Lula da Silva returns to full daily activity…and problems
Wednesday, January 29,2025,11:47

Brazilian president Lula da Silva received medical discharge and can return to normal every day routine, including travelling and physical activities, as informed by a release from the Syrian-Lebanese Hospital in Brasilia. .. read more..

IMF mission leaves Buenos Aires but talks will continue
Wednesday, January 29,2025,10:39

The International Monetary Fund's (IMF) team rounded up its mission to Buenos Aires Monday saying that negotiations for a new loan will continue. IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva's envoys held meetings with Economy Minister Luis Toto Caputo and other high-ranking officials from the libertarian administration, after which they reckoned that some progress had been made. .. read more..

Chile's Central Bank keeps benchmark interest rate at 5%
Wednesday, January 29,2025,09:56

Chile's Central Bank Council unanimously voted Tuesday in favor of keeping the monetary policy interest rate (TPM) at 5% for the second month in a row amid high volatility in global financial markets after the recent change of government in the United States. Tuesday's decision halted a downward trend that had been going on for months. .. read more..

Taxing the "super rich" pays off for Brazil's gov't
Wednesday, January 29,2025,09:17

Brazilian Finance Minister Fernando Haddad's policy of taxing the "super rich" yielded unprecedented returns of R$ 20.6 billion (US$ 3.32 billion) to the South American country's coffers in 2024, Federal Revenue Secretary Robinson Barreirinhas confirmed Tuesday. The strategy focuses on exclusive investment funds and offshore assets, it was explained. .. read more..

Trump's gov't supports Guyana's case regarding Essequibo dispute
Wednesday, January 29,2025,08:36

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Guyanese President Dr. Irfaan Ali held a telephone conversation earlier this week during which the new Republican administration of President Donald Trump ratified its steadfast support of Guyana’s territorial integrity “in the face of Nicolás Maduro and his cronies’ bellicose actions” regarding sovereignty over the Essequibo region, Spokesperson Tammy Bruce confirmed. They also reviewed the ongoing illegal migration crisis. .. read more..

Why does Trump want the Panama Canal?
Wednesday, January 29,2025,07:41

Most cargo passing through the canal originates from or is destined for the US, which completed construction of it in the early 20th century. .. read more..

US senators examine China’s influence over Panama Canal
Tuesday, January 28,2025,23:23

Treaty allows for canal’s takeover, witnesses tell Senate panel, but they provide no evidence Chinese port operations breach neutrality. .. read more..

Sheinbaum not attending Celac Tegucigalpa Summit
Tuesday, January 28,2025,22:39

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum admitted Tuesday that she would not be attending the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (Celac) "emergency" Jan. 30 summit called for by Honduras' Xiomara Castro to discuss the ongoing mass deportations by the United States' newly-inaugurated Republican administration that has been fiddling with the idea of imposing 25% tariffs on Mexico and Canada. .. read more..

Argentina to build fence along Bolivian border
Tuesday, January 28,2025,10:55

Authorities in the Argentine province of Salta called for tenders to build a “perimeter fence” 200 meters long and 2.5 meters high on the border with Bolivia along the Bermejo River between the Aguas Blancas bus terminal and the immigration checkpoint, in a move to keep irregular aliens and drugs from entering the country. .. read more..

Brazil launches Sustainability Pact for ports and airports
Tuesday, January 28,2025,09:39

Brazil's Federal Ministry of Ports and Airports launched an unprecedented sustainability policy for these facilities as well as for waterways in a move to encourage sustainable practices, promote transparency, and strengthen social inclusion. .. read more..

Colombia’s ‘webcam models’ denounce abuse in online sex industry
Tuesday, January 28,2025,09:36

They say studio owners in Colombia often prey on women from poor backgrounds, single mothers and the less educated. .. read more..

Things back to normal but not for Colombians seeking a US visa
Tuesday, January 28,2025,08:47

The US State Department confirmed Monday that delays were still to be expected by Colombian nationals seeking a visa to travel to the United States after the incident between Presidents Donald Trump and Gustavo Petro over the weekend regarding two deportation flights. .. read more..

Lula and Putin discuss ongoing world affairs
Tuesday, January 28,2025,08:19

Presidents Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva of Brazil and Vladimir Putin of Russia held a telephone conversation Monday during which they discussed ongoing global affairs and reviewed the bilateral agenda. In addition, the South American leader accepted the invitation to attend the Victory Day celebrations in Moscow in May, marking the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II. Both leaders also welcomed Indonesia's joining the BRICS group as a full member. .. read more..

