Blog entries

La literatura boliviana vive un gran momento a nivel internacional. En abril, la revista Zoetrope, de Francis Ford Coppola, incluyó un cuento de Rodrigo Hasbún en el número que le dedicó a los autores latinoamericanos con más futuro. Este mes, la editorial española Bartleby publica el libro de cuentos Niñas y detectives, de Giovanna Rivero, … Read more

Mauricio Funes, El Salvador’s president-elect, is in Paris attending the trial of his son’s alleged killer. At the trial, Funes paid an emotional tribute to the deceased Alejandro, who was murdered in October, 2007 at the age of 27, saying “we shared the same ideals, the same life projects and the desire to transform El … Read more

Prime Minister Stephen Harper has steadfastly refused to press Washington for the transfer of Omar Khadr from the infamous U.S. detention center in Guantánamo Bay, Cuba, to Canada. And he’s not about to give in. On May 7, he announced he would be appealing a Canadian court ruling calling for the return of Omar Khadr … Read more

Two Americans from southern California, 20-year-old Teddy Toledo and his 17-year-old sister, stand accused of abducting a 19-year-old hardware store clerk in Tijuana, Mexico. On Monday, the victim was rescued by army troops and the siblings were arrested along with two Mexican nationals—all four are tied to the Tijuana drug cartel headed by Teodoro Eduardo … Read more

Ask anyone for good investment tips, and they’re unlikely to suggest going in to the magazine business. So for a pair of young designers to front $10,000 of their own savings for a new print publication—that is a sign of confidence in their product. Hecho magazine is the brainchild of Christopher Sataua, 27, and Oliver … Read more

From the Americas Society/Council of the Americas. AS/COA Online’s news brief examines the major—as well as some of the overlooked—events and stories occurring across the Americas. Check back every Wednesday for the weekly roundup. Sign up to receive the Weekly Roundup via email. White House Chooses First Hispanic for SCOTUS On Tuesday, President Barack Obama … Read more

On Monday, Peruvian writer Alvaro Vargas Llosa was detained for over two hours at Venezuela’s Simón Bolívar International Airport. After being questioned and searched, the writer claimed that local authorities warned him not to make “any political statements during his visit to Venezuela.” Today, his father, Mario Vargas Llosa—who had criticized the government of President … Read more

In a video that surfaced in the Peruvian media on Sunday night, images emerged of the Sendero Luminoso (Shining Path) guerrilla group training children in military-style drills and in the handling of automatic weapons.  According to local reports, the video shows up to 17 children between 7 and 12 years old in “military formations” in … Read more

Here in Washington discussion about Colombia generally revolves around the free-trade agreement (FTA). Will Obama really push Democrats in Congress to approve it? And now that the Colombian Senate this week approved a referendum on whether to change the constitution to eliminate a ban on a third presidential term, the topic du jour has shifted: … Read more

Chilean President Michelle Bachelet delivered her final State of the Union address in Valparaíso on Thursday, while police used water cannons outside to disperse groups of protesters.  Several demonstrators were detained by police and two people were injured. In the address, Bachelet announced a wide range of policy objectives including $70 stipends for approximately four … Read more

Thomas Shannon, the U.S. assistant secretary of state for Western Hemisphere affairs arrived in Bolivia yesterday to meet with President Evo Morales and his foreign minister, David Choquehuanca.  This visit follows an agreement made at the Summit of the Americas between U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Mr. Choquehuanca to reduce tensions and increase … Read more

From the Americas Society/Council of the Americas. AS/COA Online’s news brief examines the major—as well as some of the overlooked—events and stories occurring across the Americas. Check back every Wednesday for the weekly roundup. Sign up to receive the Weekly Roundup via email. Colombian Defense Minister Resigns; Uribe Reelection Referendum Approved Juan Manuel Santos will … Read more

El próximo 28 de junio se realizarán en Argentina las próximas elecciones legislativas. En estas elecciones hay mucho en juego y es una época muy politizada. En este contexto, se ha reavivó hace algunas semanas un viejo debate. Eugenio Raúl Zaffaroni, Ministro de la Corte de Suprema de Justicia de la Nación, se pronunció públicamente … Read more

In the latest in the ongoing saga of Colombian President Álvaro Uribe’s potential third term, Defense Minister and loyal Uribista Juan Manuel Santos­­ resigned from his position Tuesday to prepare for a possbible presidential bid in 2010. That bid, however, comes with an important caveat; “if the president decides to run, he can count on … Read more

Five people were detained on Sunday in Buenos Aires after anti-Semitic demonstrators violently confronted members of Argentina’s Jewish community outside the Israeli embassy.  The attack, which occurred during celebrations marking the 61st anniversary of the founding of Israel, left four people injured and provoked concerns of rising anti-Semitism.  According to Israel’s ambassador to Argentina, Daniel … Read more