Latin America

COVID cases down in Americas but Omicron subvariants driving new infections -PAHO

The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) warned of the growing number of COVID-19 cases caused by the highly infectious BA.4 and BA.5 Omicron subvariants of the coronavirus even as overall…

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Peru wants U.S. help to stop cocaine trafficking planes

Peru wants to secure a deal with the United States as soon as possible to help it tackle the use of planes to smuggle cocaine at a time when coca…

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Poll shows Brazil’s Lula maintaining strong lead in presidential race

Brazilian leftist Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva maintains a strong lead against incumbent right-wing President Jair Bolsonaro ahead of October's presidential election, a Genial/Quaest poll released this week showed. Lula…

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Dinosaur finding hints at why T-rex had small arms

A team of scientists in Argentina say they have discovered a new giant predatory dinosaur that had a huge head - but tiny arms for its size. Writing in the…

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Argentina economy minister, IMF deal architect, quits as government crisis builds

BUENOS AIRES (Reuters) -Argentina's economy minister Martin Guzman, the architect of a recent major debt deal with the International Monetary Fund (IMF), resigned on Saturday as deep splits emerged in…

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Peru’s Machu Picchu threatened by wildfire

Peruvian firefighters were fighting to contain a forest fire near the Incan ruins of Machu Picchu, as the blaze threatened to close in on the ancient city high in the…

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EPA’s Eye In The Sky: Santiago, Chile

A view from the top of a building of the Palacio de la Moneda, Santiago, Chile. Photo - EPA-EFE/Alberto Valdes

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Family bids farewell to British journalist murdered in the Amazon

NITEROI, Brazil (Reuters) - The family of Dom Phillips on Sunday bid farewell to the British journalist, who was killed earlier this month along with Brazilian indigenous expert Bruno Pereira…

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Four killed, 70 injured in partial collapse of bullring in Colombia

BOGOTA (Reuters) -Four people were killed and about 70 injured on Sunday when part of a stand collapsed at a bullring in the town of El Espinal, Colombia, provincial officials…

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Hundreds of indigenous protesters enter Ecuador capital Quito

QUITO, June 20(Reuters) - Hundreds of indigenous people entered Ecuador's capital Quito , following almost a week of protests against the economic and social policies of President Guillermo Lasso, who has not…

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Colombia elects former guerrilla Petro as first leftist president

BOGOTA/BUCARAMANGA, June 20 (Reuters) - Leftist Gustavo Petro, a former member of the M-19 guerrilla movement, who has vowed profound social and economic change, won Colombia's presidency on Sunday, the first progressive…

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Brazil police arrest third suspect in murder of British journalist and indigenous expert

BRASILIA (Reuters) -Brazilian federal police on Saturday said they had arrested a third suspect in the murder of British journalist Dom Phillips and indigenous expert Bruno Pereira in the Amazon…

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Colombians to choose between leftist and eccentric businessman in Sunday vote

BOGOTA, Colombians will vote on Sunday for their next president, choosing between leftist Gustavo Petro, who promises profound social reforms, and eccentric business magnate Rodolfo Hernandez, who has found fertile…

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Colombia’s police on highest alert over election violence

Colombia's police are on maximum alert after detecting plans by radical groups to reject the results of a second presidential election vote on Sunday and commit violence across the country,…

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Remains of British journalist found in Amazon, police name new suspect

A forensic exam carried out on human remains found in the Amazon rainforest confirmed that they belonged to British journalist Dom Phillips, Brazil's federal police said, adding that a search…

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Brazil police find remains in search for UK journalist, suspect confesses – investigators

Police have found human remains in their search for British journalist Dom Phillips and Brazilian indigenous expert Bruno Pereira after a suspect confessed to killing them in the Amazon rainforest,…

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Brazil police arrest second suspect in case of missing journalist

ATALAIA DO NORTE, Brazil, (Reuters) - Brazilian police arrested a second suspect in the investigation of the disappearance of British journalist Don Phillips and indigenous expert Bruno Pereira in the…

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UPDATED: British journalist, indigenous expert found dead in Brazil

SAO PAULO, June 13 (Reuters) - The bodies of British journalist Dom Phillips and indigenous expert Bruno Pereira, who had been missing for more than a week in Brazil's Amazon…

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EPA’s Eye In The Sky: Santiago, Chile

A man walks along the Bandera promenade, located in the center of Santiago, Chile. PHOTO - EPA-EFE/Alberto Valdes

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Poll shows Brazil’s Lula maintains strong lead in presidential race

