DIRS.INFO The most relevant business & tech news

☆ Inflation, migration in focus at regional Ibero-American summit
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-25 | by ( Paul Mathiasen And Jesus Frias | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/4] Honduras President Xiomara Castro attends at the XXVIII Ibero-American Summit of Heads of State and Government, in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, March 25, 2023. Dominican Republic Ministry of Foreign Affairs/Handout via REUTERSSANTO DOMINGO, March 25 (Reuters) - Leaders attending the Ibero-American Summit meeting in the Dominican Republic on Saturday highlighted rising inflation and migration as risks to the stability of the region. "Today migration management constitutes one of the great regional challenges," said Chilean President Gabriel Boric. Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, meanwhile, canceled his attendance at the Ibero-American summit after receiving a positive COVID-19 test result, though he has since tested negative twice, Vice President Delcy Rodriguez said. Reporting by Paul Mathiasen and Jesus Frias in Santo Domingo and Marco Aquino in Lima Writing by Cassandra Garrison Editing by Matthew Lewis and Deepa BabingtonOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ 'I lost everything': Cyclone Yaku unleashes destruction in Peru
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-13 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

[1/6] View of damaged houses in the aftermath of the Moche river overflowing due to torrential rains caused by Cyclone Yaku, in Trujillo, Peru, March 13, 2023. REUTERS/Randy ReyesLIMA, March 13 (Reuters) - Powerful Cyclone Yaku has unleashed torrents of rain on Peru's northern region in recent days, burying homes and cars in mud and leading to the deaths of at least six people. In the northern coastal towns of Trujillo and Lambayeque, residents waded through knee-high water and cars crawled through inundated streets. "It reached us, we have lost everything, I lost everything. The cyclone is the latest crisis hitting Peru, where anti-government protests have rocked the country since Congress removed former President Pedro Castillo from power in December.

☆ Cyclone in Peru causes major flooding, at least six dead
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-12 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

The government has declared a state of emergency as it seeks to bring relief to regions of Peru hard hit by the cyclone known as Yaku, which include Lambayeque, Piura and Tumbes. Early on Friday, the National Institute of Civil Defense (INDECI) said flooding caused by Yaku had claimed six lives. [1/5] Machinery is used to repair a bridge destroyed by rains and floods caused by direct influence of Cyclone Yaku, in Piura, Peru March 11, 2023. Peru has been riven by instability and anti-government protests over the past few months since Congress removed former President Pedro Castillo from power in December. His replacement, President Dina Boluarte, visited parts of northern Peru on Saturday as the government delivered humanitarian aid to areas badly hit by the cyclone.

☆ After steep climb in rates, Latam central banks show no signs of reversal
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-07 | by ( Isabel Woodford | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

The Brazilian central bank's weekly survey of private economists last year foresaw cuts in June 2023, but a recent survey pushed the forecast back to November. The central bank's poll of traders now expects cuts won't come until May, likely making Chile the first mover. "We've had a quite a few hawkish comments from central banks across the region, pushing back against the idea of rate cuts," she added. That gives central banks the message that it's not quite time to think about a more relaxed monetary policy," he said. Political unrest in Peru may have also moved back the goalpost for cuts, with the central bank warning that protests have caused supply chain disruption and impacted consumer prices.

☆ FIFA appointment of supermodel Lima 'baffling' - ex-Council member Dodd
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-02 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

March 2 (Reuters) - FIFA's appointment of supermodel Adriana Lima as its global fan ambassador in a Women's World Cup year is "baffling" and sends the wrong message to players and fans, former FIFA Council member Moya Dodd said. "I asked whether the FIFA ambassador will be delivering messages on body image, wellbeing and healthy eating. A prominent women's soccer advocate, Dodd represented Australia 24 times from 1986-95 and played in FIFA's women's invitational tournament in 1988, three years before the inaugural Women's World Cup. "In a FIFA World Cup year, that's the message that should be ringing loud and true around the world. This month, Dodd criticised FIFA for a lack of understanding of the women's game amid reports that Saudi Arabia's tourism authority would sponsor the July 20-Aug. 20 World Cup.

☆ Peru announces $9 bln injection to boost economy amid protests
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-28 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Private investment in Peru fell 0.5% last year, while it posted a 37.4% growth in 2021, according to economy ministry data. "The goal is for private investment to increase 3% this year," Contreras told the conference. Peru's economic growth stood at 2.68% at the end of 2022, a steep decline from the 13.61% climb recorded the year before. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) recommended Peru earlier in February to implement "targeted, temporary" fiscal stimulus given the slump in economic activity. Protests in Peru sparked after the ousting of Castillo, with demonstrators asking for President Dina Boluarte's resignation, the closure of Congress, a new Constitution and early elections.

