LatinNews Daily
LatinNews Daily - 18 August 2026
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- COLOMBIA: De la Espriella announces estimate of earthquake damage
Andean
- In brief: Bolivia’s gov’t removes diesel subsidy for large consumers
Brazil
- BRAZIL: Lula reiterates support for contentious oil project
- In brief: Brazil’s economic activity declines in monthly terms
Central America & Caribbean
- GUATEMALA: Congress president, deputies reject explosive claims
- In brief: Tourist arrivals to Costa Rica rise
Mexico
- MEXICO: TEPJF magistrate resigns ahead of key elections
- In brief: Mexico denies Chinese fertiliser tariffs are retaliatory
Southern Cone
- In brief: Paraguay raises fuel prices
On 17 August Colombia’s President Abelardo de la Espriella said that damage caused by the 10 August earthquake is estimated to be around Col$30tn (US$9.6bn).
LatinNews Daily - 17 August 2026
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- BRAZIL: Presidential candidates kick off campaigns
Andean
- VENEZUELA: More political prisoners released after opposition talks
- In brief: Peru’s Fujimori announces fuel subsidy amid protests
Brazil
- In brief: Brazil’s Petrobras discovers oil in Amazon block
Central America & Caribbean
- COSTA RICA: Fernández reaffirms ties with US
- In brief: New Panama Canal draft adjustments take effect
Mexico
- MEXICO: Sheinbaum rejects US visa cancellations as political
- In brief: FAA concludes air safety assessment for Mexico
Southern Cone
- CHILE: High court shoots down elements of Kast’s mega reform
- In brief: Argentina eases dollar lending rules for companies
Washington Watch
- US hails new era of relations with Colombia
On 16 August Brazil’s President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (Partido dos Trabalhadores, PT), who is running for re-election, and his main right-wing rival, Senator Flávio Bolsonaro (Partido Liberal, PL), both held their first official campaign rallies ahead of the first-round presidential vote on 4 October.
LatinNews Daily - 14 August 2026
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- CUBA/DOMINICAN REPUBLIC: Tensions over ejection of Cuban officials
Andean
- ECUADOR: CIA reportedly carrying out secret operations against fishing boats
- In brief: Peru’s exports down in June
Brazil
- BRAZIL: Gov’t begins reviewing potential US tariff retaliation
- In brief: Brazil’s retail sales rise in June
Central America & Caribbean
- In brief: China sends more rice to Cuba
Mexico
- MEXICO: US revokes visa of López Obrador’s son
- In brief: Tourism hits record highs in Mexico
Southern Cone
- ARGENTINA: Inflation disappoints for Milei
- In brief: Argentina’s YPF seeks investment for LNG project
On 13 August Cuba’s foreign ministry (Minrex) condemned the Dominican Republic’s ejection of Cuban officials and their relatives from Cuba’s embassy in Santo Domingo.
LatinNews Daily - 13 August 2026
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- VENEZUELA: Gov’t and opposition agree to reform supreme court
Andean
- In brief: Economic emergency declared in Colombia following earthquake
Brazil
- BRAZIL: Top court upholds soy moratorium
- In brief: Brazil’s congress approves fuel tax breaks
Central America & Caribbean
- REGION: Panama hosts Hegseth for anti-cartel summit
- In brief: Honduras’ Asfura calls for reform of state power firm
Mexico
- MEXICO: Former governor charged over Ayotzinapa case
- In brief: Citi México raises Mexico growth forecast
Southern Cone
- CHILE: Gov’t hails strong relations with China
- In brief: Uruguay’s unemployment down year-on-year
On 12 August Venezuela’s government and opposition announced an agreement to reform the supreme court (TSJ).
LatinNews Daily - 12 August 2026
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- CUBA: Mounting scrutiny on Castro grandson amid US talks
Andean
- VENEZUELA: Relations mended with Israel after 17-year freeze
- In brief: International aid for Colombia earthquake response
Brazil
- BRAZIL: Flávio and Michelle Bolsonaro signal family unity
- In brief: Brazil’s inflation slows again
Central America & Caribbean
- In brief: Panama’s gov’t hails rise in tourism
Mexico
- MEXICO: Arrests over Michoacán avocado extortion
- In brief: Mexico’s industrial production edges up
Southern Cone
- ARGENTINA: Milei gov’t accused of embezzlement
- In brief: Paraguay’s Peña hails record unemployment levels
On 11 August the New York Times (NYT) published two reports suggesting possible links between Cuba’s Raúl Guillermo Rodríguez Castro, the grandson of 95-year-old former president Raúl Castro (2008-2018), and a criminal group first targeted by US authorities years earlier.
LatinNews Daily - 11 August 2026
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- COLOMBIA: Earthquake causes widespread destruction
Andean
- In brief: Inflation falls in Colombia
Brazil
- BRAZIL: Banco Master probe hits more local authorities
- In brief: Brazil’s JBS announces new CEO
Central America & Caribbean
- COSTA RICA: New decree stokes transparency concerns
- In brief: Honduras inflation slows
Mexico
- MEXICO: Gov’t responds as US avocado inspections resume
- In brief: Mexico reports net job losses in July
Southern Cone
- CHILE: Deputies uphold Kast vetoes
- In brief: Chile’s Codelco to reinvest all profits for first time
On 10 August a 7.4-magnitude earthquake caused damage across western Colombia and killed at least 132 people.
