Politics

• Saturday, March 22nd 2025 - 10:27 UTC

  Chile's Central Bank keeps benchmark interest rate unchanged

  

  Chile's Central Bank unanimously decided Friday to keep the monetary policy interest rate at 5%, thus responding to market expectations. It was the second consecutive month the rate has been held steady, reflecting caution amid heightened global economic uncertainty driven by geopolitical risks and US tariff announcements under President Donald Trump. These factors have impacted US growth prospects and inflation expectations, prompting the Federal Reserve to pause its rate cuts.

• Saturday, March 22nd 2025 - 10:23 UTC

  Brazil's STF gives three thumbs down to Bolsonarist congresswoman

  

  Brazil's Supreme Federal Court (STF) has already gathered three votes in favor of sentencing staunch Bolsonarist Congresswoman Carla Zambelli to 5 years and 3 months in prison for illegal possession of a firearm and illegal restraint with a firearm, in addition to removing her from Parliament after case rapporteur Gilmar Mendes cast his virtual opinion Friday.

• Saturday, March 22nd 2025 - 10:20 UTC

  OAS to observe Week for People of African Descent in the Americas

  

  The Organization of American States (OAS) will observe the Inter-American Week for People of African Descent in the Americas from March 24-28, 2025, themed “I Have a Dream: Recognition. Justice. Development.” Inspired by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s iconic 1963 speech, the theme honors the history and enduring legacy of slavery and aims to promote dignity, justice, and development for all.

• Saturday, March 22nd 2025 - 09:36 UTC

  Significantly corrupt CFK banned from entering US

  

  The United States declared former Argentine President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner (CFK, 2007-2015), her children Máximo and Florencia Kirchner, and former Planning Minister Julio de Vido significantly corrupt, banning them from entering the country, among other measures, for their involvement in significant corruption during CFK's back-to-back four-year terms.

• Friday, March 21st 2025 - 10:55 UTC

  Boric signs Chile's pension reform into law

  

  Chilean President Gabriel Boric Font Thursday signed into law the new pensions reform introducing changes to the retirement mechanism in force since Augusto Pinochet Ugarte's military dictatorship (1973-1990). The new law will become effective starting in September 2025 and be fully implemented by 2035. It provides for a mixed system with contributions from workers (10%), employers (8.5%), and a new state-backed social security component, in a move to boost pensions by 14% to 35% for 2.8 million senior citizens, thus addressing the low payouts from privately-managed Pension Fund Administrators (AFPs) currently giving about half the country's retirees about US$ 350 monthly when the minimum wage stands at US$ 500.

• Friday, March 21st 2025 - 09:33 UTC

  Argentina's main labor union announces nationwide strike for April 10

  

  Argentina's General Labor Confederation (CGT) announced on Thursday a nationwide strike against the Libertarian Government of President Javier Milei, which will be staged on April 10, following a demonstration the previous day. It will be the third such measure against the current administration after stoppages on Jan. 24 and May 9, 2024.

• Thursday, March 20th 2025 - 13:37 UTC

  Bolivia's oil supply from bad to worse

  

  A lorry carrying crude oil from Chile to Bolivia for refining overturned in Lauca National Park, Arica, Chile, spilling approximately 10,000 liters of oil, thus causing significant environmental contamination. Firefighters initially contained the spill, but damage to flora and fauna is still being assessed by Chile's National Forestry Corporation (Conaf).

• Thursday, March 20th 2025 - 10:51 UTC

  Argentina's Lower House greenlights Milei's IMF emergency decree

  

  Argentina's Lower House Wednesday gave its nod to President Javier Milei's Emergency Decree (DNU) clearing the way for further borrowing from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to reinforce Central Bank reserves and manage debt by 129 votes in favor, 108 against, and 6 abstentions with endorsements from the ruling La Libertad Avanza (LLA) as well as other parties, such as PRO, UCR, Coalición Cívica, Innovación Federal, Producción y Trabajo, and a group of Encuentro Federal lawmakers. Opposition came primarily from the Peronist Unión por la Patria (UxP), leftwing groups, and other minor factions.

• Thursday, March 20th 2025 - 10:23 UTC

  Eduardo Bolsonaro to seek political asylum in the US

  

  Brazilian Congressman Eduardo Bolsonaro, a son of former President Jair Bolsonaro, announced he would be taking a leave from Parliament and remaining in the United States where he intends to seek political asylum at the suggestion of his legal team, who advised him against returning to the country as his freedom could be endangered by whatever Supreme Federal Court (STF) Justice Alexandre De Moraes might decide. He traveled to the US on Feb. 27, 2025, initially for meetings and vacation.

• Thursday, March 20th 2025 - 09:48 UTC

  Chilean Lower House Speaker resigns her post

  

  Chilean Congresswoman Karol Cariola, who is on maternity leave, turned in her resignation as Speaker of the Lower House after private chats in which she criticized President Gabriel Boric Font were leaked. Cariola is also under investigation for alleged influence peddling after she asked former Santiago Mayor and fellow Communist Irací Hassler to help a Chinese businessman “friend,” as other private conversations would have proven. She was also quoted as saying that Boric was “a shitty human being” and the current government, “the worst thing that has happened to us.”