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MercoPress, en Español

Montevideo, April 2nd 2026 - 05:55 UTC

International

  • Friday, March 13th 2026 - 11:24 UTC

    Iran exploits its asymmetric edge in Hormuz, narrowing the U.S. Navy’s room to act

    Energy Secretary Chris Wright said on Thursday that the U.S. military is “not ready” to escort tankers through Hormuz because its assets remain focused on striking Iranian offensive capabilities

    Iran is shifting a key part of the war to the sea, where its conventional naval power is far weaker than that of the United States but where it still retains enough tools to disrupt global energy traffic. In the Strait of Hormuz, a corridor that carries roughly a fifth of the world’s oil, attacks on merchant shipping, the threat of mines and the use of fast boats and coastal missiles have raised the cost and complexity of any escort operation.

  • Friday, March 13th 2026 - 04:34 UTC

    U.S. temporarily allows sales of Russian oil already loaded on tankers to ease energy pressure

    The conflict in the Middle East had entered a broader regional phase and that pressure on energy infrastructure had again pushed oil above $100 a barrel.

    The United States has temporarily authorized the sale of Russian oil and petroleum products already loaded on tankers, in a limited easing of sanctions adopted as global energy prices rise because of the Middle East war. The measure was announced by the Treasury Department and will remain in force until April 11.

  • Thursday, March 12th 2026 - 10:42 UTC

    Iran broadens regional attacks as Israel launches new strikes on regime targets

    The conflict is also deepening the economic and military cost for Washington

    The war involving Iran, Israel and the United States entered a broader regional phase on Thursday, with fresh Iranian attacks on energy infrastructure, shipping routes and military positions across Gulf states, while Israel responded with a new wave of strikes on Iranian territory. The escalation again tightened pressure on the Strait of Hormuz and pushed oil prices back above $100 a barrel.

  • Thursday, March 12th 2026 - 03:00 UTC

    Trump releases 172 million barrels from strategic reserve to curb fuel price surge

    The U.S. release is part of a broader package agreed by the IEA’s 32 member countries, which decided to make 400 million barrels of oil available from emergency reserves

    U.S. President Donald Trump has authorized the release of 172 million barrels of crude from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve as part of a coordinated action with the International Energy Agency, in a bid to contain rising fuel prices after market disruption caused by the war with Iran. The Department of Energy said deliveries will begin next week and will take about 120 days to complete.

  • Wednesday, March 11th 2026 - 04:03 UTC

    Chile: Kast arrives at La Moneda with a 90-day plan focused on security, fiscal cuts and migration

    Kast’s immediate test will be managing high expectations. A Cadem poll released in early March found that 57% of respondents believed Chile would do well under his administration

    José Antonio Kast will be sworn in as Chile’s president on Wednesday with a pledge to lead an “emergency government” focused on security, the economy and migration control, as he seeks to turn his electoral mandate into early, visible action. His team has drafted a first 90-day roadmap combining administrative measures, regulatory changes and an initial batch of bills meant to show movement from the outset.

  • Wednesday, March 11th 2026 - 03:07 UTC

    US steps up strikes on Iran, destroys 16 mine-laying vessels and raises pressure in Hormuz

    Image distributed by U.S. Central Command.

    The United States and Israel launched what the Pentagon and witnesses in Iran described on Tuesday as the heaviest day of bombing since the war began, while Washington widened operations around the Strait of Hormuz and said it had destroyed 16 Iranian mine-laying vessels. The move further increased risks around the world’s most critical energy chokepoint, through which about a fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas normally passes.

  • Tuesday, March 10th 2026 - 15:43 UTC

    Milei: “I am the most Zionist president in the world”

    His remarks on Iran carry particular weight in Argentina because of the 1992 bombing of the Israeli Embassy in Buenos Aires and the 1994 bombing of the AMIA Jewish community center

    Argentine President Javier Milei said in New York that he is “the most Zionist president in the world,” reaffirming his alignment with the United States and Israel during an appearance at Yeshiva University, one of the main stops on a U.S. trip that also included investor meetings as part of “Argentina Week.” The university said the event was part of a three-day visit focused on economic leadership and support for Washington and Israel in the war against Iran.

  • Tuesday, March 10th 2026 - 00:29 UTC

    Lula warns Brazil must be ready to defend itself amid rising global tensions

    “If we are not prepared to defend ourselves, at any moment we could be invaded,” Lula said during Ramaphosa’s official visit

    Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva warned Monday that the country must be prepared to defend itself against potential external threats, as global geopolitical tensions intensify, during a joint appearance with South African President Cyril Ramaphosa in Brasília.

  • Monday, March 9th 2026 - 23:23 UTC

    Falklands Legislative Assembly marks Commonwealth Day with youth-focused sitting and emphasis on parliamentary ties

    The Commonwealth flag flies alongside the Falkland Islands flag on Victory Green, reflecting our pride in being part of the Commonwealth family of nations.

    The Falkland Islands Legislative Assembly marked Commonwealth Day 2026 on Monday with a public statement highlighting the Territory’s links to the wider Commonwealth network and the role of local democratic institutions. In the release issued on March 9, the Assembly said the Commonwealth flag was flown alongside the Falklands flag on Victory Green, reflecting “our pride in being part of the Commonwealth family of nations.”

  • Monday, March 9th 2026 - 18:50 UTC

    King Charles III Message on Commonwealth Day 2026, “a family that stands as a force of good”

    King Charles III, head of the Commonwealth addresses leaders during the ceremony at Westminster Abbey

    We join together on this Commonwealth Day at a time of great challenge and great possibility. Across our world, communities and nations face the increasing pressures of conflict, climate change and rapid transformation. Yet it is often in such testing moments that the enduring spirit of the Commonwealth is most clearly revealed.