LatinNews Daily
LatinNews Daily - 22 May 2025
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- ARGENTINA: Gov’t cracks down on strike action
Andean
- COLOMBIA: Gov’t infighting resumes at crucial moment
- In brief: International lenders arrive in Ecuador for talks
Brazil
- BRAZIL: Senate passes controversial environmental bill
- In brief: Brazil’s bird flu outbreak met with more import restrictions
Central America & Caribbean
- PANAMA: Union leader seeks asylum in Bolivia, claims political persecution
- In brief: Honduras’ remittances slow in monthly terms
Mexico
- MEXICO: Teachers blockade national palace
- In brief: Mexico shores up ties with Spain
Southern Cone
- In brief: Argentina’s economic growth falls in monthly terms
On 21 May Argentina’s government led by President Javier Milei issued a decree limiting the right to strike for multiple sectors, while security forces violently repressed protests by pensioners outside the congress building in Buenos Aires.
LatinNews Daily - 21 May 2025
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- BOLIVIA: Morales to miss elections as deadline passes
Andean
- In brief: Ecuador pushes for more Chinese investment
Brazil
- BRAZIL: Military officers to stand trial for coup attempt
- In brief: Brazilian airline Gol seals debt restructuring plan
Central America & Caribbean
- EL SALVADOR: Legislature greenlights controversial ‘foreign agents’ bill
- In brief: Panama’s growth up
Mexico
- MEXICO: Shock as two key Mexico City officials gunned down
- In brief: Mexico’s Ebrard hails reduction in US vehicle tariffs
Southern Cone
- ARGENTINA: Milei shutters unit investigating crypto scandal
- In brief: Argentina’s trade surplus shrinks in April
On 20 May allies of Bolivia’s former president Evo Morales (2006-2019) announced protests and a legal challenge after he was unable to register as a candidate for the 17 August general elections.
LatinNews Daily - 20 May 2025
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- EL SALVADOR: Arrest and disappearance of leading activist draws outrage
Andean
- COLOMBIA: Gov’t pressures senate to reconsider referendum
- In brief: First mining consent process concluded in Ecuador
Brazil
- BRAZIL: Witness hearings begin in Bolsonaro coup trial
- In brief: Economic activity up in Brazil
Central America & Caribbean
- In brief: Nicaragua’s trade deficit shrinks
Mexico
- MEXICO: New US ambassador sets out priorities
- In brief: Mexico’s beef exports to US down following ban
Southern Cone
- ARGENTINA: Milei calls for electoral alliance to defeat Kirchnerismo
- In brief: Chile’s GDP up in Q1
On 19 May El Salvador’s attorney general’s office (FGR) announced the arrest of Ruth López, one of the country’s most prominent human rights activists, on embezzlement charges.
LatinNews Daily - 19 May 2025
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- ARGENTINA: Milei delivers dagger blow to Macri
Andean
- BOLIVIA: Del Castillo named as MAS candidate
- In brief: Colombia seeks entry to Brics development bank
Brazil
- BRAZIL: Bird flu case prompts export bans
- In brief: Brazil’s unemployment rate up in quarterly terms
Central America & Caribbean
- NICARAGUA: Outrage over proposed law banning dual citizenship
- In brief: Guyana approves oil spill bill
Mexico
- MEXICO: Gov’t responds to navy ship crash
- In brief: Mexican teachers’ union rejects salary hike
Southern Cone
- In brief: Paraguay’s quarterly unemployment rate rises
Washington Watch
- Cártel de Sinaloa leaders charged in the US
On 18 May President Javier Milei struck a telling blow in the battle for supremacy on the right of the political spectrum in Argentina as his La Libertad Avanza (LLA) came out on top in the legislative elections in the City of Buenos Aires (Caba).
LatinNews Daily - 16 May 2025
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- PANAMA: Human rights investigations launched over protest response
Andean
- ECUADOR: Military to target Colombian guerrilla groups
- In brief: Colombia’s GDP up in Q1
Brazil
- BRAZIL: Annual deforestation falls in almost every biome
- In brief: Brazil raises grain harvest forecast
Central America & Caribbean
- In brief: Haiti’s main hydroelectric plant down amid other energy woes
Mexico
- MEXICO: More tensions over US security intervention
- In brief: Mexico’s Banxico continues to lower interest rate
Southern Cone
- ARGENTINA: Campaigning closes ahead of key elections
- In brief: Chile advances in US trade talks
On 15 May Panama’s human rights ombudsman Eduardo Leblanc announced that his office had six investigations open for possible human rights violations in relation to the protests which have been taking place amid a general strike since 23 April.
