LATAM POLITICS TODAY-U.S. Congressman George Santos agrees to settle lawsuit in Brazil

The latest in Latin American politics on Friday:

U.S. Congressman George Santos agrees to settle lawsuit in Brazil RIO DE JANEIRO - Republican U.S. congressman George Santos, who has Brazilian heritage, agreed to settle a lawsuit in which he was accused of bouncing checks to buy clothes in a Rio de Janeiro clothing store over a decade ago, a court in Rio said.

Santos was indicted this week for fraud and money laundering in the U.S., and has faced months of allegations related to lies about his career and history. He denies the new charges, which he has branded a "witch hunt," and has vowed to fight back.

President of Honduras congress calls session over corruption, money laundering The President of Honduras' congress, Luis Redondo, has called a session for Tuesday to repeal several decrees which he says have been used for corruption and money laundering in the country.

Via a Twitter post, Redondo asked the entire bench to be present, and says decrees have allowed more than 400 criminals who have corruption, drug trafficking or money laundering charges against them to walk free with impunity. U.S. border city calm as Title 42 lifts and asylum restrictions take effect

CIUDAD JUAREZ, Mexico/EL PASO, Texas - The United States on Friday ended a COVID-19 border restriction that had blocked many migrants at the border with Mexico, immediately replacing the order known as Title 42 with a sweeping new asylum regulation meant to deter illegal crossings. Several last-minute court actions added confusion to how President Joe Biden's reworked border policies will play out, with advocates filing a legal challenge to the new asylum restrictions as they took effect.

Deforestation in Brazil's Amazon falls 68% in April, first major drop under Lula SAO PAULO - Deforestation in Brazil's Amazon rainforest fell 68% in April from the previous year, preliminary government data showed on Friday, a positive reading for President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva as it represents the first major drop under his watch.

Lula won last year's election pledging to end deforestation after years of surging destruction under his predecessor Jair Bolsonaro, but has faced continued challenges since taking office as environmental agency Ibama grapples with a lack of staff. (Compiled by Steven Grattan; Editing by Chris Reese)