Latin America

• Thursday, March 21st 2024 - 22:32 UTC

  Bolivia ready to launch biodiesel plant

  

  Bolivian President Luis Arce Catacora announced that his country's first biodiesel production plant will start operating next week in Santa Cruz de la Sierra. Although some experts have doubted the project's worth, the Government said that the new undertaking would generate up to US$ 100 million in savings on fossil fuel imports. Supreme Decree 5135 authorizes the addition of up to 25% of vegetable components to conventional fuels.

• Monday, March 18th 2024 - 09:50 UTC

  Haiti: Gangs grab essential Unicef supplies

  

  As if Haiti's shortages were not severe enough, armed groups sabotaged the main docking facilities in Port-au-Prince and looted several containers, including one from the United Nations Children's Fund (Unicef), containing essential supplies, it was reported this weekend.

• Wednesday, March 13th 2024 - 09:50 UTC

  Weather conditions improving for Panama Canal transit but still far from good

  

  Recent rains have led the Panama Canal Authority (ACP) to announce an increase in the number of vessels through the interoceanic path from 24 to 27 each day, it was reported. Being the only waterway in the world that uses fresh water to link the Atlantic and Pacific oceans, the 80-kilometer Panamanian route carries 6% of the world's maritime trade.

• Tuesday, March 12th 2024 - 10:46 UTC

  Bolivian Senate stalling World Bank loan could make it go away

  

  Bolivian authorities need to have the Senate approve a US$ 125 million loan from the World Bank at the earliest or else the credit agency might backtrack on granting it, Hydrocarbons Ministry Spokeswoman Rocío Molina warned Monday. Other five credits might follow suit given the Upper House's tardiness, Molina explained.

• Monday, March 11th 2024 - 11:04 UTC

  Paraguay, the best place in the region for business, says FGV

  

  The Latin American Economic Climate Index (ICE) released this weekend by Brazil's Getúlio Vargas Foundation (FGV) highlighted Paraguay as the Mecca for business ventures in the region given the country's outstanding performance.

• Thursday, March 7th 2024 - 09:49 UTC

  Haiti's PM in Puerto Rico, not resigning, for now

  

  Haiti’s Prime Minister Ariel Henry has sought shelter in Puerto Rico after his aircraft was denied a landing clearance by the Dominican Republic, it was reported Wednesday. Henry is unable to return to Port-au-Prince where gang groups threaten that a bloodbath will occur should he refuse to resign.

• Thursday, March 7th 2024 - 08:09 UTC

  Adrianzén Olaya sworn in as Peru's new Prime Minister

  

  Gustavo Lino Adrianzén Olaya was sworn in Wednesday as Peru's new Prime Minister (technically chairman of the Council of Ministers) following Alberto Otárola Peñaranda's resignation on Tuesday amid an influence-peddling scandal involving the hiring of a woman he called “my love” at the Defense Ministry.

• Wednesday, March 6th 2024 - 22:55 UTC

  María Corina Machado hits back at Lula da Silva's criticism: “Me crying, President Lula?”

  

  María Corina Machado, the opposition candidate elected in Venezuela's October primary elections, has responded strongly to Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva's recent comments indirectly criticizing her candidacy.

• Wednesday, March 6th 2024 - 10:18 UTC

  Peru's Prime Minister resigns amid influence-peddling scandal

  

  Alberto Otárola Peñaranda has turned in his resignation as chairman of the Council of Ministers, a position also referred to as that of the “Prime Minister,” after a scandal involving one irregular hiring went public, it was reported in Lima on Tuesday.

• Tuesday, March 5th 2024 - 10:49 UTC

  Second case of local dengue reported in Uruguay

  

  Uruguayan health authorities confirmed Monday the second case of autochthonous dengue in the country, it was reported in Montevideo.