Latin America

Tourists visit the Machu Picchu complex, the Inca fortress in the southeastern Andes of Peru in April. The government hopes a new airport will attract more tourists to the ancient site. That draws opposition from conservationists.

World News

International Protests Mount As Peru Moves Ahead With New Airport Near Machu Picchu

4:40pm June 17, 2019

by Vanessa Romo

The government is banking on more tourism after it replaces the outdated airport in Cuzco with a gleaming new facility near the mouth of the Sacred Valley. And that's what conservationists fear.

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Sandra Torres, former first lady and presidential candidate for the National Unity of Hope (Union Nacional de la Esperanza) party, center, displays an inked finger after voting during presidential elections in Guatemala City, Guatemala, on Sunday.

World News

Former First Lady Leads In 1st Round Of Voting In Guatemala Presidential Election

8:15am June 17, 2019

by Scott Neuman

Sandra Torres, who is now divorced from former President Álvaro Colom, is leading a field of nearly 20 candidates. She has promised to invest heavily in health care, education and agriculture.

News Brief: Tankers Attacked, Hong Kong Protests, Power Grid Outage

5:42am June 17, 2019

The U.S. blames Iran for the attack on 2 oil tankers in the Gulf Of Oman. Protests in Hong Kong continue over extradition bill. A massive power outage rolled across Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay.

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World News

After Grid Failure, Millions In 3 Latin American Countries Lack Electricity

5:02am June 17, 2019

by Philip Reeves

A massive power grid serves Argentina, Uruguay and parts of Paraguay — tens of millions of people rely on it. On Sunday morning it went dead. By Sunday night most customers had their power back.

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A woman prepares milk bottles Sunday using candles at her home in Montevideo during a power cut.

World News

Millions In Argentina And Uruguay Without Electricity After Power Failure

5:06pm June 16, 2019

by Daniella Cheslow

Argentina's main energy company says it is gradually restoring power after the massive failure halted trains and darkened homes and traffic lights.

World News

Guatemalans Go To The Polls

8:03am June 16, 2019

Guatemalans go to the polls today to elect a new president and members of Congress. NPR's Lulu Garcia-Navarro speaks with Martín Rodríguez Pellecer, editor of the news website Nómada.

Adélio Bispo de Oliveira, who confessed to stabbing Jair Bolsonaro, sits after being detained following the attack in September 2018.

World News

Brazilian Judge Acquits Man Who Stabbed Jair Bolsonaro

5:57pm June 15, 2019

by Daniella Cheslow

The judge says Adélio Bispo de Oliveira was mentally ill when he almost killed the then-presidential candidate during a campaign stop. Bolsonaro, now president, vows to overturn the ruling.

World News

Migrants Taking Riskier Routes To Avoid Mexican Authorities

7:58am June 15, 2019

by James Fredrick

As Mexico cracks down on migrants trying to get to the United States, migrants are trying to evade authorities by taking riskier routes, often putting them in the way of thieves and drug gangs.

Central American migrants and a Spanish journalist ride a makeshift raft across the Suchiate River from Tecún Umán in Guatemala to Ciudad Hidalgo in Chiapas state, Mexico, on June 11.

World News

Mexico Is Overwhelmed By Asylum Claims As It Ramps Up Immigration Enforcement

10:25pm June 14, 2019

by James Fredrick

Mexico pledged to ramp up immigration enforcement and let asylum-seekers wait on its side of the border. But on its own southern border, migrant detention centers are already overcrowded.

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Passengers from Tecun Uman, Guatemala (across the water), arrive by raft at Ciudad Hidalgo, Mexico, on Friday at sunrise.

World News

Mexico's Migration Chief Abruptly Resigns

8:22pm June 14, 2019

by Richard Gonzales

Tonatiuh Guillén Lopez's departure comes as Mexican officials are trying to address criticisms from the Trump administration about the flow of migrants to the U.S. through Mexico from Central America.