SAO PAULO, (Reuters) - Brazil's leftist leader Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva is holding a strong lead against incumbent President Jair Bolsonaro for the October election, a Genial/Quaest poll Lula has 46%…

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Magnitude 5.6 earthquake strikes Antofagasta, Chile region – EMSC

June 9 (Reuters) - An earthquake of magnitude 5.6 struck Antofagasta in the Chile region on Thursday, the European Mediterranean Seismological Centre (EMSC) said. The quake was at a depth…

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Biden unveils new Latin America economic plan at reboot summit dogged by dissent

LOS ANGELES, (Reuters) - President Joe Biden announced a proposed new U.S. economic partnership with Latin America aimed at countering China's growing clout as he kicked off a regional summit marred by…

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Venezuelan President Maduro to visit Turkey, meet Erdogan

CARACAS, June 7 (Reuters) - Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro will pay a two-day official visit to Turkey beginning on Tuesday, the Turkish government said. Maduro has repeatedly said he will visit Turkey,…

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U.S. to let Eni, Repsol ship Venezuela oil to Europe for debt -sources

HOUSTON/WASHINGTON, June 5 (Reuters) - Italian oil company Eni SpA and Spain's Repsol SA could begin shipping Venezuelan oil to Europe as soon as next month to make up for Russian crude,…

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Death toll from floods in Brazil rises to 106, 10 still missing

At least 106 people have died and 10 are still missing in Brazil, the government said, as heavy rains tore through urban towns in the northeastern part of the country…

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Peru opens criminal investigation of President Castillo

LIMA (Reuters) - Peru's attorney general's office announced it was including President Pedro Castillo in an investigation into alleged crimes including influence peddling, collusion and "criminal organization." Peru's Public Ministry on Twitter…

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Colombia leftist Petro goes to second round with businessman Hernandez

BOGOTA (Reuters) - Colombian leftist Gustavo Petro came out on top in the first round of the Andean country's presidential election on Sunday and will face a surprise contender - businessman Rodolfo…

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Heavy rains in Brazil’s northeast kill at least 35

RIO DE JANEIRO, (Reuters) - At least 35 people died amid heavy rainfall in north-eastern Brazil on Friday and Saturday, as downpours lashed two major cities on the Atlantic coast, in what…

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Colombia election on Sunday sees leftist Petro in pole position

BOGOTA, May 27 (Reuters) - Colombians will choose among a leftist promising change, a center-right candidate seen as the natural successor to the incumbent leader, and an eccentric business magnate in a…

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Risk of food insecurity threatens record 36% of Brazilian families -study

The risk of going hungry in Brazil is higher than ever, as the percentage of people unable to afford food for themselves or their family at some point during the…

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WATCH: Strong quake strikes Peru, no reports of damage or casualties

An earthquake of magnitude 7.2 struck the Tirapata region of southern Peru on Thursday, the United States Geological Survey (USGS) said. The quake was at a depth of 212 km (132 miles), USGS said. https://twitter.com/ZockerfreakYT/status/1529804878213685255…

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EPA’s Eye In The Sky: Banco Pichincha Monumental Stadium, Guayaquil, Ecuador

Aerial photograph showing the Banco Pichincha Monumental Stadium, in Guayaquil, Ecuador. Via EPA-EFE/Franklin Jacome / POOL

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Chile will reopen Easter Island to tourists in August

Easter Island, one of Chile's biggest tourist attractions, will reopen to visitors starting Aug. 1 after access was restricted at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, Chile's government said. Easter…

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Paraguayan anti-mafia prosecutor killed on honeymoon in Colombia

Marcelo Pecci, a Paraguayan prosecutor known for his work in fighting organized crime, was killed on the Colombian tourism island of Baru on Tuesday, authorities from both countries said. Pecci…

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EPA’s Eye In The Sky: Datem del Maranon, Peru

Aerial view of the region Datem del Maranon in Peru. The Datem del Maranon is one of the eight provinces in the Loreto Region of Peru. It was created on…

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Brazil cancels invite for EU observers after Bolsonaro objection

Brazil's Supreme Electoral Court (TSE) has withdrawn an invitation for the European Union to send observers for the October election after President Jair Bolsonaro's government objected, the EU and the…

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EPA’s Eye In The Sky: Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

epa09635070 An aerial photo with a drone shows people at the Copacabana beach at sunset in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Photo: EPA-EFE/Antonio Lacerda

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Photo Story: Parade of the samba schools in Rio de Janeiro

A member of Unidos Do Viradouro samba school takes part in a parade at the Samba Catwalk during the carnival of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, early 23 April 2022. Via…

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Peru seeks to punish pedophile rapists with chemical castration

