Today in Latin America

Top Story — A truth commission in Honduras plans to investigate the events that led to the ouster of now exiled former President Manuel Zelaya. Former Guatemalan Vice-President Eduardo Stein will head the commission along with two Hondurans and three foreigners.

Last June, the Honduran army detained Zelaya and flew him to Costa Rica after he planned a referendum to change the country’s constitution.

Along with the truth commission, the World Bank announced it would restore development aid to Honduras, which was frozen after the coup. The World Bank plans to restore a loan of $270 million, as well add $120 million in new credit.

The total $390 million was restored after the inauguration of current President Porfirio Lobo. In January the United States also promised aid to Honduras, as other countries from around the world began normalizing relations with the country.

“For the World Bank, it is important to say that we are here to continue supporting the Honduran people … especially the most vulnerable in society,” said World Bank Managing Director Juan José Daboub, according to Reuters.

Headlines from the Western Hemisphere

North America

• Police in the Mexican city of Juárez were called to break-up a protest that erupted outside a convention center where President Felipe Calderón planned to announce a new plan to lessen violence in the city.

• Undocumented immigrants who act as police informants face the threat of deportation when their job is over, according to an inquiry by The Los Angeles Times and the Center for Investigative Reporting.

Caribbean

• Cuba will sharply reduce food imports from the U.S. in order to reduce government spending.

• The Haitian courts are not expected to set bail until next week for the U.S. citizens accused of child abduction.

Central America

• Costa Rica and China cemented the framework Wednesday for a free-trade agreement between the two countries.

• A Virginia man plead guilty Wednesday for his involvement in a conspiracy to bribe Panamanian officials, according to a Department of Justice press release.

Andes

• In a statement released Thursday, Interpol Colombia said the intelligence organization’s main priority in the country was the capture of FARC and ELN members.

• Venezuela awarded two oil blocks in the country’s Orinoco region to Chevron Corp. and Repsol YPF, S.A.

• The Bolivian government said the country has developed a space agency and plans to launch its first satellite into orbit with the help of Chinese experts.

• Tens of thousands protested in the Ecuadoran city of Guayaquil against President Rafael Correa.

Southern Cone

• Governor of Brasilia José Roberto Arruda has been detained and is under investigation for corruption.

• Argentine President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner quarreled with the country’s farmers over the cause of the rising price of beef during a meeting on Thursday.

• The Paraguayan authorities have declared an energy crisis. President Lugo switched off the lights of the Presidential Palace on Wednesday to save power.

• The General Manager of the Chilean mint was fired for misspelling the country’s name on thousands of coins.

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