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MercoPress, en Español

Montevideo, March 15th 2026 - 00:26 UTC

Politics

  • Wednesday, May 9th 2018 - 20:19 UTC

    US Dollar rises: Uruguay behind Argentina

    The exchange houses in the center of Montevideo today marked up to 31.70 Uruguayan pesos per dollar, a rise of 2.08% compared to Monday - the highest in five years. Photo: Sebastián Astorga

    After several days up in Argentina, the devaluation of the Argentine peso and the rise of the US dollar have had some impact on the other side of the River Plate, where the exchange houses of downtown Montevideo marked on Wednesday the value of the currency up to 31,70 Uruguayan pesos per dollar, a rise of 2.08% compared to Monday —the highest in five years—. For the Uruguayan government, the country follows the global trend and calls for calm, beyond the noise generated in Argentina, which is beginning a dialogue between the Finance Minister, Nicolás Dujovne, and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in Washington.

  • Wednesday, May 9th 2018 - 08:44 UTC

    Brazilian ex chief Justice will not run for the presidency in October

    That is an essential selling point in this election, the first since a massive legal probe revealed stunning levels of political graft. Scores of powerful businessmen and politicians have been jailed,

    Joaquim Barbosa, a former chief justice on Brazil's Supreme Court with anti-corruption credentials, said on Tuesday he would not run for the presidency in October, despite a growing clamor for his candidacy. Barbosa, the first and only black member of the high court, had in recent weeks positioned himself as a potential center-left candidate. He was attractive to many because of his clean image and background as a judge who battled corruption.

  • Wednesday, May 9th 2018 - 08:39 UTC

    Despite Trump, Europe, Russia and China committed to the Iran nuclear deal

    UK, France and Germany say they “will work with all remaining parties” and urged the US not to obstruct its implementation of the Iran nuclear deal

    Western powers, Russia and China remain committed to the Iran nuclear deal - after the US announced it was withdrawing from the agreement. The UK, France and Germany say they “will work with all remaining parties” and urged the US not to obstruct its implementation and the other signatories to the 2015 deal - Russia and China - have also stressed their continuing support.

  • Wednesday, May 9th 2018 - 07:32 UTC

    Peso storm: Argentina requests a US$ 30bn precautionary credit from IMF

    “This will allow us to face the new global scenario and avoid a crisis like the ones we have faced before in our history,” President Macri said in a televised address

    Argentina asked the International Monetary Fund for financing to help stem a run from the Peso to the US dollar that is sparking a surge in interest rates and threatening to derail the country's economic recovery. The sum requested is estimated between 25 and 30bn dollars, 500% Argentina's IMF quota and could be disbursed in two forms, a flexible credit line or a precautionary credit line.

  • Wednesday, May 9th 2018 - 07:16 UTC

    UK appoints Trade Commissioner for Latin America and the Caribbean

    “With the IMF predicting that 90% of growth will come from outside the EU, we need to look at where the emerging markets are”, said Dr. Liam Fox.

    The United Kingdom's International Trade Secretary, Dr Liam Fox, named a new Trade Commissioner to champion British trade with Latin America and the Caribbean, as the UK prepares for future trade agreements with countries around the world.

  • Wednesday, May 9th 2018 - 07:10 UTC

    Latin American (and global) currencies hit by strong dollar and Trump's policies

    The market’s attention was on President Donald Trump’s decision to withdraw from the international nuclear agreement with Iran, a deal which eased economic

    The dollar hovered near a four-month high on Tuesday, continuing to draw support from higher Treasury yields and upbeat prospects for the U.S. economy, leaving its major rivals such as the Euro struggling and other Latin American currencies including the Argentine peso down sharply.

  • Tuesday, May 8th 2018 - 08:59 UTC

    Guterres praises UK contribution to UN, “Brexit or no Brexit”

    Speaking to BBC Radio 4’s Today program, Guterres warned that the Security Council was “paralyzed” on a number of key issues, such as the war in Syria

    Britain will remain a “very important pillar” of the United Nations after Brexit, the organization's secretary general has said. Antonio Guterres’s comments appear to contradict the fears of some opponents of Brexit that the UK’s withdrawal from the EU might throw into question its position as one of the five permanent members of the UN Security Council, alongside the US, Russia, China and France.

  • Tuesday, May 8th 2018 - 08:48 UTC

    Brazil's first lady saves her drowning dog jumping into a lake fully clothed

    The tiny pooch Picoly was able to get himself into the lake, but he struggled to get back out

    Brazil's first lady has jumped into a lake fully clothed to save her drowning dog. Marcela Temer was walking around the presidential palace in Brasilia with her son when the family's Jack Russell, Picoly, took an interest in the water.

  • Tuesday, May 8th 2018 - 08:42 UTC

    Putin begins his fourth six-year term promising to multiply Russia's' strength and prosperity

    ”As head of state, I will do all I can to multiply the strength and prosperity of Russia,” Putin told a packed room of Russia’s political and culture elite

    Russian President Vladimir Putin was sworn in to a fourth term on Monday, extending his 18-year rule amid promises of continuity in foreign policy and renewed efforts toward building prosperity at home. During his swearing in ceremony at the gilded Andreyevsky Hall of the Grand Kremlin Palace, Putin assured Russians that his rule had “revived pride” in the country.

  • Tuesday, May 8th 2018 - 08:38 UTC

    Italy: president proposes neutral government followed by fresh elections in 2019

    “If the parties were not to reach any agreement, the neutral government should conclude its work at the end of December for elections to follow immediately”

    President Sergio Mattarella on Monday suggested the formation of a 'neutral' government to rule until the end of this year after a third round of consultations failed to produce to way out of Italy's post-election political deadlock.