First, links to reports from Reuters, the Associated Press, teleSUR, and National Public Radio; others are accessible by clicking on their names or initials below. — MCM
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Chile’s constitution vote puts Andean country at historic crossroads, by Natalia A. Ramos Miranda and Alexander Villegas | Reuters SANTIAGO — Chileans are set for a historic decision on Sunday: stick with a market-friendly constitution dating back to military dictator Augusto Pinochet or approve a progressive new text that promises to shake up the Andean country’s political and social fabric. The copper-rich country is sharply divided, with polls indicating that the new text will get rejected, despite huge popular support for tearing up the Pinochet-era constitution two years ago in the wake of months of fiery protests against inequality. . . . “This is about settling a historical debt in Chile . . . READ MORE . . .
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Fleeing Nicaraguans strain Costa Rica’s asylum system, by Moises Castillo and Christopher Sherman | AP Since the summer of 2021, when Nicaragua President Daniel Ortega locked up dozens of political opponents ahead of November’s presidential elections, Nicaraguans have been seeking asylum in Costa Rica at the highest levels since Nicaragua’s political crisis exploded in April 2018. The exodus of Nicaraguans fleeing political repression has neighboring Costa Rica’s asylum system teetering under the weight . . . READ MORE . . .
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Brazil: Deforestation encourages fires in the Amazon. From teleSUR. The Brazilian national space institute reports that more than 33,000 fires have been detected in the Amazon. The report issued by Brazil’s national space institute indicates that the Brazilian Amazon rainforest is suffering from more fires than at any point in nearly five years, with more than 33,000 fires detected by the satellites as a result of deforestation. The rainforest has entered the peak of fire season, mainly related to the area’s high levels of deforestation activity. . . . “That means many fallen trees are ready to burn,” said Ane Alencar, coordinator of the Mapbiomas Fire project. “The fire season will be even more intense in September . . . READ MORE . . .
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Why Brazil’s Bolsonaro is courting evangelicals in the world’s biggest Catholic nation. Reported by John Otis | NPR Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro is relying on Christian evangelicals’ support to pull off an upset in national elections to be held on Oct. 2. He trails his main opponent in the race, former President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, in all of the polls, mainly due to Brazil’s stagnant economy. Click HERE to listen and read.
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MAY BE CONTINUED