Weekly Report - 15 August 2019 (WR-19-32)

President Mauricio Macri suffered a heavy defeat in Argentina’s primary elections (Paso) on 11 August.... Read More

Venezuela’s de facto government led by Nicolás Maduro has wasted no time in launching the promised “counteroffensive” in the wake of sweeping sanctions imposed by the US government last week.... Read More

Indigenous authorities from Colombia’s south-western department of Cauca declared a state of emergency on 11 August and permanent assembly following a series of deadly attacks against indigenous leaders and members of the indigenous guard.... Read More

VENEZUELA | Maduro reiterates alliance with China amid US sanctions.... Read More

João Doria, a former TV star and millionaire businessman who erupted on Brazil’s political scene when he was elected mayor of the city of São Paulo in 2016, makes no secret of his higher ambitions.... Read More

Weeks of criticisms from environmental NGOs, foreign governments and the international press, as well as concerns raised by scientists and the business and agricultural sectors in Brazil, have not swayed President Jair Bolsonaro’s views on the environment [WR-19-31].... Read More

BRAZIL | Technical recession looms.... Read More

Mexico’s President Andrés Manuel López Obrador has announced that his government will not award any more mining concessions until the end of its term in 2024.... Read More

MEXICO | UK Foreign Secretary visits Mexico.... Read More

Taking nearly 60% of the vote Alejandro Giammattei, of the conservative opposition Vamos, has soundly defeated former First Lady (2008-2012) Sandra Torres of the centre-left opposition Unidad Nacional de la Esperanza (UNE) in the 11 August presidential run-off.... Read More

President Juan Orlando Hernández is again on the defensive over drug-related allegations.... Read More

Peru’s energy and mines, and economy ministers, Francisco Ísmodes and Carlos Oliva respectively, faced a grilling in congress on 14 August about the suspension of the US$1.4bn ‘Tía María’ open-pit copper mining project in the southern region of Arequipa by President Martín Vizcarra five days earlier.... Read More

“These elections will define the next 30 years.” Argentina’s President Mauricio Macri upon casting his ballot.... Read More