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MercoPress, en Español

Montevideo, April 24th 2024 - 03:08 UTC

Stories for March 2018

  • Monday, March 12th 2018 - 09:18 UTC

    China names an emperor for life: how imperialist the change will be?

    Communist Party leaders argue changes to Article 79 of the constitution are necessary because other key positions Xi holds as party chairman

    In the short space of two weeks, China has announced and now voted with near unanimous approval to amend the country’s constitution and give the party state’s powerful leader Xi Jinping a mandate to stay in office indefinitely. On Sunday, a controversial amendment to scrap a two-term limit on the office of the president was approved along with 20 other changes.

  • Monday, March 12th 2018 - 09:08 UTC

    Uribe protegé Duque, and ex Bogotá mayor dominate Colombia's legislative elections

    Duque, 41, is a lawyer and senator who worked at the IDB and UN. He has enjoyed solid showing in polls, in the most recent presidential survey.

    Right-wing candidate Ivan Duque and leftist Gustavo Petro will lead their respective coalitions in Colombia’s May presidential election after winning primaries on Sunday. Duque, a protégé of former President Alvaro Uribe and the standard bearer for the Democratic Center party, beat fellow candidates Marta Lucia Ramirez and Alejandro Ordonez for his coalition’s nomination. He got more than 3.9 million votes and 96% of the votes counted.

  • Monday, March 12th 2018 - 09:00 UTC

    Norwegian Air expands into domestic flights in Argentina and Brazil

    “We serve a lot of places in the U.S. and in Europe, but South America is our focus in 2018,” said Kjos. ”There are other countries with priority in South America”

    Norwegian Air Shuttle ASA plans to fly to Brazil from Argentina and London to boost its month-old operations in South America, Chief Executive Officer Bjorn Kjos said in an interview in Buenos Aires. The Scandinavian company has already received authorization from the Argentine government to operate flights to 13 Brazilian cities. Norwegian is evaluating flying in other Latin American nations, Kjos said, declining to give more details.

  • Monday, March 12th 2018 - 07:35 UTC

    A more humble mature Piñera promises Chile growth and jobs

    An emotional Bachelet helped Piñera put on the sash of office, gave him a kiss and then left the Congress with members of her government. (Pics Chile gov)

    Conservative billionaire Sebastian Piñera was sworn in Sunday to his second term as president of Chile, replacing socialist Michelle Bachelet in the office for the second time in eight years. An emotional Bachelet helped Piñera put on the sash of office, gave him a kiss and then left the Congress with members of her government.

  • Monday, March 12th 2018 - 07:12 UTC

    Sir Alan Duncan attends Chilean president Piñera's inauguration

    Sir Alan Duncan MP, say farewell to the outgoing President of Chile Michelle Bachelet and her Foreign Minister with Amb. Fiona Clouder (Pic Twitter)

    Foreign Office minister for Europe and the Americas Sir Alan Duncan represented the UK in the inauguration of the new president of Chile, Sebastian Piñera. Minister Duncan arrived in Santiago on Saturday and part of his agenda is to discuss the future of UK-Chile bilateral relations with the incoming administration.

  • Friday, March 9th 2018 - 17:44 UTC

    An opening — nothing more — with North Korea (*)

    The North Korea leader with his generals during a missile test

    After meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, South Korean officials have reported that North Korea is willing to hold talks with the United States about its nuclear weapons program. If true — and there is much to be confirmed — the offer should be pursued. Caution must be the watchword of any discussions, however. Talks are welcome, but their goal must be the rollback and eventual elimination of North Korea’s nuclear weapons program. Negotiations can never legitimate Pyongyang’s nuclear ambitions or accept its status as a nuclear-weapon possessing state.

  • Friday, March 9th 2018 - 17:31 UTC

    China, Russia and Japan applaud the announced Trump-Kim Jong Un meeting

    The unprecedented meeting between the top leaders of the US and North Korea, to take place by May, marks the pinnacle of an abrupt thaw in ties

    China, Japan and Russia have cheered an impending meeting between United States President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un as a “significant first step” towards the de-nuclearization of the Korean Peninsula.

  • Friday, March 9th 2018 - 11:39 UTC

    Sharp reaction from Asian nations to Trump's tariffs on steel and aluminum

    Japan said the move would have a “big impact” on bilateral ties, while China said it was “resolutely opposed”, and South Korea said it may file a complaint to WTO

    Major Asian nations reacted sharply to U.S. President Donald Trump's decision to impose tariffs on steel and aluminum imports on Friday, warning of damage to relations amid industry calls for retaliation.

  • Friday, March 9th 2018 - 09:57 UTC

    Cristina Fernandez to face trial on charges of covering up terrorist bombing

    Cristina Fernandez, who was president in 2007-2015, denies any wrongdoing or involvement in any cover-up involving Argentina’s worst terror attack.

    Former Argentine president Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner will face trial on charges she covered up the role of Iranians in a 1994 terrorist bombing at a Jewish center in Buenos Aires, judicial authorities announced.

  • Friday, March 9th 2018 - 09:48 UTC

    Brazil downplays latest chapter of the “Weak Flesh” investigation

    Minister Maggi told reporters the latest phase deals with events in 2014 and 2015. There have been no new accusations since then, he said.

    Brazil does not face any risks of countries instituting new bans on Brazilian meat imports after the latest phase of the “Weak Flesh” investigation into companies accused of committing fraud to avoid safety checks, Agriculture Minister Blairo Maggi said on Wednesday.