
Argentine president Mauricio Macri must undergo laser microsurgery in his vocal chords to recover from a standing dysphonia originated in the intensive and/or abusive use of his voice

The Argentine government managed on Monday a great breathing space after reaching an understanding with labor unions on income tax cuts which threatened to derail relations with organized labor, and now also ensure a peaceful end of the year holidays. During the morning and while negotiations were ongoing, transport unions showed their muscle paralyzing flights, trains, buses and subways, in the main cities of the country.

Argentina and Chile agreed to organize a major Mercosur, Pacific Alliance trade blocks' meeting during the first half of 2017. Last Friday Chilean president Michelle Bachelet and her cabinet were in Buenos Aires with peers Mauricio Macri and ministers as part of an agenda of regular meetings to address a joint agenda.

Argentina and the United Kingdom held in London on Monday the first of a two-day round of talks in the framework of the September joint communiqué with the purpose of improving bilateral relations and cooperation, and advancing in one of the few contentious issues, the Falkland Islands' dispute.

A bus tour of Buenos Aires focused solely on its most traditional football stadiums will be available starting Monday, the city's Tourism Authority announced. Under the name of Barrios Futboleros (Football Neighbourhoods) the new service will make stops at Boca Juniors, River Plate, San Lorenzo, Huracán and Argentinos Juniors.

The Argentine Navy's ARA Islas Malvinas set sail Friday enroute to Antarctica to take part in the joint operation with the Chilean Navy in the Combined Naval Antarctic Patrol -- better known for its Spanish acronym PANC (Patrulla Antártica Naval Combinada) -- to control maritime traffic and address environmental issues in the area.

Norwegian Air Shuttle, one of the largest low cost airlines in Europe, has made the decision to start start operating in Argentina in November next year. We have taken that decision and for that we have already taken some concrete steps to be able to fly domestic and regional routes in Argentina, said Norwegian spokesman Alfons Claver.

Argentine President Mauricio Macri said Friday that we have come from years of isolation and bad relations with almost all countries except Venezuela and Iran. He added that this year we have experienced a Copernican change in that sense.

Two Falklands lawmakers, MLA Mike Summers and MLA Phyl Rendell, will represent the Islands government as part of the British delegation at meetings with Argentina in London next Monday and Tuesday. According to a release from the Islands' government the principal item to be addressed is a second flight from South America to the Falklands that was agreed in a September Joint Statement between the UK and Argentina.

Diosdado Cabello, considered one of the three most powerful persons in Venezuela called Argentine president Mauricio Macri a coward, described the Argentine ambassador in Caracas as an enemy and suggested that if he had any dignity left he should pack his suitcase and leave Venezuela.