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MercoPress, en Español

Montevideo, January 18th 2026 - 07:08 UTC

Latin America

  • Friday, August 24th 2018 - 09:06 UTC

    Latin American growth lowered to 1.5% this year, in a “complex global scenario”

    Latin America's economies posted solid growth of 6.2% in 2010, but then tipped into a two-year regional recession in 2015

    Latin America's economic growth is set to come in lower than expected this year, as US protectionism and widespread wariness of emerging markets put a drag on the region, a UN panel said Thursday. The Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) slashed its growth forecast for the region by 0.7 point to 1.5%, saying the “complex global scenario” had dimmed the outlook since its last report in April.

  • Thursday, August 23rd 2018 - 09:12 UTC

    The democratic challenge to dictatorships and xenophobia in Latin America

    The panel discussed the democratic clauses of the different institutional bodies in the continent against the erosion of the rule of law

    During the conference entitled “The democratic challenge to the autocracies of the 21st century in Latin America,” organized by the Center for the Opening and Development of Latin America (CADAL) on Tuesday at the Senate of Uruguay, the Government of Venezuela was described as a “dictatorship” and it was exhorted that the democratic governments of the region, especially the Uruguayan government, not be indifferent or “accomplices” against today’s Latin America’s autocratic governments.

  • Wednesday, August 22nd 2018 - 06:59 UTC

    OAS Observation Mission Visits Brazil ahead of October elections

    Chief of Mission, ex Costa Rica president Laura Chinchilla is scheduled to meet with Brazilian head of state Michel Temer in Planalto Palace

    The Chief of the Electoral Observation Mission of the Organization of American States (EOM/OAS) to the October 7 general elections in Brazil, the former President of Costa Rica Laura Chinchilla, arrived in Brasilia to learn about the advances made in the organization of the election. This is the first time that the OAS has observed an electoral process in Brazil.

  • Tuesday, August 21st 2018 - 08:05 UTC

    Venezuelan refugees restarted pouring into northern Brazil

    Fearful Venezuelan immigrants lined up in smaller numbers to enter Brazil at the only border crossing between after violent protests by Brazilian residents

    Brazil's government has not ruled out closing its border with Venezuela at Pacaraima, in Roraima state, but sees obstacles to doing so because of international treaties it has signed, Political Affairs Minister Carlos Marun said on Monday.

  • Monday, August 20th 2018 - 07:08 UTC

    Brazil sending troops to Venezuela border following clashes between locals and refugees

    The deployment was announced after dozens of Brazilians in Pacaraima attacked makeshift immigrant camps a local merchant was stabbed, beaten and robbed

    Brazil is sending additional troops to its northern frontier after residents of one of its border towns attacked Venezuelan immigrants, forcing hundreds of them to flee back into their country. Brazil's Ministry of Public Security said over the weekend it would send an additional 60 soldiers to Roraima on Monday, reinforcing a contingent already operating in the northern state.

  • Thursday, August 16th 2018 - 08:52 UTC

    New president takes office in Paraguay pledging to combat poverty and corruption

    Abdo Benitez, 46, promised to combat poverty and entrenched corruption, and urged Paraguayans to “look toward the future and not remain stuck in the past”

    Mario Abdo Benitez, “Marito”, took over as Paraguay's new president on Wednesday, replacing a seemingly disgruntled Horacio Cartes, who left the inauguration ceremony before it finished. Abdo Benitez, 46, promised to combat poverty and entrenched corruption, and urged Paraguayans to “look toward the future and not remain stuck in the past” as he took the oath of office to start a five-year term.

  • Monday, August 13th 2018 - 06:38 UTC

    Mexican incoming president pledges drastic cuts in privileges and personal security

    Lopez Obrador said he will abandon the secret service-style protection used by his predecessor in favor of a security detail of 20 unarmed men and women

    Mexican president-elect Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador said he will abandon the secret service-style protection used by his predecessor in favor of a security detail of 20 unarmed men and women, including lawyers, doctors and engineers.

  • Friday, August 10th 2018 - 06:51 UTC

    Brazil and Argentina markets hit by domestic and overseas uncertainties

    Chinese state media accused the United States of having a “mobster mentality,” and WTO indicated global trade in goods is likely to lose momentum in the 3Q

    Major Latin American currencies fell against the dollar on Thursday as global trade tensions strengthened the greenback and political uncertainty in Brazil and Argentina. Latin America's largest economy heads into a presidential election in two months time and in Argentina a major corruption scandal is unfolding.

  • Friday, August 10th 2018 - 06:36 UTC

    Another record year of murders in Brazil: 63.880 in 2017

    In 2017, Brazil had a murder rate of 30.8 per 100,000 people, up from 29.9 in 2016, according to data published by the Brazilian Public Security Yearbook 2018

    Brazil had a record number of murders last year, with homicides rising 3.7% from 2016 to 63,880 according to a study released on Thursday, just months before a presidential election in which violence has become a key issue.

  • Thursday, August 9th 2018 - 13:14 UTC

    Justice denies request to close a northern state border with Venezuela

    Since Venezuela’s economic deterioration and nationwide food shortages, Venezuelans have fled to neighboring countries in efforts to escape the crisis

    A judge on the Supreme Federal Court of Brazil denied a request by the regional government of Roraima to close the nation’s border with Venezuela. Roraima is Brazil’s northernmost state and its authorities claimed the persistent influx of Venezuelan immigrants has overburdened the state’s public services.