Get our news on your inbox! x

Remember me Forgot password

MercoPress, en Español

Montevideo, August 16th 2025 - 06:55 UTC

Latin America

  • Friday, July 25th 2025 - 20:13 UTC

    Petro orders all Colombian coal exports to Israel halted

    In Petro's view, 60% of the coal Israel uses for weapons manufacturing comes from Colombia

    Colombian President Gustavo Petro has ordered the National Navy to intercept and stop any ships carrying coal bound for Israel in response to what he considers to be a genocide in Gaza. Coal exports to Israel had been banned by decree in August 2024, except for pre-existing contracts. However, some government officials apparently disregarded that order.

  • Friday, July 25th 2025 - 19:52 UTC

    Honduras decrees contingency measures as Covid-19 cases soar

    The Stratus (or Frankenstein) variant is believed to account for 36% of recent infections

    Honduras is re-implementing several public health measures as cases of Covid-19 have been reported to be on the surge. The Omicron subvariant XFG - also known as Stratus or Frankenstein - is believed to account for 36% of recent infections.

  • Friday, July 25th 2025 - 09:37 UTC

    Ecuador: Noboa lays off 5,000 civil servants

    It is Noboa's largest cut since taking office in November 2023

    Ecuadorean President Daniel Noboa decreed a significant restructuring of his government, reducing the number of ministries from 20 to 14 and secretariats from 9 to 3. This move also includes the dismissal of 5,000 civil servants to boost efficiency through deficit reduction, to meet International Monetary Fund (IMF) targets.

  • Thursday, July 24th 2025 - 16:36 UTC

    Uruguay detains and sentences Iranian national for entering with fake Israeli passport

    The individual reportedly arrived from Brazil between June 12 and 13, and then traveled from Montevideo to El Salvador on June 14

    An Iranian citizen has been sentenced to prison in Uruguay after attempting to enter the country using a fake Israeli passport, according to reporting this Thursday by the weekly Búsqueda. The incident took place in the context of recent hostilities between Iran, Israel, and the United States — a period referred to by Washington as the “12-day war.”

  • Thursday, July 24th 2025 - 08:36 UTC

    Lula and Sheinbaum discuss joint developments

    Lula suggested expanding the existing trade agreement between the two countries

    Presidents Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva of Brazil and Claudia Sheinbaum of Mexico held a telephone conversation on Wednesday to discuss strengthening bilateral relations and economic cooperation.

  • Wednesday, July 23rd 2025 - 09:35 UTC

    Gopinath leaves IMF to return to Harvard

    Caputo extrañará especialmente a Gopinath en Buenos Aires

    International Monetary Fund Deputy Managing Director Gita Gopinath announced this week that she will be resigning from her position at the end of August to return to teaching at Harvard University. “I have decided to return to my academic roots,” she explained.

  • Tuesday, July 22nd 2025 - 10:55 UTC

    Santiago Summit: Leaders agree that democracy is under threat

    “it is never a bad time to strengthen democracy,” Boric underlined

    Progressive leaders convened in Santiago de Chile Monday at the “Democracy Forever” event hosted by President Gabriel Boric Font, during which they concurred on the importance of strengthening multilateralism in a world facing “deep uncertainty.” This summit was a continuation of the “In defense of democracy: fighting extremism” initiative, previously held during the 79th United Nations General Assembly.

  • Tuesday, July 22nd 2025 - 10:54 UTC

    Argentina relaxes visa requirements for Chinese and Dominican nationals

    Milei has publicly shifted his position, now viewing China as an “interesting partner”

    The Argentine government of President Javier Milei has implemented a new policy allowing automatic entry for Chinese and Dominican Republic nationals who possess a valid US visa, effective Tuesday. This measure, outlined in Resolution 316/2025, is a reciprocal gesture following China's decision in May to waive visa requirements for Argentine citizens for tourism and business purposes until May 31, 2026. The Dominican Republic also exempts Argentines from visa requirements for tourism.

  • Tuesday, July 22nd 2025 - 10:03 UTC

    Pharmaceutical industry crisis deepens Bolivia's plight with measles

    Outdated reference prices is also affecting Bolivia's pharmaceutical industry

    Bolivia, currently grappling with a measles outbreak, has reported a pharmaceutical industry crisis exacerbated by a dollar shortage. Additionally, the country is also dealing with low influenza vaccination rates among vulnerable groups.

  • Monday, July 21st 2025 - 19:48 UTC

    Ecuador extradites alias “Fito” to the United States

    If convicted, Macías could face a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years

    Ecuadorean drug trafficking gang leader José Adolfo Macías Villamar, alias “Fito” was extradited late Sunday to the United States. The head of the “Los Choneros” organization was considered one of the country's most notorious criminals, whose escape from jail in 2024 triggered a violence wave that forced President Daniel Noboa to declare an internal “armed conflict.” Fito was recaptured on June 25.