Latin America

Brazil’s LATAM airlines to lay off 1,400 employees

LATAM Airlines Group, the region's largest carrier, will lay off 1,400 employees, the company said on Friday, marking the first instance of a major Latin American airline laying off staff…

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Brazil Health minister resigns after less than a month in office

Brazil’s outgoing health minister Nelson Teich said in a press briefing on Friday that he had decided to resign from his position, becoming the second person to leave the top…

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Brazil and Mexico report record surge in coronavirus cases

Brazil and Mexico on Thursday reported a record one-day rise in new coronavirus cases, just as leaders of both countries intensified attempts to reopen their economies even as the spread…

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Coronavirus cases in Brazil continue to increase

Brazil's confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus passed Germany, as Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro fought states over his wish to reopen gyms and beauty parlors even as his country becomes…

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Indigenous people cutting off from their external communities to preserve their culture in wake of pandemic

Indigenous peoples across Latin America are cutting off their communities from the outside world, worried that the coronavirus could pose a grave threat to their culture by putting at risk…

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Colombian airline Avianca files for bankruptcy

Colombia's national airline, Avianca, has filed for bankruptcy protection in a US court. The carrier is the second-largest in Latin America, but its passenger operations have been grounded since March…

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Russian troops to help Venezuela search for members of failed coup

Russian soldiers are operating drones over Venezuela as part of a search operation for members of a paramilitary force that led a botched invasion this week, local media reported on…

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Argentina once more faces bankruptcy

Argentina's government is trying to negotiate a restructuring of debt with creditors as the country's finances dwindle and once more faces bankrupcy. Argentina hasn't made a bond interest payment since…

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Photo Story: The new normal of Colombian workers

A group of workers from the Wastewater Treatment Plant, PTAR Salitre, move on a bus with separate posts and their protective elements to prevent the spread of COVID-19, in Bogota,…

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Brazil hits record coronavirus deaths

Brazil, one of the world’s emerging coronavirus hot spots, registered a record number of cases and deaths on Wednesday, prompting the health minister to flag the possibility of strict lockdowns…

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Two US citizens held after failed coup in Venezuela attempt are named

A handout video-grabbed photo made available from VTV channel of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro (L), addressing a press conference and showing what the government calls two suspects from USA, Luke…

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Record daily deaths in Brazil

Brazil confirmed its highest daily coronavirus deaths on Tuesday, indicating that the nation is still in the thick of its battle against the virus, even as some areas of the…

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Total coronavirus cases in Brazil rise above 100,000

There have been 4,588 new cases of the novel coronavirus in Brazil and 275 deaths over the last 24 hours, the health ministry said on Sunday, bringing total confirmed cases…

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Venezuela says it foiled attempt to overthrow Maduro

Venezuela's government said it foiled a marine incursion on Sunday by "terrorist mercenaries" who attempted to enter the country on speedboats from neighbouring Colombia, which opposition leaders dismissed as a…

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Concern grows as Brazil coronavirus cases increase

Brazil’s virtually uncontrolled surge of COVID-19 cases is spawning fear that construction workers, truck drivers and tourists from Latin America’s biggest nation will spread the disease to neighbouring countries…

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Argentina bans all commercial flights till end of August

Argentina has announced a prohibition on all internal and international commercial flights until the end of August in its efforts to fight off the deadly oronavirus pandemic. The authorities directed…

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El Salvador authorises use of lethal force against gang members

El Salvador President, Nayib Bukele, has authorized the use of lethal force by the police and army against gang members he says are taking advantage of the coronavirus pandemic, after…

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Chile to introduce controversial coronavirus certificate

Chile's government has said it will go ahead with a controversial plan to issue certificates to people who have recovered from Covid-19. The documents would be given to people to…

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Brazil becoming coronavirus hot spot

Cases of the new coronavirus are overwhelming hospitals, morgues and cemeteries across Brazil as Latin America’s largest nation veers closer to becoming one of the world’s pandemic hot spots. Medical…

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Bolsonaro fires Brazil’s health minister

Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro fired his health minister on Thursday after clashing with him over how to fight the new coronavirus, and again called for states to end stay-at-home orders…

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A doctor’s coat and a stethoscope – Brazil pays tribute to healthcare workers

