https://en.mercopress.com/ South Atlantic News Agency en Copyright 2026, MercoPress. https://en.mercopress.com/web/img/en/mercopress-logo.gif http://en.mercopress.com/ Víctor Hugo Claure, dean of Bolivia's Agro-Environmental Court, was shot dead late Thursday in the eastern city of Santa Cruz de la Sierra, in what authorities describe as an attack carried out by hitmen and which falls within a sequence of violent events linked to the growing influence of drug trafficking in the country's main city. The killing has prompted unanimous condemnation from the judicial system and from opposition politicians, and poses a direct challenge to the administration of President Rodrigo Paz, in office since November.

]]> Fri, 01 May 2026 14:54:00 GMT The United States Department of War announced the signing of agreements with seven leading technology companies to integrate artificial intelligence (AI) tools into classified operational environments. The contracts, which include SpaceX, OpenAI, Google, NVIDIA, Reflection, Microsoft, and Amazon Web Services, seek to consolidate Washington's military technological leadership.

]]> Fri, 01 May 2026 12:12:00 GMT The United States and Venezuela inaugurated on Thursday the first direct air connection between the two countries since 2019 and signed two new energy agreements, in a day the White House described as a substantive advance in the “economic revitalization” phase of the three-stage plan designed by President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio to reorganize the bilateral relationship following the capture of former president Nicolás Maduro by US troops on January 3.

]]> Fri, 01 May 2026 11:13:00 GMT Latin America has long been a destination for travelers seeking authentic experiences, from the Amazon rainforest to Patagonian peaks. Yet the region's adventure tourism sector has evolved dramatically over the past decade, driven not only by improved infrastructure and tour operators but also by the democratization of content creation technology. Today's travelers are not passive observers; they are documentarians of their own journeys, capturing and sharing experiences in real time across digital platforms.

]]> Fri, 01 May 2026 08:39:00 GMT The association agreement between Mercosur and the European Union (EU) enters provisionally into force on Friday May 1, after more than a quarter-century of negotiations, in what constitutes one of the world's most ambitious trade deals and the largest reciprocal opening ever finalised by the South American bloc. The final signing took place on January 17 in Asunción and, although final ratification by the European Court of Justice and subsequent approval by the European Parliament remain pending, provisional entry into force allows the immediate start of tariff reductions covering 95% of Mercosur products and 91% of EU products.

]]> Fri, 01 May 2026 06:40:00 GMT Brent crude touched $126.41 a barrel on Thursday, its highest level since Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022, after Axios reported that the US Central Command (CENTCOM) was preparing a military plan contemplating a wave of "short and powerful" strikes on Iranian infrastructure to force Tehran back to the negotiating table. The price subsequently moderated to close near $114, a decline partly attributed to the expiration of the June futures contract, but the European benchmark has gained more than 60% since the start of the war against Iran on February 28.

]]> Fri, 01 May 2026 04:44:00 GMT Nowhere is the ripple effect of the 2026 FIFA World Cup more visible than in current club dealings, stretching from Vancouver to Miami to Monterrey. Because preparations start years ahead, managers are quietly stacking rosters with an eye on summer fixtures far down the calendar. While some teams chase star names, others prioritize cohesion - timing arrivals so chemistry builds just before lights come up on opening day. Fitness curves matter as much as skill sets; athletes finishing too early might miss the mark entirely. Watching who signs where reveals subtle clues about confidence levels heading into North America's biggest football moment.

]]> Fri, 01 May 2026 01:52:00 GMT In the vast landscape of digital gaming, few experiences offer the same blend of strategic depth, rapid-fire action, and sophisticated allure as blackjack. Known to many as “21,” this iconic card game has transitioned from the smoky backrooms of 17th-century Europe to the sleek, high-definition interfaces of 2026. While the core objective remains simple—beat the dealer’s hand without exceeding 21—the modern era has introduced a level of variety and technical polish that was previously unimaginable.

]]> Fri, 01 May 2026 00:16:00 GMT Brazil's nominal public sector deficit reached 9.41% of gross domestic product in the twelve months to March 2026, nearly one percentage point higher than the previous period, according to data published on Thursday by the Central Bank. The combined shortfall of all public administrations — central government, states, and municipalities — stood at 1.21 trillion reais, equivalent to around $244 billion, in one of the highest readings in recent years for Latin America's largest economy.

]]> Thu, 30 Apr 2026 13:25:00 GMT The European Parliament approved on Thursday, by a wide majority, a resolution urging the Council of the European Union not to lift sanctions imposed on those responsible for human rights violations in Venezuela until the country adopts "significant measures toward a peaceful transition to democracy." The text, promoted by the European People's Party, gained 507 votes in favor, 31 against, and 35 abstentions, and was backed even by the Socialists and Democrats group despite internal divergences over the strategy toward the government of acting President Delcy Rodríguez.

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