Tag: Americas

Attorney General Investigating Peruvian President Over Contract Collusion

Peru’s Attorney General Zoraida Avalos announced on Jan. 4 the opening of an investigation into President Pedro Castillo for influence peddling and collusion with companies over government contracts. This comes as the latest in a series of corruption charges and government push back to hit Castillo’s administration since he took office on July 28 of last year….


Americans are ‘People Who Care’, Amazon River Folk Say After Warners

Arizona native David Warner was used to traveling over great distances of water serving America as a petty officer aboard the aircraft supercarrier USS Independence (CV-62) in the 1970s. But his most demanding and daring mission was being captain of his own 50-foot boat, the Nova Esperanza,  traveling up the Amazon  “about a week” upriver from…


Death Toll in Rockfall on Brazilian Lake Rises to 10

BRASILIA, Brazil—The death toll from an accident in which a slab of cliff rock toppled onto pleasure boaters on a Brazilian lake has risen to 10, police said Sunday. Authorities worked to identify the dead and divers were searching the lake in case there were more victims. Police Chief Marcos Pimenta said there was a…


Wall of Rock Falls on Boaters in Brazilian Lake; 5 Die

BRASILIA, Brazil—A towering slab of rock broke from a cliff and toppled onto pleasure boaters drifting near a waterfall on a Brazilian lake on Saturday and officials said at least five people died. Minas Gerais Fire Department Commander Edgard Estevo told a news conference that in addition to the dead, as many as 20 people…


Tallest Galapagos Volcano Erupts, Spewing Lava, Ash

QUITO, Ecuador—The tallest mountain in the Galapagos islands was erupting on Friday, spewing lava down its flanks and clouds of ash over the Pacific Ocean, according to Ecuador’s Geophysical Institute. A cloud of gas and ash from Wolf Volcano rose to 3,793 meters (12,444 feet) above sea level following the eruption that began shortly before…


Paraguay Becomes First South American Nation to Use 100 Percent Renewable Electricity

SANTA CRUZ, Bolivia—With the electrification of the Bahia Negra plant on Dec. 29, the National Electricity Administration of Paraguay (ANDE) declared the nation now runs on 100 percent renewable electricity. The transition of the Bahia Negra energy station marked a critical turning point, as it was the last thermal power plant in the country. Paraguay has been…


3 Chinese Nationals Abducted in Nigeria, Police Say

MAKURDI, Nigeria—Police in Nigeria said gunmen abducted three Chinese nationals working in the country’s north central region, the latest incident in a cycle of violence in Africa’s most populous nation. The gunmen also killed two Nigerians who were working with the expatriates Tuesday at a hydroelectric power plant under construction in Niger state, which neighbors…


10 Bodies Left in Car Outside Mexican State Governor’s Office

MEXICO CITY—An SUV filled with 10 bodies was left outside the office of a Mexican state governor in a public square lit up with Christmas tree and holiday decorations, officials said on Thursday. David Monreal, governor of the central state of Zacatecas, said in a video filmed at the plaza that the car contained bodies…


Aeromexico Passenger Traffic Reaches Highest Post-Pandemic Level

MEXICO CITY—Passenger traffic at Grupo Aeromexico in December reached its highest level since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Mexican airline said on Thursday. Aeromexico transported 1.74 million passengers last month, or 98.9 percent of the 1.76 million people it moved in December 2019, the company said in a statement. Aeromexico’s total offer, measured…


Strong Earthquake Shakes Nicaragua

MANAGUA, Nicaragua—A strong earthquake shook Nicaragua Thursday morning, sending people fleeing into the streets, but there were no initial reports of damage. The U.S. Geological Survey said the earthquake had a preliminary magnitude of 6.1—down from an initial calculation of 6.2. It was centered on the country’s Pacific coast about 36 miles (59 kilometers) south…