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MercoPress, en Español

Montevideo, May 19th 2025 - 05:37 UTC

Latin America

  • Thursday, February 27th 2025 - 20:37 UTC

    Bolivia launches industrialized iron complex

    The steel from El Mutún could boost Iranian and Russian developments in the country

    Bolivian President Luis Arce inaugurated the El Mutún complex, the South American country's first industrialized iron facility, which can boost other infrastructure developments, particularly those sponsored by Russia and Iran.

  • Wednesday, February 26th 2025 - 10:11 UTC

    US backs modernization of Guatemalan Pacific port to counterbalance China's expansion

    The Guatemalan alternative also offers the nearby Quetzal Duty-Free Zone just four kilometers from the port

    Guatemala and the United States have announced a US$ 125 million initiative to expand Puerto Quetzal, the largest Pacific port in the Central American country, in a move to counterbalance China's presence in the region through its current prevalence in the Panama Canal in addition to the projected Nicaragua interoceanic crossing already under construction.

  • Tuesday, February 25th 2025 - 10:13 UTC

    Peru and Bolivia sign key bilateral agreements

    We are neighboring countries united by several elements, Sosa said during the ceremony in Lima

    Foreign Ministers Elmer Schialer of Peru and Celinda Sosa of Bolivia signed a series of agreements in Lima on Monday to strengthen ties between the two countries with a focus on cooperation and integration to promote the bilateral agenda. The understandings include a Temporary Border Module at the San Lorenzo (Peru)-Extrema (Bolivia) border crossing and the financing and Biennial Operating Plan 2025-2026 for the Binational Autonomous Authority of Lake Titicaca.

  • Thursday, February 20th 2025 - 18:03 UTC

    Bolivian official warns against disinformation regarding lithium contracts

    “There is disinformation with political intentions, without any doubt,” Alcón argued

    Bolivia's Vice Minister of Communication Gabriela Alcón said this week that spreading misinformation about lithium contracts would result in delays to the mineral's industrialization in her country. She also underlined the importance of transparent communication about the documents currently being negotiated, which are beneficial for the state and involve a small portion of the nation's salt flats. Contracts with Russia's Uranium One Group and China's CBC from Hong Kong are expected to yield significant amounts of lithium carbonate, with investments totaling over US$ 2 billion.

  • Thursday, February 20th 2025 - 09:33 UTC

    Nicaragua introduces constitutional reform granting Ortega additional powers

    Ortega and his wife have ruled Nicaragua for years through fudgy elections

    Nicaragua's Sandinista Government introduced a constitutional reform on Wednesday, granting the ruling couple of Daniel Ortega and Rosario Murillo additional powers. For starters, Vice-President Murillo has been designated as “co-president” and extends presidential terms from five to six years, as Ortega becomes Supreme Chief of the Army, the National Police, and the Ministry of the Interior.

  • Wednesday, February 19th 2025 - 20:41 UTC

    Argentina hands over regional defense leadership to Peru

    Petri (L) passed on the symbolic baton to Peru's Astudillo

    Argentina's Defense Minister Luis Petri Tuesday handed over the pro tempore presidency of the XVII Conference of Defense Ministers of the Americas (CMDA) to his Peruvian colleague Walter Astudillo during a ceremony at the Libertador Building (Army Headquarters) in Buenos Aires.

  • Monday, February 17th 2025 - 09:30 UTC

    Ecuadorean Anti-Drug Lieutenant Colonel slain

    Cedeño was in charge of military operations against drug trafficking and mafias hitting the city of Durán

    Ecuadorean Lieutenant Colonel Porfirio Cedeño was murdered by hitmen near a Guayaquil prison. The commanding officer of the Armed Forces' anti-drug trafficking Special Operations Group took at least 20 shots, according to local media.

  • Saturday, February 15th 2025 - 10:23 UTC

    Potential Argentine travelers advised not to pick Cancún as destination

    Border controls at the Mexican air terminal are getting particularly tough, two couples from Córdoba who were deported explained

    Right after US President Donald Trump upped his country's standards regarding border controls, two Argentine couples came forward this week to explain that they had been deported from Mexico after trying to spend some leisure time on the country's Caribbean beach. They also underlined they were subject to grossly harsh treatment despite having their travel papers in order.

  • Friday, February 14th 2025 - 11:54 UTC

    Uruguay’s outgoing President blocks invitations to Venezuela, Nicaragua, and Cuba for Orsi’s inauguration

    The Frente Amplio argues that Uruguay should invite all countries with which it maintains diplomatic relations, regardless of the nature of their governments.

    Uruguay’s outgoing President Luis Lacalle Pou has refused to sign invitations for representatives from Venezuela, Nicaragua, and Cuba to attend the inauguration of President-elect Yamandú Orsi on March 1. This decision, which follows Lacalle Pou’s longstanding stance against what he calls “dictatorial governments,” highlights a political divide between Uruguay’s current administration and the incoming leftist government.

  • Friday, February 14th 2025 - 10:13 UTC

    Uruguay tops Transparency International regional rankings

    Criminal organizations exploit the region's weak institutions, the 2024 report found. Photo: Sebastián Astorga

    With a score of 76 points, Uruguay topped Transparency International's latest Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) for the Americas - 2024 issue - released earlier this week. Amid widespread regional declines, Uruguay outperformed Canada and Barbados thanks to robust democratic institutions, high transparency, strong citizen participation, and effective environmental governance. This achievement came during President Luis Lacalle Pou's last month in office. Starting March 1, he will be succeeded by Yamandú Orsi, of the opposition Broad Front (Frente Amplio - FA).