Posts By: Mike Samras

Mike earned degrees in political science and journalism from the University of Pittsburgh. After graduating from college in 2006, Mike joined the Peace Corp and spent two and half years living and working in El Salvador. He is currently pursuing a master's degree in political management at George Washington University.

Turmoil continues in Nicaragua, up to 12 died over the weekend

TODAY IN LATIN AMERICA   NICARAGUA: After a day of national strike, police forces tried to vacate the National Autonomous University of Nicaragua which has been occupied by students during […] Read More >

Brazil’s Lula is acquitted of one of seven remaining corruption charges

TODAY IN LATIN AMERICA   BRAZIL: Former president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva was acquitted yesterday in one of the seven corruption cases he is facing. He is in prison […] Read More >

Ecuador upholds sentence against Chevron, New York state disbars representing lawyer for bribery

TODAY IN LATIN AMERICA   ECUADOR: Thehighest court upheld a sentence that requires U.S. oil giant Chevron to pay $9.5 billion in damages for decades polluting the rainforest. Oil operations […] Read More >

Colombia signs law to allow collective demobilization of criminal gangs

TODAY IN LATIN AMERICA COLOMBIA: President Juan Manuel Santos signed a law on Monday paving the way for the surrender of criminal gangs that allows for a reduction of sentences […] Read More >

The U.S. menaced Ecuador into backing off U.N. breast-milk resolution

TODAY IN LATIN AMERICA   ECUADOR-UNITED STATES: The United States strong-armed Ecuador into backing off from proposing a resolution to promote breast-feeding during the United Nations-affiliated World Health Assembly at […] Read More >

Nicaragua government opens blocked roads but leaves 14 dead after day of confrontations

TODAY IN LATIN AMERICA NICARAGUA: Pro-government forces made up of police and paramilitary militias raided the areas of Diriamba and Jinotepe, 13 miles from the opposition bastion of Masaya, as a […] Read More >

Ecuadorean judge issues international capture order for ex President Correa

TODAY IN LATIN AMERICA ECUADOR: A judge issued an order on Tuesday for former president Rafael Correa’s capture and extradition from Belgium, where he has lived for the past year […] Read More >

Seven people murdered in south-western Colombia, responsibilities are yet unclear

TODAY IN LATIN AMERICA COLOMBIA: The bodies of seven people with signs of torture were found near the village of Argelia, in the south-western region of Cauca early Monday morning. Local […] Read More >

High court in Peru rejects ex-President Toledo’s attempt to stop extradition request

TODAY IN LATIN AMERICA PERU: A high court rejected a petition by former president Alejandro Toledo to declare invalid a request to the United States for his extradition. Toledo has […] Read More >

Mexico’s leftist López Obrador wins presidency by overwhelming victory

TODAY IN LATIN AMERICA MEXICO: Leftist candidate Andrés Manuel López Obrador won yesterday Mexico’s presidency after he moderated his most radical proposals in his third bid for his country’s leadership. […] Read More >