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MercoPress, en Español

Montevideo, June 5th 2025 - 13:02 UTC

Politics

  • Saturday, March 22nd 2025 - 11:11 UTC

    Venezuela is bluffing about Essequibo elections, Guyana's TNC argues

    Venezuela's threat is handled by Georgetown at the highest level on a daily basis, Jagdeo said

    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.

  • Saturday, March 22nd 2025 - 11:09 UTC

    Peru's interior minister impeached by Congress

    Boluarte has 72 hours to appoint a replacement

    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.

  • Saturday, March 22nd 2025 - 10:27 UTC

    Chile's Central Bank keeps benchmark interest rate unchanged

    “Uncertainty about the outlook for the global economy has increased significantly since the previous meeting,” the Central Bank panel admitted

    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.

  • Saturday, March 22nd 2025 - 10:23 UTC

    Brazil's STF gives three thumbs down to Bolsonarist congresswoman

    Zambelli's virtual trial is scheduled to end next Friday

    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.

  • Saturday, March 22nd 2025 - 10:20 UTC

    OAS to observe Week for People of African Descent in the Americas

    The consequences of intercontinental slave trafficking are still impacting modern-day society

    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.

  • Saturday, March 22nd 2025 - 09:36 UTC

    Significantly corrupt CFK banned from entering US

    The sanctions also apply to former Planning Minister Julio de Vido, current Congressman Máximo Kirchner, and his sister Florencia Kirchner

    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.

  • Friday, March 21st 2025 - 10:55 UTC

    Boric signs Chile's pension reform into law

    Approving a reform to the AFP system “cost a lot,” Boric admitted

    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.

  • Friday, March 21st 2025 - 09:33 UTC

    Argentina's main labor union announces nationwide strike for April 10

    The CGT will also march before Congress the day before alongside retirees seeking pension updates to cope with inflation

    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.

  • Thursday, March 20th 2025 - 13:37 UTC

    Bolivia's oil supply from bad to worse

    Tumiri urged protesters to allow passage

    A lorry carrying crude oil from Chile to Bolivia for refining overturned in Lauca National Park, Arica, Chile, spilling approximately 10,000 liters of oil, thus causing significant environmental contamination. Firefighters initially contained the spill, but damage to flora and fauna is still being assessed by Chile's National Forestry Corporation (Conaf).

  • Thursday, March 20th 2025 - 10:51 UTC

    Argentina's Lower House greenlights Milei's IMF emergency decree

    Most lawmakers “understood the mandate of the ballot boxes,” Casa Rosada said after the outcome

    Argentina's Lower House Wednesday gave its nod to President Javier Milei's Emergency Decree (DNU) clearing the way for further borrowing from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to reinforce Central Bank reserves and manage debt by 129 votes in favor, 108 against, and 6 abstentions with endorsements from the ruling La Libertad Avanza (LLA) as well as other parties, such as PRO, UCR, Coalición Cívica, Innovación Federal, Producción y Trabajo, and a group of Encuentro Federal lawmakers. Opposition came primarily from the Peronist Unión por la Patria (UxP), leftwing groups, and other minor factions.