The Rio Times

Bolivia filed a criminal complaint over threats to President Paz's family, which he ties to the Marset case.

Angola's ruling MPLA holds its congress on 9 and 10 December, and President João Lourenço is the only validated candidate for party leader.

The European Union announced US$22 million in military support for Nigeria's army on Saturday 17 October, and a technical team will visit in November.

Peru's export volume rose 17.7% in August 2026 on mining and natural gas, INEI reported, a gain broader than the price-driven value story.

A months-long audit has held up payments for a school nutrition project in Gatsibo District, and Taarifa Rwanda says it may be no more.

Rwanda refugee appeals opened at a new tribunal in Kigali on Tuesday 20 October, with more than 20 cases expected in the first week.

Tanzania forest tourism gets a US$833,000 boost: cottages and big screens for AFCON fans at a reserve near Dar es Salaam, due by April 2027.

Kenyan lawmakers are weighing a bill that would delete the legal duty to livestream election results from polling stations, ahead of the August 2027 vote.

Meta’s Oversight Board said on 20 October that Meta has recurring election enforcement failures, citing Lula’s ad accounts and the US No Kings page.

Tunisian police say a network washed nearly two tonnes of gold over six years, holding 13 people and seizing 70 kg of gold on Tuesday 20 October.

An FGV Ibre economist values the damage avoided by lower Brazil deforestation at US$216 billion.

Brazil's electoral court unanimously kept an order to remove posts linking Flávio Bolsonaro to a police probe, five days before the 25 October runoff.

Guyana's President Ali said he backs the death penalty '100%' for heinous crimes and asked the Attorney General to examine it.

South Africa put a 5% duty on imported newsprint into force on Friday 16 October, ending duty-free entry to shield what Sappi calls its only newsprint mill.

Floods in northern Honduras hit 378 families, or 1,741 people, in 13 Sula Valley neighbourhoods, and the Ulua river is under watch as a cold front nears.

Senegal bonds fell after Ousmane Sonko, the Assembly speaker, vowed on Monday 19 October not to vote the revised budget behind an IMF deal.

The US Treasury licensed fuel deliveries to Sherritt's Moa nickel operation in Cuba on 20 October, but restarting the mine needs a second license.

Petroecuador awarded Petroperú two contracts for 16.2 million barrels of Oriente crude worth an estimated US$1.652 billion, reviving trade after four years.

Mexico's Economy Ministry told dealers on 20 October the 50% tariff on Chinese cars stays, as Mexico seeks a 15% US car tariff.

Mexico’s deputies voted 419 in favour of a federal offence for forced recruitment into criminal groups, with 10 to 25 years in prison.

Reuben Fasoranti, National Leader of Nigeria's Afenifere, died on 20 October 2026 aged 100, and President Tinubu paid tribute.

The Afenifere Yoruba group lost its leader Reuben Fasoranti at 100.

Honduran prosecutors filed a case at the Supreme Court naming former Congress president Luis Redondo and 13 others, the judiciary confirmed.

Honduras prosecutors seek to try ex-Congress chief Luis Redondo and 13 others over a January vote-recount decree.

La Florida flooding keeps 26 municipal schools closed on Wednesday, 21 October, as red alert and aluvión risk persist, local media report.

Why La Florida Chile is vulnerable to aluviones: a foothill ravine, the 1993 Macul disaster that killed 26 and this week's Red Alert, explained.

Your Wednesday LatAm guide: a tropical system off Mexico, Colombia's visa deadline, Brazil's runoff and today's exchange rates.

Flávio Bolsonaro's campaign asked Brazil's electoral court to cancel Lula's candidacy and halt government WhatsApp messages sent with official data.

Brazil's electoral court drew Justice André Mendonça to rule on Lula's request to open his family's bank, tax and phone records before the runoff.

Boca Juniors reached the Sudamericana final with a 3-1 win over Vasco, and Palmeiras host Fluminense in Wednesday's Libertadores semi-final second leg.

São Paulo Daily Brief for Wednesday 21 October: weather, Palmeiras v Fluminense at 9:30pm, rodízio plates 5 and 6, markets and the week ahead.

Rio today: warm with rain likely, the free CCBB open until 8pm, and a strong Tuesday for Brazilian stocks.

Latin America feels like a continent holding its breath four days before Brazil's runoff.

The Dow rose 1.02% and the dollar index fell 0.2% on Tuesday as Brent settled at US$108.79.

Brazil stocks rose 1.57% and Mexico 0.36% on Tuesday while Chile slipped 0.42%.

Brazil's main stock index rose 1.57% on Tuesday and sits 0.4% below its record.

Brazilian developer Helbor's board backed HBR Realty's share-swap bid, worth about US$0.50 a share, to leave B3.

A petition for live fact-checks at the Globo runoff debate passed 400,000 signatures, and Lula's campaign backs the demand.

Nexa Resources fell 2.69% to US$12.31 on Tuesday while Buenaventura rose 0.33%.

Vale's New York shares fell 0.69% to US$13.02 on Tuesday and Rio Tinto lost 1.50%, while CSN rose 2.65%.

The lithium fund LIT fell 0.53% to US$64.27 on Tuesday while Albemarle rose 1.19%.

The copper fund CPER rose 0.45% to US$39.75 on Tuesday while Freeport-McMoRan fell 1.26%.

Gold fund GLD fell 0.54% and silver fund SLV rose 1.13% on Tuesday as Fed rate worries weighed on gold.

Colombia's COLCAP rose 0.47% on Tuesday as Grupo Nutresa jumped 3.11%, while the dollar closed at COP3,163.59.

Argentina's MSCI Merval slipped 0.3% to 97,942 on Tuesday as country risk eased to 672 basis points after a 710 spike.

Chile's IPSA slipped 0.42% to 10,926.50 on Tuesday as lithium producer SQM-B and Mallplaza fell, while the peso firmed to about 974 per US dollar.

Mexico's IPC rose 0.36% to 69,258.58 on Tuesday, its fourth straight gain, as airport operators GAP and ASUR surged.

Brazil’s foreign ministry accused Argentina’s Milei of external interference on 20 October after he hinted Lula could steal the runoff.

Brazil's main stock index closed at 208,296 and the dollar at 5.02 reais on Tuesday, as foreign inflows and a softer US dollar lifted the real.

A 53-year-old Puerto Rican, a US citizen, was found dead in a Laureles hotel in Medellín on 19 October, and the cause awaits an autopsy.