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Jair Bolsonaro is on trial on charges he conspired with allies to violently overturn his 2022 electoral loss

Brazil's ex-president under house arrest ahead of trial

Brazil's Supreme Court has put former President Jair Bolsonaro under house arrest ahead of his trial for an alleged coup plot, underscoring the court's resolve despite escalating tariffs and sanctions from US President Donald Trump.

World • 05 Aug

The quake struck in the Drake Passage, the body of water separating South America and Antarctica (stock photo)

Chile lifts post-quake tsunami warning, evacuations

Chilean authorities have issued a tsunami warning for the country's southernmost region after a major 7.5-magnitude earthquake struck in the Drake Passage, the body of water separating South America and Antarctica.

World • 02 May

Jair Bolsonaro was Brazil's president from 2019 to 2022

Bolsonaro ordered to stand trial for coup plot in Brazil

Brazil's Supreme Court ordered far-right ex-president Jair Bolsonaro to stand trial on charges of plotting a coup after failing to win re-election in 2022.

World • 26 Mar

Colombian President Gustavo Petro has agreed to accept deported Colombian migrants from the US

Colombia agrees to accept flights of migrants from US

The US and Colombia have pulled back from the brink of a trade war after the White House said the South American nation had agreed to accept military aircraft carrying deported migrants.

World • 27 Jan

The reform was approved after politicians were forced to move to a new venue due to protests

Mexico president says judicial reforms 'end corruption'

Mexico's outgoing president Andrés Manuel López Obrador has hailed the approval of controversial reforms to allow voters to elect all judges, saying they would be an "example to the world".

World • 11 Sep 24

The fires are being driven by a summer heatwave and drought affecting South America caused by the El Nino weather phenomenon

At least 110 killed in Chile wildfires

The death toll from wildfires in central Chile has climbed to at least 112 people, after President Gabriel Boric warned the number would rise "significantly" as teams search gutted neighbourhoods.

Chile • 05 Feb 24

Vehicles and homes burned during a fire in Viña del Mar, Chile

Chile declares state of emergency over forest fires

Chile declared a state of emergency as officials said ten people were feared dead in forest fires in the central Valparaiso region, where blazes are threatening hundreds of homes.

Chile • 03 Feb 24

Gustavo Petro is Colombia's first left-wing president

Colombia recalls Argentina ambassador for Milei remarks

Colombia has recalled its ambassador to Argentina for consultations, after Argentine President Javier Milei called his Colombian counterpart Gustavo Petro a "communist murderer."

South America • 27 Jan 24

Mr Milei is taking over from unpopular outgoing centre-left President Alberto Fernandez

Javier Milei sworn in as Argentina president

Javier Milei was sworn in on Sunday as Argentina's president, as the country steels itself for harsh spending cuts and economic reforms aimed at curbing rampant inflation.

South America • 10 Dec 23

Javier Milei often appeared on stage at rallies with a chainsaw, vowing to slash public spending by 15%

Milei's dilemma: How to solve a problem like Argentina?

Argentina's president-elect Javier Milei will have no time to bask in yesterday's victory as he inherits a country crippled by inflation and short on cash, creditors and international sympathy.

Argentina • 20 Nov 23

Ikea's Colombia store, to be opened today in the capital Bogota, will be the first in the country

IKEA to open first Colombia store

Swedish furniture maker IKEA is today opening its biggest South American store in Colombia, as part of an international expansion plan which includes growth in Peru and Chile with an investment worth $600m.

Business • 28 Sep 23

An aerial view of Amazon deforestation in Mato Grosso, Brazil

Amazon emissions soared under Bolsonaro - study

The Amazon rainforest's carbon emissions doubled in 2019 and 2020, as a decline in environmental policing under Brazilian ex-president Jair Bolsonaro led to a surge in destruction, researchers say.

Climate Change • 23 Aug 23

Luisa Gonzalez and Daniel Noboa remain in the running to become president

Ecuador: Leftist, business heir in presidential runoff

Two former members of parliament will contest a run-off vote for Ecuador's presidency in October after coming top in the first round of voting.