LatinNews Daily - 15 May 2025
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- COLOMBIA: Senate rejects referendum on labour reform
Andean
- In brief: New PM appointed in Peru
Brazil
- BRAZIL: Far-right lawmaker convicted for cyberattack
- In brief: Brazil’s services sector grows in March
Central America & Caribbean
- COSTA RICA: Chaves slams arrests over airport corruption scandal
- In brief: Panama Canal Authority reveals five-year investment plan
Mexico
- MEXICO: High-profile femicide case sparks concern
- In brief: Mexico condemns US proposal to tax remittances
Southern Cone
- ARGENTINA: Milei cracks down on migration
- In brief: Argentina’s inflation slows in April
On 14 May Colombia’s senate voted against holding a referendum sought by President Gustavo Petro’s government on its labour reform proposals.
LatinNews Daily - 14 May 2025
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- BOLIVIA: Arce drops plans for re-election
Andean
- In brief: Peru’s PM, finance minister, and interior minister step down
Brazil
- BRAZIL: Gov’t inks more deals with China
- In brief: Brazil’s interest rates expected to remain high
Central America & Caribbean
- EL SALVADOR: Bukele proposes ‘foreign agents’ bill
- In brief: IMF hails Costa Rica’s ‘remarkable’ growth
Mexico
- MEXICO: USMCA negotiations likely to be brought forward
- In brief: Mexico hails air passenger growth
Southern Cone
- URUGUAY: Region mourns death of former president Mujica
- In brief: Chile’s Boric boosts ties with China’s Xi
On 13 May Bolivia’s President Luis Arce announced that he will not stand again for the presidency in the 17 August general elections.
LatinNews Daily - 13 May 2025
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- BRAZIL/REGION: Lula and regional leaders deepen China ties
Andean
- ECUADOR: Investigation advances into massacre of soldiers
- In brief: Peru announces port modernisation plan
Brazil
- In brief: Brazil’s Petrobras posts higher profit in Q1
Central America & Caribbean
- PANAMA: Leading union denounces arrests as protests continue
- In brief: Cuba’s inflation continues to slow
Mexico
- MEXICO: Gov’t in the dark over US-Guzmán deal
- In brief: Mexico’s Sheinbaum renews anti-inflation plan
Southern Cone
- ARGENTINA: Rift on the right deepens
- In brief: Paraguay lowers fuel prices
On 12 May Brazil’s President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva attended a bilateral business event in Beijing, ahead of the multilateral forum taking place today (13 May) to promote ties between China and the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (Celac).
LatinNews Daily - 12 May 2025
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- BOLIVIA: Arce faces last-minute challenge for MAS candidacy
Andean
- In brief: Poverty declines in Peru
Brazil
- BRAZIL: Lula shores up ties with Russia in Moscow
- In brief: Brazil’s inflation slows in monthly terms
Central America & Caribbean
- PANAMA: Martinelli arrives in Colombia under political asylum
- In brief: Banana firm warns of irreversible impact of Panama strike
Mexico
- MEXICO: US suspends livestock imports amid screwworm outbreak
- In brief: Mexico’s vehicle production, exports and sales fall in April
Southern Cone
- URUGUAY: FA retains Montevideo in local elections
- In brief: Argentina raises minimum wage
Washington Watch
- US announces 'significant blow' against Mexico’s Cártel de Sinaloa
On 10 May Bolivia’s ruling left-wing Movimiento al Socialismo (MAS) suspended a party congress due to be held the following day at which it had been due to announce its presidential candidate, as President Luis Arce comes under mounting pressure from the senate president, Andrónico Rodríguez.
LatinNews Daily - 9 May 2025
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- PANAMA: Mulino stands firm as protests continue
Andean
- VENEZUELA: Opposition revels in embassy escape
- In brief: Peru cuts interest rate
Brazil
- BRAZIL: Gov’t expresses concern over Amazon deforestation
- In brief: Brazil’s vehicle production up in April
Central America & Caribbean
- In brief: Guatemala’s AG targets key port in latest move against Arévalo
Mexico
- MEXICO: Sheinbaum hails economic strength at banking convention
- In brief: Mexico’s inflation continues to edge up
Southern Cone
- ARGENTINA: Milei and Macri at loggerheads
- In brief: Inflation slows in Chile
On 8 May Panama’s President José Raúl Mulino said that there was nothing to negotiate with unions who have been staging a national strike since 23 April in rejection of the recently approved social security (CSS) reform, and security agreements struck last month with the US government led by President Donald Trump.
