Brussels, 09 April 2018 - Three out of four Latin Americans today show little or no confidence in their national governments. Around 80% think corruption is widespread. These levels are both up from 55% and 67% respectively in 2010. Mistrust is rising as in most regions of the world and risks deepening the disconnect between people and public institutions, harming social cohesion and weakening the social contract. Reconnecting public institutions with citizens by better responding to their demands is thus critical for strengthening growth and sustainable development in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) and for the well-being of the region’s citizens, according to the Latin American Economic Outlook 2018, Rethinking Institutions for Development. The region needs more transparent, capable, credible and innovative institutions if it wants to put itself on a higher and more inclusive development trajectory.
Former Brazilian president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva told Folha de Sao Paulo early Friday that he has decided not to turn himself at the Federal Police in Curitiba where he must serve a 12-year prison sentence for corruption, as ordered by judge Sergio Moro.
The state-run energy firms of Chile and Argentina said on Wednesday they had inaugurated a US$ 354 million project to increase production of natural gas off the southern tip of South America.
The Falkland Islands have been advised by British Forces Broadcasting Services, that during April a series of sun outages which will cause disruption to satellite dish reception across the Falklands.
LATAM Airlines will cancel or reschedule flights in Chile between April 10 and April 13 as a precaution while it continues to negotiate with a union of flight attendants who have threatened to strike, the company said on Wednesday.
United States President Donald Trump, engaged in an escalating confrontation with Beijing over trade, will urge Latin American leaders next week to work with the United States – not China – on trade, a senior US official said on Thursday. Trump’s trip to Lima, Peru, for the Summit of the Americas has been prefaced by aggressive moves on trade and immigration.
Brazilian judge has ordered that Facebook Inc pay 111.7 million Reais (US$ 33.4 million) for failing to cooperate with a corruption investigation, federal prosecutors said on Thursday, prompting Facebook to say it was exploring all legal options.
The United Kingdom Export Finance (UKEF) support available for trade with Uruguay has been increased to up to £4 billion, meaning an additional £2.25 billion in support for UK companies exporting to Uruguay and for Uruguayan buyers of UK goods and services.
Argentina's Defense minister has sparked a political storm after appearing to imply the Falkland Islands are British. Oscar Aguad has been accused by the Buenos Aires media of suggesting that the Islands were not part of Argentine territory.
Even when Brazilian ex president Lula da Silva was described as facing Judge Sergio Moro's Friday jailing decision calmly, the big question now is what follows for the presidential candidate and the Workers Party chances ahead of the coming October presidential election.