Stories for October 2023

Wednesday, October 4th 2023 - 10:59 UTC
How deep was Massa's candidacy dented by the Insaurralde scandal?

The extent of the damage caused by the so-called Insaurralde Scandal to the presidential candidacy of Argentina's Economy Minister Sergio Massa of the ruling Unión por la Patria (UP) front will not be known for certain until the Oct. 22 elections. The same will happen with Buenos Aires Governor Axel Kiciloff's reelection bid.
Wednesday, October 4th 2023 - 10:54 UTC
Patricia Bullrich suggests recording criminals' conversations with lawyers although it is illegal

Argentine presidential candidate Patricia Bullrich, from the center-right coalition “Juntos por el Cambio,” proposed on Tuesday recording conversations between individuals, particularly between criminals and their lawyers. However, it is “illegal,” journalist Alejandro Fantino reminded her during an interview.
Wednesday, October 4th 2023 - 10:47 UTC
Severe drought and warm waters killing dolphins in the Amazon river basin

More than a hundred dolphins have been found dead in a tributary of Amazon river in Brazil this past week. Experts suspect the deaths may have been caused by severe drought and rising heat.
Wednesday, October 4th 2023 - 10:40 UTC
Studying the impact of commercial whaling in South Georgia on today's pods

While commercial whaling in the twentieth century killed big whale populations, it also appears to have had a long-term impact on the genetic variety of today's surviving whales, according to a piece by Nature World News extracted from Journal of Heredity.
Wednesday, October 4th 2023 - 10:32 UTC
Uruguay beef exports down 31% in seven months; suppliers are targeting the domestic market with 30% rebates

Beef exports from Uruguay were down 19% in July 2023 compared to last year, according to the Uruguay XXI report. Exports in July totaled US$ 144 million, below the US$ 177 million reached in the same month last year.
Wednesday, October 4th 2023 - 10:30 UTC
Brazil to drastically cut dairy imports from Mercosur and ease taxes to promote domestic production

Brazil is planning to curb dairy imports from Mercosur countries. In the next few days, a decree will be published that will change the rules for tax benefits for dairies, agro-industrial companies, and cooperatives that participate in the Ministry of Agriculture’s milk program PMLS. The objective is to reduce tax incentives for companies that purchase dairy products from abroad.
Wednesday, October 4th 2023 - 10:27 UTC
Canada picks first black House of Commons Speaker

Following last week's resignation of Anthony Rota after inviting and honoring the 98-year-old Nazi war veteran Yaroslav Hunka who had fought for the Waffen-SS Galicia Division, or the SS 14th Waffen Division, the Quebec Liberal lawmaker Greg Fergus has been appointed as the new Speaker of Canada's House of Commons.
Wednesday, October 4th 2023 - 10:22 UTC
US: McCarthy unseated as House Speaker

Republican Congressman Kevin McCarthy has been unseated as Speaker of the House of Representatives after merely 269 days in office, it was reported from Washington DC.
Wednesday, October 4th 2023 - 09:55 UTC
Argentina: “Blue” dollar hits new all-time high

The “blue” (a euphemism for “black market”) dollar rose AR$ 10 Tuesday and sold for AR$ 810, thus setting a new record, it was reported from Buenos Aires.
Wednesday, October 4th 2023 - 09:41 UTC
Chile extends state of emergency in violence-torn south

Chile's Senate Tuesday passed a bill to extend the current state of emergency in La Araucanía and part of Biobío in force since mid-May 2022 to allow the armed forces to participate in the fight against violent groups operating in the area due to the so-called “Mapuche conflict” involving indigenous communities, logging companies and law enforcement authorities.