South America News

National Lampoon’s South American Vacation

In a journey that would make the Griswalds proud, Diego Percivaldi piloted his family station wagon on a 47 day trip from Argentina to Dearborn, Michigan.

Education Minister Quits Over Falkland’s Row

Argentina’s Education Minister Marta Torino quit after the publication of a school text book caused an outcry amongst war veterans.

New Accents for Argentine Internet Users

After more than a year in development, Argentines will now be able to use regional accents and dialects in their web addresses.

Dead Dog Art Exhibit A Hoax

The story of a Costa Rican artist who took a dog off the streets and starved it to death in the name of art has been revealed as a hoax.

27 Dead in Honduran Prison Riots

A series of prison riots in Honduras has left twenty-seven dead. Sparked by a shooting in the San Pedra Sula penitentiary, resulting in rival gangs armed with knives and machetes escalating the incident into a prison riot killing 9.

When Life Gives You Lemons…

Over two tons of lemons rained down on a trio of unsuspecting pedestrians when a truck lost it’s load on an overpass.

Taking the Piss

Throughout Buenos Aires, thousands of graying women joyfully pee into plastic containers at all hours of the day. It isn’t exactly the picture postcard image that Argentina’s Secretariat of Tourism wants shared, but from these ladies comes the most profitable product for export in Argentina.

Second Chaitén Eruption Leads to Mandatory Evacuations

Evacuations continue in Chile as the Chaitén volcano spewed ash into the sky anew yesterday, creating a 6 mile high plume, visible from 150 miles away. Chilean government officials were alarmed by the level of volcanic activity and stepped up efforts to evacuate towns within a 30 mile radius of the peak.

Boca Stadium Banned from International Play

Boca’s infamous stadium, La Bombonera, has been suspended from the Copa Libertadores after a linesman was hit on the forehead by ice hurled from the stands.

Small Town Justice in the Big City

Condemned to life in prison for murdering his wife, a Banfield man was given a reprieve by way of an unusual legal decision. Justices reviewing his case reduced the sentence to 15 years after determining his wife had provoked her murder by having an affair.

Santa Cruz Autonomy Referendum Passes Amidst Violence

Violent clashes at polling places killed one man and wounded dozens of others on Sunday in Santa Cruz, Bolivia. Despite the violence and government attempts to stifle the vote, the referendum passed with over 80% of the vote.

STRIKE! Farmers Resume Protests in Campo Crisis

Having failed to reach an agreement with the government by the self-imposed May 2 deadline, the farmers are returning to their protests today, albeit in a slightly different form.

Oil & Telecom Companies Taken Over In Bolivia

Following in the footsteps of Venezuela’s Hugo Chavez, Bolivian President Evo Morales took control of three foreign oil firms operating inside the country. The coca farmer-cum-presidente issued a sweeping decree this morning, nationalizing Adina, a subsidiary of Repsol YPF, Chaco and Panamerican Energy, a subsidary of British Petroleum, as well oil transportation companies belonging to Shell.

Superclásico Arrives in Boca

The Superclasico is here and all of Buenos Aires is counting down the hours until kickoff. A world renowned event, noted for unmatched fan passion, the Superclasico is the most popular game of the year in Argentine football.

Whistleblower Assassinated In Brazil

A farmer who received death threats after reporting illegal logging to authorities was shot dead as he left his house in the eastern Brazilian city of Tucurui

Hello Kitty and Other Corruptors of Youth

Earlier this month Guatemalan police seized a massive 136 thousand kilo cocaine shipment as it was heading for the Mexican border. Aside from the sheer volume of drugs, the cocaine bricks stood out for another reason. Their branding.

High Times in Mar del Plata

Police in Mar del Plata, Argentina could never have expected the tale that would unravel after a seemingly routine drug bust. The story they found themselves part of after a 2 am arrest is still causing the lawmen to shake their heads in wonderment.

UPDATED: Smoke Returns to Buenos Aires

UPDATE 4/23 7:42 The dense cloud of smoke has returned to Buenos Aires, bringing with it a familiar smell and the expected round of transportation cuts. Visibility has dropped to 400m in the city and large sections of Rutas 9, 12 and 14 are all closed. Retiro bus station has stopped service to the northern part of Argentina as well as Brazil and Uruguay.

BsAs Darkened By Smoke From Delta Grass Fires

Smoke clouded the Buenos Aires skyline this afternoon, the result of island grass fires in the Parana Delta. Strong winds are driving the smoke down river, creating severe visibility problems on the highways and enveloping the city in an acrid odor. The fires are located 30 minutes north of Buenos Aires and provincial governments are proving unable to extinguish them.

The Simpsons To Be Disappeared In Argentina?

Lorenzo Pepe, former Argentine Congressman and staunch Perón supporter, has called for the latest episode of The Simpsons to be censored because of a scene in which Juan Perón is referred to as a dictator.

It’s Good To Be The Queen

In the past two weeks the Kirchners have launched an organized offensive against Clarin, the largest independent newspaper in Argentina. Although widely believed to be pro-Kirchner, Clarin drew the ire of Christina with a political cartoon criticizing her handling of the campo crisis.

Two Bed, Two Bath and Walking Distance to a Plaza

The current housing crisis has caused people throughout Argentina to homestead in abandoned buildings. In Santa Fe a group of men have taken the squatting epidemic to a new level by seizing a community plaza and constructing a pair of houses on it.

61*

It’s official, Carlos Pellegrini High School students REALLY don’t want to go to school. The Buenos Aires public high school recently received it’s 61st bomb threat…. this year.