Politics

• Monday, October 28th 2024 - 10:10 UTC

  Local elections: Boric's ruling party loses ground after Monsalve scandal

  

  The recent sex scandal involving former Interior Undersecretary Manuel Monsalve took its toll Sunday on the ruling coalition of President Gabriel Boric Font during the first round of municipal elections in which the opposition UDI, RN, and Evópoli emerged as the strongest rightwing forces nationwide with victories in 121 communes. Boric's allies prevailed in 111 and the Republicans of former presidential candidate José Antonio Kast in 8, including a surprising one in Puente Alto. All in all, Chile Vamos became the strongest political force nationwide.

• Monday, October 28th 2024 - 09:51 UTC

  Lula's candidate defeated in Sao Paulo mayoral runoff

  

  Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva's candidate Guilherme Boulos failed to win Sunday's runoff to become Mayor of São Paulo, where Ricardo Nunes was reelected in perhaps the most relevant decision of the day, in which allies of former President Jair Bolsonaro prevailed in almost half of the State capitals where a second round was needed. Nunes took over as mayor of the city of São Paulo after the death of Bruno Covas (PSDB), who died of cancer in 2021.

• Monday, October 28th 2024 - 09:11 UTC

  CFK poised to become Peronist Party Chairwoman

  

  Former Argentine President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner (CFK) will be appointed chairwoman of the Justicialist (Peronist) Party (PJ) after La Rioja Governor Ricardo Quintela failed to produce the required number of endorsing signatures leaving the two-time head of state as the sole contender.

• Monday, October 28th 2024 - 08:48 UTC

  Cicero's case rekindles debate on euthanasia and assisted suicide in Brazil

  

  The case of Brazilian poet and composer António Cicero, who died through euthanasia last week in Switzerland, has rekindled the debate in South America's largest country on whether such a practice should be legalized, Agencia Brasil reported Sunday.

• Monday, October 28th 2024 - 08:11 UTC

  Commonwealth leaders concur it is time to discuss slavery reparations

  

  Commonwealth leaders agreed during a Heads of Government meeting in Samoa Friday that it was time to discuss reparations from the United Kingdom for its role in the transatlantic slave trade. ”The time has come for a meaningful, truthful, and respectful conversation towards forging a common future based on equity,” the leaders said in a statement.

• Monday, October 28th 2024 - 07:45 UTC

  Argentine mayor says hitmen chased him while in Paraguay

  

  Atilio Basualdo, the Mayor of the Argentine city of Las Lomitas in the province of Formosa said Sunday that hitmen had tried to kill him while visiting neighboring Asunción in Paraguay on Saturday afternoon. He also hinted Formosa's Peronist Governor Gildo Insfran could have been involved.

• Sunday, October 27th 2024 - 22:25 UTC

  Bolivia: Evo Morales survives alleged assassination attempt, accuses President Arce

  

  Former Bolivian President Evo Morales was the target of gunfire on Sunday as his convoy traveled through Chapare, a coca-growing region where Morales has long held significant influence. Morales emerged unscathed but accused President Luis Arce of orchestrating the attack, an accusation Arce swiftly denied, pledging “an immediate and thorough investigation.”

• Sunday, October 27th 2024 - 21:55 UTC

  Uruguay's 2024 Election: Voter turnout reaches 40% by midday, anticipating a close race

  

  As Uruguayans head to the polls this October 27 to elect their president, vice-president, and Parliament, preliminary reports from the Electoral Court indicate a steady turnout. By midday, 40% of the 2,727,120 eligible voters had cast their ballots across the country's 7,276 polling circuits. Voting is mandatory in Uruguay, with those abstaining required to pay a fine or present a valid excuse, such as illness, disability, or international travel.

• Saturday, October 26th 2024 - 10:59 UTC

  Paraguay's Central Bank to take action keeping US dollar from further soaring

  

  Paraguay's Central Bank (BCP) announced Friday that it would adopt additional measures to keep the US dollar from soaring further against the local guaraní after crossing the US$1 / ₲ 8,000 barrier on Thursday. Starting next week, the BCP will pour US$15 million daily into the exchange market to keep the quotation at bay.

• Saturday, October 26th 2024 - 10:51 UTC

  Israel launches mass air raids against Iran

  

  Israel finally launched an attack against Iran hitting strategic missile-building capabilities and other key points, it was reported in the early hours of Saturday. Five explosions were heard across Tehran and the nearby city of Karaj. US and Israeli sources said three waves of airstrikes were launched in what was dubbed Operation Days of Repentance. Over 100 planes were involved in the 2000 k.m. attack, including the cutting-edge F-35.