At least four people have been killed and scores more injured after a ramshackle stand collapsed at a bullfight in El Espinal, Colombia.A Colombian Civil Defense worker inspects the debris of some stands that collapsed in the bull-ring during the celebrations of the San Pedro festivities Spectators fled in panic as the flimsy wooden framework toppled. Emergency crews rushed to the scene to try to rescue people trapped beneath the wreckage. Jose Ricardo Orozco, the local governor, said that two women, a man and a child are known to have died. According to the local authorities’ men, women and children … Continue reading Four killed in Colombian bullring collapse

Eight medical personnel are to stand trial accused of criminal negligence in the death of legendary Argentinian footballer Diego Maradona. A judge has ordered a culpable homicide trial after a medical panel found Maradona’s treatment was rife with “deficiencies and irregularities”. Maradona died in November 2020 of a heart attack in Buenos Aires, aged 60. He had been recovering at home from surgery on a brain blood clot earlier that month. A few days after his death Argentine prosecutors launched an investigation into the doctors and nurses involved in his care. Last year, the panel of 20 experts appointed to … Continue reading Medical staff to be tried over the death of legendary footballer Maradona

Tragedy struck Brazil on Monday as former Miss Brazil Gleycy Correira died at just 27 years old as the result of complications from a routine tonsil removal surgery. Ms Correira, who hailed from the southeastern city of Macaé, suffered both a haemorrhage and heart attack before falling into a coma in early April, just five days after the routine surgery. Her body has been sent to a medical examiner for an autopsy. Ms Correira was crowned Miss United Continents Brazil in 2018, and had amassed a sizable following in the years since her triumph. She worked as a permanent makeup specialist and ran an Instagram page … Continue reading OMG: Miss Brazil dies at 27 after routine tonsil surgery

Two Jesuit priests have been killed inside a church where a man pursued by gunmen apparently sought refuge in a remote mountainous area of northern Mexico, the religious order’s Mexican branch announced Tuesday. Javier Campos Morales and Joaquín César Mora Salazar were killed Monday inside the church in Cerocahui, Chihuahua. Violence has plagued the Tarahumara mountains for years. Cerocahui is near a point where Chihuahua state meets Sonora and Sinaloa, a major drug producing region. A statement from the Roman Catholic Society of Jesus in Mexico demanded justice and the return of the men’s bodies. It said gunmen had taken … Continue reading Two Jesuit priests killed inside a church in northern Mexico

A court in Honduras has sentenced a former energy executive to more than 22 years in jail over the murder of an environmental activist in 2016. Berta Cáceres led protests against the Agua Zarca hydro-electric dam project before being shot dead in her home. The court ruled that Roberto David Castillo, whose company had been awarded the contract, had planned the murder and hired the gunmen. Castillo is the former president of Honduran power company, Desa, and was once an army intelligence officer. Seven others have been convicted for their role in the killing. The court found he used his … Continue reading Berta Cáceres jailed for planning Honduran activist’s murder

Gustavo Petro, the leftist former mayor of Bogota and ex-rebel fighter, has been declared the winner of Colombia’s presidential election. Mr Petro, a current senator, defeated right-wing construction magnate Rodolfo Hernández in Sunday’s run-off election. Figures showed he took 50.5% of votes, defeating his rival by more than 700,000 ballots to become Colombia’s first left-wing leader. The 62-year-old hailed what he called a “victory for God and for the people”. “May so much suffering be cushioned by the joy that today floods the heart of the homeland,” Mr Petro wrote on Twitter. “Today is the day of the streets and … Continue reading Ex-rebel, Gustavo Petro wins Colombia’s presidential election

A Mexican political advisor has been killed by a lynch mob after child kidnapping accusations were spread on messaging groups, authorities say. Daniel Picazo, 31, was attacked and beaten by a crowd of around 200 people in the central state of Puebla. He had been visiting the town of Papatlazolco when he was cornered by the mob, before being dragged into a local field and set on fire. Local officials called the attack an act of “barbarism”. Mr Picazo was visiting his grandfather’s house in the town when rumours began to spread on local WhatsApp group chats that he had … Continue reading Mexican politician Daniel Picazo lynched after WhatsApp rumours

Brazilian police say a suspect has confessed to shooting missing British journalist Dom Phillips and indigenous expert Bruno Pereira. Detective Eduardo Fontes said the man, Amarildo da Costa de Oliveira, took investigators to a site where human remains were dug up. He said police would work with Interpol to confirm the bodies’ identities. Mr Phillips, 57, and Mr Pereira, 41, disappeared in a remote part of the Amazon rainforest on 5 June. Two suspects, brothers Amarildo and Oseney da Costa de Oliveira, have been arrested in connection with the case. Detective Fontes told journalists the “first suspect” – Amarildo – … Continue reading Amazon Murders: Suspect admits shooting missing Dom Philips and Bruno Pereira

Cuba has sentenced 381 people for taking part in rare anti-government protests last summer – with some jailed for up to 25 years. The attorney general’s office said 297 had received prison terms, for crimes of sedition, public disorder, assault or robbery. A minority were given the option to complete community service instead. Thousands of Cubans took part in the demonstrations across the Communist-run island, chanting for “freedom”. The protests, the largest in decades, came amid a severe economic crisis with protesters voicing anger over price increases, and shortages of food and medicine. Unauthorized public gatherings are illegal in Cuba, … Continue reading Cuba protesters jailed for up to 25 years

Brazilian police say they have found personal items belonging to missing UK journalist Dom Phillips and indigenous expert Bruno Pereira. The items include Mr Phillips’ boots and a backpack with clothes in, as well as Mr Pereira’s health ID card, a flip-flop, black trousers and boots. The pair went missing while travelling by boat on a reporting trip in a remote Amazon rainforest on 5 June. Mr Phillips’ wife and mother-in-law say they now presume the two men are dead. “They are no longer with us,” his mother-in-law wrote on Instagram. The post was later shared by the journalist’s wife. … Continue reading Update: Police find belongings of Dom Philips and Bruno Pereira

This is the moment dozens of dignitaries were sent flying into a river when a brand new bridge collapsed. The mayor of the Mexican city of Cuernavaca proudly led officials and journalists across the hanging footbridge made of wooden slats and metal chains. But the walkway could not hold their weight and dramatically buckled, plunging them into the murky water below. At least 25 people were injured, including the mayor’s wife who needs surgery on her leg. “There were a lot of people jumping. That was reckless” mayor José Luis Urióstegui said. Mr Urióstegui also admitted the bridge’s capacity may have … Continue reading Photos+Video: Bridge collapses during its opening ceremony sending mayor and guests into river

Brazilian authorities began using helicopters on Wednesday to search a remote area of the Amazon rainforest for a British journalist and an indigenous official missing more than three days. Civil police in the Amazonas state also said they had identified a suspect, who was arrested for allegedly carrying a firearm without a permit, which is common practice in the region. But general Carlos Alberto Mansur, the state’s public security secretary, said later that officials did not have any concrete evidence to tie the man to the disappearances. “We’re looking for a possible link, but for now, we have nothing,” Mr … Continue reading Brazil deploys helicopters in search for British journalist missing in Amazon