South America

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.

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.

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.

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.

CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) — Venezuelans get a chance Sunday to pick who they think can end the decade-long crisis-ridden presidency of Nicolás Maduro.

They will cast ballots in a primary election independently organized by the country’s opposition despite government repression and other obstacles.

The contest is in itself an exercise in democracy because it required the deeply fractured opposition to work together to give the South American country its first presidential primary since 2012. But it could prove an exercise in futility if Maduro’s government wishes.

BUENOS AIRES, Oct 20 (NNN-MERCOPRESS) — Argentine health authorities approved a booster Covid-19 vaccine fully developed in the South American country, it was announced in Buenos Aires. The “ARVAC Cecilia Grierson” drug is said to be effective against the latest versions of the disease for patients over 18 years of age.

BOGOTA, Oct 20 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Colombian President Gustavo Petro announced late Thursday that his country will open an embassy in Ramallah, Palestine.

Petro issued the statement after meeting with Palestinian Ambassador Raouf Al-Maliki.

“I have expressed my position to achieve an international peace conference that opens the way for two independent and free states,” the President said on X following the meeting.

BUENOS AIRES, Oct 20 (Reuters) - Argentina may be about to leap into the political unknown.

The South American country, the region's No.2 economy after Brazil, will vote in presidential elections on Sunday with a radical outsider, libertarian Javier Milei, in pole position to win, though he will likely face a second round run-off.

The wild-haired, chainsaw-wielding economist - who has risen from relative obscurity over the last year - came top in an August open primary and leads all opinion polls ahead of economy minister Sergio Massa and conservative Patricia Bullrich.

BOGOTÁ, Oct 16 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Israel, one of the main providers of arms to Colombia’s military, said Sunday it was “halting security exports” to the South American country after taking umbrage at its president’s remarks on the war with Hamas.

Since the militant group’s vicious attack on Israel a week ago, President Gustavo Petro has posted numerous comments on X, formerly Twitter, supporting the people of Gaza.

In one post, Colombia’s first-ever leftist president compared Israel’s retaliatory targeting of Gaza to the Nazi persecution of Jews.

QUITO, Ecuador (AP) — Daniel Noboa has managed to do what his father failed at five times: Get elected as Ecuador’s president.

And he did it Sunday on his first attempt, winning a runoff in a special election against a leftist lawyer on the strength of his resume as a 35-year-old member of Ecuador’s elite, which has meant some schooling in the U.S., some entrepreneurial work, some dabbling in politics.

Now he must meet the universal demand of voters to make the South American country safe again, following a surge in unprecedented violence tied to drug trafficking.