Montreal
Mayor resigns: The long-term mayor of Canada’s second-largest city resigned this week after being dogged for years by allegations of rampant corruption in his administration. Gérald Tremblay, 70, denied he played any role in a kickback scheme that allegedly funneled so many $100 and $1,000 bills to his political party that its office safe wouldn’t close properly. Frank Zampino, a close associate of Tremblay, was charged in May with fraud, conspiracy, and breach of trust in connection with a $300 million city contract. The head of the construction firm that won the 2007 bid, Tony Accurso, regularly entertained city officials, including Zampino, on his yacht. Tremblay claimed he knew nothing of the corruption. “I am going through a period of unbearable injustice,” he said.
Havana
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No oil yet: The only deep-water rig exploring for oil off the coast of Cuba has given up. Three wells drilled by different companies using the rig this year have all come up dry. The platform is one of few ever built that contain less than 10 percent U.S.-made parts in order to avoid triggering sanctions under the U.S. embargo of Cuba. Now that the rig is scheduled to depart for another mission, it’s unclear when deep-water exploration can resume in Cuban waters. The U.S. Geological Survey estimates there is a reserve of around 5 billion barrels of oil off Cuba; if found and tapped, it could turn the island’s economy around. Cuba imports about 100,000 barrels a day from Venezuela.
Buenos Aires
Votes for teens: Argentina has lowered its voting age to 16, a change that could help President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner. Fernández is popular among the young and has not ruled out trying to amend the constitution so she can run for a third term. Dozens of opposition members of parliament boycotted the vote on the law, saying the change was aimed at packing parliament with Fernández supporters in next year’s midterm elections. “It is evident that an electoral strategy lies behind the promotion of the youth vote,” said analyst Ignacio Labaqui. Voting is compulsory for those 18 and over but will be optional for 16- and 17-year-olds.
