LatinNews Daily
LatinNews Daily - 23 August 2019
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- HAITI: President Moïse survives impeachment vote
Andean
- ECUADOR: Unions maintain pressure
- In brief: Anglo American offers better access to water in Moquegua, Peru
Brazil
- BRAZIL: Macron calls for talks on Amazon deforestation at G7
- In brief: Nestlé to invest R$1bn in Brazil’s São Paulo state
Central America & Caribbean
- In brief: DR’s FDI predicted to exceed US$2.5bn for 2019
Mexico
- MEXICO: López Obrador complains about court ruling
- In brief: Mexican govt’ aims for budget surplus in 2020
Southern Cone
- ARGENTINA: Macri and Fernández clash at seminar
- In brief: Argentina announces new gas export deal with Chile
Publishing Note
- Publishing note
On 22 August, Haiti’s 119-member chamber of deputies voted not to impeach President Jovenel Moïse.
LatinNews Daily - 22 August 2019
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- BRAZIL: Bolsonaro blames NGOs as Amazon sees record fires
Andean
- COLOMBIA: Duque denounces drug money in elections
- In brief: Bolivia in new joint-venture with Chinese mining company
Brazil
- In brief: Brazil’s gov’t moots privatising more state companies
Central America & Caribbean
- NICARAGUA: Ortega names new defence minister
- In brief: El Salvador’s exports up 0.9% in first seven months of 2019
Mexico
- MEXICO: Migrant NGOs denounce raids and repression
- In brief: Mexico hails tomato deal with US
Southern Cone
- ARGENTINA: Governors criticise palliative economic measures
- In brief: Paraguay’s central bank cuts interest rates
On 21 August, Brazil’s President Jair Bolsonaro accused NGOs of responsibility for the record number of fires currently burning in the Brazilian Amazon in order to make him look bad and to draw attention to the cuts in their funding.
LatinNews Daily - 21 August 2019
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- VENEZUELA: Maduro confirms contacts with US gov’t
Andean
- In brief – Ecuador and UK discuss trade and investment
Brazil
- BRAZIL: Police shooting of bus hijacker celebrated by Bolsonaro
- In brief: Brazil’s senate committee to vote on tax reform within 45 days
Central America & Caribbean
- EL SALVADOR: Debate continues over new anti-impunity committee
- In brief: Remittances to El Salvador up 3.9% in first seven months
Mexico
- MEXICO: López Obrador faces indigenous protests
- In brief – Mexico’s FDI up 1.5% in first half of 2019
Southern Cone
- PARAGUAY: Abdo Benítez survives impeachment motion
- In brief – Paraguay’s farmers protest over tomatoes
On 20 August, Venezuela’s de facto president, Nicolás Maduro, publicly confirmed that his administration has been in contact with top US government officials to discuss potential resolutions for Venezuela’s political, economic, and social crisis.
LatinNews Daily - 20 August 2019
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- PARAGUAY: Impeachment crisis comes to a head
Andean
- BOLIVIA: Health sector on strike
- In brief - Oil production surpasses 80,000 barrels per day in Ecuador oilfield
Brazil
- BRAZIL: Bolsonaro decrees transfer of financial watchdog to central bank
- In brief - US dollar up against Brazilian real
Central America & Caribbean
- PANAMA: Panama announces tax transparency agreement with France
- In brief – Costa Rica announces new investment in airports
Mexico
- MEXICO: Ruling party descends into vicious infighting
- In brief - UMC to open new car parts factory in Yucatán, Mexico
Southern Cone
- In brief – Chile’s GDP growth 1.9% in second quarter
On 19 August, Pedro Alliana, the president of Paraguay’s national chamber of deputies, announced that the motion to subject President Mario Abdo Benítez and Vice President Hugo Velázquez to impeachment proceedings will be debated by the chamber this week, adding that he expected that it would be rejected.
