Author: Encion

Ukraine’s aspiration to join the EU will be one of the priorities of the Spanish presidency of the Council of the EU, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez said Saturday on a visit to Kyiv. “Spain reaffirms its commitment to work with Ukraine as it makes progress in meeting the conditions in its EU accession,” according to a joint statement by Sánchez and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy issued on Saturday. Sánchez arrived in Kyiv on Saturday morning to meet the Ukrainian leader for what was meant to be a highly symbolic visit, taking place as Spain officially takes over the reins of the…

The Ministry of Foreign Trade and Tourism (Mincetur) on Sunday said that Peru will assume the Pro-Tempore Presidency of the Pacific Alliance (AP) on August 1 this year, noting that an increase in trade, tourism, and investment is expected. According to the government agency, the work agenda was pursued bilaterally during these months in which Peru could not assume the Pro-Tempore Presidency of the bloc, that is, actions to promote investment, tourism and exports continued to be taken in coordination with Chile, Colombia, and Mexico. However, it explained that this is not only about two-way trade with these countries, but also about global value…

Brazil recorded inflation of 0.71 percent in March, lower than the 0.84 percent in February and less than half of the 1.62 percent in March 2022, Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics reported Tuesday. So far, the South American country has accumulated 2.09 percent inflation for the year, while in the last 12 months through March it reached 4.65 percent, the lowest in the same comparison since January 2021 (4.56 percent). Of the nine groups of products and services analyzed in March, eight recorded price hikes, while household items showed a 0.27 percent decrease. Meanwhile, the financial market expects inflation…

Former Brazil boss Tite has emerged as a candidate for Boca Juniors’ vacant head coaching role, according to media reports in Argentina. Tite’s name began to be linked with Boca on Tuesday and speculation quickly became viral among Boca fans on social media. The Ole news portal said the former Corinthians manager had the backing of Boca’s squad and supporters. The 61-year-old has been out of work since parting ways with Brazil in December following their World Cup quarterfinal defeat to Croatia on penalties. Another Brazilian reportedly under consideration for the job is former Atletico Mineiro, Palmeiras, Santos and Flamengo…

The Central Bank of Brazil announced on Friday that the Chinese currency renminbi (RMB), or the yuan, has surpassed the euro to become the country’s second-largest international reserve currency. According to the “International Reserve Management Report” released by the central bank on its official website, the increase of the RMB’s share in Brazil’s international exchange reserves reflects the deepening economic ties between Brazil and its largest trading partner — China. The report said that by the end of 2022, the proportion of the RMB in Brazil’s international exchange reserves had reached 5.37 percent, exceeding the proportion of the euro at…

Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has garnered a 41 percent approval rating since taking office on Jan. 1 for a third term, an opinion poll has showed. The survey, conducted by pollster IPEC (Intelligence in Research and Strategic Consulting) and published Sunday by news outlet O Globo, showed Lula enjoys higher approval than his predecessor Jair Bolsonaro (2019-2022) did at the start of his term (34 percent). Some 41 percent of those surveyed rated his administration as “good” or “excellent,” and 30 percent rated it as “regular,” said IPEC. Lula received better ratings at the start of his…

Chile’s Senate passed a bill cutting down the number of working hours from 45 to a maximum of 40 per week. If ratified by the Lower House, the new scheme will be applied gradually over a period of five years. The bill submitted in 2017 by then Communist Deputies Karol Cariola and Camila Vallejo, was unanimously approved this week by the Senate. It now goes back to the Lower House to vote on the amendments introduced by the Senate, such as the one regarding a transition of one weekly hour every year until the target number is achieved. The rationale…

Rabat – Morocco’s national team arrived in Madrid on Sunday, ahead of their friendly game on Tuesday against Peru. The Atlas Lions will play their Peruvian counterparts in the Civitas Metropolitano Stadium on March 28, with hopes of continuing their good run at the World Cup and the recent victory over Brazil. The team recently defeated five-time world champions Brazil, who are also ranked by FIFA as the best national team in the world, 2-1 at the Tangier Grand Stadium. Morocco recently made history by becoming the first African and Arab team to make it to the semi-finals of a World Cup tournament, defeating…

If local media outlets are to be believed, the uncertainty is over: Argentina’s World Cup-winning coach Lionel Scaloni is very close to renewing his contract with the national side. According to reports, the Pujato-born 44-year-old has agreed terms on a new deal that will see him lead the Albiceleste into the next World Cup in 2026, which is set to be staged in the United States, Canada and Mexico. The news, initially reported by TyC Sports on Wednesday and backed up a few hours later by perhaps the world’s most high-profile football journalist Fabrizio Romano, will be welcomed by fans…

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Argentina’s President Alberto Fernandez walk as they hold a news conference, at the Foreign Ministry building Palacio San Martin in Buenos Aires, Argentina, January 28, 2023. REUTERS/Agustin Marcarian SANTIAGO, Jan 29 (Reuters) – German Chancellor Olaf Scholz sought to drum up support for Ukraine during his first South American tour although differences with his hosts emerged, with Argentine President Alberto Fernandez declaring the region was not planning on sending weapons. On his three-day trip, Scholz has sought to stress unity, noting all three countries he is visiting – Argentina, Chile and Brazil – condemned Russia’s…