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[caltrek]

^^^While Nicaragua is generally perceived (by myself at least) as being a very progressive minded country, any sort of government repression is rightfully worthy of condemnation. 

 

Meanwhile, over in Ecuador:

 

Top Ecuador Court Upholds $9 Billion Ruling Against Chevron

 

Entire article:

 

QUITO, Ecuador (AP) — Ecuador’s highest court has upheld a $9.5 billion judgment against oil giant Chevron for decades of rainforest damage that harmed indigenous people.

 

Plaintiffs celebrated the constitutional court’s decision announced Tuesday night by saying it leaves no doubt about their right to receive compensation for oil spills that contaminated groundwater in indigenous communities in the Amazon.

 

But the ruling is largely symbolic as Chevron no longer operates in the South American country. That means Ecuador’s government will have to pursue assets owned by the San Ramon, California-based company in foreign courts, where it so far has had little luck.

 

Chevron had long argued that a 1998 agreement Texaco signed with Ecuador after a $40 million cleanup absolves it of liability. Chevron bought Texaco in 2001.

[caltrek]

Ivan Duque sworn in as Colombia's next president

 

https://www.aljazeer...7152715594.html

 

Introduction:

 

(Al Jazeera) Colombia's president-elect Ivan Duque has been sworn in as the country's 60th president, amid concern over the influence he will have on the country's peace process.

More than 12,000 police were deployed in the historic centre of the capital Bogota for Duque's inauguration on Tuesday, according to local reports.

 

The heads of state of Argentina, Bolivia, Costa Rica, Chile, Ecuador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Panama and the Dominican Republic are expected to attend ceremony at Bolivar Square, where Congress will gather for an open air session.

 

UN ambassador Nikki Haley is also expected to lead a US delegation to Duque's swearing-in.

The mayor of the US city of Miami, Francis Suarez, as well as the leader of Spain's Popular Party, Pablo Casado, are also attending the event.

 

 

The remainder of the article contains discussion that is also highly relevant to the recent alleged drone attack at a public event attended by Venezuela's president Nicolas Madura.

[caltrek]

Argentine Senate Rejects Legalizing Elective Abortion

 

https://www.courthou...ctive-abortion/

 

Introduction:

 

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (AP) — Argentina’s Senate on Thursday rejected a bill to legalize elective abortion, a defeat for a grassroots movement that came closer than ever to achieving the decriminalization of the procedure in the homeland of Pope Francis.

 

Lawmakers debated for more than 15 hours and voted 38-31 against the measure that would have legalized abortion in the first 14 weeks of pregnancy. The decision could echo across Latin America, where anti-abortion forces remains strong even if the Roman Catholic Church has lost influence and moral authority due to secularization, an out-of-touch clerical caste and an avalanche of sex abuse scandals.

 

For long hours, thousands of supporters wearing green handkerchiefs that represent the effort to legalize abortion and opponents of the measure wearing light blue braved the heavy rain and cold temperatures in Argentina’s winter to watch the debate on large screens set up outside Congress.

 

The demonstrations were largely peaceful, but after the vote, small groups of protesters clashed with police, throwing firebombs and setting up flaming barricades. Police officers responded with tear gas.

 

Pushed by a wave of demonstrations by women’s groups, the lower house had already passed the measure and conservative President Mauricio Macri had said that he would sign it, even though he is anti-abortion.

Pro-abortion activists gather around a bonfire to keep warm as celebratory fireworks go off in the distance from a gathering of anti-abortion activists, as they all wait outside Congress for lawmakers to vote on an abortion bill in Buenos Aires, Argentina, on Aug. 9, 2018. 

(AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko)