MercoPress https://en.mercopress.com/ South Atlantic News Agency en Copyright 2026, MercoPress. https://en.mercopress.com/web/img/en/mercopress-logo.gif MercoPress http://en.mercopress.com/ <![CDATA[Brazil completes its legislative process and ratifies the EU–Mercosur deal]]> Brazil’s ratification strengthens Mercosur’s internal momentum after Uruguay and Argentina recently moved the deal through their own parliaments Brazil’s Congress on Wednesday ratified the trade agreement between Mercosur and the European Union, completing the legislative step in the South American bloc’s largest economy. The Senate approved the treaty unanimously, after the lower house cleared the text last week, according to local reporting and wire-service coverage.

]]> Wed, 04 Mar 2026 22:50:00 GMT <![CDATA[Paraguay steps up intelligence and financial controls in the Tri-Border Area amid Middle East tensions]]> Pereira said the focus is on tighter oversight of “illicit financing” and on preventing the “infiltration of extremist groups,” with counterterrorism and anti–money laundering efforts Paraguay’s government has activated intelligence, prevention and financial-control measures in the Tri-Border Area it shares with Argentina and Brazil amid escalating tensions in the Middle East, according to Internal Security Vice Minister Óscar Pereira.

]]> Wed, 04 Mar 2026 03:18:00 GMT <![CDATA[Haddad says Iran conflict should not immediately hit Brazil’s economy]]> Haddad argued that Brazil is in a “very good moment” for attracting investment. He said that even if short-term turbulence emerges, it should not affect macroeconomic variables Brazil’s Finance Minister Fernando Haddad said on Monday that U.S. and Israeli attacks against Iran should not have an immediate impact on Brazil’s macroeconomic indicators, while cautioning that the conflict’s trajectory remains hard to predict and is being monitored “carefully” by his ministry.

]]> Tue, 03 Mar 2026 02:42:00 GMT <![CDATA[Poll shows Flávio Bolsonaro drawing level with Lula in a potential Brazil runoff]]> The poll places Flávio Bolsonaro on 46.3% versus Lula on 46.2% in a potential runoff, a gap well within the margin of error Brazil’s President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and Senator Flávio Bolsonaro are virtually tied in a simulated second-round vote for October’s election, according to an AtlasIntel survey conducted for Bloomberg News — the first poll to show the pair at parity in a head-to-head scenario.

]]> Sat, 28 Feb 2026 02:22:00 GMT <![CDATA[European Commission announces provisional entry into force for the trade pillar of the EU-Mercosur deal]]> “I said before that when they are ready, we will be ready… On that basis, the Commission will now proceed with provisional application,” von der Leyen said European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on Friday announced the provisional application of the trade part of the EU-Mercosur association agreement, following parliamentary ratification in Argentina and Uruguay. The move activates trade commitments ahead of full conclusion of the treaty, which still requires the European Parliament’s consent.

]]> Fri, 27 Feb 2026 10:51:00 GMT <![CDATA[Latin America’s best- and worst-rated presidents in new poll: Bukele the best, Delcy the worst]]> CB Consultora said fieldwork ran from February 10 to 15 across 18 countries, surveying 22,487 people in total El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele tops a February 2026 regional ranking of Latin American leaders’ public approval, according to a survey by Argentina-based CB Consultora Opinión Pública. Bukele posts 72.6% approval and 24.8% disapproval.

]]> Thu, 26 Feb 2026 13:27:00 GMT <![CDATA[Brazil: Brazão brothers sentenced to 76 years for ordering Marielle Franco killing]]> Justices described the killing as a political crime tied to maintaining territorial control and economic gains linked to criminal structures Brazil’s Supreme Federal Court (STF) on Wednesday convicted brothers Domingos Inácio Brazão and João Francisco Inácio Brazão — known as Chiquinho — of ordering the 2018 assassination of Rio de Janeiro city councillor Marielle Franco and her driver, Anderson Gomes. The court imposed 76 years and three months in prison on each brother, in a unanimous ruling in one of the country’s most high-profile political violence cases.

]]> Thu, 26 Feb 2026 07:49:00 GMT <![CDATA[Heavy rains leave at least 28 dead and dozens missing in Brazil’s Minas Gerais]]> Authorities said the disaster combined intense rainfall over a short period with soils already saturated by earlier precipitation Heavy rains and landslides in southeastern Brazil have killed at least 28 people and left more than 40 missing, with the worst impact reported in the state of Minas Gerais, according to local authorities and rescue teams.

]]> Wed, 25 Feb 2026 03:37:00 GMT <![CDATA[Orsi and Lacalle Pou reunite at Uruguayan Air Force event marking arrival of A-29 Super Tucanos]]> Orsi led the ribbon-cutting and handed part of the ribbon to Lacalle Pou, reflecting that the acquisition was launched under the previous administration. Photo: Uruguay's Defense Ministry Uruguayan President Yamandú Orsi and former president Luis Lacalle Pou attended an Air Force ceremony at Base Aérea No. 1 (Route 101, Canelones) for the presentation of the first A-29 Super Tucano aircraft entering service with the Uruguayan Air Force (FAU). Defence Minister Sandra Lazo and former defence minister—now senator—Javier García were also present.

]]> Tue, 24 Feb 2026 23:52:00 GMT <![CDATA[Brazil’s VP Alckmin backs workweek cuts as a global trend]]> Alckmin replied that the discussion should not be rushed and must reflect the diversity of realities across Brazil’s productive sectors Brazil’s Vice President and Industry and Trade Minister Geraldo Alckmin said on Monday that shorter working hours are a “global trend” and that Brazil should debate the issue in depth, as business leaders push to delay discussion of ending the widely used 6x1 work schedule.

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