Milei’s 2025 challenges: Between Argentina's mid-term elections and the IMF
Tuesday, January 28,2025,07:41

By Alejandro Werner (*) - The author thanks Ignacio Albe, Olivier Blanchard, Martina Copelman, Joseph Gagnon, José de Gregorio, Patrick Honohan, Douglas Irwin, Maurice Obstfeld, and other PIIE colleagues for their comments and suggestions. .. read more..

Investigation launched into attack against Venezuela's Embassy in La Paz
Monday, January 27,2025,21:42

Bolivian Foreign Minister Celinda Sosa said her country's government had launched an investigation into the attack against Venezuela's Embassy in La Paz. "From the Government of the Plurinational State of Bolivia we strongly repudiate these vandalism acts that violate the rights and immunities of Venezuelan diplomats," she stressed in a statement published on social media. .. read more..

Chinese envoy to Colombia promotes bilateral ties as Bogota clashes with Wash...
Monday, January 27,2025,21:22

As US President Donald Trump and Colombian President Gustavo Petro spar over deportations, Beijing’s ambassador underscores good relations. .. read more..

Chinese envoy to Colombia promotes bilateral ties as Bogotá clashes with Wash...
Monday, January 27,2025,21:22

As US President Donald Trump and Colombian President Gustavo Petro spar over deportations, Beijing’s ambassador underscores good relations. .. read more..

Argentine SME exports grow 17.3% in 2024
Monday, January 27,2025,14:26

Argentina's Chamber of Medium-sized Enterprises (CAME) released a report this weekend showing an interannual growth in exports of 17.3% measured in US dollars, with total sales amounting to US$ 10.032 billion, which represented 12.5% of the country's shipments. In addition, if measured in volume, SMEs exported 8.5 million tons, a 25.1% increase from 2023. However, CAME noted that the average price per ton fell by 6.3%. .. read more..

Petro and Trmp exchange threats amid troubled deportation flights
Monday, January 27,2025,10:55

Washington and Bogotá played cat-and-mouse this weekend after the Colombian leftwing Government Gustavo Petro refused to allow US military planes carrying deportees to land in the South American country. In response, President Donald Trump slapped 25% tariffs on all Colombian imports, after which Petro adopted a reciprocal measure. .. read more..

Petro and Trump exchange threats amid troubled deportation flights
Monday, January 27,2025,10:55

Washington and Bogotá played cat-and-mouse this weekend after the Colombian leftwing Government Gustavo Petro refused to allow US military planes carrying deportees to land in the South American country. In response, President Donald Trump slapped 25% tariffs on all Colombian imports, after which Petro adopted a reciprocal measure. .. read more..

Honduran President calls for "emergency" Celac Summit
Monday, January 27,2025,09:14

Honduran President Xiomara Castro launched an appeal Sunday for leaders of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (Celac) to convene "urgently" to discuss the ongoing crisis sparked by US President Donald Trump's decision to speed up deportations. .. read more..

Itamaraty outraged by US' handcuffing of Brazilian deportees
Monday, January 27,2025,08:39

Brazil's Foreign Ministry expressed its outrage after the US Government placed handcuffs on every member of a batch of 88 irregular migrants who were to be flown back to their country last Friday. Given this “degrading treatment,” it was announced at the Itammaraty Palace, the headquarters of South America's largest country's diplomacy, that the Government of President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva was to remain attentive to the issue. .. read more..

Itamaraty outraged by US' handcuffing deportees
Monday, January 27,2025,07:32

Brazil's Foreign Ministry expressed its outrage after the US Government placed handcuffs on every member of a batch of 88 illegal migrants who were to be flown back to their country last Friday. Given this "degrading treatment," it was announced at the Itammaraty Palace, the headquarters of South America's largest country's diplomacy, that the Government of President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva was to remain attentive to the issue. .. read more..

Trump: US will impose sanctions against Colombia over repatriation flights
Sunday, January 26,2025,19:20

Colombia’s president vowed earlier on Sunday to block US deportation flights until migrants were guaranteed ‘dignified treatment’. .. read more..

Trump imposes tariffs, sanctions on Colombia after it refuses US deportation ...
Sunday, January 26,2025,19:20

US president’s immigration crackdown hikes tensions in Latin America, as he calls measures against Colombia ‘just the beginning’. .. read more..

Trump holds off on Colombia tariff, sanctions threat after US deportation fli...
Sunday, January 26,2025,19:20

Colombia backed down and agreed to accept deported citizens sent on US military aircraft, hours after Trump tariffs threat. .. read more..

Trump holds off on Colombia tariff, sanctions threat after deportation flight...
Sunday, January 26,2025,19:20

Colombia backed down and agreed to accept deported citizens sent on US military aircraft, hours after Trump tariffs threat. .. read more..