World • 21 Aug 23

Mr Bolsonaro denied the allegations against him, accusing the authorities of trying to fabricate a case against him (file image)

Brazil police raid Bolsonaro's home, seize phone

Police in Brazil searched ex-president Jair Bolsonaro's home and seized his cell phone, investigating allegations the far-right vaccine skeptic and his inner circle falsified Covid-19 vaccination certificates to dodge health restrictions.

World • 04 May 23

The seizure is one of the biggest that Australian police have been involved in (Pics: Western Australia Police Force)

Drug bust nets €636m of cocaine bound for Australia

A joint US and Australian law enforcement operation busted an international drug ring after intercepting 2.4 tonnes of cocaine on board a vessel off the coast of South America that had been bound for Australia.

World • 04 Mar 23

Firefighters in a burning forest in Puren in the Araucania region of Chile

Death toll in Chile forest fires rises to 24

Firefighters were battled dozens of raging wildfires in Chile while seeking to gain control of one of the country's worst natural disasters in years as the death toll rose to at least 24 with nearly 1,000 more injured.

World • 05 Feb 23

Mr Bolsonaro was elected president in 2018

Bolsonaro leaves Brazil ahead of Lula inauguration

President Jair Bolsonaro has left Brazil for the US, 48 hours before his leftist rival President-elect Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva was set to take office.

World • 30 Dec 22

Soldiers of the Brazilian Army prepare for the inauguration ceremony of Brazilian President-elect Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva at the Planalto Palace in Brasilia

Guns banned from Brasilia ahead of Lula inauguration

Brazil's Supreme Court has banned registered gun-owners from carrying firearms in the federal district until after the inauguration of President-elect Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, in reaction to recent episodes of political violence.

World • 28 Dec 22

Jair Bolsonaro cited a 'feeling of injustice' after losing the election in October (file image)

Brazil court rejects Bolsonaro party voting complaint

The head of Brazil's electoral court has rejected a complaint from President Jair Bolsonaro's party to challenge October's run-off vote, which the incumbent lost by a narrow margin.

World • 24 Nov 22

Tourists rest in the boat where they have been detained at the Cuninico community

Indigenous group frees tourists held in Peruvian Amazon

A Peruvian indigenous group has freed a group of tourists held for over a day in a protest over what the community alleged to be government inaction over toxic oil spills, one of the released tourists and local officials have said.

World • 04 Nov 22

Jair Bolsonaro said he understood people's frustration but urged supporters to demonstrate in other ways

Bolsonaro holds 'positive' meeting with Lula team

Brazilian president-elect Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva's running mate has said his team held a "positive" meeting today with outgoing President Jair Bolsonaro, whose silence after his election loss had fueled fears that he would fight the result.

World • 03 Nov 22

Residents search for missing relatives in the rubble of a house destroyed by a landslide during heavy rains in Las Tejerias, Aragua state, Venezuela

Venezuela landslide death toll reaches 36

The death toll of a landslide in Venezuela has risen to 36 with another 56 people missing after a river overflowed, in the latest deadly disaster caused by heavy rains to hit the country.

World • 11 Oct 22

Gustavo Petro will be Colombia's first left-wing president (file image)

Former rebel wins Colombia's presidential election

Gustavo Petro, a former member of the M-19 guerrilla movement, has won Colombia's presidency.

World • 20 Jun 22

A researcher said the discovery indicates an enormous amount of species are waiting to be discovered in the Amazon

Shock discovery: Record-breaking electric eel found

Call it a shock discovery: DNA research has revealed two entirely new species of electric eel in the Amazon basin, including one capable of delivering a record-breaking jolt.

News Lens • 10 Sep 19

Nicolas Maduro is Venezuela's embattled president

Maduro shuts Venezuela's border with Brazil

Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro said he would shut the country's border with Brazil today "until further notice", amid a tense standoff with opposition leader Juan Guaido over allowing in humanitarian aid.

World • 21 Feb 19