Ryan Villarreal

301-330 (out of 678)

Ryan Villarreal reports on foreign affairs with a focus on Latin America. He also covers human rights and environmental issues worldwide.

A native of the San Francisco Bay Area, he grew up with temperate, dry summers and rainy, green winters, but has taken a liking to the four seasons experienced in New York.

 

Colombia's 'Last' Drug Boss Captured In Venezuela

Daniel "Loco" Barrera, described as Colombia's "last' major drug lord, was captured in Venezuela in an operation that involved cooperation between Colombia's national police, Venezuelan anti-narcotics forces and U.S. and British intelligence agencies. Barrera was responsible for delivering more than 10 tons of cocaine per month to the Sinaloa cartel in Mexico, much of which would end up in the U.S.

UAE Restricting Visas For Immigrants Workers From Asia

The UAE is making it more difficult for immigrant laborers to enter the country on tourist and other short-term visas in a bid to prevent foreign criminals from entering the country under the guise of looking for work. The rapidly developing country has been built up with immigrant labor mostly from South Asia, who form a majority of the Gulf nation's 8 million plus population.

Mexican Prison Break Near US Border

Over 130 inmates have escaped from a Mexican prison in Peidras, located across the border from Eagle Pass, Texas. Mexican authorities have undertaken a massive manhunt, while U.S. authorities are closely monitoring the border to assist in the recapture of any prisoners that try to cross.

Boko Haram Spokesman Dies After Arrest By Nigerian Military

The Nigerian military has claimed to have killed Abu Qaqa, spokesman for the Islamist militant group Boko Haram, which has claimed responsibility for series of attacks on government and civilian targets, killing more 935 people since 2009.

Former French Oil Executive Extradited To Togo, Faces Fraud Charges

The former CEO of French oil corporation Elf Aquitaine, Loik Le Floch-Prigent, has been extradited from the Ivory Coast to Togo on charges relating to a $48 million fraud scheme. The funds in question were contained in a Togolese bank account belonging to the former military ruler of the Ivory Coast, Robert Guei, who was killed in 2002. Le Floch-Prigent had previously been convicted in France for embezzlement of hundres of millions of dollars in public funds during his time as head of Elf.

Pope Benedict Visits Lebanon As Protests Spread Over 'Innocence If Muslims' Movie

Pope Benedict XVI arrived in Lebanon Friday amid heightened tensions in the Muslim and Arab world as protests spread, some violent, in response to an anti-Islam movie produced in the U.S. The pope's three-day visit is focused on expressing support for Christians throughout the region who increasingly feel threatened amidst the rising influence of Islamists following the Arab Spring.

Argentines Protest President Fernandez's Economic Policies Amid Rising Inflation

Many Argentines are protesting against the policies of President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner over her tight controls on the economy amid rising inflation. Fernandez has said that her policies are aimed at supporting the most vulnerable in society and will benefit the majority of people as a whole, though she has been criticized for pursuing a populist agenda at the expese of the upper and middle classes.

South African Activist Elder Epainette Mbeki Scolds ANC

Epainette Mbeki, mother of former South African President Thabo Mbeki and revered anti-Apartheid activist, recently criticized the country's ruling African National Congress which had pressured her son to resign in 2007. The ANC continues to have wide support in South Africa, but Mbeki stressed that its leaders needed to communicate better with the people or public unrest would increase amid the country's persistent economic disparities.

Yemen: Anti-Islam Film Is The Least Of This Poverty-Stricken Nation's Many Problems

Anger in the Muslim and Arab world over an anti-Islam film produced in America has spread to Yemen, where several hundred protesters stormed the U.S. Embassy in the capital, Sana. Yemen is already dealing with widespread social problems due to food and water shortages, rising extremism and sectarian conflict and political instability following the popular uprising that began in 2011.

Dutch Parliamentary Elections: Will Far-Right Freedom Party Defy Polls Again?

Far-right Dutch politician and leader of the ultra-conservative Freedom Party (PVV) Geert Wilders formerly established his party in parliament on a platform of Islamophobic anti-immigration, and now seeks to turn nationalist sentiment against the eurozone amid frustrations with debt-laden countries like Greece, Italy and Spain. Poll indicate his party will lose seats this election, but it has defied expectations in the past.

Taliban Denies Claims It Will Negotiate Ceasefire

The Taliban has denied claims that it is willing to negotiate a ceasefire with U.S.-led NATO troops, rejecting an analysis by a group of Western academics who sat down for private discussions with former Talban officials.

Honduras' Charter Cities: Potential Economic Miracles or New 'Banana Enclaves'?

Honduras is implementing a bold new plan to establish independent "charter cities" that will operate under separate laws in a bid to draw more foreign investment. Proponents says the plan will create thousands of jobs and spur economic development in the rest of Honduras, while critics say they will only open the door for corporations and other governments to exploit cheap labor and neoliberal tax laws.

Parti Quebecois Victory Marred By Shooting In Montreal

As Quebec's newly elected premier and leader of the Parti Quebecois Pauline Marois delivered a victory speech to supporters in a concert hall in Montreal Tuesday, a gunman in a ski-mask and bathrobe entered the building and discharged his assault rifle, killing one man and injuring another.

Pages