Americas | GlobalPost

Robot explores the hidden world of Mexico's Teotihuacan

Agencia EFEMay 12, 2013 15:15

Teotihuacan, Mexico, May 12 (EFE).- A robot that weighs just 25 kilos (55 pounds) is helping scientists explore the underworld of Teotihuacan, an archaeological complex located some 50 kilometers (about 31 miles) north of Mexico City. The robot is exploring a tunnel built by Teotihuacan's residents under the Temple of the Feathered Serpent, the third-largest pyramid at Teotihuacan, leading archaeologists to expect an important discovery.

Social media credited for drawing eyes to Disney's 'Day of the Dead' trademark try, reversal

The Canadian PressMay 11, 2013 20:30

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. - When Lalo Alcaraz learned this week that Disney was seeking to trademark "Dia de los Muertos," the name of the traditional "Day of the Dead" celebrated by millions in Mexico and the U.S., the cartoonist had an idea. The trademark was for an animated movie by Disney and Pixar Animation Studios Inc. that is inspired by the holiday. The Los Angeles-based humorist created a movie poster that quickly went viral of a skeletal Godzilla-sized Mickey Mouse, with the words: "It's coming to trademark your cultura (culture)."

Maduro blames Venezuela's biggest food company for scarcities

Agencia EFEMay 11, 2013 19:31

Caracas, May 11 (EFE).- Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro accused Polar, the country's biggest food corporation, of reducing production and hoarding products to cause scarcities in the country, and spoke of economic "sabotage" against his presidency. "We have many indications that Polar has been...reducing production and hiding products to cause scarcities in the consumer market," Maduro said during a event obligatorily broadcast on all radio stations and television channels.

Rights group in slavery suit as France rules out reparations

Agence France-PresseMay 11, 2013 18:16

French President Francois Hollande on Friday ruled out the payment of reparations for slavery as a rights group announced a suit against state-owned bank CDC over its role in the trade. "What has been, has been," Hollande said in a speech to mark France's slavery remembrance day. "History cannot be rubbed out. It cannot be subjected to an accounting process that... would be impossible to complete."

Ex-Haitian leader Aristide in rare public show

Agence France-PresseMay 10, 2013 10:40

Former Haitian president Jean-Bertrand Aristide made a rare public appearance Wednesday, causing thousands of his supporters to pour out into the streets of the capital. The former Roman Catholic priest known as a champion of Haiti's poor and reviled by the Caribbean nation's elite was in court to testify before a judge about the 2000 murder of prominent journalist Jean Dominique. Aristide was not in power then, but rather a leader of the opposition. He was questioned Wednesday as part of a broad, long running probe into the killing.

Aboriginal populations surge while language wanes, new census-replacement shows

The Canadian PressMay 8, 2013 09:38

OTTAWA - Aboriginal peoples are gaining ground in Canada's population, but they are losing their languages. And their family structure is dramatically different than other Canadian families, with less than half of children living with both their parents. The rest are in single-parent homes, living with relatives or step-parents, or in foster homes. Indeed, half the foster children in Canada under the age of 14 are aboriginal, according to the National Household Survey.

Venezuela's Maduro guarantees supply of oil to Uruguay

Agencia EFEMay 7, 2013 19:43

Montevideo, May 7 (EFE).- Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro promised his Uruguayan counterpart Jose Mujica on Tuesday a "permanent" supply of petroleum from oil-rich Venezuela. At a joint press conference in Montevideo, Maduro announced the signing of a strategic alliance in the energy sector. He arrived Tuesday in Uruguay for a brief official visit as part of his first tour of the region after winning Venezuela's April 14 special election to choose a succesor to Hugo Chavez, who died March 5 after a long battle with cancer.

Census replacement to portray patterns of immigration, aboriginals and religion

The Canadian PressMay 7, 2013 17:16

OTTAWA - Canada is about to find out how colourful a country it is. Just how vibrant the colours will be, however — well, that's another story. On Wednesday, Statistics Canada will publish the first part of its controversial National Household Survey, detailing patterns of immigration, Aboriginal Peoples, race and religion.

Obama: US places great weight on its trading relationships with Latin America

The Canadian PressMay 4, 2013 03:00

SAN JOSE, Costa Rica - Wrapping up a three-day trip to Latin America, President Barack Obama on Saturday emphasized the "enormous importance" he says the U.S. places on its trading relationships with countries in the region and said improving those ties will help them compete in a 21st century world. "If we do not have effective integration in our hemisphere, if we don't have the best education systems, the best regulatory systems, if we don't co-ordinate our activities, then we're going to fall behind other regions in the world," Obama said. "I'm confident that we can compete."

Spaniard praises consolidation of democracy in Ibero-America

Agencia EFEMay 2, 2013 20:45

Miami, May 2 (EFE).- Spain's foreign minister hailed here Thursday the consolidation of representative democracy and human rights in Latin America and extolled the power of the Hispanic community in the United States. In contrast to the political evolution in Latin America, Jose Manuel Garcia-Margallo said, "dangerous populist movements are appearing" in Europe, perhaps as a result of the economic crisis, and they have brought the European region to "experience the worst."