LatinNews Daily - 19 August 2019
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- ARGENTINA: Macri forced to appoint a new finance minister
Andean
- PERU: PAP pushes for Vizcarra's impeachment
- In brief: Colombia’s GDP grows 3% in second quarter
Brazil
- BRAZIL: Amazon state governors seek to negotiate directly with Europeans
- In brief: Deforestation in Brazilian Amazon up 66% in July
Central America & Caribbean
- NICARAGUA: Ortega files complaint against Costa Rica
- In brief – Honduras’ central bank revises down growth forecast
Mexico
- MEXICO: Protests over gender rights turns violent
- In brief: Experts consider Mexico’s cut in interest rate “adequate”
Southern Cone
- In brief: Argentina’s Macri freezes fuel prices
Washington Watch
- US congressional delegation visits Central America
On 18 August, Argentina’s President Mauricio Macri accepted the resignation of his finance minister, Nicolás Dujovne, and appointed Hernán Lacunza as his replacement.
LatinNews Daily - 16 August 2019
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- PERU: Party desertions severely weaken Vizcarra
Andean
- In brief: Peru’s GDP grows 2.62% in June
Brazil
- BRAZIL: Pushback against ‘abuse of authority’ bill
- In brief: Brazil could leave Mercosur, Guedes threatens
Central America & Caribbean
- PANAMA: Revival of Panama-Colombia trade tensions
- In brief: EU investment for train in Costa Rica
Mexico
- MEXICO: Prison fire draws attention to penitentiary system failings
- In brief: Mexico’s central bank cuts benchmark interest rate
Southern Cone
- ARGENTINA: Economic crisis fuels public protests
- In brief: Argentina registered 2.2% monthly inflation in July
On 15 August three national deputies from Peru’s ruling Peruanos por el Kambio (PPK) party, including Vice President Mercedes Aráoz, announced they were abandoning the PPK congressional bench.
LatinNews Daily - 15 August 2019
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- ARGENTINA: Peso continues to plummet as Macri fails to convince markets
Andean
- BOLIVIA: Opposition names new vice-presidential candidate ahead of election
- In brief: Copper exports resume from major port in Peru
Brazil
- BRAZIL: Renewed concerns over security policy in Rio
- In brief: Brazil’s central bank to sell US dollar foreign reserves
Central America & Caribbean
- PANAMA: Judiciary slammed over contentious rulings
- In brief: The EU mobilises €9m in humanitarian aid to Haiti
Mexico
- MEXICO: López Obrador proposes extending austerity programme
- In brief: Slight reduction in tourism in Mexico
Southern Cone
- In brief: Calls for 1.5% deficit limit to be respected in Paraguay budget
On 14 August the value of the Argentine peso against the US dollar fell sharply for a third consecutive day to trade at around Ar$60/US$1.
LatinNews Daily - 14 August 2019
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- GUATEMALA: Giammattei reveals pro-business cabinet
Andean
- PERU: Opposition gunning for Vizcarra over ‘Tía María’
- In brief: Colombia’s Ecopetrol records significant profits
Brazil
- BRAZIL: Students take to the streets again
- In brief: Brazil to receive R$148.5m from port terminals auction
Central America & Caribbean
- In brief: Costa Rica’s health sector ends strike
Mexico
- MEXICO: National guard deployment advances
- In brief: Fewer jobs created in Mexico in July
Southern Cone
- ARGENTINA: Business, unions demand emergency economic measures
- In brief: Uruguay’s Astori expresses concern about Argentina
On 13 August Guatemala’s president-elect Alejandro Giammattei, of the conservative Vamos party, unveiled ten members of his new 14-member cabinet.
LatinNews Daily - 13 August 2019
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- ARGENTINA: Macri vows to fight on as Paso produces market crash
Andean
- VENEZUELA: Maduro launches counteroffensive
- In brief: Peru’s SPCC calls for dialogue on mining project
Brazil
- BRAZIL: Eduardo Bolsonaro makes his case for US ambassador role
- In brief: Brazil on brink of recession
Central America & Caribbean
- EL SALVADOR: Private sector raise concerns about new anti-impunity commission
- In brief: Nicaragua courts Iran
Mexico
- MEXICO: New Pemex oil refinery given environmental go-ahead
- In brief: Mexico says no more mining concessions
Southern Cone
- In brief: Chile sees limited damage from Argentine developments
On 12 August, Argentina’s President Mauricio Macri said that he will continue to campaign from now until the 27 October general election to try to revert the result of the open, simultaneous, and mandatory party primaries (Paso) in which the opposition obtained a major victory that appears to bury Macri’s re-election hopes.