LatinNews Daily - 8 May 2025
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- COLOMBIA: Former heads of congress arrested over UNGRD corruption
Andean
- In brief: Colombia’s gov’t presents AI regulation bill
Brazil
- BRAZIL: Relief for Bolsonaro ally accused of plotting coup
- In brief: Brazil’s central bank slows rate hike cycle
Central America & Caribbean
- NICARAGUA: Construction begins on major mine
- In brief: Cuba and Russia shore up relations
Mexico
- MEXICO: Protests over arrest of Teuchitlán mayor
- In brief: Mexico business lobby boosts ties in US
Southern Cone
- ARGENTINA: Boost for Peronists as senate rejects key bill
- In brief: Argentine state oil firm YPF posts net loss in Q1
On 7 May Colombian police arrested former senate president Iván Name (2023-2024) and former president of the lower chamber of congress Andrés Calle (2023-2024) in relation to a corruption scandal at the government’s disaster risk management unit (UNGRD).
LatinNews Daily - 7 May 2025
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- VENEZUELA: US announces ‘rescue’ of hostages from Argentine embassy
Andean
- In brief: Profits fall at Colombia’s Ecopetrol
Brazil
- BRAZIL: Top court accepts charges against more alleged coup plotters
- In brief: Brazil’s former central bank chief to join Nubank
Central America & Caribbean
- EL SALVADOR: Alarm over possible journalist arrests
- In brief: Banana firm warns of strike losses as Panama protests spread
Mexico
- MEXICO: Ovidio Guzmán reportedly seeking plea-bargaining deal
- In brief: GFCF down again in Mexico
Southern Cone
- ARGENTINA: Bullrich jumps ship to join LLA
- In brief: IMF funds used to settle Argentina debt
On 6 May US Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced the “rescue” of Venezuelan dissidents who had been sheltering at the Argentine embassy in Caracas since March 2024.
LatinNews Daily - 6 May 2025
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- HAITI: US designates Haiti gangs as foreign terrorist organisations
Andean
- COLOMBIA: Senate leader rejects Petro’s referendum pressure
- In brief: Peru’s Boluarte takes measures after 13 miners killed
Brazil
- BRAZIL: Lula continues cabinet reshuffle
- In brief: Brazil’s oil and gas production up in March
Central America & Caribbean
- In brief: Five bus company heads arrested in El Salvador
Mexico
- MEXICO: Sheinbaum seeks to defuse US tensions
- In brief: Remittances to Mexico increase
Southern Cone
- ARGENTINA: Mercosur sounds positive notes
- In brief: Chile’s economic activity rises in March
On 2 May the US administration led by President Donald Trump announced it was designating two Haitian gangs, Viv Ansanm and Gran Grif, as foreign terrorist organisations.
LatinNews Daily - 2 May 2025
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- COLOMBIA/REGION: Petro throws down gauntlet to mark Workers’ Day
Andean
- In brief: Venezuela claims dramatic GDP growth
Brazil
- BRAZIL: Big tent party PSD seeks to win over more governors
- In brief: Brazilian airline Gol reaches new deal with creditors
Central America & Caribbean
- TRINIDAD & TOBAGO: Persad-Bissessar takes office
- In brief: Workers' Day demands vary across Central America
Mexico
- MEXICO: US targets CJNG’s fuel theft network
- In brief: Mexico’s gov’t pledges to reduce working week
Southern Cone
- CHILE: Presidential candidates present labour proposals
- In brief: Chile’s Boric hails minimum wage hike
Publishing Note
- Publishing Note
On 1 May Colombia’s President Gustavo Petro presented the senate with the questions for his planned referendum on labour reform, as demonstrations were held across Latin America to mark International Workers’ Day.
LatinNews Daily - 1 May 2025
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- PANAMA: Opposition unites against US security agreements
Andean
- BOLIVIA: Arrest warrant against Morales lifted
- In brief: Colombia cuts interest rate
Brazil
- BRAZIL: Blame game escalates over social security agency scandal
- In brief: Brazil’s unemployment continues to rise
Central America & Caribbean
- In brief: Dominican Republic and Russia boost ties
Mexico
- MEXICO: Changes to US vehicle tariffs ‘beneficial’, says gov’t
- In brief: Mexico’s GDP up in Q1 despite recession fears
Southern Cone
- ARGENTINA: Unions march against austerity
- In brief: Chile’s industrial production up in March
On 30 April opposition leaders including former president Martín Torrijos (Partido Revolucionario Democrático, PRD, 2004-2009), and civil society groups signed a joint declaration condemning agreements recently signed by Panama’s government led by President José Raúl Mulino with the US regarding security and the Panama Canal.