The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) and IDB Invest will hold the 2025 Annual Meetings of their Boards of Governors in Chile on March 26-30. Economic and financial leaders from the Bank’s 48 member countries and the private sector will address key development challenges and opportunities in the Latin America and Caribbean region, including combating poverty and hunger and harnessing innovation to foster growth and sustainability.
Brazilian Supreme Federal Court (STF) Justice Flávio Dino Sunday added a nail to Congresswoman Carla Zambelli's legal coffin by voting in favor of sentencing her to five years and three months in addition to losing her seat in Parliament for the illegal possession of a firearm and illegal restraint with the use of a firearm, Agência Brasil reported.
Guyana's National Toshaos’ Council (NTC), representing the country's Indigenous Peoples, has rejected Venezuela's claims of holding elections in the disputed Essequibo region on May 25, 2025, as announced by the Bolivarian regime's Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello.
Peru's one-house Congress Friday approved by 79 votes in favor, 11 against, and 20 abstentions a motion of censorship and therefore impeached Interior Minister Juan José Santiváñez from his post citing his failure to address rising citizen insecurity, organized crime, and urban violence. This outcome was spurred by events like the murder of pop musician Paul Flores of the band Armonía 10, which prompted President Dina Boluarte to consider reintroducing the death penalty.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.