Headlines: H(aiti) to V(enezuela)

Here is part two of our news headlines from Latin American and the Caribbean- Haiti through Venezuela. On Friday we’ll look at different news stories from the perspective of different bloggers.

Haiti

-Violence erupts between U.N. troops and local gangs around the Haitian capital of Port-au-Prince.

-Two U.S. missionaries kidnapped after being held captive for ransom were released today.

Honduras

-Honduran immigration authorities are preparing against a boom of Cuban migrants that use Honduras as a passageway to the U.S.

-The U.S. is establishing a new military base in northeastern Honduras which would “combat international drug trafficking.”

Jamaica

-The Jamaican government will advance funds to coffee farmers hurt by the collapse of a major insurance company on the island.

-The legislature is formulating a bill that would protect the rights of people with disabilities.

Mexico

-Mexican President Vicente Fox claimed that President Bush confessed to him that immigration reform will probably not be passed by the U.S. legislature before November elections.

-The Mexican border town of Nogales is being drained of social services since they accommodate hundreds of people deported every day from the U.S.

-President Fox rejected charges of fraud during the presidential election in light of accusations by supporters of Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador (right image). Meanwhile, “president-elect” Felipe Calderon was heckled during a meeting with trade representatives on Tuesday, while the Christian Science Monitor looks into how the PRI will have to modify their role in Mexican politics now that it has been bridesmaid for two consecutive presidential elections.

-The Mexican government evacuated over 100 of its citizens from Lebanon via bus convoy.

-Mexico’s Human Rights Commission criticized federal officials for not ensuring the safety of a coal mine that collapsed in February and killed 65 miners.

Nicaragua

-The cardinal of Nicaragua set aside personal differences in order to commemorate the 26^th anniversary of the Sandinista revolution.

-Has Nicaragua been politically “cursed” and always “poised for greatness”? That’s what an ex-New York Times reporter believes.

Panama

-The Panamanian government has asked Japan to help with the planned expansion of the Panama Canal (second left image). A national referendum will be held on October 22^nd to see if voters approve of the Canal’s expansion.

-Panama prepaid their multimillion dollar Brady Bonds debt.

Paraguay

-Brazilian energy giant Petrobras will soon start exploring Paraguay’s Chaco region for oil and gas deposits.

-Is the recent U.S. military build-up in Paraguay justified? AlterNet explains.

Peru

-Support for President Alejandro Toledo has nosedived by nearly 15% over the past month, according to a survey carried out in Lima and Callao.

-Peru and Argentina ratified a bilateral extradition treaty on Tuesday.

-Numerous problems surround the construction of the Camisea Gas Project, which should provide national gas to countries in the hemisphere by 2010.

Puerto Rico

-The privatization of Puerto Rico Telephone continues as the government will sell its 28% share to a Mexican company.

-Should Roberto Clemente’s number 21 be permanently retired from Major League Baseball or is it enough to only have that distinction for Jackie Robinson’s number 42?

Suriname

-The government of Suriname issued a formal apology earlier this week to the relatives of 39 people massacred in 1986 (second right image) by the then-ruling military dictatorship.

-The government denied that police beat up recently arrested drug kingpin Shaheed Khan when he was detained on Suriname.

Trinidad & Tobago

-The Chief Justice of Trinidad & Tobago has been accused of trying to pressure a fellow judge to find in favor a former Prime Minister who was on trial earlier this year.

-The governments of Trinidad & Tobago and Venezuela are about to reach an energy agreement over the use of hydrocarbon reserves beneath the boundaries of both states.

Uruguay

-Uruguay’s foreign minister is urging that Israel halt its bombardment of Lebanon and begin diplomatic talks under the auspices of the U.N.

Venezuela

-Foreign minister Ali Rodriguez criticized a U.S. move to block a U.N. resolution that called for the halt of Israel’s offensive against Lebanon.

-Oil giant Chevron signed two joint venture agreements with Venezuela to transfer oil pumping responsibilities to the Venezuelan government.

-Venezuela makes its official debut as member of the Mercosur trading bloc (third left image) during the group's summit in Argentina.

-Venezuela’s government is increasingly “out of step with the world,” according to a top U.S. State Department counterterrorism official.

haiti, honduras, jamaica, mexico, Nicaragua, panama, paraguay, Peru, puerto rico, suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, uruguay, Venezuela