Get our news on your inbox! x

Remember me Forgot password

MercoPress, en Español

Montevideo, February 14th 2026 - 07:01 UTC

Politics

  • Friday, May 30th 2025 - 10:55 UTC

    Argentine gov't announces “new” voluntary military service

    The main difference with the previously existing one is a change in the age bracket of candidates from 18-24 to 18-28 years

    Argentina's Libertarian administration of President Javier Milei announced Thursday the creation of a Voluntary Military Service program for people aged 18–28, managed by the Ministries of Defense and Human Capital. The program aims to instill values like discipline, effort, and patriotism while offering training in trades such as cooking, mechanics, and security, alongside opportunities to complete compulsory education. It seeks to enhance personal and professional development and strengthen defense capabilities.

  • Friday, May 30th 2025 - 10:44 UTC

    Orsi's diplomatic picks stir Montevideo's Senate

    Orsi of the Broad Front chose high-profile members of the previous opposition government for diplomatic posts, including former VP Argimón

    The Uruguayan Government of President Yamandú Orsi chose former Deputy Foreign Minister Carolina Ache as ambassador to Portugal and former Vice-President Beatriz Argimón as ambassador to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). These appointments, requiring Senate approval, faced strong opposition from the opposition National Party (PN) and Colorado Party (PC).

  • Friday, May 30th 2025 - 10:23 UTC

    Falklands, changes to Land Values and Service Provision Policy approved

    A uniform un-serviced land rate of £20 per square meter be set for all industrial and mixed-use land, aligning it with the residential land value.

    Changes to the Falkland Islands Government’s (FIG) Land Values and Service Provision policy were agreed by Executive Council this week. The Land Values and Service Provision policy sets out how FIG calculates the price it sells serviced plots, the price for un-serviced land and details the contribution to future servicing.

  • Friday, May 30th 2025 - 10:14 UTC

    School shooting leaves at least 3 wounded in southern Chile

    The attackers fled the scene aboard a “lead-colored” vehicle, Carabineros General Renzo Miccono explained

    At least three students were injured in a shooting at the Nuevos Horizontes school in San Pedro de la Paz, in Chile's southern Biobío Region. The attackers, two women and a man, entered the school hooded, targeted an 18-year-old pupil on the second floor, and then wounded two brothers (ages 17 and 18) in the parking lot. Authorities believe previous conflicts between the victims and people outside the school could be linked to the incident. Carabineros are investigating and have strong leads to identify and arrest the attackers.

  • Friday, May 30th 2025 - 10:06 UTC

    Lula announces port of Itajaí's expansion

    We want to raise the standard of living of the Brazilian people, Lula said

    Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva announced Thursday a R$ 844 million (US$ 148 million) investment to modernize and expand the Port of Itajaí in the southern State of Santa Catarina, under federal management since January 2025. The funds aim to enhance safety and logistical efficiency, increase port capacity to boost cargo handling, create jobs, and strengthen the local economy

  • Thursday, May 29th 2025 - 20:05 UTC

    Rubio announces visa restrictions for foreigners who exert censorship

    In some cases, family members of the offenders may also be affected by the restrictions, Rubio said

    The US government is taking action to protect free speech by introducing a new visa restriction policy targeting foreign officials who engage in censorship of protected expression, Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced Wednesday.

  • Thursday, May 29th 2025 - 10:56 UTC

    Chile pulls military attachés from Tel Aviv Embassy

    Diplomatic relations with Israel are not severed, Van Klaveren explained

    Chilean President Gabriel Boric Font defended his decision to withdraw the country's military attachés from Tel Aviv, citing the severe humanitarian crisis in Gaza due to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's military actions following the terrorist group Hamas' Oct. 7, 2023, attacks.

  • Thursday, May 29th 2025 - 10:11 UTC

    Trump tells UK to get rid of unsightly windmills and open North Sea to modern drilling

    “The U.K. is making a very big mistake. Open up the North Sea. Get rid of Windmills!” President-elect Trump posted in early January on Truth Social

    President Donald Trump on Truth Social has strongly criticized UK’s energy policy of pursuing renewables and further taxing North Sea oil and gas operators. In a piece published in OilPrice he suggests getting rid of “costly and unsightly windmills”.

  • Thursday, May 29th 2025 - 09:46 UTC

    YPFB adds new Chilean port to boost fuel imports

    Gallardo blamed the Legislative Assembly's blocking of foreign credit for the shortage

    Bolivia’s state oil company, Yacimientos Petrolíferos Fiscales Bolivianos (YPFB), began importing diesel and gasoline through the Chilean port of Mejillones to address a months-long fuel crisis. This new route complements the port of Arica and diversifies imports from four countries, ensuring 100% of market demand is met with 70 million liters of fuel.

  • Thursday, May 29th 2025 - 09:36 UTC

    Musk quits full-time DOGE position to focus on private business

    “My scheduled time as a Special Government Employee comes to an end,” Musk reckoned

    South African-born tycoon Elon Musk announced his departure from the US President Donald Trump's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) Wednesday as his 130-day term as a special government employee concluded. While thanking the Republican leader for the opportunity to reduce wasteful spending, Musk expressed his disappointment with the administration's spending bill, stating it undermines DOGE’s mission to narrow the budget deficit.