Argentina's Supreme Court on Thursday blocked President Mauricio Macri's move to slash natural gas subsidies, a much-hated policy that has sent customers' bills soaring. The ruling is the hardest blow yet to the business-friendly president's move to eliminate electricity, gas and water subsidies which he says are bloating the deficit and sapping the struggling economy.
Argentina considers that Uruguay created a vacuum in Mercosur when it unilaterally adopted the decision to devolve the block's presidency, and creating an unprecedented situation. Since then Mercosur has been involved in a serious controversy over the transfer of the presidency to Venezuela, which has strongly discredited the South American block.
Latin America needs greater economic integration and a merger of Mercosur and the Pacific Alliance should be the objective, according to Argentine president Mauricio Macri, who insists in loosening trade restrictions in his country and the region.
An international forum on ocean and sea sciences between Argentine and United States scientists is scheduled for next week in Mar del Plata. The 23/27 August event is in the framework of the closer ties in research and innovation between Argentina and its new partner, United States.
The Brazilian government said it was deeply disappointed and surprised at statements from Uruguay's foreign minister, which are not compatible with the excelence of relations between Brazil and Uruguay, according to an official release from Itamaraty, Brazil's foreign ministry, regarding the controversy over the Mercosur presidency.
The United Kingdom Chevening Secretariat is accepting applications for 2017/2018 Chevening Scholarships from 8 August until 8 November 2016, announced the British Embassy in Buenos Aires. Chevening Scholarships are awarded to individuals with demonstrable leadership potential who also have strong academic backgrounds.
Only a few jiggers are still operating in the South Atlantic while the bulk of the Argentine fleet has already finished one of its worst squid (Illex argentinus) seasons. According to figures from Ministry of Agro Industry, until last August 8 a total of 56,159 tons of Illex had been landed.
Argentina is organizing a major business and investment forum next month, September 12/15, in Buenos Aires and more than 1,500 world business leaders and representatives of government and economic institutions are scheduled to attend the event, probably the largest in recent times in Latin America.
Uruguay's Foreign Minister Rodolfo Nin Novoa said on Monday that he was opposed to the proposal that the Mercosur presidency should be held collectively, as a number of countries are opposed to Venezuela taking over the role. The proposal has been sponsored by Paraguay and Brazil for several weeks, particularly Brazil's Foreign Minister Jose Serra.
Argentine president Mauricio Macri will be moving in an armored sealed following this month's attack with stones during a rally in the city of Mar del Plata. The measure was announced by Security minister Patricia Bullrich who claimed political activists close to former president Cristina Fernandez of having organized the attack.