MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency
Stories for June 17th 2026
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Wednesday, June 17th 2026 - 19:21 UTC
US-Iran memorandum sets Hormuz reopening, $300 billion reconstruction and sanctions relief
The United States government on Wednesday released the official text of the agreement reached with Iran to end the war, a 14-point document called the “Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding” that provides for the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, a reconstruction plan of at least $300 billion and the lifting of sanctions. The text, read by a senior official of Donald Trump's administration, will be signed on Friday in Switzerland and will open a 60-day period to negotiate the definitive agreement.
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Wednesday, June 17th 2026 - 19:11 UTC
Bolivia's blockade crisis leaves at least 16 dead as the government calls unions to talks
The crisis caused by more than seven weeks of road blockades in Bolivia, driven by sectors demanding the resignation of President Rodrigo Paz, has left at least 16 people dead, as the government called the Bolivian Workers' Center (COB) on Wednesday to a dialogue to seek a way out. By midday, the country's largest union confederation had not confirmed its attendance.
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Wednesday, June 17th 2026 - 19:05 UTC
Trump calls Brazil 'politically difficult'; Lula says he should learn about 'civilized elections'
Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva on Wednesday asked his US counterpart, Donald Trump, not to interfere in Brazil's elections, a matter he stressed is exclusive to Brazil, just as his country does not seek to meddle in the electoral processes of the United States. The demand was a response to remarks Trump had made about Brazil hours earlier.
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Wednesday, June 17th 2026 - 09:14 UTC
Fujimori nears victory in Peru's presidential count as the left calls for protests
Ten days after the June 7 presidential runoff, Peru still has no proclaimed winner, but the right-wing candidate Keiko Fujimori is heading toward victory. With 99.1% of the vote counted, she leads the left-wing Roberto Sánchez by some 36,889 votes and is projected as the virtual winner, while the left pushes mobilizations and nullity appeals. The official proclamation remains pending on 0.84% of tally sheets under review, with a deadline of mid-July.
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Wednesday, June 17th 2026 - 08:31 UTC
Spain's ex-PM Zapatero testifies as a suspect in the Plus Ultra bailout case
Spain's former Prime Minister José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero appeared on Wednesday before Judge José Luis Calama, of the Audiencia Nacional, as an investigated person in the Plus Ultra case, in what constitutes an unprecedented event in Spanish democracy: it is the first time a former head of the Executive sits before a magistrate as a suspect. He will answer questions from the judge and his lawyer, but not from the Anti-Corruption prosecutor.
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Wednesday, June 17th 2026 - 08:27 UTC
Uruguay enjoys 'positive discrimination' but must lift investment and productivity, BBVA says
Uruguay enjoys a “positive discrimination” relative to other economies for its institutional solidity, respect for agreements and political maturity, but its economic growth has been low over the past decade and its potential GDP —now at 2.1%— is declining. That was the assessment of economists from BBVA Research, one of Europe's largest banks, at the “Situación Uruguay” webinar, where they said the country's main challenge is to boost investment and raise productivity.
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Wednesday, June 17th 2026 - 08:19 UTC
With a historic Messi, Argentina begin their title defense by thrashing Algeria
Argentina began their defense of the World Cup title won in Qatar 2022 on Tuesday with a 3-0 thrashing of Algeria, in the Group J opener of the 2026 World Cup, played at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City. Captain Lionel Messi guided Lionel Scaloni's side with a hat-trick that left him atop the tournament's all-time scoring history.
