(Even more here)

January 2, 2019

Western Hemisphere Regional

• Grace Segers, “Trump Invites Congressional Leaders to White House For “Briefing” on Border Security” (CBS News, January 2, 2019).

President Trump has invited congressional leaders of both parties to the White House on Wednesday for a “briefing” on border security

• Molly Hennessy-Fiske, “Migrant Families Shift to Dangerous Desert Crossings” (The Los Angeles Times, January 2, 2019).

“When you start interfering with a migration pattern, you better be prepared to deal with the consequences”

Argentina

• Daniel Politi, “Hector Timerman, 65, Argentine Ex-Foreign Minister Indicted in Iran Deal, Dies” (The New York Times, January 2, 2019).

Mr. Timerman was foreign minister under President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner from 2010 until 2015, the year she left office. His tenure was marked by increasing tension between Argentina and the United States

Brazil

• Ernesto Londono, Manuela Andreoni, “Brazil Wanted Change. Even Before Taking Office, Jair Bolsonaro Delivered.” (The New York Times, January 2, 2019).

The unusually high number of military officers in his government, including the recently retired army general Hamilton Mourão, who was his running mate, represents a remarkable shift for a nation that kept the military largely out of sight

• Brendan o’boyle, “Everything You Need to Know About Brazil’s New Government” (Americas Quarterly, January 2, 2019).

10 key figures (including former Judge Sérgio Moro and Bolsonaro’s three sons), the main opposition leaders, and his top policy priorities (reducing crime, overhauling education, and more)

• Tom Phillips, “Jair Bolsonaro’s Inauguration: The Day Progressive Brazil Has Dreaded” (The Guardian (Uk), January 2, 2019).

Few doubt the far-right populist – who took power on Tuesday – is serious about transforming the world’s fourth largest democracy or that his presidency will be an unpredictable and ill-tempered affair

Brazil, Cuba

• Andre Pagliarini, “Batista’s Revenge” (The New Republic, January 2, 2019).

There is a cosmic irony to the reactionary Bolsonaro being inaugurated on the sixtieth anniversary of the Cuban Revolution

Colombia

• “Colombia Ex-Rebel Deaths Cause Concern” (BBC (UK), January 2, 2019).

Most of the murders were by illegal armed groups and drug gangs fighting over former Farc territories, UN chief Antonio Guterres said in a report

• “Comunicado de Prensa del Informe Trimestral al Consejo de Seguridad de las Naciones Unidas Sobre la Mision de Verificacion en Colombia” (Mision de la ONU en Colombia, January 2, 2019).

Uno de los retos principales de la implementación es una mayor presencia del Estado en las zonas afectadas por el conflicto y una respuesta urgente al clamor de las comunidades por seguridad, educación, salud, tierra, infraestructura y alternativas viables

• “Rechazan Asesinato de Lider Social en Suarez (Cauca)” (El Tiempo (Colombia), January 2, 2019).

La organización RECON, iniciativa que cada año reconoce los emprendimientos sociales en el país, denunció que en la mañana de este lunes primero de enero uno de los ganadores de esa iniciativa fue asesinado

Colombia, Venezuela

• “Venezuela, el Eje de la Cita de Ivan Duque y Mike Pompeo” (El Tiempo (Colombia), January 2, 2019).

De hecho, se da apenas dos días antes de que el Grupo de Lima, del que hace parte Colombia, se reúna para fijar una posición respecto a la toma de posesión de Maduro nuevamente como presidente de Venezuela

Mexico

• “Us Fires Tear Gas Across Mexico Border to Stop Migrants” (Associated Press, January 2, 2019).

U.S. Customs and Border Protection said in a statement later Tuesday that the gas was used to target rock throwers apart from the migrants who were trying to cross

• “Cbp Issues Statement on Illegal Border Crossings in San Diego Sector” (U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Department of Homeland Security, January 2, 2019).

Agents deployed smoke, pepper spray and CS gas to a position upwind of the rock throwers and south of the border fence

• Mohammed Salem, “U.S. Agents Fire Tear Gas Into Mexico at ‘Violent Mob’ Near Border” (Reuters, January 2, 2019).

A Reuters witness documented in one photo where a migrant had been hit by what appeared to be a gas canister

• Jenaro Villamil, “Ezln, Balance a 25 Anos” (Proceso (Mexico), January 2, 2019).

Su causa sigue vigente y sus demandas son claras. Lo que ya no parece funcionarles es un discurso cada vez más sectario, desconfiado y sin interlocución con el resto de la sociedad mexicana

• IsaÍn Mandujano, “Amlo Busca Destruir los Pueblos Originarios Con Megaproyectos, Dice el Ezln en su 25 Aniversario” (Proceso (Mexico), January 2, 2019).

Sin mencionar el nombre de Andrés Manuel López Obrador, dijo que “esa esperanza que dicen, no es esperanza”

• “Mayor Gunned Down After Swearing-in Ceremony” (DW (Germany), January 2, 2019).

Alejandro Aparicio was elected mayor of the town in Mexico’s most recent elections in 2018. He was a member of the MORENA political party

Peru

• “Defensa Solicita Intervencion de Contraloria en Bases Militares” (La Republica (Peru), January 2, 2019).

El caso que compromete al general del Ejército José Cruz Flores Guerrero como cabecilla de la organización ‘Los Cuellos Verdes del Milagro’ es grave

• “Miles de Peruanos Piden la Renuncia de su Fiscal General por el Escandalo de Odebrecht” (Semana (Colombia), January 2, 2019).

El fiscal habría ejecutado actos para entorpecer u obstruir el acuerdo de colaboración con la empresa Odebrecht

Peru, Venezuela

• Brett Samuels, “Pompeo Discusses ‘Need to Increase Pressure’ on Venezuela on South America Trip” (The Hill, January 2, 2019).

Pompeo met with Peruvian Foreign Minister Nestor Bardales

Venezuela

• Steve Hanke, “Venezuela’s Hyperinflation Hits 80,000% Per Year in 2018” (Forbes, January 2, 2019).

Venezuela’s exchange rate regime provides no discipline. It only produces instability, poverty, and the world’s highest inflation rate for 2018