Southern Cone

Protests rock Brazil as Lula takes cabinet post

Brazil has seen its biggest protests since the end of the dictatorship as ex-president "Lula" da Silva is appointed to a cabinet post that gives him immunity in a corruption scandal.

The Andes

Colombia: scion snared for paramilitarism

Colombian police agents arrested Santiago Uribe, brother of ex-president Álvaro Uribe, for alleged involvement in the bloody "12 Apostles" paramilitary group.

The Andes

Colombia: renewed war with ELN guerillas

ELN rebels attacked an army barracks in Arauca and President Manuel Santos pledged to strike back hard—dashing hopes for a peace dialogue with Colombia's second guerilla group.

The Andes

DEA sees Hezbollah link to Colombian cartel

The DEA claims that Shi'ite militant group Hezbollah is laundering money for the "Oficina de Envigado,"  successor organization to Colombia's legendary Medellín Cartel.

The Andes

Colombia: peace talks with ELN guerillas?

Colombia's government says it hopes to extend the peace process to the ELN guerillas—and claims to have identified the remains of their revered founder, Camilo Torres.

The Andes

New post-conflict ‘Plan Colombia’ foreseen

President Juan Manuel Santos meets at the White House with Barack Obama to mark 15 years since the initiation of the Plan Colombia—and discuss a "post-conflict" aid package.