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MercoPress, en Español

Montevideo, June 9th 2025 - 11:22 UTC

Latin America

  • Friday, May 12th 2023 - 10:59 UTC

    Brazil asks US to help Argentine with IMF talks

    Haddad said he feared the far right could gain momentum in Argentina if the economic crisis is not solved promptly

    The Brazilian Government of President Luiz Inàcio Lula Da Silva Thursday asked the US Treasury Department to exert some pressure on the International Monetary Fund (IMF) -of which the US is the largest shareholder- to help Argentina overcome the current crisis caused by the drought while still bound by commitments signed with the world entity, which are holding back the economic development of the South American country.

  • Friday, May 12th 2023 - 10:16 UTC

    Ecuador and China reach FTA

    The deal “puts Ecuador on the map of Asia,” Prado said

    Ecuador and China signed a free trade agreement (FTA) whereby the South American country will have access to a market of 1.4 billion people, it was reported in Quito on Wednesday. It was the second such pact signed under the administration of President Guillermo Lasso, following the one reached with Costa Rica.

  • Thursday, May 11th 2023 - 10:41 UTC

    Colombian president wants compulsory military service to end

    Petro also wants to increase the wages of the military personnel

    Colombian President Gustavo Petro wants his country to have more professional armed forces and thus bring the compulsory military service to an end, it was reported Wednesday in Bogota. The head of state also insisted on further funding the activity. In September last year, then Interior Minister Alfonso Prada had spoken about the government's plan to replace mandatory military service with a voluntary one. In the last five years, 460,113 young people between 18 and 24 years of age served compulsorily in the Armed Forces.

  • Wednesday, May 10th 2023 - 10:07 UTC

    Ecuador: Congress to move on with President's impeachment trial

    It will be the first time in 44 years of democratic life in Ecuador that a president will face a possible impeachment

    Ecuador's President Guillermo Lasso might be removed from office after the National Assembly approved Tuesday by 88 votes in favor of a motion to call for his impeachment for the alleged crime of misappropriation of public funds, it was reported in Quito.

  • Monday, May 8th 2023 - 10:59 UTC

    Chilean and Venezuelan authorities cooperate to repatriate stranded migrants

    “There is a firm determination of the government of President Gabriel Boric to take charge of migration in all its senses, in an orderly and safe manner,” Sanzana explained

    Venezuelan authorities Sunday flew back 115 migrants who were stranded in northern Chile through the Plan Vuelta a la Patria (Return to the Homeland Plan), it was announced by Caracas. The Foreign Ministry said on Twitter that: “115 Venezuelan men and women are happily returning to their homes thanks to a new day of the Plan Vuelta a la Patria,” an initiative in force since 2018.

  • Monday, May 8th 2023 - 10:45 UTC

    At least 27 miners killed in Peruvian mine fire

    There were people working at a depth of 80 meters when the short circuit took place

    At least 27 miners were killed Saturday in a mine fire in Arequipa, Peruvian authorities confirmed.

  • Saturday, May 6th 2023 - 11:16 UTC

    Ecuador bonds in debt for nature swap includes promise to upgrade Galapagos Islands conservation

    With Ecuador in severe financial turmoil, the bonds were trading well below face value as investors considered non-repayment to be likely

    In a debt for nature swap, Credit Suisse has announced buying Ecuadorian bonds worth US$1.6 billion. With Ecuador in severe financial turmoil, the bonds were trading well below face value as investors considered non-repayment to be likely. Effectively, Ecuador has now bought its own debt back at a knock-down price via a fresh loan from Credit Suisse.

  • Saturday, May 6th 2023 - 11:00 UTC

    Latin America needs to take climate change seriously, says Moody's

    Brazil, Mexico, and Argentina are the leading CO2 emitters in the region, accounting for about 70 % of the GDP generated in the region

    According to a Moody's Analytics report published this week, Latin America will lose productivity to climate change if it does not take swift action. The document titled “Latin America under the risk of climate change” explained that governments, companies, and financial institutions should adopt preventive measures to reduce carbon emissions, in order to mitigate eventual damages caused by climate change.

  • Saturday, May 6th 2023 - 10:51 UTC

    Peruvian Congress shelves case against Boluarte

    Forty-nine people have been killed by law enforcement officers since Boluarte took office on Dec. 7

    Despite this week's report by the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) condemning the killings of demonstrators, Peru's one-house Congress Friday decided to shelve the case against President Dina Boluarte and several cabinet members, it was reported in Lima.

  • Friday, May 5th 2023 - 11:15 UTC

    IACHR speaks of extrajudicial executions and a massacre in Peru

    President Dina Boluarte insisted on denying any responsibility for the deaths of the demonstrators

    The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) filed a report this week mentioning extrajudicial executions in Peru and using the word “massacre” in reference to police repression against demonstrators following the impeachment of then-President Pedro Castillo Terrones on Dec. 7.