Latin America

In 2017, the observation that gravitational waves are associated with gamma ray flashes opened a new way of observing the universe. This unprecedented fact has revolutionised astronomy. With the Coatli telescope, Mexico is now at the forefront of these innovative research methods.

CARACAS (Sputnik) – Michelle Bachelet, the United Nations high commissioner for human rights, said she paid a "crucial" visit to Venezuela, adding that a team of human rights officers would be deployed in the country to provide assistance and monitor the human rights situation in Venezuela.

The United Nations high commissioner for human rights, Michelle Bachelet, wrapping up an official visit to Venezuela on Friday, will leave two delegates in the troubled nation to monitor the situation, Reuters reported.

Swedish software developer Ola Bini was arrested while trying to travel to Japan on 11 April, the same day Ecuador rescinded WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange's seven-year asylum at its London embassy.

The lines and geoglyphs of Nasca and Palpa are located some 400 kilometres south of Lima, Peru and form a World Heritage Site spanning about 450 square kilometres; the mysterious art is believed to have been carved into the ground by the pre-Inca people.

UFA (Sputnik) - Venezuela, targeted by hybrid attacks, considers Russia an important ally in its efforts to counter them, according to Secretary General of Venezuela's Defence Council Maj.Gen. Pascualino Angiolillo Fernandez.

The United States continues to support the ouster of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, despite the opposition finding less and less support among the Venezuelan people, an anonymous White House official said in a comment.

MEXICO CITY (Sputnik) – Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro said he expected the visit of United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Michelle Bachelet, to Venezuela to contribute to the improvement of the human rights situation in the country.

On 19 June Mexico's Senate voted on the United States-Mexico-Canada trade agreement (USMCA) to replace the long-existed North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA).

Earlier on Wednesday, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the date of Maduro's visit to Russia remained uncertain.

The Galapagos Islands, lying some 1,000 kilometres west of Ecuador’s Pacific coast, are one of the most biologically diverse places on the planet and are designated a World Heritage Site by the United Nations.

Maduro earlier claimed that Colombia and the United States were involved in a plot to kill him, which both countries denied. An alleged defector revealed in March that the drones were bought in the US and brought to Colombia before the attack.

On 18 June, the US vice president toured the USNS Comfort, scheduled to depart on Wednesday for Latin America and the Caribbean on a five-month mission to address a 'humanitarian crisis' in Venezuela. Pence announced that the ship would bring “dozens of X-ray machines, and much more.”

The Caracas chief prosecutor said the opposition leader is directly involved in his underlings’ mishandling of money designated for the housing of Venezuelan deserters in the Colombian border city of Cucuta.

The long-running political crisis in Venezuela, which began to escalate when US-backed opposition leader Juan Guaido proclaimed himself 'interim president' in January, is close to entering its fifth month, with no apparent end in sight.

As Mexico City deploys additional personnel to its borders as part of an agreement with Washington, observers agree the plan may be successful, forcing countries of origin to face their own problems instead of exporting them north.

Two Popular Will party members are accused of taking money sent by Colombian authorities and the United Nations Refugee Agency and spending it on private dinners, shopping and hotels, a report says. The total amount of stolen money amounts to tens, possibly hundreds, of thousands of dollars.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) – Brazilian construction company Odebrecht, involved in a corruption scandal, has filed for bankruptcy. The firm considers the move a help in restructuring $13 billion in debt, according to the Argus Media company.

Ecuadorian authorities claim the airport will not officially become a US military base and will be used on a periodic basis. US officials deny any negotiations regarding using Ecuadorian territory for military purposes.

On 7 June, Trump announced that the US and Mexico had reached a deal under which Washington would suspend the introduction of tariffs earlier threatened by the US president against its southern neighbour.