Brazil confident a year before 2016 Olympics but questions remain
Brazil’s economy is heading for recession, the president is threatened with impeachment and a huge corruption scandal has engulfed the nation but Rio is riding a wave of confidence in its preparations to host the Olympics next year. (Reuters via Inter Aaksyon)
Ecuador raises $760m in tax amnesty
Ecuador's government says it raised over $760m through its tax amnesty initiative as of 27 July. (Latin American Herald Tribune)
Puerto Rico fails to pay bond, defaults for the first time in 117 years as US territory
The Puerto Rican government said that it did not make a $58m debt payment that was due on Saturday, marking the first default by the commonwealth on a payment of principal or interest of debt. (Fox News Latino)
IMF supports Jamaica taking excess US$500m in loans
The International Monetary Fund says it supports Jamaica’s decision to borrow more funds than it needed recently from the international capital markets. (Jamaica Gleaner)
Government aid to Mexico mine spill victims totals $74m to date
The presidential commission created to attend to the victims of a mine spill in the northwestern Mexican state of Sonora said a total of 1.2 billion pesos ($74m) has been distributed thus far. (Latin American Herald Tribune)