☆ Colombia's Viva Air grounds fleet after Avianca merger hold-up
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-28 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

BOGOTA, Feb 28 (Reuters) - Viva Air said it has temporarily suspended operations as the indebted low-cost carrier awaited a ruling by Colombia's civil aviation authority on its proposed merger with Avianca (AVT_p.CN). Viva Air said late on Monday it had halted ticket sales and grounded its entire fleet after the regulator allowed five other airlines including Aerolineas Argentinas and JetSMART to take part in the merger process. Low-cost carrier JetSMART and regional giant LATAM Airlines have both expressed an interest in buying Viva Air. LATAM, Avianca and local airline Satena will offer alternatives to stranded passengers on some routes at no additional cost, the civil aviation authority said. Colombia's superintendency of transportation will open an investigation against Viva Air, which could result in possible sanctions, it said.

CNN —A pre-Hispanic mummy, estimated to be between 600 to 800 years old, was discovered in a food delivery cooler bag by Peruvian police over the weekend. Police told CNN that the mummified remains were found with three men who were drinking in a deserted park in the Peruvian city of Puno on Saturday afternoon. “A 26-year-old man had a delivery bag labeled ‘Pedidos Ya.’ Inside they found a mummy,” senior agent Marco Antonio Ortega, who is a spokesperson for Puno region’s National Police, told CNN. Images of the discovery showed the mummy in a fetal position inside the red delivery bag. Images of the discovery showed the mummy in a fetal position inside the red delivery bag.

☆ Peru president announces return of ambassador from Mexico
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-25 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

LIMA, Feb 24 (Reuters) - Peru's President Dina Boluarte announced on Friday the return of the country's ambassador in Mexico in response to comments from her Mexican counterpart branding her government as unconstitutional. Boluarte said the remarks made earlier on Friday by Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador about her administration go against the international right to non-interference. Boluarte accused Lopez Obrador of backing Castillo's attempt at a "coup d'etat." Lopez Obrador told a news conference on Friday that Mexico will keep supporting Castillo, as he was "illegally ousted." Boluarte's remarks come after a meeting between Lopez Obrador and Castillo's wife, Lilia Paredes, in Mexico earlier this week.

☆ Enel Peru says state-run Chinese power firm eying possible purchase
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-24 | by ( Marco Aquino | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

LIMA, Feb 24 (Reuters) - The Peruvian unit of Italy's biggest power utility, Enel (ENEI.MI), said on Friday that state-owned China Southern Power Grid is carrying out "due diligence" on the local unit for a possible purchase offer on its energy distribution operations. Bloomberg reported earlier on Friday that the Chinese firm is weighing a possible bid for Enel's distribution business in Peru, which it said could be valued at some $3 billion. The Guangzhou-based power company's owner, state-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission of the State Council (SASAC), did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Part of that announcement included the plan to put up for sale Enel Peru's distribution and generation assets, which the state-controlled firm said was already under way at the time. On Friday, shares of Enel Distribucion Peru rose 25% on Lima's main stock exchange.

☆ U.S. agrees to extradite former Peruvian President Toledo, says Peru
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-22 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

LIMA, Feb 21 (Reuters) - Peru's attorney general's office said on Tuesday on Twitter that the U.S. State Department had agreed to extradite former Peruvian President Alejandro Toledo on corruption charges. Toledo, 76, was arrested in the United States in 2019 after Peru formally requested his extradition. Last August, the U.S. Department of Justice said it would return to Peru about $686,000 seized from Toledo. Federal prosecutors in the New York City borough of Brooklyn said Odebrecht had paid Toledo $25 million in bribes for highway construction contracts. Peru has faced a wave of corruption scandals related to the Odebrecht case in recent years.

☆ Peru Congress moves to allow corruption charge of ex-President Castillo
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-17 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

LIMA, Feb 17 (Reuters) - Peru's Congress passed a constitutional complaint on Friday against ousted former President Pedro Castillo for alleged corruption, a step towards a formal judicial charge. Castillo has been held in pre-trial detention in Lima since his abrupt Dec. 7 ouster and arrest after he tried to illegally shutter Congress to avoid impeachment over the corruption accusations, which he denies. Friday's complaint allows Attorney General Patricia Benavides to formally accuse Castillo before Peru's judiciary. During the congressional debate, Castillo, via his lawyer Eduardo Pachas, declined to present a defense, saying that he wanted to participate in person. Pachas only reiterated Castillo's denial of corruption and denial of the charge that he belonged to a criminal organization.

