Stories for November 2nd 2023

Thursday, November 2nd 2023 - 10:34 UTC
Uruguayan Foreign Minister resigns amid scandal involving well-known drug trafficker

Francisco Bustillo Wednesday turned in his resignation as Foreign Minister of Uruguay after audios of a conversation he had with then Deputy-Foreign Minister Carolina Ache about internationally-wanted drug trafficker Sebastián Marset went viral, it was reported in Montevideo. President Luis Lacalle Pou is on an official trip to the United States as this crisis unfolds.
Thursday, November 2nd 2023 - 09:50 UTC
Brazil deploys Armed Forces to control airports and other key sites

Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva ordered the militarization of South America's largest country's main ports and airports amid growing violence among drug gangs and vigilante militias, it was reported.
Thursday, November 2nd 2023 - 09:39 UTC
Brazil cuts basic interest rate to 12.25% per year

Brazil's Monetary Policy Committee (Copom) unanimously decided Wednesday to reduce the economy's basic interest rate (known as the Selic rate) by 0.5 percentage points to 12.25% per year, Agencia Brasil reported.
Thursday, November 2nd 2023 - 09:14 UTC
Price of fuel goes up in Argentine to secure supply

Argentina's state-run oil company YPF ordered an average increase of 9.75% in the prices of gasoline and diesel oil at pumps, as the freezing deal between the Economy Ministry and fuel producers came to an end Oct. 31 following a 12.5% adjustment the week after the Aug. 13 Open, Mandatory, and Simultaneous Primary (PASO) elections and their ensuing devaluation of the local currency.
Thursday, November 2nd 2023 - 09:08 UTC
Bolsonaro and Braga Netto guilty of politically using Independence Day celebrations

Former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro and his running mate in the 2022 elections General Walter Braga Neto were found guilty Tuesday by the Superior Electoral Court (TSE) of using the Sept. 7 Independence Day celebrations for political gain, Agencia Brasil reported.
Thursday, November 2nd 2023 - 08:39 UTC
Divergent positions: Argentina backs Israel, then condemns attacks in Palestine

Three weeks apart, the Argentine Foreign Ministry issued two communiqués with different positions on the Arab-Israeli conflict. In the first, dated October 7, Argentina clearly supports the position of Israel, which claims its position as the nation under attack and condemns the attacks of the terrorist group Hamas against the Israeli population.
Thursday, November 2nd 2023 - 08:15 UTC
Winds are changing in Colombia: Petro the big loser in Sunday's governor and mayor elections

Colombian president Gustavo Petro's allies lost by windfalls in municipal and provincial elections on Sunday, a clear sign of growing discontent with the left-leaning government and some of its promised reforms to the health system and labor bills.
Thursday, November 2nd 2023 - 08:13 UTC
Multiple cost of living support benefits ahead of winter, announces UK Conservative government

Millions of households across the United Kingdom are set to receive significant cost of living support ahead of winter, with the British government freezing bus fares in England and the second cost-of-living payment – worth £900 in total - landing directly in bank accounts.