The latest in Latin American politics today:
Argentina’s latest economy chief announces agriculture pick BUENOS AIRES – Argentina’s incoming Economy Minister Sergio Massa, dubbed a “superminister” due to his expanded portfolio, announced new secretary picks including for the key farm sector on Tuesday, part of the government’s latest bid to reign in a severe economic crisis.
Massa announced that Juan Bahillo will be the new agriculture secretary. Bahillo is a political leader, former federal lawmaker and rural farmer from Entre Rios province. He also announced that the production department will be helmed by industrial leader Jose de Mendiguren, while the trade department will be led by economist Matias Tombolini. Both will also report to Massa. Nicaragua shuts Catholic radio led by govt critic bishop
The Nicaraguan government ordered the closure on Monday of seven Catholic radio stations linked to a bishop who has been critical of the country’s president, Daniel Ortega. The Nicaraguan telecommunications agency said the radio stations did not meet the technical requirements to be on air, but did not specify the requirements.
As of Tuesday morning, a priest in the northern town of Sebaco was locked in a parish house after police shut down his parish and radio station, according to a tweet sent by the priest. Ecuador’s president ousts state oil company manager
QUITO – Ecuadorean President Guillermo Lasso said he has ordered the board of state-run oil company Petroecuador to remove its manager, Italo Cedeno, and appoint a replacement later on Tuesday. Cedeno was appointed by Lasso last December with the task of raising the state-run oil company’s production levels and seeking private investment for the development of new blocks.
Mexican union urges U.S. complaint at BBB auto-parts plant MEXICO CITY – A Mexican union said it will request a U.S. labor complaint over alleged worker rights violations at a BBB Industries auto-parts plant in northern Mexico, the latest effort to leverage the terms of a regional trade deal.
U.S. labor authorities have filed five complaints since last year – all in the autos sector – irritating Mexican officials who have complained that the mechanism is being applied before states have time to implement workplace reforms. Mexico anti-inflation subsidies come with $28 bln price tag
MEXICO CITY – Subsidies from the Mexican government to combat rising inflation in the country have cost some 575 billion pesos ($28.04 billion) this year, officials said, adding that these have helped ease the pain of ordinary people. The majority of that money, or 430 billion pesos, has gone to subsidizing gasoline, officials said, speaking alongside Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador at a news conference.
Brazil’s Bolsonaro teases new fuel price cut after oil drop SAO PAULO – Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro said on Tuesday that a recent drop in Brent oil prices may lead state-run Petrobras to cut refinery gate fuel prices once again, after the company announced two gasoline price reductions in July.
“Yesterday Brent fell below $100 per barrel, a signal that Petrobras can again cut fuel prices. Perhaps diesel (prices),” Bolsonaro said in an interview with radio station Guaiba. (Compiled by Steven Grattan; Editing by Sandra Maler and Alistair Bell)
(This story has not been edited by Devdiscourse staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)