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MercoPress, en Español

Montevideo, June 24th 2026 - 18:45 UTC

Stories for 2026

  • Thursday, June 4th 2026 - 15:32 UTC

    Uruguay's anti-graft body faces Congress as opposition alleges 'political use' in Orsi case

    The controversy stems from the purchase of the vehicle, valued on the market at about 79,000 dollars, which Orsi bought for 54,000 dollars days before taking office

    The directorate of Uruguay's Transparency and Public Ethics Board (Jutep) appeared on Thursday before the Chamber of Deputies' Security and Coexistence Commission, amid the controversy over President Yamandú Orsi's purchase of a Hyundai Santa Fe. National Party deputy Pablo Abdala, who requested the summons, accused the body of “political use.”

  • Thursday, June 4th 2026 - 15:28 UTC

    Venezuela moves to open its power sector to private investment after years of blackouts

    The system, which prior to 2007 operated under a mixed and regionalized model, began to deteriorate due to a lack of maintenance and new investment

    Venezuela's National Assembly gave initial approval to a reform of the electricity law that opens the sector to private investment through long-term concessions, in an effort to reverse the collapse of a service battered by blackouts for two decades. The measure ends the monopoly held for more than 15 years by the state-owned National Electric Corporation (Corpoelec), though it still requires a second debate and final ratification in the coming days.

  • Thursday, June 4th 2026 - 15:11 UTC

    Petro drops constituent assembly bid 17 days before Colombia's presidential runoff

    The electoral context ultimately weighed on the move

    The committee that had promoted a National Constituent Assembly championed by Colombian President Gustavo Petro announced on Thursday that it was halting the collection of signatures and withdrawing the project to reform the 1991 Constitution. The decision, taken 17 days before the June 21 presidential runoff, seeks to clear the way for the governing bloc's candidate, Senator Iván Cepeda, in a move that reshapes the electoral landscape.

  • Thursday, June 4th 2026 - 10:55 UTC

    Lula pushes back on US tariffs, says Brazil is the one running a trade deficit

    “The US surplus over the past 15 years was 415 billion dollars. So we were the ones who should have raised taxes, not them,” Lula said

    Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva on Tuesday rejected the US government's argument that Brazil engages in “unreasonable” practices in the bilateral relationship, arguing that it is Washington that runs a trade surplus with his country. If anyone should impose tariffs, he said, it would be Brazil.º

  • Thursday, June 4th 2026 - 10:40 UTC

    US proposes forced-labor tariffs on 60 economies, with Brazil and China facing 12.5%

    The initiative seeks to replace the tariffs the Supreme Court struck down in February, when it found that President Donald Trump had exceeded his authority by using an economic emergency law

    The US government proposed tariffs of up to 12.5% on 60 economies —59 countries and the 27-nation European Union— for failing to ban or effectively enforce the prohibition on imports of goods made with forced labor. The measure, announced Tuesday night by Trade Representative Jamieson Greer, relies on Section 301 of the 1974 Trade Act and is the White House's most ambitious step yet to rebuild its tariff policy.

  • Wednesday, June 3rd 2026 - 23:00 UTC

    Falklands pass £216m budget under 'live within our means' principle amid fiscal pressures

    Among the principles set in January are a ban on borrowing for operating purposes and the requirement to keep uncommitted reserves equivalent to at least 1.5 times operating expenditure

    The Falkland Islands Government presented its 2026/27 budget to the Legislative Assembly on Wednesday, the first of the Assembly elected in December, with an Appropriation Bill of 216.3 million pounds and under the guiding principle of “living within our means.” The plan seeks to balance the territory's finances amid pressure on revenue and an ambitious infrastructure investment program.

  • Wednesday, June 3rd 2026 - 20:58 UTC

    Falklands approve accelerated housing scheme with 30 modular homes at Murray Heights

    The government has repeatedly identified the housing shortage as one of the territory's main challenges

    The Falkland Islands Government announced that its Executive Council had approved a plan to accelerate housing provision in Stanley, in response to the urgent need to expand the housing stock. The initiative provides for the development of infrastructure for 60 new plots at Murray Heights, intended for modular housing solutions, and the construction of 30 modular units.

  • Wednesday, June 3rd 2026 - 16:54 UTC

    Bolivia's blockade crisis risks tipping into civilian clashes, analysts warn

    The conflict, now close to a month old, has left at least nine dead

    Bolivia's political crisis threatens to spill over into confrontations between urban and rural populations, after nearly a month of road blockades that have disrupted supplies of food, medicine and fuel —especially in the Andean region— and left at least nine people dead. Analysts Pedro Portugal and Gabriela Canedo warned of the danger in remarks to the news agency EFE, pointing to clashes fueled by an ethnic and cultural fracture and by the alleged inaction of Rodrigo Paz's government, whose resignation the mobilized sectors are demanding.

  • Wednesday, June 3rd 2026 - 16:38 UTC

    Ukraine hits St. Petersburg oil terminal with drones as Russia's economic forum opens

    A column of black smoke rose over the port, in view of forum attendees, while Pulkovo airport suspended or diverted about thirty flights.

    Ukraine launched a mass drone attack against several Russian regions early on Wednesday and struck an oil terminal in St. Petersburg, coinciding with the opening of the country's main economic forum. Russia's Defense Ministry said its air defenses shot down 345 drones over 15 regions, including Moscow and Leningrad, where St. Petersburg is located.

  • Wednesday, June 3rd 2026 - 08:30 UTC

    BAS confirmed as world’s leading center for Antarctic and Southern Ocean research

    Professor Dame Jane Francis (Director of BAS) and Oliver Darke (Director of Operations, Engineering and Infrastructure) representing the UK at ATCM in Japan

    A major new analysis has confirmed the UK’s British Antarctic Survey (BAS) as the world’s leading center for Antarctic and Southern Ocean research. This was revealed during the Antarctic treaty Consultive Meeting, ATCM, recent May meeting in Japan that convened Antarctic Leaders and government official from across the world.