ooBdoo-Americas News

 

Americas - Voice of America Thu, 17 May 2012 09:12:42 +0200 Mexican Novelist Carlos Fuentes Dies at 83 Award-winning Mexican novelist Carlos Fuentes, regarded as the father of modern Latin American literature, died Tuesday in Mexico City at age 83. The Panamanian-born Fuentes focused mainly on contemporary Mexico and what he saw as its political failures. He published his first novel, The Air is Clear when he was 29. This was followed by such acclaimed works as The Death of Artemio Cruz, Old Gringo, and Aura. Fuentes also was a college professor and served ... Tue, 15 May 2012 17:20:21 -0400 Horrific Violence in Mexico Likely to Affect July Presidential Election HOUSTON, TEXAS - The discovery of 49 decapitated and handless corpses on a highway near the city of Monterrey, in Mexico's northern Nuevo Leon state on Sunday, has drawn attention once again to the brutal drug war that has claimed more than 50,000 lives in that Latin American nation during the past six years.  Shortly before the discovery in Monterrey, dozens of bodies were found in the border city of Nuevo Laredo and in the central city of Guadalajara. In Nuevo Leon, authorities ... Tue, 15 May 2012 14:15:34 -0400 Earth Summit Strives for Energy for All More than 130 world leaders are expected to gather in Rio de Janeiro next month for the summit, which is also referred to as "Rio+20," a nod to the 20th anniversary of the original Rio Summit. The goal of the meeting is to secure political commitment toward sustainable development and energy, as well as addressing new and emerging challenges. Nearly two billion people, about one-third of the world’s population, don't have access to energy, according to the United Nations. ... Tue, 15 May 2012 10:23:45 -0400 Police Discover 49 Mutilated Bodies in Mexico Mexican authorities have found 49 mutilated bodies stuffed in bags near the northern city of Monterrey in what officials believe is the latest act of violence in the country's brutal drug war.   Police say they found the bodies in the early hours Sunday on a stretch of highway leading just south of the U.S. border.   So far, no one has claimed responsibility for the violence, but it echoes several other recent cases in which drug gangs have left bodies ... Sun, 13 May 2012 15:38:48 -0400 Chavez Back in Venezuela After Cancer Treatment Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez returned home from Cuba late Friday following 11 days of cancer treatment, calling his latest radiation therapy a success.    After arriving in Caracas, the 57-year-old socialist leader said he must rigorously follow medical advice in coming days in order to continue recuperating.   Chavez began treatments in March following operations in February and last June to remove tumors from his pelvic area.   President Chavez has yet to ... Sat, 12 May 2012 14:45:04 -0400 Obama Gay Marriage Stance Draws Mixed Reaction Worldwide U.S. President Barack Obama's expression of support for same-sex marriage is generating both praise and criticism here in the United States. People around the world are also taking time to reflect on his historic announcement. An Egyptian florist in Cairo, Said Mohamed Hemeida, says he does not approve of men marrying men or women marrying women. He says it is bad and wrong for a president of a republic to think like that. He says he doesn't think it is in America's ... Thu, 10 May 2012 14:50:19 -0400 Ancient Mayan Artwork, Calculations Discovered Archeologists working among the ruins of a 9th century Mayan town in Guatemala have discovered a room filled with extraordinarily well-preserved artwork. The colorful wall paintings provide new insights into how Mayan astronomers charted the cosmos.   Xultun was the largest city in the ancient Mayan empire in Central America, where, at its height, an estimated 90,000 people lived and worked among pyramids, inscribed monuments, water reservoirs and sport fields. But by the 14th century, ... Thu, 10 May 2012 14:10:05 -0400 Mexican Police Find 18 Dismembered Bodies Prosecutor Tomas Coranado says the remains were discovered stuffed inside two vans near Lake Chapala Wednesday, not far from the city of  Guadalajara. Police say a handwritten note believed to be from the Zetas drug gang was found at the scene. A woman allegedly linked to the Zetas gang is reported to have told investigators the killings were in retaliation for the murders of 23 people last Friday.  The victims were found hanging from a bridge and stuffed in trash bags in ... Thu, 10 May 2012 08:01:31 -0400 Peru Rehabilitation Center Fire Kills 14 People Firefighters in Peru say fire swept through a substance abuse rehabilitation center near the capital, Lima, killing at least 14 people Saturday. Local Peruvian media report that a patient set a mattress on fire at the Sacred Heart of Jesus Clinic in Chosica.  The report has not been confirmed. Authorities investigating the cause of the blaze say some doors were locked, not allowing people to get out. The facility treats and provides housing for people with drug and alcohol addictions. ... Sat, 05 May 2012 20:00:00 -0400 Mexican Journalists Hold Solidarity March Journalists have led a solidarity protest march in Mexico City for three photojournalists killed in the gulf state of Veracruz. Reporters and supporters of the media held photos of the slain journalists during Friday's march. Journalist Epigmenio Ibarra says crime organizations target reporters with no fear of consequences. "The medium of information in Mexico has turned into a high risk activity with impunity for organized criminal groups and authorities and institutions penetrate ... Fri, 04 May 2012 20:00:00 -0400