LatinNews Daily - 12 August 2019
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- GUATEMALA: Giammattei wins run-off
Andean
- COLOMBIA: Calls for gov’t to protect indigenous peoples
- In brief: Peru suspends mining licence
Brazil
- BRAZIL: Germany suspends its donations to the Amazon Fund
- In brief: Huawei to invest US$800m in 2nd Brazil factory
Central America & Caribbean
- In brief: Nicaragua records big drop in banking deposits
Mexico
- MEXICO: International refugee protection system faces collapse
- In brief: Mexico sees 2.1% year-on-year decline in industrial production
Southern Cone
- ARGENTINA: Fernández obtains overwhelming victory in primaries
- In brief: Uruguay’s fish exports down 4% year-on-year
Washington Watch
- Mexico issues diplomatic note over El Paso shooting
Preliminary results from Guatemala's 11 August presidential second round run-off show Alejandro Giammattei of the opposition conservative Vamos party defeating former first lady (2008-2012) Sandra Torres of the also opposition Unidad Nacional de la Esperanza (UNE).
LatinNews Daily - 09 August 2019
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- GUATEMALA: Final surveys show Giammattei poised for victory
Andean
- ECUADOR: Judge orders Correa’s arrest
- In brief: Venezuela and China cooperate to boost oil production
Brazil
- BRAZIL: Moro feels the pressure
- In brief: Brazil’s inflation falls to 3.22%
Central America & Caribbean
- In brief: Panama seeking investment for 18 infrastructure projects
Mexico
- MEXICO: Massacre in Michoacán in criminals’ public display of power
- In brief: Mexico’s annual inflation in July 3.78%
Southern Cone
- ARGENTINA: Ready for next big step in electoral process
- In brief: Moody’s reports on positive impact of new Argentine gas pipeline
Final surveys released ahead of Guatemala's 11 August presidential second round run-off show Alejandro Giammattei of the opposition conservative Vamos party ahead of former first lady (2008-2012) Sandra Torres of the also opposition Unidad Nacional de la Esperanza (UNE).
LatinNews Daily - 08 August 2019
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- HONDURAS: Hernández under pressure as police accused of excessive force
Andean
- VENEZUELA: Maduro suspends dialogue with opposition
- In brief: First half mining investment in Peru up 26.2%
Brazil
- BRAZIL: Print media threatened by presidential decree
- In brief: Brazil’s Embraer seals US$340m deal in US
Central America & Caribbean
- In brief: Nicaragua and South Korea sign free-trade deal
Mexico
- MEXICO: Theft and black-market sales threaten pharmaceutical industry
- In brief: Mexico issues new 30-year bonds
Southern Cone
- ARGENTINA: Gov’t denies problems with vote-counting software
- In brief: Argentina’s first half meat exports up 61.4%
On 7 August, Jair Meza, the spokesperson for Honduras’s national police (PNH), announced that the PNH was examining videos of alleged excessive force by its officers.
LatinNews Daily - 07 August 2019
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- VENEZUELA: US insists dialogue with Maduro should end
Andean
- In brief: Colombia coffee production up 5.4%
Brazil
- BRAZIL: Discussion on pensions resumes as reform advances
- In brief: Brazil’s July vehicle production best for six years
Central America & Caribbean
- HONDURAS: Mass protests calling for Hernández to quit
- In brief: Costa Rica tourist visits up 3.9% in 1st half
Mexico
- MEXICO: Authorities investigate heist at national mint
- In brief: Mexico urges US and China to back away from trade war
Southern Cone
- PARAGUAY: Opposition seeks Abdo Benítez impeachment
- In brief: Uruguay’s inflation on the rise
On 6 August, US National Security Advisor John Bolton said that the time for dialogue with de facto Venezuelan government led by Nicolás Maduro is over and that the international community needs to apply concerted pressure on Maduro to step aside and allow the staging of a new presidential election.
