Regional News

GUATEMALA CITY, (Reuters) – Former Guatemalan President Otto Perez accused the United States on Wednesday of helping to topple him by interfering in the Central American country and endorsing a United Nations-backed anti-corruption commission.

HAVANA, (Reuters) – Cuba said yesterday it would pardon and release 3,522 prisoners on the occasion of the Sept.

CARACAS, (Reuters) – Hardline Venezuelan opposition leader Leopoldo Lopez was jailed yesterday for nearly 14 years on charges of inciting 2014 anti-government protests that spiraled into violence killing more than 40 people.

CARACAS, (Reuters) – From makeup to insect repellent, Venezuelans are looking to natural and homemade products in response to the chronic shortages resulting from a deepening economic crisis in the socialist-ruled country.

BRASILIA, (Reuters) – Brazil’s government scrambled yesterday to reassure investors it will impose austerity measures to put public finances in order after its credit rating was downgraded to junk status.

(Reuters) – Tropical Storm Henri, the eighth named storm of the 2015 Atlantic Hurricane Season, has formed in the Atlantic, the U.S.

CARACAS, (Reuters) – Venezuela has charged nine people, including a Lieutenant who helped oversee security for state-run oil company PDVSA, with trafficking 15 tonnes of copper and lead belonging to the energy firm, the state prosecutor office’s said in a statement yesterday.

BUENOS AIRES, (Reuters) – Brazil’s popular but scandal-weary former leader Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva endorsed Argentina’s ruling party presidential candidate yesterday, shoring up Daniel Scioli’s credentials with the political left a month and a half before the election.

RIO DE JANEIRO, (Reuters) – Standard & Poor’s stripped Brazil of its investment-grade credit rating yesterday, further hampering President Dilma Rousseff’s efforts to regain market trust and pull Latin America’s largest economy out of recession.

(Trinidad Express) From: The Hon: Kamla Persad-Bissessar S.C. Political Leader of the People’s Partnership People’s Partnership to File Election Petitions to Declare Elections Held on September 7, 2015 Null and Void A decision has been taken to challenge the results of the General Election based on legal advice the People’s Partnership has received.

(Trinidad Guardian) Members of the security detail guarding outgoing Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar yesterday came under fire for abandoning her after she lost Monday’s general election.

GUATEMALA CITY, (Reuters) – A Guatemalan judge yesterday ordered fallen President Otto Perez to remain in jail while awaiting trial over a graft scandal that stoked a political crisis, charging him with criminal association, taking bribes and customs fraud.

ST. THOMAS, U.S. Virgin Islands, (Reuters) – An engine fire on board a cruise ship operated by Carnival Corp left about 4,500 passengers and crew stranded in the U.S.

CARACAS, (Reuters) – Venezuela has extended a partial border shutdown with Colombia and sent another 3,000 troops to the area in a crime crackdown that has sent thousands of Colombians fleeing their adopted homeland and led to accusations of rights abuses.

(Trinidad Express) People’s National Movement (PNM) political leader, Dr Keith Rowley will be sworn in as Prime Minister of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago at 1.30p.m.

PORT-AU-PRINCE, (Reuters) – A leading political party in Haiti announced yesterday that it was pulling out of next month’s legislative elections, saying it was the primary victim of violence during the first round of voting in August.

CARACAS, (Reuters) – Venezuela is prepared to give asylum to 20,000 refugees from the conflict in Syria, President Nicolas Maduro said.

PARAGUANA, Venezuela, (Reuters) – Venezuelan authorities have arrested seven people for allegedly attempting to smuggle diesel, an industry source and a law enforcement source said yesterday, as the government seeks to clamp down on contraband of its highly subsidized fuel.

(Trinidad Express) The Dr Keith Rowley led People’s National Movement captured 22 of the 41 constituencies to be declared winner of the 2015 General Election last night.

CARACAS (Reuters) – A regional human rights court criticized Venezuela yesterday for forcing an opposition TV channel off the air in 2007 and told President Nicolas Maduro’s government to grant the broadcaster its old frequency.