Get our news on your inbox! x

Remember me Forgot password

MercoPress, en Español

Montevideo, July 12th 2026 - 12:22 UTC

Politics

  • Monday, May 30th 2016 - 07:48 UTC

    At the 100th anniversary of Verdun, Hollande and Merkel appeal to unity

    Hollande and Merkel said just as France and Germany had put aside their shared history to become close allies, EU must now pull together to deal current challenges. (Pic EPA)

    French President Francois Hollande and German Chancellor Angela Merkel appealed on Sunday for Europe to unite to face its current challenges as they marked the 100th anniversary of Verdun, the longest battle of World War I. The 300 days of fighting in northeast France were one of the bloodiest battles of the war, claiming more than 300,000 lives before France emerged victorious.

  • Monday, May 30th 2016 - 07:36 UTC

    Venezuela's public sector will only work Mondays and Tuesdays for another two weeks

    President Maduro's administration blames the power shortage on a drought caused by the El Niño weather phenomenon

    Venezuela's government on Saturday extended by two weeks a decree reducing the public sector workweek to Mondays and Tuesdays in a bid to tackle the oil-rich country's electricity crisis. The enforced leave was first announced in late April, a drastic move for a government also grappling with an economic crisis that has Venezuelans queuing for hours to buy scarce supplies.

  • Monday, May 30th 2016 - 07:13 UTC

    Chilean rescue of Shackleton's crew from Elephant Island marked at British residence

    Defense Under-Secretary Marcos Robledo, Ambassador Fiona Clouder, and Foreign Affairs Secretary Heraldo Muñoz.

    A networking reception was held in the British residence on Wednesday 25 May to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the rescue by the Chilean pilot Luis Pardo, of the Armada de Chile, of Ernest Shackleton’s crew from Elephant Island.

  • Monday, May 30th 2016 - 07:03 UTC

    Australia enforces low sulfur fuel regulations: Carnival cruise fined

    The Pacific Jewel, breached new low sulfur fuel regulations in Sydney Harbor, following a fuel sample taken by the ship’s crew and provided to EPA officers

    Australia’s Environment Protection Authority (EPA) has fined Carnival PLC US$15,000 after one of its P&O Cruises ships, the Pacific Jewel, breached new low sulfur fuel regulations in Sydney Harbor. A fuel sample taken by the ship’s crew and provided to EPA officers while the ship was berthed at the White Bay Cruise Terminal on February 26, 2016 had a sulfur level of 0.293%, nearly three times the 0.1% sulfur limit.

  • Monday, May 30th 2016 - 06:49 UTC

    Petrobras faces “tens of billions of dollars” in claims in US court; trial opens in September

    “We are seeking multiple tens of billions of dollars,” says lead counsel Jeremy Lieberman of Pomerantz, New York law firm leading the charge against Petrobras.

    Petrobras will finally get its day in a U.S. court on Sept. 19 in a trial that pits 18 former executives and 13 investment banks, including J.P. Morgan Securities, against U.S. and U.K. investors. Claimants are seeking “tens of billions of dollars” in losses from the Brazilian oil and gas giant.

  • Sunday, May 29th 2016 - 14:28 UTC

    World health experts call for Rio Olympics to be postponed or moved given Zika spread fears

    “The Brazilian strain of Zika virus harms health in ways that science has not observed before,” the letter said.

    More than 100 health experts have called for the Rio Olympic Games to be postponed or moved because of fears that the event could speed up the spread of the Zika virus around the world, according to a public letter published online.

  • Sunday, May 29th 2016 - 12:58 UTC

    Chile has cleared 140 of 194 minefields; by 2020 the territory should entirely free

    “The number of minefields in Chile was 194, it's down to 140, which means 54 are pending, in the regions of Antofagasta and Magallanes”, revealed Colonel Ventura.

    Chile has cleared 72% of minefields in its territory, and expects to have finished the task by March 2020, according to the head of the country's De-mining Committee Army Colonel Rodrigo Ventura.

  • Saturday, May 28th 2016 - 08:25 UTC

    Net migration to UK, 333.000 in 2015, provides more ammo to the Leave campaign

    “The system has spun out of control,” Brexit campaigner Boris Johnson, the former London mayor said in a statement.

    Campaigners wanting Britain to leave the European Union warned that immigration has “spun out of control”, as the new mayor of London launched his campaign for the country to stay in the bloc. Four weeks before the so-called Brexit referendum on June 23, the Office for National Statistics published data putting net migration - the difference between those arriving and leaving Britain - at 333,000 last year.

  • Saturday, May 28th 2016 - 08:04 UTC

    Operation Condor condemns Argentine ex dictator and 14 top military officers

    Bignone, 88, the highest ranking figure on trial, was sentenced to 20 years in jail. Fourteen of the remaining 16 defendants got eight to 25 years behind bars.

    Former Argentine dictator Reynaldo Bignone and 14 other ex-military officials were found guilty by an Argentine court on Friday of conspiring to kidnap and assassinate leftist dissidents as part of the Operation Condor program. Bignone, 88, the highest ranking figure on trial, was sentenced to 20 years in jail. Fourteen of the remaining 16 defendants got eight to 25 years behind bars. Two were found not guilty.

  • Saturday, May 28th 2016 - 07:27 UTC

    WHO public health advice regarding the Olympics and Zika virus

    WHO advises pregnant women not to travel to areas with ongoing Zika virus transmission.

    Based on current assessment, cancelling or changing the location of the 2016 Olympics will not significantly alter the international spread of Zika virus. Brazil is one of almost 60 countries and territories which to-date report continuing transmission of Zika by mosquitoes. People continue to travel between these countries and territories for a variety of reasons. The best way to reduce risk of disease is to follow public health travel advice.