LIMA, Feb 16 (Reuters) - Peru's top copper mines are starting to see activity hit harder by protests and blockades in the country's southern Andes, power data reviewed by Reuters shows, with Chinese-owned Las Bambas and Glencore PLC's Antapaccay currently worst affected. Those are MMG's (1208.HK) Las Bambas, Peru's third largest copper mine, and Glencore's (GLEN.L) Antapaccay, which have both been hit by blockades on a key mining corridor highway. The data backs this up, suggesting that mines are at times getting some supplies through the blockades, with Las Bambas in recent days see-sawing between full and half power use. Reuters GraphicsRepresentatives from Las Bambas, Antapaccay and Constancia were not immediately available to comment on whether they were receiving inputs for their operations or sending their concentrates in the two-day window with the blockades eased. "Anecdotal reports and high frequency data suggest that ongoing civil unrest in Peru is beginning to choke off activity at key copper mines.

☆ Worried residents near Ohio train derailment report dead fish and chickens as authorities say it's safe to return
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-14 | by ( Aria Bendix | David K. Li | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

Drone footage shows the freight train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio, U.S., February 6, 2023 in this screengrab obtained from a handout video released by the NTSB. For days, authorities have been telling residents of the area around East Palestine, Ohio, that it is safe to return home after a 150-car train carrying hazardous chemicals derailed Feb. 3. The Ohio Department of Natural Resources said the chemical spill resulting from the derailment had killed an estimated 3,500 small fish across 7½ miles of streams as of Wednesday. For some people who live near the derailment site, the reports continue to spur fear that they and their animals might be exposed to chemicals through the air, water and soil. The Ohio Department of Agriculture said the risk to livestock remains low.

☆ Peru's Boluarte vows to crush 'narcoterrorism' after deadly police ambush
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-13 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/6] Police officers carry flag-draped coffins during a ceremony to honor their seven fellow troopers gunned down during an ambush last Saturday, in Lima, Peru February 13, 2023. "My government has ordered a frontal fight against this alliance of terrorism and drug-trafficking in the VRAEM and throughout the nation's territory," Boluarte said at the funeral. After Colombia, Peru is the world's largest producer of coca leaf and cocaine, according to U.N. estimates. Boluarte - herself under investigation for protest deaths - called for peace and said her government would continue to work on the "wellbeing of the population." Reporting by Marco Aquino; Writing by Sarah Morland; Editing by Leslie AdlerOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ OAS members recommit to helping Haiti through gang violence
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-10 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/2] Secretary-General of the Organization of American States (OAS) Luis Almagro heads a session at the OAS 52nd General Assembly, in Lima, Peru October 7, 2022. REUTERS/Angela PonceFeb 10 (Reuters) - The Organization of American States (OAS) on Friday passed a resolution to support Haiti on its path to long-delayed elections and help the Caribbean country manage widespread gang violence that is driving a humanitarian crisis. Talks on such a force have lagged as no country has offered to lead it, though some Caribbean states said they would participate and Canada sent a surveillance military aircraft. Henry has pledged to leave office by Feb. 7, 2024, after repeatedly postponing elections due to a devastating 2021 earthquake as well as the gang violence. The head of the Washington-based OAS, Luis Almagro, has agreed and said locals would have to drive a precise roadmap.

☆ Peruvians march in southern Juliaca to mourn 19 protest dead
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-09 | by ( Alexander Villegas | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

JULIACA, Peru, Feb 9 (Reuters) - Thousands of demonstrators marched through Peru's southern city of Juliaca on Thursday to commemorate the one-month anniversary of clashes that left 19 people dead in the city, the worst violence in over two months of anti-government protests. Clashes on Jan. 9 left 18 dead, including one police officer. On Thursday, as families mourned the dead, some protesters in other cities joined calls for a wider national strike. "The Puno region really came out in support, we're not one, we're many," said Ruth Meza, who said her classmate Elmer Solano was killed in the Juliaca clashes. MASS FOR PROTEST DEAD[1/5] Relatives mourn victims one month after the deadliest clashes in anti-government protests against Peru's President Dina Boluarte, in Juliaca, Peru February 9, 2023.

☆ Trudeau joins vigil for Montreal daycare crash victims
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-09 | by ( Nelson Wyatt | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

[1/5] A Laval city bus is towed away after being pulled out of the daycare it crashed into, in Laval, Quebec, Canada February 8, 2023. Authorities have not yet given any indication of a motive behind the incident in Laval, Quebec, as they wait for a psychological evaluation of the suspect. "This is a moment to reflect on the incredible loss that families are feeling right now," CTV News quoted Trudeau as saying. He stopped to talk with parents who had dropped off their 2-1/2-year old daughter 10 minutes before the crash. Authorities said St-Amand has worked for the Laval municipality's public transit system for 10 years and does not have a criminal record.

