LATAM POLITICS TODAY-Argentina's CFK rules out running in October election

The latest in Latin American politics on Tuesday:

Argentina's powerful VP again rules out running for top job BUENOS AIRES- Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner, Argentina's current vice president and former president, announced she will not run in October's presidential election, arguing judges would likely disqualify her candidacy due to corruption allegations.

In a blog post, Fernandez de Kirchner, who served as a firebrand leftist president for two terms from 2007 to 2015, wrote that she will avoid what she dismissed as a "perverse game." The ruling Peronist government of President Alberto Fernandez, no relation to his vice president, is facing a tough battle to fend off a challenge from both the conservative opposition as well as surging libertarian independent Javier Milei.

Honduras readies China trade delegation for this weekend TEGUCIGALPA - The Honduran government is preparing a delegation of business leaders to travel to China on May 20 to promote exports, a key ruling party lawmaker said in a video shared by the government's press office.

The government of leftist President Xiomara Castro is also developing the agenda for her planned trip to China, which may happen in June, according to lawmaker Xiomara Zelaya. The lawmaker is the daughter of the president and her husband, former President Mel Zelaya. Honduras started diplomatic relations with China in March after ending ties with Taiwan, in a bid for more investment and jobs.

Ecuador's Congress begins hearing to remove President Lasso QUITO - Ecuador's Congress began a hearing to possibly remove President Guillermo Lasso from office, though opposition lawmakers' decision to launch the hearing increases the likelihood he will dissolve the legislature and call snap presidential and congressional elections.

Ninety-two votes from the 137-member assembly are needed to remove Lasso, a conservative former banker, who opposition politicians say disregarded warnings of embezzlement related to a contract at state-owned oil transportation company Flopec. Lasso denies the accusation.

Brazil's Bolsonaro denies tampering vaccination records BRASILIA - Brazilian ex-President Jair Bolsonaro rejected accusations of tampering with his COVID-19 vaccination records, a document reviewed by Reuters showed, as authorities investigate the former far-right leader and some of his allies.

In three-hour testimony to Brazil's federal police, Bolsonaro said he was he unaware of any false information included on his vaccination card. Supreme Court documents have shown federal police found evidence of tampering with Bolsonaro's vaccine records in his last weeks as president in late December, before he flew to the United States, where most foreign visitors must be vaccinated.

Cuba announces new migration policies as exodus continues HAVANA - Cuba announced measures that ease restrictions on its citizens living abroad as the communist-run nation continues to grapple with an unprecedented exodus of migrants to the United States.

More than 300,000 Cubans arrived at the U.S. border last year, according to U.S. Customs and Border Patrol data, a record-breaking exodus amid an unprecedented economic crisis. (Compiled by Steven Grattan, Sarah Morland and Valentine Hilaire; Editing by Lisa Shumaker and Stephen Coates)