
Authorities from Brazil and China signed this week an agreement to start the studies for the construction of a railway connecting the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, which would bring South America's largest country closer to the Asian giant trade-wise.

Bolivia's Supreme Electoral Tribunal (TSE) rejected on Tuesday all requests from supporters of former President Evo Morales, confirming that he will not be a candidate in the upcoming August 17 presidential elections.

The 49th Ordinary Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community (Caricom) concluded Tuesday in Montego Bay, Jamaica, with a strong commitment to accelerating regional integration, strengthening South-South cooperation, and building a more secure and resilient future.

Followers of former Bolivian President Evo Morales are split between those who will endorse the candidacy of his former proegé Andrónico Rodríguez and those who find the latter a traitor and would rather cast a null vote in next month's elections if Morales himself is not allowed to run, which he should not after srving more than the constitutional limit on mandates.

US President Donald Trump on Tuesday announced a 50% tariff on copper imports and stated he was considering a 200% tariff on pharmaceutical products if manufacturers do not move their operations to the United States. These announcements were made during a cabinet meeting, though no official executive order has yet been published on the White House website.

Following the resignation of Laura Sarabia, Deputy Foreign Minister Rosa Yolanda Villavicencio has been promoted to acting Foreign Minister of Colombia, taking office on Tuesday.

United States top brass worries about the South Atlantic. It is a jumping-off point for Antarctica, where Russia and China boast 15 bases between them, scrambling to lock down resources. It is linked to the Pacific by the Strait of Magellan, the only safe maritime route between the two oceans other than the drought-hit Panama Canal. Traffic through the Strait is surging, as is illegal Chinese fishing on either side. China is pushing infrastructure projects across the region. US top generals have visited Argentina’s Deep South three times in the last two years.

US President Donald Trump announced new tariffs of at least 25% on most goods imported from 14 nations, including Japan and South Korea, effective August 1. These tariffs are part of his “Make America Wealthy Again” initiative, aimed at reducing trade deficits and boosting domestic manufacturing.

According to a list released Monday by the Office of Brazil's Prosecutor-General, the Supreme Federal Court (STF) has convicted 643 people in connection with the Jan. 8, 2023, riots in Brasília, which were deemed an attempted coup d'état.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met Monday with US President Donald Trump at the White House, expressing optimism for peace in Gaza and a nuclear deal with Iran. It was Netanyahu's third visit since the Republican leader returned to power on Jan. 20.