South America News Roundup - September 3, 2025

Buenos Aires, September 3 (Reuters) - Argentina’s government announced today that it will not present a candidate for election to the United Nations Human Rights Council, citing concerns that the body includes member states with poor rights records and does not align with President Javier Milei’s vision for Argentina’s international commitments. The decision has drawn criticism from human rights groups, with Amnesty International warning it “weakens Argentina’s voice in multilateral rights discussions” and marginalizes long-standing global advocacy efforts.

Buenos Aires, September 3 (Bloomberg) - A senior official in President Javier Milei’s administration accused a Chinese bank of deliberately driving down the Argentine peso. Finance Secretary Pablo Quirno claimed the bank exploited thin market liquidity on Monday to push the exchange rate against the dollar by 40 centavos with just $30 million in trades, exacerbating the currency’s recent volatility.

Mar del Plata, September 3 (Reuters) - Argentine authorities confirmed the recovery of an 18th-century portrait by Baroque artist Giuseppe Ghislandi that was stolen by the Nazis over 80 years ago. The painting resurfaced in a real-estate advertisement and was retrieved following coordinated raids and legal pressure. Federal prosecutors have placed the owner’s daughter under temporary house arrest pending further investigation into how the artwork entered her possession.

Buenos Aires, September 3 (Reuters) - Lionel Messi will captain Argentina in what is expected to be his final World Cup qualifying match this Thursday at Monumental Stadium in Buenos Aires. The 38-year-old eight-time Ballon d’Or winner faces Venezuela in a fixture that Argentina has already secured, but four remaining automatic qualification spots for the 2026 World Cup remain hotly contested among South American nations.

Bogotá, September 3 (Vax-Before-Travel/CNN) - The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention elevated its travel advisory for Colombia to Level 2 amid a yellow fever outbreak in multiple departments. Health authorities reported 132 confirmed cases since 2024, including 57 fatalities, and urged all travelers to obtain vaccination at least 10 days prior to arrival.

Brasília, September 3 (Reuters) - In Brasília, a trial session entered its final phase as the Supreme Court hears arguments in former President Jair Bolsonaro’s coup-plot case. Bolsonaro’s defense team claimed his rights to review evidence were restricted, accusing the court of rushing proceedings ahead of the 2026 election cycle. Prosecutors argue the trial is essential to uphold Brazil’s democratic institutions after the January 2023 riots.

End of South America news for September 3, 2025.