LATAM POLITICS TODAY-Latin America's left turn on Venezuela's Guaido at OAS

U.S. says no change to Venezuela sanctions policy WASHINGTON - The United States has no plans to change its Venezuela sanctions policy "without constructive steps" from Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro to restore democracy, White House National Security Council spokesperson Adrienne Watson has said.

The latest in Latin American politics today: Latin America's left discuss ousting Venezuela's Guaido from OAS

LIMA - A bloc of leftist Latin American nations ramped up pressure against Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido at the Organization of American States (OAS) general assembly, although they failed to pass a motion around ousting him from the group. Guaido has claimed to be Venezuela's rightful president since 2019 and is recognized by the diplomatic organization.

While 19 nations voted in favor of the motion and only four against, it fell short of the necessary 24 votes. Bolsonaro eyes dividend tax, debt pardon as Brazil campaign turns to economy

BRASILIA - Brazil's right-wing President Jair Bolsonaro announced a debt pardon for some consumers and a tax on dividends to pay for welfare spending, shifting the focus of his re-election campaign to the economy as polls tightened. Bolsonaro's leftist challenger, former President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, who got a written endorsement from prominent orthodox economists on Thursday, has also proposed a debt forgiveness program for Brazilian consumers.

Former Colombian finance ministers criticize Petro comments on central bank BOGOTA - At least five former Colombian finance ministers have criticized the Andean country's President Gustavo Petro after he took to Twitter to question the central bank's decision to hike its benchmark interest rate to 10% last week.

"Food prices continue to drive the rhythm of inflation in Colombia... Is it useful to raise the interest rate to contain inflation?: No," the president said in a message on Twitter. Former finance minister Juan Camilo Restrepo told local media: "The markets take a dim view of a president firing shots at the central bank, it takes away credibility of all the country's economic institutions."

Chile files charges against mining company for giant sinkhole SANTIAGO - Chile's environmental regulator has announced four charges against Canadian-owned Lundin copper mine for a sinkhole that appeared in the northern area of the country in late July.

The country's SMA environmental regulator said the main infractions were overextraction and construction outside of environmentally approved zones. Emanuel Ibarra, the SMA superintendent, said in a statement that the regional office's investigation linked the sinkhole on the mine's property with ore overextraction.

Mexican economy minister resigns, dealing blow to trade team amid U.S. talks MEXICO CITY - Mexican Economy Minister Tatiana Clouthier said she was stepping down, depriving Mexico of one of its key trade negotiators in the midst of a major dispute with the United States and Canada centering on energy.

Clouthier, a scion of a powerful political family who became economy minister early last year, read aloud a letter announcing her decision alongside President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador. She did not explain why she was quitting. U.S. says no change to Venezuela sanctions policy

WASHINGTON - The United States has no plans to change its Venezuela sanctions policy "without constructive steps" from Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro to restore democracy, White House National Security Council spokesperson Adrienne Watson has said. "Our sanctions policy on Venezuela remains unchanged. We will continue to implement and enforce our Venezuela sanctions," Watson said in a statement.

Haiti's PM Henry calls for foreign help amid gang blockade PORT-AU-PRINCE - Haitian Prime Minister Ariel Henry has called on the international community to help the Caribbean nation, as a gang blockade of a key fuel terminal has created widespread shortages of goods including drinking water.

Since last month gangs have been blocking the entrance to the Varreux fuel terminal, creating dire shortages of diesel and gasoline and crippling day-to-day activities in Haiti. Authorities over the weekend confirmed an outbreak of cholera, which is typically spread by contaminated water. (Compiled by Steven Grattan and Brendna O'Boyle; Editing by Jonathan Oatis and Christopher Cushing)

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