Argentina

• Thursday, May 22nd 2008 - 21:00 UTC

  Argentine farmers flexible but hope for “national celebration”

  Argentine farmers said on Wednesday they are willing to discuss the controversial sliding levies on grains and oil seed exports but also cautioned they were looking forward to a grand national celebration in the scheduled Sunday rally at Rosario, and not another occasion of “protest and claims”.

• Wednesday, May 21st 2008 - 21:00 UTC

  Farmers' conflict: all seems ready for talks to begin Thursday

  Argentine farmers and government will most probably resume negotiations on Thursday while tomorrow details of the meeting will be jointly agreed according to sources from the Ministry of Economy and published in the Buenos Aires press.

• Wednesday, May 21st 2008 - 21:00 UTC

  Catholic Church “perceives” growing poverty in Argentina

  Bishop Jorge Casaretto, head of the Argentine Catholic Church Social Pastoral Committee said that perception at the moment ”is that poverty (in Argentina) is increasing”. The statement contradicts a recent Argentine government report indicating that poverty had fallen to 20.7% in the second half of 2007 compared to the previous 23.4%.

• Tuesday, May 20th 2008 - 21:00 UTC

  Climatic emergency in Comodoro Rivadavia hit by snow storm

  A “climatic emergency” was declared Monday in Comodoro Rivadavia following strong winds, rain and snow storms which covered most of the Argentine Patagonian province of Chubut with several feet of snow.

• Tuesday, May 20th 2008 - 21:00 UTC

  Farmers' conflict: renewed dialogue and markets reopen

  Argentine farmers agreed to lift the 70 days conflict as of Wednesday when discussions over export tax policy with the government, and grain markets activities will resume, although the “state of alert” remains in force.

• Tuesday, May 20th 2008 - 21:00 UTC

  Argentine justice investigates collapse of hake fishery

  

  An Argentine federal judge summoned hake fisheries management organizations following a claim from the Mar del Plata Fisheries Chamber, Capemar, which considers government resolutions “unconstitutional” and a contributing factor for the fishery's current critical state.

• Tuesday, May 20th 2008 - 21:00 UTC

  As Aerolineas turns Argentine, air fares again hiked 18%

  

  Argentina's government authorized a new hike in domestic air rates to the tune of 18%, just a month after a similar increase to help airlines face the soaring cost of fuel.

• Sunday, May 18th 2008 - 21:00 UTC

  Argentina insists in Peru on humanitarian flight to Falklands

  The Malvinas families' trip to the Falkland Islands for the inauguration of the monument at the Argentine cemetery in Darwin again surfaced during a private meeting of Argentine and British officials last week, in the framework of the European Union/Latinamerican leaders' summit held in Lima, Peru, according to reports in the Argentine press.

• Sunday, May 18th 2008 - 21:00 UTC

  Argentine farmers and government prepare to talk

  

  Yielding to pressures from provincial governors and a slowing down of the economy, Argentine farmers are expected to lift the strike on Monday and resume negotiations with the administration of President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner, which allegedly has also indicated willingness to review some of the most controversial issues.

• Sunday, May 18th 2008 - 21:00 UTC

  Spain concerned about its business interests in Argentina

  Spain announced it would defend its interests in Argentina although specific negotiations belong to the private sector, said Spanish president Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, following a meeting with Argentine president Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner.