Ecuador produces four types of cactus fruit
The tuna, juicy and sweet fruit of a variety of cactus blooms in semi-desert soils of the valley of Chota (Imbabura).The plant has leaves similar to a tennis racket, covered with tiny spines.
“There have always been prickly pear bushes, which grew in the wild. But eight years ago we began to cultivate it, “says Baron Delgado, president of the Mirador El Juncal, province of Imbabura. Read Article
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Agriculture
Antartica
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Archaeology
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Argentina
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Belize
Bolivia
Border Issues
- US fugitive detained in Mexico
- Maquiladora evacuated after chemical spill Ciudad Juárez, Mexico
- Mexico spends nearly 4 million pesos supporting deported immigrants returning from the U.S.
- Haitians, Cubans returned after intercepts at sea by U.S. Coast Guard
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Brazil
- LIDEMA study identifies impacts, threats of environment on Bolivian borders
- Train Crash Sao Paulo Brazil, at least 40 injured
- Brazil: Communist Guerrilla group takes action against farmer
- German food chain begins imports of Brazilian papaya
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Business
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- Venezuela: Food production facing crisis
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China
- Mexican navy seized 136 ton shipment of precursor chemicals from China bound for Honduras
- Peru cancels purchase of air defense system from Northrop Grumman Consortium after pressure from China
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- Ecuador: Assemblyman alleges breech of contract in purchase of Chinese radars
- Chinese police assist Argentine counterparts in attempt to thwart Chinese Mafia
Ciudad Juárez
- Mexico: Man accused of sexually abusing male friend
- A 13 year old is shot dead Ciudad Juárez, Mexico
- Maquiladora evacuated after chemical spill Ciudad Juárez, Mexico
- Shooting Attack kills a Mother and her Son in the City of Juarez
- Mexico: Authorities arrest husband and wife for possession of drugs, weapons and counterfeit money in Juarez
Colombia
Conflicts
- Narco-Terrorist Attack in Peru Indicates New Drug Trafficking Route
- Army, cabinet shake-up due to Peru hostage crisis
- Mexican journalist becomes victim number 12, in 2012, signs of torture
- Authorities fail to control two week old riot in Caracas prison
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Corruption
- Mexico: Diconsa a major government social agency rife with theft
- More than 3,000 Mexican military members court martialed in last five years
- Peru: Spanish tourist video tapes police officers trying to elicit bribe for traffic infraction, officers under investigation
- Walmart involved in bribery scandal, Mexico
- Caracas asks Interpol to issue an arrest warrant against former judge
Costa Rica
- Costa Rica: Politician loses bid for presidency of congress due to "cockfighting"
- Government orders homes businesses destroyed, Limón Costa Rica
- Alert: Costa Rica advises caution when visiting volcanoes, recent activity Aprill 2012
- Costa Rica: Gas prices may rise in May 2012
- Costa Rican police officer under investigation, Facebook picture shows picture of officer in Nazi garb, salute
Crime
- Soccer Jerseys Serve as Method of Drug Concealment in Peru
- Lush Manabí Province Attracts Drug Trafficking in Ecuador
- Increased Crackdown on Mexican Border Forces Colombian Drug Routes Through Caribbean
- Central Leader of Los Rastrojos Gang Captured in Colombia
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Cuba
- U.S. grants visas to 60 Cubans, reject 11 for Latin America conference San Francisco
- Haitians, Cubans returned after intercepts at sea by U.S. Coast Guard
- 13 Cuban illegal immigrants detained Colombia
- One of five Cuban agents convicted or espionage permitted to visit Cuba, returns to U.S.
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Culture
- GLBT community celebrate Quito center day against homophobia
- Argentina: Bones skulls found, apparently used for witchcraft
- Teen pregnancy hindering development in Latin America
- Costa Rica: Politician loses bid for presidency of congress due to "cockfighting"
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Dominican Republic
- Dominican Republic: INTERPOL detains wanted fraud suspect, deported to Russia
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- 20 kilos cocaine seized Dominican Republic bound for Philadelphia
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Drug Activity
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Earthquake
Easter Island
Economy
- Sales of real estate plummet in Cañuelas Argentina, limited access to dollars
- Venezuela: Food production facing crisis
- Unemployment most impact on youth in Latin America
- 11,000 Ecuadorians reported as having returned from Europe since 2010, due to lost jobs
- Argentina tightens restrictions on purchases of dollars
Ecuador
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El Salvador
- Central America: One out of fifty young people will die due to violence according to U.N.
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Enviromental Issues
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- LIDEMA study identifies impacts, threats of environment on Bolivian borders
- Mexico: Fire in Zacatecas takes over paint storage and distribution center
- Meteorite lands in Puebla, Mexico
Falkland Islands (Malvinas)
- History: Reagan On The Falkland/Malvinas: "Give[] Maggie enough to carry on..."
- British Petroleum tells Argentina it has no plans to explore for oil in Falkland Islands (Malvinas)
- Argentina: Violent protests outside British embassy
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FARC
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Galapagos Islands
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Guatemala
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Guyana
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Haiti
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Honduras
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Human Rights Latin America
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Human Smuggling
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Intelligence
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Jamaica
Labor Issues
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Latin America Health
Latin America Indigenous Issues
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Latin America Mining
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Latin America News
Latin America Travel
Latin America Wikileaks
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Latin America Womens Issues
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Mexico
Nicaragua
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Oil
- Ecuador ratifies dismissal of two judges for violations, previously both assigned to Chevron case
- Argentina not to respond to Spain's decision to limit imports of biodiesel fuel
- Costa Rica: Gas prices may rise in May 2012
- Tension heightens between Argentina, Spain over bill to expropriate 51% shares of REPSOL
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Organized Crime
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- Peru's laundering mechanism with illegal logging, destroying forests
Paraguay
Peru
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- Peru's laundering mechanism with illegal logging, destroying forests
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Police/Military Activity
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Politics
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Puerto Rico
Religion
- Mexico: Easter services cancelled Cathedral of Chilpancingo, earthquake damage
- Mexico: Group responsible for deaths in Santa Muerte ritual, committing sacrifices since 2009
- Mexico: Bodies located of child, teenager, woman killed by Satanic Sect worshipers (Santa Muerte), Agua Prieta and Nacozari Mexico
- Amnesty International reports harassment of human rights activists during Pope's visit Cuba
- Sick visit the "psychic surgeon" in Brazil
Shining Path
- Former Peruvian President supports Humala's battle against Shining Path
- Using children in armed activities by terrorists in Peru is condemned
- Small group in Chile, protests demanding release of Abimael Guzman, former leader of Shining Pathof
- Shining Path killed three members of Peru's forces
- Shining Path releases hostages, Peru
Social Issues
- Mexican journalist becomes victim number 12, in 2012, signs of torture
- GLBT community celebrate Quito center day against homophobia
- Study reveals 50% of high school students consume alcohol
- Four to Five cases of sexual assault reported daily, Arequipa Peru
- Authorities believe individuals killed in joint Honduran, DEA operation were not involved in trafficking
South America
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Suriname
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- Suriname for stronger ties with India
Terrorism
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- Bus explosion in banking area of Bogota Colombia, 5 dead 21 wounded
- Explosive attack Itaú Bank branch in Concepción, Chile
- Sabatoge of power lines Dominican Republic serious security issue
- Helicopter shot down in Peru terrorist attack belongs to DEA not Peruvian National Police
TRAVEL
- Mexico: Increased surveillance for cholera in ice factories
- Whooping cough cases up 90%, 2012 in Argentina, remerging disease
- Crime victims Cuenca ask city to integrate security camera system to monitor historic center
- Number of Americans killed in Mexico continues to rise
- UK Guatemala Travel Advisory
United States
- Increased Crackdown on Mexican Border Forces Colombian Drug Routes Through Caribbean
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- US fugitive detained in Mexico
- Peru's laundering mechanism with illegal logging, destroying forests
- Number of Americans killed in Mexico continues to rise
Uruguay
- Uruguayan president makes surprise visit with his counterpart in Argentina
- Uruguay and Brazil's presidents meeting to discuss trade expansion
- Uruguay: One out of three murder victims had criminal record
- Uruguay: Three nurses accused of murdering 16 patients
- Uruguay: Human remains discovered in military area
Venezuela
- Venezuela: Food production facing crisis
- Authorities fail to control two week old riot in Caracas prison
- Venezuela: crossword puzzle writer accused of encrypted message calling for murder of Chavez's brother
- Venezuela highest rate of teenage pregnancies South America
- Venezuelan prisons have alarming levels of violence according to IACHR
Weather/Climate
- Three earthquakes recorded different regions of Peru Monday May 14, 2012
- Tungurahua Ecuador volcano seismic activity increases
- Mexico's IMSS urges precautions due to hot weather, rains to combat spread of malaria
- Mexico: If Popocatépetl volcano alert goes red, voting locations could be changed
- Popocatépetl Volcano Mexico continues activity
Z1test
- Guatemala will be declared in "nutritional risk" next week
- Guayaquil, Husband allegedly kills x-wife with machete in front of their children
- Colombia, 15 human traffickers detained, bringing undocumented across Ecuador border
- Montevideo Uruguay, 1,600 people living on the streets
- TRANSLATINA, trailer from documentary about transvestites (graphic)
Zetas
- Mexico: Leader of hitman unit of Zetas arrested
- Mexico: The Zetas, respond to the Message left by El Chapo
- Two U.S. soldiers arrested, offered assassination services to Zetas Mexican Cartel
- Mexican Army captures leader of Los Zetas in Nuevo Laredo
- Guatemala: Cartels appear to be posting narcobanners (Video)
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