Peru's government will present a bill to allow for chemical castration as a penalty for raping a minor, Cabinet members told reporters, following national outrage over the rape of a…

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Photo Story: Medellin celebrates the 90th birthday of Fernando Botero

Visitors appreciate some of the works by Colombian artist Fernando Botero during a commemorative act for the celebration of his 90 years, at the Museum of Antioquia in Medellin, Colombia.…

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Ukraine war ignites protests in Peru as inflation anger goes global

VILLACURI, Peru, (Reuters) - Marcelo Gonzales is tired and angry about rapidly increasing living costs in his dusty village on Peru's desert coast, where food and fuel inflation inflamed by the war…

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Maradona’s ‘Hand of God’ shirt expected to fetch more than $5 million at auction

The shirt worn by Diego Maradona when he scored two of the most famous goals in footballing history was put up for auction on Wednesday but its sale was complicated…

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Brazil eases COVID-related restrictions on international travelers

Brazilian health agency Anvisa issued a new set of rules for incoming international travelers, easing restrictions related to the COVID-19 pandemic as the health crisis subsides in the South American…

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Magnitude 5.8 earthquake strikes near coast of Ecuador region – EMSC

(Reuters) - An earthquake of magnitude 5.8 struck near the coastal region of Ecuador late on Saturday, the European Mediterranean Seismological Centre said. The quake was at a depth of…

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Bolsonaro reduces Lula’s advantage for Brazil election -Datafolha

BRASILIA, (Reuters) - Brazil's far-right President Jair Bolsonaro has gained ground on favourite Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva ahead of the October election, but is still trailing the leftist leader by 17…

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Colombians vote in presidential primaries, legislative contest

BOGOTA (Reuters) -Colombians were voting on Sunday to elect members of congress and participate in one of three presidential primaries for candidates from right, left and centrist coalitions. Seats in…

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Hope and uncertainty as Chile shifts left under Boric

SANTIAGO, March 11 (Reuters) - Chile will shift to the left on Friday when Gabriel Boric, 36, is sworn in as the South American country's youngest ever president after pledging social and…

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U.S. officials travel to Venezuela, a Russian ally, for talks

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Senior U.S. officials traveled to Venezuela for talks with President Nicolas Maduro's government, seeking to determine whether Caracas is prepared to distance itself from close ally Russia amid its invasion of Ukraine,…

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Bolsonaro won’t condemn Putin, says Brazil will remain neutral over invasion

RIO DE JANEIRO (Reuters) - Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro declined to condemn Russian President Vladimir Putin's invasion of Ukraine, while departing from his government's official stance at the United Nations to say…

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Some Latin American nations call for Russian withdrawal from Ukraine

BOGOTA/BUENOS AIRES/SANTIAGO (Reuters) - Colombia, Argentina and Chile on Thursday called for swift withdrawal of Russian troops from Ukraine, as other Latin American countries rejected the use of force but stopped short…

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Top Colombia court decriminalizes abortion until 24 weeks of gestation

Judges on Colombia's constitutional court voted on Monday to decriminalize abortion until 24 weeks of gestation, the court said in a statement, in a victory for abortion rights groups which…

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Nearly 200 still missing in flood-hit Brazil city of Petrópolis

Bad weather has hampered the search for survivors in the Brazilian city of Petrópolis, four days after devastating flash floods and mudslides. Emergency teams had to suspend their work several…

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Lula’s lead over Bolsonaro narrows ahead of Brazil’s October election -poll

BRASILIA, Feb 16 (Reuters) - Leftist former President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva's lead has narrowed to 9 points from 14 in one month, but he would still win a second-round runoff…

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Heavy rains, flooding kill dozens in Brazil’s ‘Imperial City’

At least 94 people died in the historic Brazilian mountain town of Petropolis, local government officials said, after heavy rains caused mudslides that buried homes, flooded the streets and washed…

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Gold reserves at Venezuelan central bank down to new 50-year low

CARACAS (Reuters) - The Venezuelan central bank's gold reserves dropped seven tonnes last year to a new 50-year low, according to financial statements published by the bank. The quantity of gold bars…

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Peru’s Castillo swears in his fourth cabinet in just six months

LIMA (Reuters) - Peruvian President Pedro Castillo swore in his fourth cabinet in just six months in office, picking a loyalist as prime minister, in a bid to end his…

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Peru PM confirms departure after four days on job; Castillo faces Cabinet reshuffle

LIMA (Reuters) - Peruvian Prime Minister Hector Valer confirmed that he is departing just four days after being named to the post, following allegations that he beat his daughter and…

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