Latin Pulse Headlines - 08/05/16
Obama Reaffirms Commitment to TPP
During a state visit of Singapore’s Prime Minister to the White House, U.S. President Barack Obama reiterated his commitment to the Trans-Pacific Partnership, which includes a dozen countries along the Pacific Rim.
“So the answer is that globalization and trade is working for us not against us. And so that’s why today we are reaffirming our commitment to the Trans-Pacific Partnership,” Obama said. “I’m a strong supporter of TPP because it will reduce tariffs… taxes basically… from cars to crops. And make it easier for Americans to export into the fastest growing markets of the world.”
Singapore is one of the countries included in the TPP deal, in addition to Peru, Chile, and Mexico.
Presidential parties on both major parties have opposed the trade pact. The Republican majority leader of the U.S. Senate Mitch McConnell said the chances of the Senate ratifying the deal before Obama’s term expires are slim.
Venezuela Comes Closer to Recalling President
Venezuela’s electoral authorities have approved the next step in the process to recall the country’s president Nicolas Maduro after opposition parties gathered more than a million signatures on a petition.
The next step will require gathering 4 million signatures backing the removal of the president during a 3-day period. Electoral authorities did not set a date for the next petition drive.
Venezuela is experiencing food shortages and hyperinflation.
Brazilians Welcome Olympics with Protests
The2016 Olympics kicked off in Rio de Janeiro amid anti-Olympic protests, which have been happening for weeks prior to the beginning of the games.
Hundreds of protesters blocked the Olympic torch route after its arrival in Rio and staged another riot. Police used tear gas to and pepper spray to break up the riot.
Brazilians are upset with the cost of the event, which is being staged during one of the country’s worst economic recessions in the past century.
Olympics officials say at least a million tickets remain unsold for the games.
Exercising the Right to Exercise
While Olympians from all over the world are setting good examples in Rio for the next few days, politicians are leading by example in Peru. President Pablo Kuczynski wants his cabinet ministers to work out weekly before the regular cabinet sessions.
The 77-year-old Kyczynski said the exercise is not only to invigorate the cabinet before the meetings, but also to set an example for Peruvians to work out more.
The first cabinet exercise session was help in the square outside the government palace with electronic music and yoga mats.