South America

Venezuela’s high court has suspended the opposition’s primary election process, including its result

CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) — Venezuela’s high court on Monday suspended the opposition’s entire primary election process, including its result, in the latest challenge by the government of Nicolás Maduro to its adversaries ahead of the 2024 presidential vote.

The court ruled the opposition’s Oct. 22 contest may be in violation of the law. It was not immediately clear whether the suspension would effectively result in the nullification of the primary vote.

Brazil slams Israel’s war on Gaza as ‘genocide’

27 October 2023; MEMO: Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva slammed Israel’s war on the besieged Gaza Strip as a “genocide”.

In a meeting held at the Planalto presidential palace in the capital, Brasilia, da Silva said: “What is happening is not a war. It is a genocide that led to the killing of nearly 2,000 children who had nothing to do with this war. They are the victims of this war.”

4 dead, dozens injured in head-on bus crash in Peru

LIMA, Oct 26 (NNN-XINHUA) — At least four people were killed and dozens injured after two passenger buses collided head-on in early morning Wednesday in the southern Peruvian department of Cusco, authorities said.

The accident occurred around 1:30 a.m. local time at kilometer 60 of the Espinar-Cusco roadway in Espinar province, the Superintendence of Ground Transportation of People, Cargo and Goods (Sutran) said in a statement.

One of the buses was traveling the Cusco-Arequipa route and the other was going in the opposite direction when they collided head on.

Expectations run high of Colombia-China cooperation amid president's maiden trip to China

BOGOTA, Oct. 25 (Xinhua) -- Colombian President Gustavo Francisco Petro Urrego is in Beijing for a state visit this week, as many in Colombia are closely watching his maiden trip there.

"President Petro's visit to China can be deeply transformative for Colombia in a very positive way," said David Castrillon Kerrigan, an international relations academic at the Externado University of Colombia.

María Corina Machado is winner of Venezuela opposition primary that government has denounced

CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) — Venezuelan government critic María Corina Machado was declared the winner Thursday of an opposition-organized primary to choose a presidential candidate, in polling last weekend that was denounced by the self-proclaimed socialist government as illegitimate.

The voting Sunday organized by the National Primary Commission drew more than 2.4 million voters in Venezuela and abroad and was aimed at choosing a candidate to run against President Nicolás Maduro next year.

Leading in early results, Machado claims win in Venezuelan opposition’s presidential primary

CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) — Early returns in the Venezuelan opposition’s presidential primary gave a big lead to former legislator Maria Corina Machado early Monday, and she quickly claimed victory as the voters’ choice to lead the campaign to end the decade-long, crisis-ridden presidency of Nicolás Maduro.

The independent National Primary Commission, which organized the primary, did not release any results until long after polling stations closed Sunday, blaming internet censorship.

Argentine minister’s surprise showing sets up presidential election run-off with right-wing populist

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (AP) — Economy Minister Sergio Massa produced a big surprise by finishing first in the opening round of Argentina’s presidential election, reflecting voters’ wariness about handing the presidency to his chief rival, a right-wing populist who upended national politics and pledged to drastically diminish the state.

Venezuelan FM Thanks Int’l Support For National Conciliation Talks, Partial Lifting Of U.S. Sanctions

CARACAS, Oct 22 (NNN-ABN) – Venezuelan Foreign Affairs Minister, Yvan Gil, thanked international support for the progress made in Venezuela’s national conciliation talks, and the temporary suspension of U.S. sanctions against the country.

“We welcome the message of support that comes to us from … Russia, in reference to the resumption of dialogue and the right of our country to live free of foreign interference, blackmail and unilateral sanctions,” Gil wrote on X, formerly Twitter.

Argentina votes in election under shadow of economic crisis

BUENOS AIRES, Oct 22 (Reuters) - Argentines headed to the polls on Sunday to vote in a general election under the shadow of the South American country's worst economic crisis in two decades, which has driven the rise of an outsider far-right libertarian who is in pole position to win.

The vote is likely to roil Argentina's already shaky markets, impact its ties with trade partners including China and Brazil, and set the political path for the country, a major grains exporter with huge reserves of lithium and shale gas.

Mired in economic crisis, Argentines weigh whether to hand reins to anti-establishment populist

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (AP) — Argentina could take an unprecedented turn Sunday as frustrated voters weigh handing the presidency to an anti-establishment, right-wing populist who has shaken up the political system and pledges to drastically overhaul the state.

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