Domestic Politics
It was found that Venezuela's Socialist Party, headed by President Nicolas Maduro, bribed lawmakers to oust opposition leader Juan Guaido from the post of National Assembly leader during the January 5 vote. [NBC]
The Guyanese government and the opposition agreed to recount the votes from the recently concluded presidential election due to allegations of fraud. In the election, President David Granger maintained his incumbency for a second five-year term. The US and other Western nations hinted at sanctions and visa revocations if a recount was not administered. [Associated Press]
International Relations
Argentina, Bolivia, Peru, Costa Rica, Paraguay, and Honduras announced a ban on flights to and from Europe, and public gatherings. The countries also closed all schools. [Merco Press]
Colombia closed its border with Venezuela over fears of the spread of the coronavirus and overburdening its healthcare industry. Colombia now has 45 cases, while Venezuela reported its first 2 cases. Experts fear that this will now force Venezuelans to use informal border crossings to enter Colombia. [Al Jazeera]
Brazil's communications director and close ally of President Jair Bolsonaro, Fábio Wajngarten, tested positive for the coronavirus. He was seen meeting US President Donald Trump over the weekend. However, Trump’s test result came back negative. [NPR]
Health
Uruguay's Ministry of Health confirmed the country's first four cases of the coronavirus over the weekend. All four patients had traveled to Italy. They have been placed in quarantine in their homes. Since then, two more cases have been reported. [Merco Press]
After Cuba announced its first cases of the coronavirus, its government called on its citizens to make their own masks due to budgetary constraints and worldwide shortfalls in supplies. The cases were traced to four Italian tourists. [NBC]
Gender
In a continuation of protests from the International Women's Day March, women in Mexico are launching another nationwide strike against femicide. This time, advocacy groups called on women to stay home to show what a country without women would look like. [CNN]
Image Source: Caribbean National Weekly