Brazil paid tribute to healthcare workers on Easter Sunday by projecting a doctor coat and stethoscope onto the iconic Christ the Redeemer statue as Mass was celebrated below. via…

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Fear Bolsonaro is dragging Brazil towards coronavirus disaster

Medical experts have said they fear that Brazil’s president, Jair Bolsonaro, could be hastening the country’s march towards a devastating public health crisis like those to have hit northern Italy…

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Coronavirus hits remote Amazon tribe in Brazil killing 15-year-old boy

A 15-year-old member of a remote Amazon tribe in Brazil has died after contracting coronavirus. Alvanei Xirixan died in intensive care in the main hospital of Boa Vista, capital of…

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Photo Story: Rio salutes Brazilian health workers

Christ the Redeemer statue is illuminated with the projection of a health worker's uniform during a religious ceremony to celebrate Easter Sunday, on Mount Corcovado, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Via…

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Brazil reports over 1,000 deaths

Brazil has become the first country in the southern hemisphere to surpass 1,000 deaths with coronavirus. The South American country has recorded at least 1,068 deaths and 19,789 cases, according…

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Photo Story: Brazil increases graves at cemetery

An aerial view of the Vila Formosa cemetery, in Sao Paulo, Brazil. The Vila Formosa cemetery, in the eastern part of Sao Paulo, is the largest in Latin America. The…

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Ecuador builds emergency cemeteries due to coronavirus outbreak

Ecuador’s government is preparing an emergency burial ground on land donated by a private cemetery in Guayaquil, the country’s largest city, to address a shortage of burial plots as the…

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Photo Story: Ronaldinho begins house arrest at hotel in Paraguay

Brazilian former soccer player Ronaldinho Gaucho arrives at the Hotel Palmaroga in Asuncion, Paraguay. Ronaldinho and his brother entered the hotel to serve house arrest after leaving the police headquarters.…

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Two Peruvian women with COVID-19 give birth to healthy babies

Two pregnant women diagnosed with the new coronavirus in Peru have given birth to babies who have tested negative for the disease, a hospital in the capital Lima said…

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EPA’s Eye in the Sky: Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Aerial photo with a drone shows the Copacabana beach without visitors due to COVID-19 crisis in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. EPA-EFE/Antonio Lacerda

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Peru, Panama limit men and women to alternate days out to stall virus

Peru and Panama both started on Thursday limiting the times men and women can leave their homes in an attempt to slow the spread of the coronavirus pandemic. Amid…

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Brazil reports its first coronavirus case among Amazon tribes

An indigenous woman in a village deep in the Amazon rainforest has contracted the novel coronavirus, the first case reported among Brazil's more than 300 tribes, the Health Ministry's indigenous health…

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Bolsonaro threatens he will sack health minister if he criticizes his approach to Covid19

Jair Bolsonaro has reportedly told his health minister he will sack him if he dares criticise his handling of the coronavirus crisis. According to a report in the Estado de…

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Fears for indigenous tribes after doctor in Amazon tests positive

There are fears remote indigenous communities could be decimated by the coronavirus after a doctor working with an Amazon tribe was confirmed to have the disease. The doctor had…

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Chile government negotiates bill-paying delay for poor

Chilean President Sebastian Pinera announced on Friday that low-income families will be able to delay household debt payments without the fear of having utilities cut off in a bid to…

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Brazil’s Maracana stadium to serve as coronavirus hospital

Brazil’s Maracana sports complex in Rio de Janeiro, which includes the world famous soccer stadium, will become a temporary hospital to help fight coronavirus, state authorities said on Thursday. As…

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Bolsonaro urges Brazilians to get back to work, says concern over coronavirus overblown

As Brazil's largest city went into lockdown, President Jair Bolsonaro on Tuesday took aim at the "hysteria" over the coronavirus and urged that life must continue and jobs be preserved.…

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Colombia bans entry of non-residents, expels foreigners who break quarantine rules

Colombian President Ivan Duque announced strict measures Sunday to curb the spread of the novel coronavirus, including blocking entry to the country to all except citizens and residents and shutting…

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Coronavirus cases increase in Latin America

Countries across Central America have taken drastic steps to brace for a potential public health crisis from coronavirus even as the region has confirmed a number of cases. Leaders and…

