new IMF is getting same pushback as old one

21-10-2019 13:07 Despite attempts to change its image, the IMF remains controversial in many countries that borrow from it.

Bloomberg

Political risk alive in Latin America as protests spread

21-10-2019 12:25 Countries are largely rejecting the austerity sought by investors and international institutions, leaving leaders with the decision to cut back social spending and risk political unrest or maintain the status quo and jeopardise global investment.

Latin America

Morales to face run-off in Bolivian election

20-10-2019 23:46 Running for his fourth term, President Evo Morales didn’t reach the vote threshold necessary to claim victory Sunday. He now faces Carlos Mesa in a run-off, though he has yet to acknowledge it.

HUMAN RIGHTS

Despite objections, Venezuela wins seat on UN Human Rights Council

17-10-2019 16:48 Despite allegations of profound human rights abuses under President Nicolás Maduro, Venezuela receives one of two open seats on UN Human Rights Council set aside for Latin America.

BLOOMBERG

MercadoLibre plans to double down on its Brazilian bet next year

16-10-2019 14:33 Latin American e-commerce pioneer, now worth US$28 billion, plans to invest more in its financial services and payments unit while opening more distribution centers in Argentina's giant neighbour.

Bloomberg

Lithium battery dreams get rude awakening in South America

11-10-2019 09:08 Lithium refining and battery-assembling facilities could help kickstart economies. But so far, public and private initiatives in Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil and Chile have failed to deliver even a single lithium cell factory. And none are set to be built through 2025.

ECONOMIC DOWNTURN

World Bank: Slowdown in Latin America 'more self-inflicted than imported'

10-10-2019 15:19 World Bank predicts Argentina's economic contraction will deepen this year to 3.1%.

climate change

Climate emergency threatens Latin America’s oceans and glaciers

28-09-2019 04:15 Major new IPCC oceans report warns of big impacts of global heating and urges quick emissions cuts.

by Fermin Koop

LATIN AMERICA

Statue of Néstor Kirchner removed from Unasur's headquarters in Quito

27-09-2019 16:41 Moves comes as Ecuador requests return of headquarters and with countries quitting the bloc in wake of shift in regional politics.

BLOOMBERG

Delta expands in South America with US$2.25-billion Latam deal

27-09-2019 10:13 Deal, which will see firm take 20% stake in LatAm, will likely turn Delta into largest US airline in the region, says experts.

CRISIS IN VENEZUELA

US, Latin American nations invoke treaty in bid to pressure Venezuela

23-09-2019 22:12 Argentina among group of nations that agree to work together to investigate and probe Venezuelan officials and associates accused of drug-trafficking, money-laundering and financing terrorism.

Unasur

Ecuadorean congress confirms country's exit from weakened Unasur

20-09-2019 17:39 Ecuador’s withdrawal from Union of South American Nations underlines fall from grace for the regional bloc.

MINING

Bolivia, with huge untapped reserves, gears up for soaring lithium demand

16-09-2019 11:40 While it sits at the apex of the region's "lithium triangle," along with Chile and Argentina, Bolivia has not had the capacity to produce the metal on a commercial scale. That's about to change.

'Braxit'?

A Latin American Brexit? Analysing Brazil’s threat on Mercosur

16-09-2019 07:30 Jair Bolsonaro has said Brazil could leave Mercosur if Argentina, the second-largest economy in the customs union, pivots to the left after presidential elections in October. But how feasible is such a break?

HUMAN RIGHTS

Mexico trans women fight for justice as murders unpunished

11-09-2019 09:22 Mexico has become the world's second deadliest country after Brazil for transgender people, with 261 transgender women slain in 2013 to 2018, according to a recent study by the LGBTQ rights group Letra S.

BLOOMBERG – ANALYSIS

Margolis: Argentina’s mess doesn't herald a comeback for Latin America’s left

30-08-2019 13:10 Macri’s fall is stark. Yet what will his misfortunes mean for like-minded conservative leaders elected to change course in a region staggered by soaring unemployment, voter discontent and slowing economies?

AMAZON AFLAME

Bolsonaro says Amazon nations should decide region's future

29-08-2019 11:31 A September conference in Colombia is now set for all Amazon nations except Venezuela to discuss the crisis.