Havana luxury hotel ‘unforgivable’ amid Cuba’s economic woes
Saturday, January 25,2025,13:33

The Selection La Habana hotel, managed by Spanish chain Iberostar, has yet to be inaugurated but it is already the target of criticism. .. read more..

Foreign travelers contribute significantly to Brazil's economy in 2024
Saturday, January 25,2025,10:36

Foreign travelers brought in US$7.341 billion in revenue to Brazil last year, the South American country's Central Bank (BCB) announced on Friday, citing a report from the Ministry of Tourism. These figures represented the best results in 15 years, and an increase of 6.28% compared to the US$6.907 billion in 2023. .. read more..

Fitch downgrades Bolivia's credit rating
Saturday, January 25,2025,10:00

The international agency Fitch Ratings Friday downgraded Bolivia's status to "CCC-" and warned that corrective measures were needed urgently to avoid a deeper slide. In issuing its grades, Fitch took into account the unavailability of foreign currency and the country's poorly designed economic and fiscal policy. .. read more..

Moody's improves Argentina's grades
Saturday, January 25,2025,09:29

The international credit rating agency Moody's Friday improved Argentina's long-term foreign and local currency issuer grades from Ca to Caa3 but warned that "there are still significant risks to the country's ability to cover upcoming external debt payments." .. read more..

Lula and Scheinbaum discuss regional matters over the phone
Friday, January 24,2025,10:42

Progressive Presidents Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva of Brazil and Claudia Sheinbaum of Mexico discussed Thursday during a telephone conversation the relevance of cultivating "productive relations" with the United States, now once again under the Republican Donald Trump. .. read more..

Petro and Maduro discuss cooperation in tackling drug trafficking
Thursday, January 23,2025,23:17

Colombian President Gustavo Petro discussed with Venezuela's Nicolás Maduro the possibility of tackling drug trafficking together on the border between the two countries, particularly "in the Catatumbo River" where a joint action plan is under development given the security crisis stemming from activities by the National Liberation Army (ELN) and dissidents of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) guerrillas. .. read more..

Rubio ratifies US recognition of González Urrutia as Venezuela's true President
Thursday, January 23,2025,22:14

Venezuelan opposition leaders were told by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio that the Donald Trump administration would hold Edmundo González Urrutia as the truthful President of Venezuela following the controversial July 28, 2024, elections Nicolás Maduro claimed to have won based only on a declaration from the National Electoral Council (CNE) later upheld by the Supreme Court, both of which are under the control of the Chavista regime. .. read more..

Milei targets progressiveness during Davos speech
Thursday, January 23,2025,21:45

Argentine President Javier Milei said Thursday during his appearance before the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos (Switzerland) that "we must eliminate the virus of woke ideology" that has been subverting the Western civilization's values over the past few years. Milei likened this "aberrant ideology" to a "virus" and insisted it was "the cancer that must be removed" if the "golden age" was to prevail. .. read more..

Bolivia Taps BRICS For Raising $2 Billion, Targets Its Vast Lithium Riches
Thursday, January 23,2025,13:16

Bolivia, the owner of the world's largest lithium reserves, is trying to capitalize on this valuable resource. Despite prices plummeting from 2022 highs, the country is pushing forward with large-scale investments to take advantage of the growing battery industry . "With the two new contracts, we plan to reach 49,000 tons of lithium carbonate annually within three years," Omar Alarcon , president of Bolivia's state-owned lithium company Yacimientos de Litio Bolivianos (YLB) told Bloomberg. YLB's deals with Russia's Uranium One Group and a Chinese consortium totaling nearly $2 billion. The agreements include the construction of three processing plants. The Russian-backe... .. read more..

IMF mission arrives in Buenos Aires to discuss US$ 11 billion loan
Thursday, January 23,2025,10:22

An International Monetary Fund (IMF) team landed in Buenos Aires Wednesday to discuss Argentina's eligibility for a US$ 11 billion new loan to make up for the South American country's currently negative reserves. The mission is headed by the IMF's Western Hemisphere Department Deputy Director Luis Cubeddu. .. read more..

Brazil: Dollar plunges to lowest level since November
Thursday, January 23,2025,08:59

The US dollar fell Wednesday below R$ 6 following Donald Trump's second inauguration this week in Washington DC, thus reaching its lowest level since November. Meanwhile, the stock market fell for the first time after three straight rises. The commercial dollar closed Wednesday at R$ 5.946 after hitting R$ 5.91 around 2 pm. So far this year, the US dollar went down by 3.79%. .. read more..

