The German government intends to strengthen its military presence in the Baltic States by stationing a brigade in Lithuania. This move is part of NATO's "enhanced Forward Presence" (eFP) and "enhanced Vigilance Activities" (eVA) initiatives. Around 4,000 German soldiers and their families will be relocated to Lithuania, effectively establishing a German military base on NATO's […]
The Supreme Court of Justice (TSJ) in Venezuela is reviewing a request to suspend the opposition primaries scheduled for October 22. The primaries aim to select a candidate to challenge President Nicolás Maduro in the 2024 presidential elections. Pre-candidate Luis Ratti made the request at the end of May and has been assigned to the […]
The Bolivarian National Armed Forces (FANB) of Venezuela intercepted and disabled an aircraft that had violated Venezuelan airspace in Falcón state. Domingo Hernández Lárez, the head of the Strategic Operational Command (Ceofanb), provided this information. On July 10, at 04:00 hours, the FANB detected an aircraft on radar that was in clear violation of Venezuelan […]
Shenzhen, the birthplace of China’s first special economic zone, just across the river from Hong Kong, is facing a potential shift in its fortunes. In 2022, the city experienced a population decline for the first time, attributed to the COVID-19 pandemic and changes in local government policies. The population decline is expected to alleviate issues […]
Shavkat Mirziyóyev, the President of Uzbekistan, is prioritizing economic growth while dealing with political obstacles. He aims to attract foreign investment, enhance business relations, and combat fundamentalism, separatism, and dissent. Mirziyóyev, aged 66, won a majority in the recent elections, securing his third term in office. Following his predecessor’s pragmatic leadership style, he cracks down […]
According to the United Nations Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC), Latin America's foreign direct investment (FDI) experienced significant growth in 2022, reaching its highest recorded value. The region received a total of US$224.579 billion in FDI, marking a 55% increase compared to the previous year. ECLAC highlighted that this milestone was […]
Bolivia is seeking partnerships with Argentina and Chile to impact the global price of lithium as a sort of lithium OPEC. Together, these countries possess the largest lithium reserves worldwide, with Bolivia holding 21 million tons, Argentina 19 million tons, and Chile 9 million tons. Bolivia has established agreements with Argentina’s Y-TEC and its own […]
The West African Economic and Monetary Union (UEMOA) has decided to lift the suspension on Mali, a country that has experienced two coups d’état in August 2020 and May 2021, and is currently under military rule. UEMOA, comprising eight member countries, made this announcement during a meeting in Guinea-Bissau on July 8, prior to the […]
Argentina’s Central Bank (BCRA) is facing historically negative net reserves, causing concern among investors ahead of the upcoming PASO elections. The BCRA’s net reserves, the difference between its assets and short-term liabilities, have plummeted to a record low of -US$6.45 billion. This has raised fears of a potential mass withdrawal of deposits, which could further […]
Passenger numbers at European airports are expected to reach or exceed pre-pandemic levels in July and August as travelers prepare for summer vacations. To evaluate how airports are managing the surge in travelers, AirHelp, a passenger rights company, conducted an analysis of flight delays and cancellations in June at European airports with 5,000 or more […]
According to insiders familiar with the matter, Petrobras, Brazil's state oil giant, is likely to miss the government's target of reducing natural gas prices by 40%. The main reason cited is the high cost of extracting gas from ultra-deep waters, which significantly exceeds the production expenses of onshore shale gas drillers in other countries. Petrobras […]
Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla has expressed concerns about the European Union’s handling of the preparations for the upcoming III EU-CELAC summit, scheduled to take place in Brussels, Belgium, on July 17 and 18. In a tweet, Rodríguez Parrilla criticized the lack of transparency and what he perceived as manipulative behavior by the European […]
Ireland has enacted a law that bans praying and attempting to persuade women outside abortion clinics. Those who violate the law can face fines of up to 2,500 euros for engaging in silent prayer or providing information to discourage abortion. The legislation, known as the Safe Access Zones Bill, establishes exclusion zones of 100 meters […]
Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva advocated for the establishment of an Amazonian Parliament and a Forum of Amazonian Cities to enhance collaboration among countries in the region. Lula made this proposal during his closing speech at the Technical-Scientific Meeting of the Amazon in Leticia, Colombia. The event, hosted by the Colombian government under […]
Brazil's upcoming tax reform is expected to introduce a consumption tax that could become one of the highest in the world. Initially, a study suggested a base rate of 25% for the Value Added Tax (VAT). However, recent changes to the tax reform have raised concerns that this percentage may increase even further. These changes […]
Brazil witnessed a surge in the number of legal entities investing in cryptocurrencies, as 80,200 companies reported their operations to the IRS in May, surpassing the previous record set in April. However, individual investors experienced a slight decline. The IRS reported that 1.92 million individuals declared their cryptocurrency operations in May, a 4.7% decrease compared […]
The powerful Brazilian center-right voting bloc Centrão is engaged in negotiations for a ministerial mini-reform within the government of President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. This reform is expected to impact the race for the presidency of the Chamber of Deputies in 2025. The Centrão parties are currently working on nominating candidates for key positions […]
iFood, the food delivery platform, is introducing new AI-powered features in its app to transform the customer experience. The updated iFood app now supports voice commands for placing orders and offers customizable menus with precise quantities and competitive prices. One notable addition is the ability to easily share grocery lists through the app, thanks to […]
Venezuela and North Korea have reinforced their commitment to enhancing communication between the two nations. The Foreign Ministry of Venezuela released an official statement on Saturday (8) confirming this development. A meeting took place in Caracas, Venezuela, between Mercedes Chacín, Vice Minister for International Communication at the Venezuelan Foreign Ministry, and Ri Yong-gil, the North […]
By André Luiz Reis da Silva* (Opinion) Brazil's foreign policy under President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva is focused on overcoming challenges and prioritizing key objectives, writes André Luiz Reis da Silva in an extensive analysis, summarized here. Lula's return to the presidency in 2023 comes at a critical time, with the need to address […]
This week brings important economic indicators and data releases across Latin America, focusing on inflation rates in Brazil, Colombia, and Argentina. In addition, economic developments in Mexico and Peru are expected to provide insights into the region's economic performance. Brazil: On Tuesday, July 11, Brazil will release its June inflation data. Analysts projects a slight […]
The Colombian Air Show F-Air 2023 is returning as an in-person event on July 12, following a virtual celebration in 2021. The Colombian Minister of Defense, Iván Velásquez, will inaugurate the event alongside leaders from the Armed Forces and prominent figures from the nation's political and administrative spheres. In an interview, Velásquez highlighted Colombia's involvement […]
The CEO of Cogen (Energy Cogeneration Industry Association), Newton Duarte, has announced that Brazil has committed to increasing its annual ethanol production from 30 billion to 50 billion liters by the end of the decade, aligning with its commitments at COP21 and the Paris Agreement. To achieve this target, Brazil must produce 600 million tons […]
This week, the activities in the Chamber of Deputies will primarily revolve around the committees of the National Congress. One key focus will be the Mixed Parliamentary Inquiry Commission (CPMI) investigating the events of January 8. Former aide to Jair Bolsonaro, Mauro Cid, who has been under arrest since May 3, will be questioned regarding […]
The Office of the High Commissioner for Peace (OACP) of Colombia has stated that the key demand for initiating negotiations with the Central General Staff (EMC), the main dissident faction of the FARC, is the protection of the lives of peace signatories. In a recent statement, the OACP emphasized that this demand is non-negotiable for […]