Stories for March 2023

Monday, March 13th 2023 - 10:37 UTC
Peña is Cartes' puppet, Paraguayan Presidential hopeful Alegre argues

Paraguay's leftwing Concertación's presidential hopeful Efraín Alegre stressed this weekend that “a person who is not willing to submit to a debate before the public opinion cannot aspire to be President.” He made those remarks after candidate Santiago Peña of the ANR refused to discuss with him how he planned to rule the country if elected on April 30.
Monday, March 13th 2023 - 10:31 UTC
China appoints Defense Minister sanctioned by the US

Chinese President Xi Jinping Sunday announced he had picked General Li Shangfu for the position of Defense Minister despite sanctions by the US Government against the newly-appointed official for approving arms purchases from Russia. Xi Jinping has kept Finance Minister Liu He and Central Bank Governor Yi Gang in their posts.
Monday, March 13th 2023 - 08:54 UTC
Will Australia's Navy have nuclear submarines?

Prime Ministers Rishi Sunak of the United Kingdom and Anthony Albanese of Australia are to discuss Monday with US President Joseph Biden the so-called AUKUS defense pact in San Diego, California, which could culminate the delivery of nuclear submarines to the Royal Australian Navy. Britain, the US, and Australia announced the AUKUS plan in 2021 to counter China's growing military presence in the Indo-Pacific.
Monday, March 13th 2023 - 08:48 UTC
Argentina's industry grows 6.3% YoY in January

Argentina's industrial output recorded a 6.3% interannual growth in January of 2023 and 9.6% against the same month of 2019, the Secretariat of Industry and Productive Development reported. It was the second-highest January, only surpassed by 2018. Against January 2022, the sectors that grew the most were Food and Beverages (+9.1%), Automotive (+24.8%), Metal Industries (+8.9%), and Metal Products (+15.2%).
Monday, March 13th 2023 - 08:35 UTC
Nicaragua breaks up with the Holy See

Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega chose to sever diplomatic ties with the Vatican after Pope Francis dubbed the Sandinista regime as a “Hitlerian dictatorship” headed by a leader who would suffer from some sort of “imbalance.” The Pope also praised imprisoned Nicaraguan Bishop Rolando José Álvarez, “a very serious man” who “wanted to give his testimony and did not accept exile.”
Saturday, March 11th 2023 - 23:48 UTC
2022 Was a Boom Year For Falklands Squid and Finfish Fleets

Fisheries authorities in the Falkland Islands have said that 2022 was a bumper year for the squid and hake fishing fleets licenced by the territory. Sixteen ships caught a remarkable 101,166 tonnes of loligo squid; a catch that was exceeded only in 1989 when 118,120 tonnes were landed, although that record catch was achieved by almost three times as many ships.
Saturday, March 11th 2023 - 12:52 UTC
Presidents Fernández and Abdo agree on Mercosur bilateral agenda

Presidents Alberto Fernández of Argentina and Mario Abdo Benítez of Paraguay met Friday at the former's Olivos residence to discuss a broad bilateral and regional agenda, including the current situation of Mercosur and the challenges facing the bloc under Buenos Aires' pro-tempore presidency.
Saturday, March 11th 2023 - 12:22 UTC
Prosecutors greenlight Rocha's reinstatement as Governor of Brasilia

Brazil's Attorney General's Office (PGR) sent a note Friday to the Supreme Court (STF) expressing its opinion in favor of reinstating Ibaneis Rocha as Governor of the Federal District, Agencia Brasil reported. Rocha was removed by STF Justice Alexandre De Moraes for 90 days after Jan. 8 riots. The suspension thus ends on April 9.
Saturday, March 11th 2023 - 12:18 UTC
Chikungunya: 43 deaths and 11,467 cases confirmed in Paraguay

Paraguayan health authorities Friday confirmed 43 people had died nationwide of chikungunya, while the total number of cases rose to 11,467 over the past three weeks. Eight of the victims were children under one year of age, while 35 others were adults aged over 30, according to the latest epidemiological report released by the General Directorate of Health Surveillance. “The mortality rate is 0.6 per 100,000 inhabitants and the case fatality rate is 0.1 %,” the document read.
Saturday, March 11th 2023 - 12:04 UTC
Chilean President announces cabinet reshuffle of little significance

Chilean President Gabriel Boric Font Friday announced a minor cabinet reshuffle that left many questions unanswered, except for the departure of Foreign Minister Antonia Urrejola, who had been involved in a scandal for using foul language against Argentina's Ambassador Rafael Bielsa which went viral and sealed her fate.