LatinNews Daily - 06 August 2019
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- GUATEMALA: Economy minister implicated in new corruption ring
Andean
- VENEZUELA: US freezes Maduro government assets
- In brief: Colombia government signs growth deal with unions
Brazil
- BRAZIL: Bolsonaro defends giving police right to kill
- In brief: Brazil’s first floating solar power inaugurated
Central America & Caribbean
- In brief: Costa Rica’s health-sector unions on strike
Mexico
- MEXICO: UN condemns growing violence against journalists
- In brief: Mexico has 52.4m living in poverty
Southern Cone
- CHILE: Interior minister claims anarchists get foreign backing
- In brief: Chile’s president promises “much better” second half
On 5 August, Guatemala’s attorney general’s office and the International Commission against Impunity in Guatemala (Cicig) filed legal documents accusing Economy Minister Acisclo Valladares of being part of a money-laundering ring and requesting for his immunity from prosecution to be lifted.
LatinNews Daily - 05 August 2019
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- HONDURAS: Hernández accused of drug trafficking links in US
Andean
- COLOMBIA-VENEZUELA: Tensions rise on the border
- In brief: UK support for Colombia on deforestation
Brazil
- BRAZIL: Head of Inpe dismissed over deforestation data spat
- In brief: Brazil’s Petrobras disappoints on production
Central America & Caribbean
- In brief: Panama issues gender bond
Mexico
- MEXICO: Gov’t reacts to mass shooting in Texas
- In brief: Mexico makes progress on labour reforms
Southern Cone
- URUGUAY: Historic drug seizure puts pressure on authorities
- In brief: Chile pleads for end to US-China trade war
Washington Watch
- Brazil announces start of free trade deal talks with US
On 3 August, Honduras’s President Juan Orlando Hernández denied having used drug trafficking money to fund his 2013 electoral campaign.
LatinNews Daily - 02 August 2019
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- VENEZUELA: Army accuses US of trying further escalate hostilities
Andean
- In brief: Ecuador completes refinery maintenance
Brazil
- BRAZIL: Debate on deforestation data continues
- In brief: Brazil’s industrial production down for second month
Central America & Caribbean
- NICARAGUA: Confirmation that dialogue is over
- In brief: Costa Rica’s unemployment on the rise
Mexico
- MEXICO: Killing of migrant sets off alarm bells
- In brief: Mexico reduces growth forecast
Southern Cone
- PARAGUAY: Impeachment threat recedes with help from Brazil
- In brief: Argentina launches tender for gas pipeline
On 1 August, the Venezuelan armed forces (FANB) accused the US of an unauthorised encroachment on its airspace, and stated that the country was trying to create an incident as a means of forcing military involvement in Venezuela.
LatinNews Daily - 01 August 2019
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- PARAGUAY: Abdo Benítez faces renewed impeachment threat
Andean
- PERU: Gov’t submits early election proposal to congress
- In brief: Ecuador launches bidding process for solar park and wind farms
Brazil
- BRAZIL: Bolsonaro receives court summons over ambassador appointment
- In brief: Brazil cuts rate to 6%
Central America & Caribbean
- DOMINICAN REPUBLIC: Economy minister dismissed
- In brief: El Salvador issues US$1bn in sovereign bonds
Mexico
- MEXICO: Murder highlights persistent violence against journalists
- In brief: Mexico just avoids technical recession
Southern Cone
- In brief: JetSmart expands in Argentina
On 31 July, Paraguay’s political opposition and dissident factions of the ruling Asociación Nacional Republicana-Partido Colorado (ANR-PC) announced that they would present a formal request in congress for President Mario Abdo Benítez and Vice President Hugo Velázquez to be subjected to impeachment proceedings for the signing of a bilateral agreement with Brazil deemed to be contrary to Paraguay’s national interests.