Latin American News Roundup August
As specialist logistics service providers to and from the region, Envío has summarised a few recent items of Latin American news from the month of August.
Brazil – At War With Fires
Brazil’s environment minister recently declared the country to be “at war” with fire, after blazes swept from the Amazon to the rural south-east, cloaking the cities of São Paulo and Brasília with smoke. Sao Paulo state is experiencing its worst August for fires in decades, with more than 3,480 separate blazes reported, grounding flights and forcing schools to close. Brazil suspect that criminals are behind the increase in fire outbreaks and four people have been arrested.
Brazil’s environment minister recently declared the country to be “at war” with fire, after blazes swept from the Amazon to the rural south-east, cloaking the cities of São Paulo and Brasília with smoke. Sao Paulo state is experiencing its worst August for fires in decades, with more than 3,480 separate blazes reported, grounding flights and forcing schools to close. Brazil suspect that criminals are behind the increase in fire outbreaks and four people have been arrested.
Brazil – Twitter At Risk
A Brazilian supreme court justice has ordered Elon Musk to name a legal representative for his messaging platform X (formerly Twitter) in Brazil or face the site’s suspension in the country. Earlier in the month, X announced it would be closing its operations and firing its staff in Brazil due to “censorship orders”, but had planned to keep the service available for users in the country.
A Brazilian supreme court justice has ordered Elon Musk to name a legal representative for his messaging platform X (formerly Twitter) in Brazil or face the site’s suspension in the country. Earlier in the month, X announced it would be closing its operations and firing its staff in Brazil due to “censorship orders”, but had planned to keep the service available for users in the country.
Colombia – Jet Fuel Crisis
Colombia had a jet fuel shortage this month after a power failure disrupted production at an Ecopetrol refinery in Cartagena. Colombian airlines were forced to cancel flights to domestic destinations as four major airports ran out of A1 jet fuel; Leticia, Cúcuta, Pasto, and Valledupar. Flights have subsequently been returning to normal as the shortage is now resolved.
Venezuela – Opposition Party Leader Arrested
Venezuela’s opposition advised that party leader Biagio Pilieri was arrested in Caracas after appearing at a rally protesting against the recent election results. President Maduro claimed to have won a third consecutive term in office last month with 52% of the votes, but the party has failed to provide detailed tallies from the polling stations to back up the announcement. Venezuela’s highest court has since upheld the election result, with the United Nations suggesting that the court lacked independence and impartiality.
Venezuela’s opposition advised that party leader Biagio Pilieri was arrested in Caracas after appearing at a rally protesting against the recent election results. President Maduro claimed to have won a third consecutive term in office last month with 52% of the votes, but the party has failed to provide detailed tallies from the polling stations to back up the announcement. Venezuela’s highest court has since upheld the election result, with the United Nations suggesting that the court lacked independence and impartiality.