Former Salvadoran President Funes dies in his Nicaraguan exile
Thursday, January 23,2025,08:44

Former Salvadoran President Carlos Mauricio Funes Cartagena, better known as Mauricio Funes, died Tuesday local time in exile in Nicaragua where Daniel Ortega's Sandinista regime had granted him citizenship, the Health Ministry announced in a statement. .. read more..

Milei would have no qualms breaking up with Mercosur if need be for FTA with US
Wednesday, January 22,2025,21:13

Argentine President Javier Milei said in an interview with Bloomberg in Davos (Switzerland) that if breaking up with the Southern Common Market (Mercosur) was a requirement to sign a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with the United States, he would not hesitate to do it. .. read more..

Argentina picks Béraud to head all three Montevideo-based embassies
Wednesday, January 22,2025,20:53

Argentina's Libertarian Government Wednesday announced the appointment of career Ambassador Alan Claudio Béraud as the new mission chief before Uruguay. Béraud is already stationed in Montevideo, where he heads Argentina's representations before the Southern Comon Market (Mercosur) and the Latin American Integration Association (ALADI). .. read more..

Coffee Prices Soar To Record Highs: Could Starbucks Face Margin Squeeze?
Wednesday, January 22,2025,16:46

Arabica coffee futures have soared past $3.35 per pound in January 2025, holding near multi-decade highs after peaking at $3.48 in December, the highest level since April 1977. In a note shared Wednesday, Bank of America analyst Sara Senatore said, “Coffee remains inflationary. For Q1 2025, average coffee price inflation is expected to be 75.5%.” She added that prices have surged 120% from 2023 lows, increasing investor concerns about Starbucks Corp . (NYSE: SBUX )’ margins and pressuring the company's valuation multiple. Chart: Coffee Futures Hover At Near 50-Year Highs What’s Triggering The Coffee Price Spike? The coffee market has seen supply risks material... .. read more..

Cuba back on US list of terrorism-sponsoring nations under Trump
Wednesday, January 22,2025,10:48

US President Donald Trump added Cuba once again to the list of nations sponsoring terrorism and announced tougher measures against Venezuela's Bolivarian regime which stayed in power past Jan. 10 despite half the world not recognizing Nicolás Maduro as the legitimate winner of the July 28, 2024, elections. .. read more..

Brazilian Central Bank report foresees 5.08% inflation for this year
Wednesday, January 22,2025,09:30

The Focus Bulletin released earlier this week by Brazil's Central Bank (BCB) projected a 5.08% inflation for this year in South America's largest country. The new prediction represented a slight twitch from last week's 5% National Consumer Price Index (IPCA). Meanwhile, Brazil's Gross Domestic Product (GDP) - the sum of goods and services produced in the country - is expected to grow by 2.04% in 2025, a slight improvement from 2.02% the week before. .. read more..

Argentina: Grandmothers of Plaza de Mayo find Granddaughter Nº139
Wednesday, January 22,2025,09:07

The human rights organization Grandmothers of Plaza de Mayo announced Tuesday in Buenos Aires the finding of "Granddaughter Nº139." The entity seeks to determine the true identity of children born in captivity from prisoners who were later declared as "disappeared" by the military dictatorship, their offspring handed over for adoption to families ideologically compatible with the far-right de facto regime. .. read more..

Brazilian authorities to encourage use of DIY HIV tests
Tuesday, January 21,2025,09:25

Brazilian agencies encouraged manufacturers to pack their do-it-yourself HIV self-test kits more discreetly to encourage people to use them at home and avoid crowding healthcare facilities, Agencia Brasil reported. .. read more..

On the Panama Canal, Donald Trump has much to learn from Jimmy Carter
Tuesday, January 21,2025,08:30

Carter’s restrained statesmanship at the height of US dominance stands in contrast to Trump’s bellicose rhetoric as his country’s influence declines. .. read more..

Donald Trump goes light on China on Day 1, except where the Panama Canal is c...
Monday, January 20,2025,22:43

In his inaugural address, the US president also discusses tariffs generally but does not specifically target Beijing. .. read more..

Peña tells González Urrutia about Paraguay's support for democracy in Venezuela
Monday, January 20,2025,06:30

Paraguayan President Santiago Peña met Sunday in Washington DC with Venezuelan opposition leader Edmundo González Urrutia, whom many believed should have been sworn in on Jan. 10 last after winning the controversial July 28, 2024, elections where the incumbent Nicolás Maduro claimed to have prevailed despite producing no evidence thereto besides declarations from offices controlled by the Chavista regime. .. read more..

At least 80 killed, thousands displaced in Colombia guerilla violence
Sunday, January 19,2025,17:47

Civilians caught in the crossfire as ELN guerrillas target former members of a separate rebel group in the bloodiest violence in recent years. .. read more..