Argentina

• Wednesday, August 26th 2009 - 09:35 UTC

  Argentina follows Mexico and decriminalizes personal use of marihuana

  

  Argentina's Supreme Court ruled Tuesday it is unconstitutional to punish an adult for private use of marihuana as long as it doesn't harm anyone else. The unanimous ruling makes Argentina the second Latinamerican country in the past four days to allow personal use of a formerly illegal drug.

• Wednesday, August 26th 2009 - 08:57 UTC

  Argentina’s finances increasingly in the red

  

  The Argentine Central Bank helped the Treasury with 3 billion Pesos (approximately 790 million US dollars) during June to cover the gap caused by exceptional outlays because of the mid term elections.

• Tuesday, August 25th 2009 - 14:58 UTC

  Strike paralyzes container activities in Buenos Aires port

  

  Container shipments are paralysed in the port of Buenos Aires due to a union conflict that is causing huge losses, the Argentine press reported.

• Monday, August 24th 2009 - 11:11 UTC

  Iran accuses Argentina of “interfering in internal affairs”

  

  Iran's government accused Argentina of “interfering in internal affairs,” referring to criticism against the designation of Ahmad Vahidi as Defence Minister. Vahidi has been wanted since 2007 by Interpol for supposed ties to the AMIA terrorist attack in Buenos Aires which caused 85 deaths and hundreds of injured.

• Saturday, August 22nd 2009 - 11:18 UTC

  Argentina “harshly condemns” Iranian ministerial nomination

  

  Argentina's Foreign Affairs Ministry “harshly condemns” the nomination of Ahmad Vahidi to serve as Iran's Defence Minister as he is a suspected international terrorist sought by Interpol in connection with the 1994 attack on AMIA Jewish community centre in Buenos Aires.

• Friday, August 21st 2009 - 14:16 UTC

  Argentine football season begins with the Kirchners scoring

  

  Argentina’s soccer championship kicks Friday night after the government stepped in this week and put the national game on the state payroll in order to avoid a financial crisis gripping clubs that threatened the entire season.

• Friday, August 21st 2009 - 14:15 UTC

  Argentina warming up to resume dialogue and links with IMF

  

  Argentina's Economy Minister Amado Boudou has opened the door to re-establishing links with the International Monetary Fund, as he seeks to restore Argentina's access to international credit markets.

• Friday, August 21st 2009 - 14:09 UTC

  Allende’s family wants Brazil do declassify documents from 1973

  

  Chilean Member of Parliament Isabel Allende said she will ask the Brazilian government to declassify documents that could shed light on Brazil’s possible involvement in the 1973 coup that led to the ouster and death of her father, elected socialist President Salvador Allende.

• Friday, August 21st 2009 - 14:01 UTC

  Argentine congress extends Kirchner’s special taxing powers

  

  Argentina’s Senate passed a bill extending President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner’s authority to set export tax rates for one year, further angering farmers who have been confronted with the government for almost two years on the issue.

• Friday, August 21st 2009 - 11:04 UTC

  Argentine exports forecasted to drop 20%, but 2010 is a promising year

  

  The global recession will have an impact on Argentine exports which are forecasted to fall an estimated 20% this year to 55 billion US dollars, compared to last year. However since imports have also plummeted the trade surplus in July grew 35% (1.3 billion) totalling 11.2 billion US dollars in the first seven months of the year.