International

Chile blacklists child support defaulters

Photo: Martin Bernetti / AFP

| By AFP | Miguel Sanchez |

Chile, where 84 percent of child support goes unpaid, on Friday introduced a national register of defaulters who now risk losing out on public sector promotions or loans or having funds frozen.

On the electronic register will appear the names of parents who have owed alimony for three consecutive months or five in total — a reality that affects an estimated 72,000 children in Chile, according to justice department data.

Women are the main breadwinners in nearly half of households in the South American country, and nine out of 10 unpaid support claims are filed by women.

In one notorious case, presidential candidate Franco Parisi, the third-place finisher in last November’s first round vote, campaigned long-distance from the United States, unwilling to risk returning home due to a lawsuit for unpaid alimony.

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Inscription on the register must be ordered by a family court.

Defaulters who are on it may be denied applications for a loan, according to family law expert Leonor Etcheberry.

A debtor selling a car or property will not be entitled to the proceeds, and can have money frozen in their bank accounts.

If it is a civil servant, the money owed can be taken off their salary and promotions will be frozen.

“The debtor will face serious financial consequences. If the person listed in the registry is going to get a driver’s license, the municipality official must consult this record and if their name is on it, it cannot be issued,” Supreme Court judge Gloria Ana Chevesich told reporters.

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Until now, collecting unpaid child support has been “an ordeal,” said Etcheberry. Many debtors avoided responsibility by selling their assets or putting them in someone else’s name.

To be removed from the register, a defaulter would have to pay off the debt or sign an agreement to do so.

International

US panel backs Trump-themed coin amid controversy

The United States Department of the Treasury confirmed to AFP that the Commission of Fine Arts approved the design of a new collectible coin featuring Donald Trump, with members of the commission appointed by the current administration.

According to the proposal, the coin will feature an image of Trump standing with clenched fists over a desk on the obverse, while the reverse will display an eagle, a traditional symbol of the United States.

The sale price of the collectible has not yet been disclosed, although the United States Mint typically offers similar items for more than $1,000.

“There is no more iconic portrait for the front of these coins than that of our president Donald Trump,” U.S. Treasurer Brandon Beach said in a statement sent to AFP. He added that two additional coins — a $1 piece and a one-ounce gold coin — are also under consideration.

However, the Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee (CCAC), another body responsible for reviewing new coin proposals, declined to discuss the Trump design in late February.

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“Only nations governed by kings or dictators place the image of a sitting leader on their currency,” said Donald Scarinciat the time. “No country in the world has minted coins featuring a democratically elected leader during their term in office,” he added.

When contacted by AFP, the Treasury Department did not immediately respond to requests for further comment.

International

Fed’s Waller warns of rising inflation risks amid Middle East conflict

Christopher Waller, a governor at the Federal Reserve, said Friday that he is increasingly concerned about the inflationary impact of the ongoing conflict involving United States and Israel against Iran, particularly due to the prolonged closure of the Strait of Hormuz.

Waller, who had supported interest rate cuts over the past year amid concerns about the labor market, said he has shifted his stance in recent weeks due to rising inflation risks.

“Since the Strait of Hormuz was closed, it suggests this conflict could be much more prolonged and that oil prices will remain elevated for longer,” Waller said in an interview with CNBC.

“Therefore, this indicates that inflation is a greater concern than I had previously assessed,” he added.

Waller also backed the Federal Reserve’s decision earlier this week to keep interest rates unchanged, signaling a more cautious approach as global geopolitical tensions continue to affect economic outlooks.

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International

Brazil offers to mediate Colombia-Ecuador tensions, calls for restraint

The government of Brazil has offered to mediate in the ongoing tensions between Colombia and Ecuador, while calling on both nations to exercise restraint.

In a statement released Wednesday, Brazil’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs urged the parties involved to act with moderation and seek a peaceful resolution to the dispute.

“Brazil encourages all sides to act with moderation in order to find a peaceful solution to the controversy. It stands ready to support dialogue efforts aimed at preserving peace and security in the region,” the statement said.

Brazil also expressed “serious concern” over reports of deaths in the border area between Colombia and Ecuador, noting that the circumstances surrounding the incidents have not yet been clarified.

The diplomatic move comes amid rising tensions between the neighboring countries, increasing regional concern over stability and security along their shared border.