Domestic Politics
The Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) said that more than 100 former left-wing guerillas and their families have left their designated following the murder of 12 fellow ex-rebels in the country. The historic 2016 peace accord ended a half-century of armed conflict and resulted in 13,000 rebels laying down their arms. However, violence against former guerillas continues throughout the nation. [Merco Press]
Chile's unemployment rate rose by 5% from 2018, with a 7% rise from October to December following violent protests, which saw the destruction of public transportation and infrastructure. Many were forced to shut down their businesses. The tourism sector was particularly hard-hit. [Merco Press]
International Relations
The United Nation’s International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the US Agency for International Development (USAID) launched a program to facilitate the resettlement of tens of thousands of Venezuelan migrants in Brazil. USAID officials said that the agency will provide US$ 4 million to fund programs in order to ease the economic and social integration of Venezuelan immigrants. [Merco Press]
Environment
Chile's National Office for Emergency issued a red alert for the municipalities of Temuco and Lumaco after a fire broke out in the region. The authorities said that the fire has already affected four hectares in Temuco. [Telesur]
Society
There has been a spike in violent protests in Chile this week. A mob looted and then torched a supermarket in southern Santiago on Friday. A man died of carbon monoxide poisoning and another succumbed to injuries sustained during police clashes. [Al Jazeera]
Around 80 armed men attacked an indigenous community in Nicaragua’s northern Caribbean coast. The attack occurred in Alal, a community of the Mayangna people in the Bosawas biosphere reserve. Local leaders say six people died, while the police reported only two deaths. [The New York Times]
Economy
Brazil intends to accelerate privatization in 2020 with the sale of 300 companies worth $36 billion. According to the Ministry of Privatization and Disinvestment, Brazil sold 71 assets in 2019, raising $25.7 billion. [Latin American Herald Tribune]
Brazils’ largest meatpackers, JBS SA and BRF SA, said that the coronavirus outbreak could boost the demand for their products in China. Since there are concerns about domestic food safety in China, the epidemic could boost sales of foreign frozen and processed meat products in China “for food security reasons”. [Merco Press]
Image Source: Washington Post