South America

Venezuela's deteriorating oil quality riles major refiners

CARACAS/HOUSTON (Reuters) - Venezuela's state-run oil firm, PDVSA, is increasingly delivering poor quality crude oil to major refiners in the United States, India and China, causing repeated complaints, canceled orders and demands for discounts, according to internal PDVSA documents and interviews …

Venezuela's Opposition Hurt Its Own Cause

This week's failure at the polls will make it harder to muster voters in 2018.<p>Almost every day, it seems, Venezuela's crypto-dictatorship manages to outdo itself. Consider the strong showing in last Sunday's regional elections by the government, which has presided over the world's worst inflation …

Lunfardo: How Italians Influenced a Whole New South American Slang

In Argentina, as in many other countries in South America, Spanish is the national language. This was due to the colonisation of South America by …

La Cumbrecita: A slice of Bavaria in the heart of Argentina

Venezuela’s latest elections are likely to trigger a regional migration crisis

On Oct. 15, Venezuelans went to the polls to elect state governors, amid a desperate economic crisis, manipulation of democratic institutions (including packing the supreme court and dissolving the legislature), and widespread allegations of electoral fraud. Last year, the country endured four …

Brazil's Temer escapes corruption charges in committee vote

BRASILIA (Reuters) - A congressional committee voted 39-26 on Wednesday to reject charges against Brazilian President Michel Temer stemming from a corruption case involving the world’s largest meatpacker.<p>The full lower house of Brazil’s Congress still must vote on the charges but is expected to …

In Brazil, art exhibits latest flashpoints in cultural war

SAO PAULO (AP) — A couple of modern art exhibits and a play have become leading battlegrounds in a growing culture war in Brazil, a nation whose fame for barely there bikinis masks a rising trend of conservatism.<p>Protesters waved a Brazilian flag and shouted "No! No! Not our children!" to denounce …

Bitcoin Exchange LocalBitcoins Posts Fourfold Trading Volume Increase in Venezuela

Decentralized Bitcoin exchange LocalBitcoins has announced a fourfold increase in its Bitcoin trading volume since June in Venezuela. This …

Cavani on Neymar: “We do not need to be friends”

Paris Saint-Germain has been rocked by rumblings of locker room discontent ever since Edinson Cavani and Neymar were involved in an on-field spat …

These are the best and worst megacities for women to live in

A new poll looked at issues such as risk of sexual violence, harassment and harmful cultural practices.<p>When it comes to the best place to be a woman, it turns out London isn't so bad.<p>The UK capital has been deemed the best megacity for women, according to the results of a survey carried out by the …

Angola is not the next Venezuela, state oil firm says as it cuts debt

LONDON (Reuters) - Angola is not the next Venezuela, the head of state oil firm Sonangol said on Wednesday while pledging to further cut debt, even if both oil-rich nations have relied heavily on loans from China.<p>Venezuela, the Latin American oil behemoth, has found itself struggling to repay debts …

Colombia's Congress approves $80 billion budget for 2018

BOGOTA (Reuters) - Colombia's congress approved an $80 billion budget for 2018 on Wednesday, in a bid to retain the country's 'BBB' credit rating, …

Venezuela opposition refuses swearing in, small protest breaks out

PUERTO ORDAZ, Venezuela (Reuters) - Venezuela's opposition refused on Wednesday to swear in newly-elected governors before a pro-government legislative superbody which it deems unconstitutional, as a protest broke out in the southern state of Bolivar over fraud allegations.<p>The pro-government …

Former Trump Hotel Partner Charged in Brazil Olympic Bribery Case

RIO DE JANEIRO — Federal prosecutors in Brazil on Wednesday charged a Brazilian partner in the former Trump Hotel Rio de Janeiro with paying bribes to propel the city’s bid to host the 2016 Olympic Games.<p>The businessman, Arthur César de Menezes Soares Filho, is a fugitive in the United States, …

