L.A. Times - Latin America

South Carolina's Mark Sanford faces ethics charges

Mon, 23 Nov 2009 16:28:00 -0800

An ethics panel says the governor, embattled over an affair in Argentina, broke state law in his airplane travel and use of campaign money. The state attorney general will decide on criminal charges.

South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford faces ethics charges that he broke state laws more than three dozen times in his airplane travel and use of campaign money, according to details released today.

Lula takes risk in welcoming Ahmadinejad to Brazil

Mon, 23 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0800

President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva may lose global influence by playing host to the Iranian leader, who is searching for new economic opportunities ahead of stiff sanctions the West has threatened.

Reporting from Bogota, Colombia Borzou Daragahi, and Beirut -- Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad arrives today in Brazil on a Latin American and African tour amid U.S. and domestic criticism that, by playing host, President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva is squandering his newfound global influence.

Mexican American former anti-drug chief's reputation on trial

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0800

Richard Padilla Cramer is accused of selling out to drug lords, helping them unmask informants and set up smuggling deals. Family and former colleagues say he's the last person they'd suspect.

Around here, the grim joke goes, most people work for the government or the mafias.

Rising sea levels threaten Caribbean region

Sat, 21 Nov 2009 22:09:00 -0800

The Colombian city of Cartagena is trying to plan ahead as scientists say cities nearer the equator, where temperatures are already higher, are at greater risk if global warming isn't checked.

The effect of climate change is anything but hypothetical to retired Colombian naval officer German Alfonso. Just ask him about the time his neighborhood in this historic coastal city became an island.

Venezuela's Chavez has praise for 'bad guys'

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0800

'Carlos the Jackal' was a revolutionary, says Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez. He also has kind words for Zimbabwe's Robert Mugabe and Iran's Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.

President Hugo Chavez is praising Ilich Ramirez Sanchez -- a.k.a. "Carlos the Jackal," the imprisoned Venezuelan once notorious for a series of Cold War-era bombings, assassinations and hostage dramas -- saying he was a "revolutionary fighter" and not a terrorist.

Outages dim Chavez popularity

Sat, 21 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0800

Power failures, unpaid civil servants and falling oil revenue play havoc with support for the Venezuela leader.

Power outages are hitting Henrique Vollmer's rum distillery several times a week, interrupting production, damaging equipment and jeopardizing the jobs of his 375 workers.

Trying to get ahead in the slow lane

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0800

In the organized chaos of the San Ysidro border crossing, Deciderio Mauricio Cantera is a specialist. He is el churrero , the churro seller. But in changing times, even the best hawkers are struggling.

El Churrero -- the Churro Man -- sidesteps tamale carts, squeezes between bumpers and beggars, working 24 lanes of idling vehicles.

Cuba rights abuses continue, report says

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0800

Civil liberties in Cuba remain severely curtailed, despite hope among activists that Raul Castro would end Cold War-era limits on dissent and the media, a Human Rights Watch report says.

Restrictions on civil liberties in Cuba have continued to be harsh since President Raul Castro assumed power from his brother Fidel three years ago, Human Rights Watch said Wednesday.

Chavez's threats of war against Colombia should raise alarm bells

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0800

Venezuela's leader is not making empty threats, says a consultant: A border skirmish, if not war, would solidify Chavez's support base amid rising inflation, rampant crime and a stagnant economy.

Reacting to a deal that gives the Pentagon use of seven bases in Colombia for flights to combat drug trafficking and insurgency, Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez said this month that his country should prepare for war with its neighbor. It was only the latest belligerent statement directed at his Colombian counterpart, Alvaro Uribe.

Fixing Mexico police becomes a priority

Tue, 17 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0800

Reversing police corruption that has tainted whole departments, shattered faith in law enforcement and compromised one of society's most basic institutions is proving difficult, but not impossible.

The lie-detector team brought in by Mexico's top cop was supposed to help clean up the country's long-troubled police. There was just one problem: Most of its members themselves didn't pass, and a supervisor was rigging results to make sure others did.