Argentina

• Saturday, December 14th 2013 - 06:04 UTC

  Argentina: compensation to security forces that helped contain police protests and looting

  

  Cabinet Chief Jorge Capitanich confirmed on Friday that President Cristina Fernández will announce next week an “economic and financial recognition” to the members of national security forces following the deployment of 12,000 agents across the country to counter the impacts of the police protests and lootings that hit almost all Argentine provinces over the past days.

• Friday, December 13th 2013 - 12:57 UTC

  Argentina surprised by EU request to delay another month trade negotiations with Mercosur

  

  The European Union has asked for a one-month delay in the exchange of proposals to kick off free-trade negotiations with Mercosur, Argentine Cabinet Chief Jorge Capitanich confirmed on Thursday. The news was first reported by Sao Paulo newspapers on statements from Brazilian Foreign minister Luiz Fernando Figuereido.

• Friday, December 13th 2013 - 08:47 UTC

  Keeping up with inflation in Argentina: after calming police, who's next in the queue

  

  Police protests and widespread looting in 19 of the 24 Argentine provinces has, in a few weeks, shattered expectations about the new cabinet of President Cristina Fernandez and a stabilization of the economy, since as can be anticipated government employees and unions will be demanding similar conditions as their blue uniformed colleagues to keep up to date with inflation, running at an annualized 26% according to the November reading.

• Wednesday, December 11th 2013 - 23:17 UTC

  Argentina will unveil new inflation and GDP stats in February and March

  

  Argentina will unveil its new consumer price index (CPI) in February and a revised GDP index in March, Cabinet Chief Jorge Capitanich announced. The dates effectively comply with the demands of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) that had extended a deadline for Argentina to improve the quality of its economic data.

• Wednesday, December 11th 2013 - 22:45 UTC

  Cristina Fernandez completes all medical exams and prepares for her first flight in almost three months

  

  Argentine president Cristina Fernandez underwent this week several medical exams which have revealed “normal results”, announced presidential spokesman Alfredo Scoccimarro at a press conference in Government House in Buenos Aires.

• Wednesday, December 11th 2013 - 06:23 UTC

  Paraguayan Senate accepts Venezuela as full member of Mercosur; praise from Brazil

  

  The Paraguayan Senate finally passed on Tuesday afternoon, with a large majority a protocol for including Venezuela as full member of Mercosur. The protocol, which was submitted to Congress by President Horacio Cartes, was supported 29-10.

• Wednesday, December 11th 2013 - 04:09 UTC

  Alejandro Betts, technical advisor of Tierra del Fuego Malvinas Observatory

  

  The Tierra del Fuego Malvinas Question Provincial Observatory Advisory Council held its last meeting of the year at the Malvinas Foundation building and among other issues named former Falklands Islander Alejandro Betts as Technical Advisor to the Observatory.

• Wednesday, December 11th 2013 - 04:01 UTC

  Cristina Fernandez blasts police: “I don't believe in coincidence nor in contagious events”

  

  Marking the 30th anniversary of the return of democracy to Argentina, President Cristina Fernández referred to the wave of lootings across the country and police force protests, and stated that “they were no coincidence”, during a rally from the Government House in Buenos Aires on Tuesday evening.

• Tuesday, December 10th 2013 - 22:49 UTC

  IMF extends Argentina a new deadline for CPI and GDP statistics

  

  Directors of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) announced on Monday that they will give Argentine authorities an extended deadline in order to improve upon disputed national statistics, giving the nation until March 2014 to make the necessary changes.

• Tuesday, December 10th 2013 - 22:41 UTC

  Argentina's police strike and looting: a blend of inflation, corruption, impunity and social division

  

  The rash of looting and rioting which has spread to most of Argentina's provinces as the police went on strike or protest demanding better pay and working conditions has taken the political system by surprise, which has been slow in reacting to the gravity of the situation.