Recent Production: Colombia, Mexico And Brazil

<i>By George Kaplan</i><p>Colombia<p>Colombia production is holding a plateau over the past year after a large decline in the last part of 2015 and the first half …

Amid Brazil’s persistent economic crisis fintech startup GuiaBolso raises $39 million

Despite a continuing economic crisis, Brazil’s technology startups are continuing to attract cash and financing, with the mobile personal financial service GuiaBolso raising $39 million in fresh funding.<p>Readers outside of Brazil can think of the company as a combination of U.S. services like Mint, …

Brazil's president survives first vote on latest charges

Brazilian president Michel Temer has survived a first vote by politicians in a case that holds the potential of suspending him from office.<p>A Chamber …

Why is Colombian Coffee the Best in the World?

Interesting Facts You Can Learn During a Coffee Tour in Colombia<p>During a coffee tour in Colombia you can learn many interesting facts: all the labour …

2018 Kia Rio Hatchback Photo Gallery

Spain summons Venezuela Ambassador after Maduro's Catalonia comments

MADRID (Reuters) - Spain has summoned the Venezuela ambassador in Madrid to explain comments made by the Latin American country’s President Nicolas Maduro on the situation in Catalonia, the Spanish foreign ministry said on Wednesday.<p>On Tuesday, Maduro said that Spain was holding political prisoners …

My Next BIG Adventure: A Trip to Antarctica! Do You Want a Postcard?

Back in the 60s, only a handful of travelers had the desire to go on a trip to Antarctica. After the success of that ship’s voyage, it inspired more …

Bitcoin Fork SegWit2x Makes Enemies In Brazil, Argentina As 50 Sign Opposition Letter

A group of Latin American Bitcoin businesses and entities has issued a joint letter expressing “deepest concerns” over SegWit2x.<p>The letter, signed by …

Argentine mid-term campaign pauses after body found in Patagonia

BUENOS AIRES (Reuters) - Major parties running in Sunday's mid-term congressional election in Argentina suspended their campaigns on Wednesday after a body, thought to be that a young protester who went missing more than two months ago, was found in a river.<p>A government spokeswoman said President …

Petrobras & Chevron: Is Big Oil Still a Big Deal?

International oil-producing giants <b>Petroleo Brasileiro</b> (PBR) and <b>Chevron</b> (CVX) may have gone as far as they can go in with middling prices for …

Brazil to play Russia in Moscow in pre-World Cup friendly

RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) — Brazil will play Russia in March in a pre-World Cup friendly in Moscow.<p>The Brazilian soccer confederation says its Russian counterpart hasn't yet chosen a stadium for the March 23rd match.<p>Brazil was the first team to qualify for the tournament in Russia. The five-time World …

Brazil miner Vale seals share conversion, elects new board members

RIO DE JANEIRO (Reuters) - The remaining preferred shareholders of Brazil's Vale SA <VALE5.SA> on Wednesday voted to accept a plan obliging them to convert their shares into a single stock class, finalizing a process that is part of the miner's bid to improve corporate governance.<p>The move was …

The Best Italian Restaurants in Argentina

Routinely lauded as the best pizza in Buenos Aires, Siamo Nel Forno is the only place in the city to try some super-legit Napoletana. Their pizza …

Sir Ben Kingsley and Oscar Isaac star in movie about Mossad's most famous operation

Cameras are currently rolling in Buenos Aires, where a host of Jewish actors have joined Sir Ben Kingsley, who is playing the leading role in a movie …

Vicente Luque now meets Niko Price at UFC Sao Paulo

Niko Price has a new opponent for UFC’s upcoming event in Brazil.<p>With Luan Chagas sidelined due to a broken foot, Price is now set to meet Vicente …

Amazon expands in Brazil, begins selling electronics in Latin America’s largest market

Amazon entered Brazil five years ago, but ever since it has focused its efforts on its original wheelhouse: books.<p>But now Amazon is expanding its …