LatinNews Daily - 10 August 2026
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- COLOMBIA: De la Espriella takes office with flurry of announcements
Andean
- In brief: Peru and Mexico restore diplomatic ties
Brazil
- BRAZIL: Lula campaign affirms election priorities
- In brief: Brazil’s vehicle production rises
Central America & Caribbean
- CUBA: Seeking to boost renewable energy
- In brief: Cuba’s tourism continues to fall
Mexico
- MEXICO: New arrest in relation to suspected fuel smuggling ring
- In brief: Annual inflation continues to slow in Mexico
Southern Cone
- CHILE: Kast shifts focus to public security
- In brief: Argentina’s manufacturing and construction up year-on-year
Washington Watch
- Southcom launches regional task force
On 7 August Abelardo de la Espriella was sworn in as Colombia’s new president, replacing Gustavo Petro (2022-2026).
LatinNews Daily - 07 August 2026
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- VENEZUELA: Negotiations begin between gov’t and opposition
Andean
- In brief: Former Alberto Fujimori minister to head Peru’s tax authority
Brazil
- BRAZIL: Charges recommended for 2024 plane crash
- In brief: Brazil’s trade surplus sees slight increase
Central America & Caribbean
- CUBA: UN experts condemn US sanctions
- In brief: Guatemala sets new remittance record
Mexico
- MEXICO: Former governor arrested in Ayotzinapa case
- In brief: Mexico’s Banxico continues to hold interest rates
Southern Cone
- ARGENTINA: Milei meets Noboa in Ecuador
- In brief: Argentina’s senate passes amended private property bill
On 6 August negotiating teams from Venezuela’s government and political opposition began a first round of in-person talks in Caracas which will last until 12 August.
LatinNews Daily - 06 August 2026
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- CHILE: Kast turns to security following mega reform success
Andean
- BOLIVIA: Spread of Brazilian gangs sparks calls for military intervention
- In brief: Colombia resumes electricity exports to Ecuador
Brazil
- BRAZIL: Flávio Bolsonaro confirms running mate
- In brief: Brazil’s central bank makes fourth consecutive rate cut
Central America & Caribbean
- PANAMA: New unit created to oversee Panama Canal security
- In brief: Guatemala’s congress approves new port authority
Mexico
- MEXICO: US increases pressure on CJNG
- In brief: GFCF up year-on-year in Mexico
Southern Cone
- In brief: Argentina extends currency swap deal with China
On 5 August Chile’s President José Antonio Kast delivered a national address in which he announced that security would now be his government’s legislative priority, following the approval of his economic mega reform the previous day.
LatinNews Daily - 05 August 2026
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- BRAZIL: US revokes visa of Brazil’s ambassador
Andean
- ECUADOR: Lawyer of Guayaquil mayor criticises prison sentence
- In brief: US officials in Venezuela to plan overhaul of electricity system
Brazil
- In brief: Brazil’s industrial production declines in monthly terms
Central America & Caribbean
- NICARAGUA: OAS condemns Ortega’s election comments
- In brief: Cuba relaxes regulations on vehicle imports
Mexico
- MEXICO: Authorities seize illicit fuel processing hubs
- In brief: Tourism GDP down in Mexico in quarterly terms
Southern Cone
- ARGENTINA/BRAZIL: Tensions escalate as ambassador sent home
- In brief: Chile’s senate approves final unresolved article of mega reform
On 4 August Brazil’s government led by President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva criticised the US decision reported earlier that day to revoke the visa of Maria Luiza Ribeiro Viotti, Brazil’s ambassador in Washington.
LatinNews Daily - 04 August 2026
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- HONDURAS: Hernández’s criminal hearing gets underway
Andean
- COLOMBIA: Petro calls for citizens’ militia
- In brief: New gas discovery off Colombian coast
Brazil
- BRAZIL: Electoral court defends electronic ballots
- In brief: Brazil’s oil and gas production rises in June
Central America & Caribbean
- In brief: Multinational military exercises begin around Panama Canal
Mexico
- MEXICO: Unam start date pushed back amid exam controversy
- In brief: Remittances to Mexico rise in first half of 2026
Southern Cone
- REGION: Uruguay urges calm in Mercosur amid Argentina-Brazil spat
- In brief: Chile’s economic activity rebounds in June
On 3 August the arraignment hearing for Honduras’ former president Juan Orlando Hernández (2014-2022), who stands accused of fraud and money laundering, began in Tegucigalpa.
LatinNews Daily - 03 August 2026
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- BRAZIL: Lula officially launches re-election bid
Andean
- VENEZUELA: Gov’t and opposition agree agenda for negotiations
- In brief: Unemployment falls year-on-year in Colombia
Brazil
- In brief: Brazil’s public sector deficit widens year-on-year
Central America & Caribbean
- COSTA RICA: Fernández accuses magistrates of coup plotting
- In brief: Nicaragua’s central bank notes growth in May
Mexico
- MEXICO: Arrest in high-profile femicide case
- In brief: Mexico’s Pemex posts lower profit in Q2
Southern Cone
- PARAGUAY: Government smooths over tensions with Brazil
- In brief: Chile’s unemployment rate remains high
Washington Watch
- US welcomes Venezuela’s withdrawal from ICC
On 2 August Brazil’s ruling left-wing Partido dos Trabalhadores (PT) held an event to officially launch the re-election campaign of President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva ahead of the October elections.