2.28.2007

Wednesday's News

Fidel Castro appeared on Hugo Chavez’s nightly radio show. New York Times, BBC

Three French nationals who ran a non-profit organization in Rio were murdered on the orders of another employee who was embezzling money from the organization. AP

Cuba Transition Coordinator Caleb McCarry said that independent Cuban journalists on the island have reported an increase in civil society activity as well as more repression from the Cuban government against the opposition. Financial Times

Norman Bailey, recently appointed as mission manager on Cuba and Venezuela, is to be relieved from his new post by new Director of National Intelligence Mike McConnell. Miami Herald

Roberto Ortega, formerly head of Cuba’s military medical services and now an exile in South Florida, claims that Cuba is covertly developing biological warfare agents. Miami Herald


2.27.2007

Tuesday's News

Msgr. Fernando Lugo has emerged as a viable alternative to the Colorado Party in Paraguay. New York Times

Guatemalan president Oscar Berger asserted that the killing of four arrested police officers were motivated by corruption. Miami Herald, LA Times

The head of the prison as well as 21 employees were arrested in connection with the murders. BBC

Speaking from jail, former DAS employee Rafael García asserts that he was under orders from former head Jorge Noguera to cooperate with paramilitaries. El Nuevo Herald

Costa Rica is the only Latin American signatory to not yet ratify CAFTA, and opposition groups held a large protest in San Jose. AP

Hugo Chavez ordered by decree the takeover of foreign oil companies operating in Venezuela’s Orinoco River belt. AP


2.26.2007

Monday's News

Mary O’Grady argues that the first year of CAFTA has been a success. Wall Street Journal

Four Guatemalan policemen who were arrested for the murders of three Salvadoran deputies were killed in a prison riot outside of Guatemala City. AP

Venezuelan arms spending has grown to more than $4 billion over the last two years, outpacing countries such as Iran and Pakistan. New York Times

The Venezuelan government is launching the “Bond of the South” which is designed to ease inflationary pressure in the country. Financial Times

External aid has arrived to Bolivia, which is suffering its worst floods in 25 years. BBC


2.23.2007

Friday's News

Venezuela’s external aid towards Latin American allies aims to reduce the influence of the US in the region. Washington Post

Venezulean aid towards Bolivia has paralleled the close relationship between Hugo Chavez and Evo Morales. New York Times

Marcela Sanchez asks, is Latin America the ‘Persian Gulf’ of biofuels? Washington Post

Jorge Noguera, head of Colombia’s security agency from 2002 to 2005, was arrested for conspiring with paramilitaries. Miami Herald, LA Times

Reporters from the Chicago Tribune, El Universal, and the BBC were ordered to leave Cuba. Miami Herald

Rigoberta Menchu’s run for president in Guatemala is an uphill battle. LA Times


2.22.2007

Thursday's News

Three Salvadoran members of the Central American Parliament, along with their driver, were killed outside of Guatemala City. New York Times, Washington Post

The ongoing investigations into ties between military officers and paramilitaries in Colombia has ensnared some very high-profile officers, such as Hernán Mejía. Washington Post

The Costa Rican government asserts that Venezuela’s removal of an aluminum plant that had been performing profitably is politically motivated. Financial Times


2.13.2007

Tuesday's News

Ecuador announced that it will postpone a bond payment due this week but will make the payment in full by mid-March. LA Times, Financial Times

Rigoberta Menchu has announced the formation of an indigenous political movement to seek the presidency of Guatemala. AP

OAS Secretary General Jose Miguel Insulza said that the OAS would be open to initiating a dialogue with Cuba. AP

On the fourth anniversary of the crash and kidnapping of three US defense contractors still held by FARC rebels, the dilemma of whether to send a rescue mission persists. Miami Herald

A scaled-down version of a 2006 drug bill will be presented for legislative approval in Mexico. AP

The Venezuelan government has moved forward and purchased 28.5 percent of the telecommunications company CANTV. BBC

The UNDP-financed Libres de Armas program has reduced violence in the Salvadoran city of San Martin, providing a model for other cities in the country. Miami Herald


2.12.2007

Monday's News

Washington’s Bolivian immigrant community sees Bolivian president Evo Morales as a divisive figure. Washington Post

The Bush administration’s efforts to engage Latin America are being seen as a response to Hugo Chavez’s influence in the region. LA Times

Andres Oppenheimer asks whether President Bush’s upcoming visit to Latin America is too little, too late. Miami Herald

Mexico looks to develop its trading relationship with China as a means to overcome dependence on the US market. Wall Street Journal

Colombia supplies 62 percent of the cut flowers sold in the US, and the industry has been tarnished by use of pesticides and other chemicals, affecting both the environment and Colombian workers. AP

As cooperation on interdiction matters with the US has been effectively terminated, Venezuela has increasingly emerged as a transit point for illegal drugs. Miami Herald

Mary O’Grady comments on alleged bribes paid to former Haitian president Jean Bertrand Aristide by US telecom company Fusion to establish rates below international FCC standards. Wall Street Journal


2.09.2007

Friday's News

Argentina’s independent statistics bureau chief was fired and replaced with a former economy ministry official five days before inflation statistics were released for January. This move has sparked claims that president Nestor Kirschner is manipulating the data for political gain. The Economist

The Colombian constitutional court has ruled that same-sex couples should be accorded the same inheritance rights as heterosexual couples. Boston Globe

