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MercoPress, en Español

Montevideo, July 14th 2025 - 02:11 UTC

Politics

  • Wednesday, August 2nd 2023 - 10:56 UTC

    Colombia: Petro's son denies charges and pledges to help Judiciary

    Nicolás Petro's trial began shortly before his father's Aug. 7 first anniversary in office

    Colombian President Gustavo Petro's 37-year-old son Nicolás Petro Burgos Tuesday did not accept the money laundering charges against him and pledged to help the Judiciary investigate corruption in the South American country's political campaigns. It is the first time in Colombian history that the son of a sitting president is arrested and accused of receiving illicit funds for the campaign, which has led the opposition to request an investigation into the head of state.

  • Wednesday, August 2nd 2023 - 10:55 UTC

    Argentina: “Blue” dollar keeps soaring as elections loom over

    These figures came after Sergio Massa's latest measures to bolster the BCRA reserves

    The “blue” (a euphemism for “black market”) dollar rose another AR$ 10 Tuesday, reaching AR$ 560, its highest quotation ever, less than two weeks ahead of the Open, Simultaneous, and Mandatory Primary (PASO) elections in Argentina, it was reported in Buenos Aires. The gap with the wholesale (official) dollar stood at 102.79%. So far in 2023, the US currency in the parallel market accumulates an increase of AR$ 214 after closing 2022 at AR$343.

  • Wednesday, August 2nd 2023 - 10:37 UTC

    Scottish MP who broke Covid lockdown rules loses her seat on a constituents vote

    In September 2020 Ferrier travelled to London and spoke in the Commons while awaiting the result of a Covid test, then got a train home after testing positive. She was charged with reckless conduct

    A Scotland independent Member of Parliament who was suspended for breaking Covid lockdown rules has lost her seat after a vote by constituents.

  • Wednesday, August 2nd 2023 - 10:35 UTC

    Ten killed in controversial police raid in Brazilian State of São Paulo

    “I am extremely satisfied with the police action,” said Governor De Freitas.

    Brazilian authorities in the State of São Paulo confirmed ten people had died in a law enforcement operation following the murder of 30-year-old Military Police officer Patrick Bastos Reis. Commissioner Antônio Sucupira of Guarujá's Civil Police said two other people died Monday after Governor Tarcísio Gomes de Freitas had spoken of eight casualties. Ten others were arrested, including the suspected shooter, it was reported.

  • Wednesday, August 2nd 2023 - 10:30 UTC

    Pacific Alliance: Peru takes over pro tempore presidency

    Since its beginnings in 2011, the Pacific Alliance constituted “an integration mechanism that was pragmatic, free of politicization,” Gervasi said

    During a ceremony held Tuesday in Santiago, Peruvian Foreign Minister Ana Cecilia Gervasi received the pro tempore presidency of the Pacific Alliance from her Chilean counterpart Alberto van Klaveren, thus bringing to an end the controversy sparked when Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador (AMLO) refused to acknowledge Dina Boluarte as the legitimate head of state following Pedro Castillo Terrones' impeachment on Dec. 7 last.

  • Tuesday, August 1st 2023 - 20:26 UTC

    NASA Chief says Argentine astronaut may soon travel to International Space Station

    Nelson visited the CETT facilities Monday

    NASA's Administrator Bill Nelson said Monday while visiting the Teófilo Tabanera Space Center (CETT) of the National Space Activities Commission (Conae), in the town of Falda del Cañete in the Argentine province of Córdoba, that an astronaut from the South American country might soon be traveling to the International Space Station.

  • Tuesday, August 1st 2023 - 18:54 UTC

    Major purge in China's nuclear arsenal command; Xi consolidating power and eliminating corruption?

    This is the biggest unplanned shake-up in Beijing's military leadership in almost a decade.

    Continuing with recent changes Beijing has replaced two leaders of an elite unit managing its nuclear arsenal, triggering speculation of a purge. General Li Yuchao who headed the People's Liberation Army's (PLA) Rocket Force unit and his deputy had “disappeared” for months.

  • Tuesday, August 1st 2023 - 14:47 UTC

    The Niger military coup, a new version of the Great Game?

    Ex president Mohamed Bazoum of Niger is now a prisoner in his own palace, overthrown by the head of the Presidential Guard, Gen. Abdourahamane Tchiani

    By Gwynne Dyer

    If you are a democratically elected leader in one of Africa’s Sahel countries — let’s say, Niger — and you suspect that the army is plotting to overthrow you, what’s the best countermeasure? Should you:

  • Tuesday, August 1st 2023 - 12:10 UTC

    UK launches ambitious North Sea oil and gas development licensing to ensure energy security

    “Now more than ever, it's vital that we bolster our energy security and capitalize on that independence to deliver more affordable, clean energy,” said PM Sunak

    The United Kingdom is to grant hundreds of new licenses to seek and drill for gas and oil in the North Sea as it tries to bolster its energy security, the government said on Monday.

  • Tuesday, August 1st 2023 - 10:21 UTC

    Extradition of Mapuche leader to Chile granted, but appeals will ensue

    Jones-Huala was arrested in the town of El Bolsón earlier this year

    A federal judge in Bariloche Monday ruled in favor of extraditing Mapuche Ancestral Resistance (RAM) leader Facundo Jones-Huala to Chile under the recommendation that the days he spent in detention in Argentina be counted as time served.