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No Comment – Che Dio sia con voi…

From Brazil - Via Cosmo De La Fuente Facebook The number of people who contracted the coronavirus in Italy has now topped 1,000, at 1,016, 189 more than Wednesday, Emergency…

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Panic in Bolivia as coronavirus patient turned away from hospitals

One of two people confirmed to have the coronavirus in Bolivia is being sheltered in a government office after local residents and medical staff blocked her entry to up to…

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Latin American countries order school closures over coronavirus fears

At least three Latin American governments ordered a short-term suspension of all classes, both at public and private schools, officials said on Wednesday, in a bid to slow the spread…

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Paraguay suspends public schools for 15 days due to coronavirus

Paraguay has suspended public school sessions and large-scale public events for 15 days due to coronavirus, Health Minister Julio Mazzoleni said in a televised address. Two cases of the…

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Photo Story: Ronaldinho in court in Paraguay over fake passport claims

Brazilian former soccer player Ronaldo de Assis Moreira, a.k.a. Ronaldinho (R), is escorted during a new audience at Palace of Justice in Asuncion, Paraguay on Saturday. Ronaldinho Gaucho and his…

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Australia ramps up epidemic preparation as third man dies, first death from coronavirus in Latin America

A man in his 80s died in a Sydney hospital after testing positive to COVID-19, becoming the third coronavirus-related casualty in Australia, state health authorities said on Sunday. The total…

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Photo Story: Ronaldinho held in Paraguay over alleged possession of altered passports

A handout photo made available by the Paraguayan Prosecutor's Office shows former professional soccer player Ronaldinho (L) surrounded by Paraguayan authorities as they search his hotel room in Asuncion, Paraguay,…

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Former UN Secretary-General Javier Pérez de Cuellar dies at 100

Javier Pérez de Cuellar, the two-term United Nations secretary-general who brokered a historic cease-fire between Iran and Iraq in 1988 and who in later life came out of retirement to…

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Argentina set to become first major Latin American country to legalise abortion

Argentina is on track to become the first major Latin American country to legalise abortion. Its president, Alberto Fernández, said on Sunday that he intends to send a legal abortion…

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Photo Story: Anti-government protests continue in Chile

Police detain a demonstrator during anti-government protests in Vina del Mar, Chile. Photo: EPA-EFE/ALBERTO PENA

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Photo Story: Rio prepares for Carnival

A handout photo made available by the Tourist Information centre in Rio de Janeiro (RioTur) shows thousands of people joining the 'Fogo e Paixao' troupe to celebrate in advance the…

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Photo Story: Carnival season get rolling in Uruguay

A member of a troupe smiles during the first night of Desfile de Llamadas, the Parade of Calls, in Montevideo, Uruguay, on the night of 14 February 2020. The Parade…

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Photo Story: Protests in Chile for the resignation of Police Chief

Protesters wave a Chilean flag on top of the statue of General Manuel Jesus Baquedano during a demonstration at the Plaza Italia in Santiago, Chile, 14 February 2020. People gathered…

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‘I am good’: Pelé dismisses his son’s claim that he is depressed and reclusive

Former Brazil striker Pelé dismissed talk he is depressed and reclusive and assured fans he is doing well and maintaining a busy schedule. Pelé’s son Edinho told Globo in an…

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Photo Story: Bullfighting season opens in Bogota

Colombian Clovis Velasquez falls from his horse during the fight of the second bull of the afternoon named 'devotee' in the 2020 bullfighting season, which takes place in the bullring…

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Heavily armed police and soldiers enter El Salvador parliament

Heavily armed police and soldiers in El Salvador have forced their way into parliament, demanding the approval of a $109m loan to better equip them. They entered the building as…

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Drug lord Escobar’s hitman Jhon Velásquez dies in Colombia

A notorious murderer who worked for Colombian drug lord Pablo Escobar has died of stomach cancer, Colombian officials say. Jhon Jairo Velásquez, who boasted of killing 300 people for Escobar,…

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Photo Story: Eros Ramazotti live in Bogota

Italian singer Eros Ramazzotti performs at the Movistar Arena in Bogota, Colombia, 02 February 2020. This was the singer's first live performance in Colombia since 1994. Photo: EPA-EFE/CARLOS…

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