The trial of former FARC rebel alias Sonia awaits a jury’s decision in Washington. Miami Herald

Rising inflation in Mexico has raised concerns as prices have increased for tortillas and other staples. LA Times

Raul Castro says that Fidel’s health is improving. AP

Former bishop Fernando Lugo has emerged as a compelling presidential candidate in Paraguay. The Economist

Granma published an advertisement warning Cubans of fines for illegal satellite dishes, after US-funded TV Marti began to be broadcasted from Florida television stations. AP

The Venezuelan government has fired its drug czar amidst allegations of links to the drug trade and an increase in drug trafficking through the country. Miami Herald

Venezuela has been plagued by food shortages as vendors refuse to adhere to price controls. AP

Despite progress by president Raul Preval and the UN, Haiti has not yet become a functioning nation-state. The Economist

Brazil’s parliament lacks public confidence and remains disorganized despite President Lula’s efforts to reform the body. The Economist

Marcela Sanchez comments on the evolution of the US-Mexico relationship since the beginning of Mexican president Felipe Calderon’s term. Washington Post


2.08.2007

Thursday's News

The US and Brazil pursue cooperation on the production of sugarcane ethanol. Washington Post

Yolanda Izquierdo, an activist who had recently testified in the trial of Salvatore Mancuso, was killed despite her seeking protection from Colombia’s police. LA Times

Two soldiers of the Cuban army were allegedly killed December 20 by two conscripts who were aiding in the escape of dissident prisoners. Miami Herald

An AP-Ipsos poll of 1,000 Americans indicates that a majority of Americans have an unfavorable opinion of Fidel Castro, yet a majority also is in favor of reestablishing a diplomatic relationship with Cuba. AP

Venezuela has offered to finance the production of goods made from coca in Bolivia. LA Times

The proposed re-opening of a uranium mine in the Argentine province of Mendoza is fraught with controversy over the potential environmental and labor effects on local industries. Financial Times

The presence of militias in Rio’s favelas underscores their violence and lawlessness. Christian Science Monitor

Abe Lowenthal affirms that US negligence of Latin America is a chronic, not temporary condition. With that as a basis, he offers seven suggestions for improvement in US-Latin American relations. Miami Herald

Andres Oppenheimer asks the authors of the UN report on climate change what specific effect global warming will have on the Americas. Miami Herald


2.07.2007

Wednesday's News

Seven Mexicans were killed in two simultaneous attacks in police stations near Acapulco. Assailants were disguised as army officers. LA Times

The foreign minister of Ecuador criticized the proposed cut in US counter-narcotics aid in the 2008 budget request. Financial Times

Thousands of miners descended upon La Paz protesting Bolivian president Evo Morales’ increasing of mining taxes. AP

A class-action antitrust lawsuit has been filed against Citgo, a subsidiary of PDVSA, which accuses the company of price-fixing through Venezuela’s membership in OPEC. Washington Times

President Lula of Brazil criticized the world’s rich countries for not doing more on the issue of global warming. BBC

Argentina’s presidential election approaches in ten months, and it is unclear whether president Nestor Kirschner or his wife, a senator, will run. AP

The Miami Herald laments Hugo Chavez’s turn towards becoming a “democratically elected dictator” and surmises that the result could end being symbolic of the failure of the OAS’s Inter-American Democratic Charter. Miami Herald


2.06.2007

Tuesday's News

The dispute over the construction of a pulp mill on the Uruguay River thus far has cost the Uruguayan government over $800 million. The dispute further questions the legitimacy and effectiveness of Mercosur. Financial Times

The Bush administration’s 2008 budget proposal was unveiled with a slight overall increase in aid towards Latin America. Miami Herald

Ecuadorian president Rafael Correa rejects the presence of a US military base in Manta, as the 2008 proposed US budget reducing funds for anti-drug interdiction programs in Ecuador and cutting all funds to Venezuela. AP

Two Cuban political prisoners were released from jail. Miami Herald

Despite being ideological bookends, US congressmen Jeff Flake (R-Arizona) and Bill Delahunt (D-Massachusetts) are leaders for changing US policy towards Cuba. Miami Herald


2.05.2007

Monday's News

The United States is planning a strategic partnership with Brazil over the production of ethanol. Miami Herald

A speechwriter for Bolivian president Evo Morales is wanted under terrorism charges in Peru. Washington Times

Mary O’Grady laments the transformation of Venezuela under the presidency of Hugo Chavez, especially Chavez’s recent move to nationalize privately owned electricity company EDC. Wall Street Journal

Andres Oppenheimer says that there are more “elected dictators” on the way in the mold of Chavez. Miami Herald

Venezuelans celebrated the fifteenth anniversary of Hugo Chavez’s failed coup attempt against former president Carlos Andres Perez. AP

Two weekend fires in the Chilean cities of Valparaiso and Punta Arenas are being investigated. BBC


2.01.2007

Wednesday's News

Venezuela is prepared to offer president Hugo Chavez the power to rule by decree. Washington Post

Certain members of Raul Castro’s inner circle, such as vice president Carlos Lage and minister of communications Ramiro Valdes, have acquired more influence since the transfer of power from Fidel to Raul. Miami Herald

Fidel Castro is seen in new videos meeting with Hugo Chavez. Miami Herald


This page is powered by Blogger. Isn't yours?