☆ In Peru’s Andes, anger hardens as fast election hopes fade
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-07 | by ( Alexander Villegas | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Congress has rejected multiple bills for early elections, a key demand by protesters, including shelving a proposal by President Dina Boluarte on Friday. It is the worst violence in Peru in two decades, and threatens to destabilize one of region's most reliable economies. Adelma Quispe, a protestor in the southern town of Ayavire, said protests would have calmed down if there had been an agreement on snap elections. Zamata, Quispe and others say they have collected money to send people to protest in Lima, but are dedicated to maintaining blockades in their towns. Throughout the region, protesters said they can survive on local crops and livestock, and outlast the capital until their demands are met.

LIMA, Feb 4 (Reuters) - As deadly protests rage across Peru, a political battle is unfolding inside the halls of Congress, walled off from the streets by hundreds of police, armored vehicles and a maze of gates. Despite the violence, and despite polls that show the majority of Peruvians want the election brought forward, Congress appears to be in deadlock. Reuters spent the last week inside the 130-seat Congress in capital Lima, talking to lawmakers to ask why Peruvian politics seems to be in such a mess. "There is little agreement within political parties as to what to do," said Peruvian political analyst Andrea Moncada. "If we have elections in a year or by some miracle by the end of this year, the parties registered to participate are the same ones that are in Congress right now."

☆ Peru president unveils new bill for 2023 election amid Congress infighting
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-02 | by ( Alexander Villegas | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

LIMA, Feb 2 (Reuters) - Peruvian President Dina Boluarte has put forward a new bill to bring elections forward to 2023 in a bid to calm protests around the country as a fractured Congress has repeatedly failed to come to an agreement after weeks of political infighting. The bill, seen by Reuters, proposes holding congressional and presidential elections in October this year with elected officials taking power in late December. Fast new elections has been a key demand of protesters after former left-wing President Pedro Castillo was ousted in December. Peru Libre, Castillo's party, is scheduled to submit another proposal for early elections and a non-binding referendum later on Thursday, though debate has been delayed. Reporting by Alexander Villegas Editing by Bill BerkrotOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

The sharp contrast with Bolsonaro, who criticized environmental agents, was a relief to some scientists concerned that the retreating Amazon rainforest may be near a point of no return. Ibama's staffing and resources expanded in Lula's 2003-2010 presidency, when he managed to reduce Amazon deforestation by 72%. Rodrigo Agostinho, whom Lula tapped to run Ibama, told Reuters in an interview that the agency now has about 350 active field agents for all of Brazil. That is less than half what it had at the start of Bolsonaro's term and well below the 2,000 field agents at the peak of its powers, he added. Sidelining Ibama, Bolsonaro deployed the military to protect the Amazon, but their inexperience in conservation failed to lower deforestation while running up a massive bill.

☆ Peru's Congress fails to agree over holding early elections
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-01 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Lawmakers will continue debating a different proposal to hold early elections, a key demand of the protesters. But Peru's Congress is deeply fragmented and reaching an agreement is tricky. Jorge Montoya, a congressman and spokesperson for the far right-wing Popular Renovation party, said during Wednesday's debate that early elections were unconstitutional and that members of Congress should be allowed to finish their term. A supermajority of 87 votes is needed to advance the proposal, while 66 votes are needed to trigger a national referendum. Protesters have over past weeks blocked roads, taken over airports and set some buildings on fire, with demands including early elections, Congress' closure, the resignation of Boluarte and Castillo's release from jail.

☆ The US's powerful Abrams tanks are heading to Ukraine, but generals disagree over how hard it'll be to use them on the battlefield
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-01 | by ( Sebastien Roblin | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +19 min

The US has pledged to send Abrams tanks to Ukraine, joining a bevy of Western-made tanks. Here comes the M1 Abrams for UkraineA M1A2 Abrams tank fires at a target during an exercise. The same day, word spread that US President Joe Biden would announce he was sending 31 M1 Abrams tanks to Ukraine. But Hertling disagreed that withholding the M1 Abrams was a "political decision" and didn't find the examples of non-US Abrams operators persuasive. M1 Abrams: training and sustainmentAn M1A2 Abrams drives into the woods during an exercise in Hohenfels, Germany.

☆ Brazil's Jair Bolsonaro applies for 6-month U.S. visitor visa
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-31 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro has filed a request for a six-month visitor visa to stay in the U.S., indicating he may have no immediate intention of returning home, where legal issues await. The application was first reported by The Financial Times, citing Bolsonaro's immigration lawyer, Felipe Alexandre. Bolsonaro left Brazil for Florida on Dec. 30, two days before the inauguration of his leftist rival, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. It has been widely assumed — though not confirmed — that Bolsonaro entered the U.S. on an A-1 visa reserved for sitting heads of state. The processes will continue, but maybe he thinks he can at least avoid some sort of revenge punishment."

Search resuls for: "LIMA"

25 mentions found